#file_1# The U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq has cost the lives of nearly 4,000 GIs, more than one million Iraqis and more than a half-trillion dollars of our tax money.

Wednesday, March 19, will mark the 5th anniversary of that war – and the beginning of its sixth year.

On that day, Richmond-area members of the Virginia Anti-War Network (VAWN) will sponsor a Vigil and Forum to provide Virginians an opportunity to express their opposition to the war.

The vigil, co-sponsored by the Richmond Peace Education Center, is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m., March 19, outside Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad St., Richmond. The theme will be: "Bring the Troops Home Now! Money for Jobs & Education, not for Wars & Occupations!" All those opposed to the war are invited to attend.

That evening, VAWN will host a forum at 7 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 324 N. 29th St., in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood.

The forum is titled "Stop the War at Home & Abroad! How our struggles here at home are affected by the war." It will feature a panel of community and labor activists, including:

LILLIE BRANCH-KENNEDY — Founder & Director, Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (R.I.H.D.), a Richmond-based prisoner advocacy organization;

JOANNE DAVIS — City Worker & Union Organizer with the Petersburg City Employees Association - UE Local 160;

DIEYAH RASHEED — Richmond-based Community Organizer with the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality;

SIMIN ROYANIAN — Former Union Official & Co-founder of Women for Peace & Justice in Iran (Fairfax);

And a Representative from the immigrant rights organization Mexicanos Sin Fronteras (Prince William County);

The forum will be chaired by QUEEN ZAKIA RAFIQA SHABAZZ, Founder & Director of United Parents Against Lead National, Inc. (Richmond).

The Public Forum is free. Children are welcome and the church is wheelchair-accessible.

For more information, please e-mail the VIRGINIA ANTI-WAR NETWORK (VAWN) at VAWN (at) mattaponi.com or call (804) 644-5834 (phone contact is for this meeting only). Also, log onto: www.vawn.org.