FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Monday, March 21, 2005 Jonathan Danforth-Appell


(703) 863-6932


University of Southern California Religious Left Alliance
USCRLA@usc.edu

USC Students Host Iraq Week 2005

Los Angeles, CA – 21 March 2005 – USC students are organizing a week of events March 28-31 to mark the two-year anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. Students hope that this week will encourage discussion and activism in the surrounding community on the costs of war.

This week is organized by the Religious Left Alliance, and has been sponsored by USC student groups: Students for Justice in Palestine, Amnesty International, College Democrats, Muslim Student Union, Academic Honors Assembly, Progressive Alliance, and Human Rights Action.

The week will kick-off on Monday at 12 pm with a Die-In protest, where students will symbolically “die” to demonstrate the horrors of war, and the massive loss of civilian life in Iraq. There will also be side theaters depicting the infamous Abu Ghraib poses and a visual display of the casualties of war. At 7 pm, Sgt. Marcus Eriksen will speak about his experiences as a veteran of the Gulf War.

Other events throughout the week include a lecture on Tuesday at 7 pm on “The Future of Iraq” featuring Dr. Laurie Brand of USC’s School of International Relations. Wednesday will feature an 8 pm screening of the “Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire’s Edge” which will premiere on the Showtime Network in May. Closing the week’s events will be an Interfaith Mourning Ceremony at 7 pm and Middle Eastern Dinner at 7.30 pm sponsored by the University Religious Center on Thursday evening.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Danforth-Appell or Rebekah Sanders at USCRLA@usc.edu

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

2 years, +1,500 dead American soldiers, and +100,000 dead Iraqi civilians later....the violence in Iraq continues.
Don't forget the fallen.

IRAQ WAR WEEK
MARCH 28-31

Monday, March 28
12 pm Trousdale
DIE IN PROTEST:
How hard core are you? This ain't no regular sit-in protest. Use your own body as a "corpse" to show all of USC the human cost of the war. You start walking down Trousdale, then fall to the ground and "die"--and are covered by a white sheet. There will also be side theaters depicting the infamous Abu Ghraib poses, a visual display of the casualties of war, and students ready to discuss the impact of the war. Join in!

7 pm THH 114
"A SOLDIER'S STORY":
Sgt. Marcus Eriksen, a Gulf War veteran and graduate of USC, describe
s his experiences using a slide show of graphic images taken while in Iraq and Kuwait and "souvenirs" from the country. Eriksen will put a face on the troops and bring you closer to the reality of the news stories.


Tuesday, March 29
7 pm WPH 102
"THE FUTURE OF IRAQ":
Dr. Laurie Brand, a Middle East expert and IR professor, discusses the history of the conflict in Iraq, the country's state now and what lies ahead. Brand will show you what the country must do to pull out of the current turmoil and how it will affect the rest of the region.


Wednesday, March 30
8 pm THH 301
AWARD-WINNING FILM:
"BattleGround: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge"
In late 2003, two filmmakers went to the frontlines of Iraq, gathering intelligence, dodging bullets, and capturing the untold stories of what has become the world’s most covered, and misunderstood, conflict. "BattleGround" will challenge the orthodoxies of Left and Right and highlight the humanity on all sides of the conflict.



Thursday, March 31
7 pm Univ. Religious Center (Fishbowl Chapel)
INTERFAITH MOURNING CEREMONY:
Join students of all faiths--Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian-- to remember those killed, hurt or affected by the war on all sides. The ceremony will include prayers from members of different faiths, music, art, and remembrance candles.

7:30 pm Univ. Religious Center (Patio)
FREE MIDDLE EASTERN DINNER:
Celebrate Iraqi and Muslim culture through free food, music and fun! You'll hear beautiful Muslim poetry readings, eat delicious dishes and help demonstrate that many in the Mid-East are our friends, not our enemies.

SPONSORED BY:

Religious Left Alliance
Students for Justice in Palestine
College Democrats
Muslim Student Union
Human Rights Action
Amnesty International
.