'Occupy Healdsburg' Planned for Thursday

Buoyed by the impact of the event Sunday, members of the are planning an "Occupy Healdsburg" demonstration for Thursday, Oct. 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the west side of Healdsburg Plaza.

"The 'Occupy Santa Rosa' event yesterday was a huge success," organizers said in a news release. "Before people marched, they’d packed all four corners of the intersection of Santa Rosa Avenue and Second Street, filled to capacity the large open space in front of City Hall, and extended around the city buildings and down Santa Rosa Avenue."

At least 30 people from Healdsburg were there, Peace Project leaders said.

"Then, as we marched, more folks joined us!" they said. "Big, yes, but more important, spirited, informed, enthusiastic --  and in no mood to just have one symbolic event and then go home.

"As one sign said, “This Is So Not Over!” Healdsburg leaders said.

As a result, Healdsburg Peace Project, which has already conducted Thursday night anti-war vigils for more than nine years, will "continue to be the anti-war vigils of the Healdsburg Peace Project, AND be a support action for

Healdsburg leaders said the "Occupy" focus is nothing new for the group.

"For the nine plus years of anti-war vigiling, we've been quite clear that the wars have economic causes and ramifications," they said.

"We’ve been holding signs such as “Main Street Not Wall Street,” “Tax the 1%,” “Healthcare not Warfare,” etc.," they said.

"And, that educate about economic injustice, such as "The Corporation" and "Inside Job," the leaders said. "Now we’re just going to focus on that aspect of the crisis a bit more, and join our voices to those calling for justice worldwide."