The Brazos Valley Coalition Against the War announced plans for a "5 Years Too Many" demonstration against the Iraq War to be held on Wednesday March 19, 2008, marking the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the war. The demonstration is scheduled to coincide with local protests from coast to coast, and with a national event in Washington D.C.

The demonstration will be begin 5:30 pm on the 19th at the campus corner of the intersection of University Drive and Texas Avenue. Texas A&M students, led by the TAMU chapter of the Brazos Valley Coalition Against the War, will gather on campus at 5:15 at the Century Tree in front of the Academic Building before marching to join the main demonstration. Organizers described the planned protest as a a peaceful, boisterous demonstration; attendees are urged to bring signs, pots and pans, and other noisemakers. At 6 pm the group will pause for 15 minutes of silence to honor soldiers and civilians killed in the War.

Coalition spokesperson David McWhirter urged Brazos Valley community members and students to make their continued opposition to the war heard loud and clear on March 19th. "After five years, and with no end in sight, the American people want this war brought to an end. The Iraq war has cost 4,000 American lives and untold Iraqi casualties; according to The Eagle for March 10, 2008 it carries an estimated pricetag of $12 billion per month--money that is desperately needed here at home. The success of the surge is a myth: we have as many troops in Iraq today as we did before the surge started, political progress is nowhere in sight, and the goal of the war remains undefined. "Success" means nothing if it doesn't mean bringing our troops home once and for all."

For further information, contact David McWhirter (mcwhirterdavid@yahoo.com) or Phyllis Jacoby (pmjacoby@hsotmail.com).