On the morning of March 14th 2009 at 10AM, activists from all over Connecticut joined members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War in conducting Operation First Casualty in Hartford. More on Operation First Casualty, along with interviews with Iraq veterans and parade participants coming soon. Video by www.ArtAndStruggle.Com artist – activist colective. Press release by Art and Struggle after the jump.

Released for immediate use

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PadKTOw-l8Y&feature=channel_page

Hartford, CT
3/14/09
10AM

On the morning of March 14th 2009 at 10AM, activists from all over
Connecticut joined members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War in
conducting Operation First Casualty in Hartford. Designed to bring
everyday experiences of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the
American People, Operation First Casuality (OFC) has been conducted in
several locations all over the country. The March 14th OFC street
theater demonstration was conducted during the hours prior to the
starting of Hartford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Several thousand
people were lined up to view the parade in downtown Hartford and were
the audience for IVAW-CT’s first major public event.

IVAW-CT chapter followed the parade route conducting several street
theater performances including taking on fire, prisoner snatches, and
street patrols. Operation First Casualty – Hartford was successful in
bringing the war to the American People as many were struck by the
scenes acted out by IVAW members. Along the way, IVAW members and
activists were talking to the crowd to inform them what was going on,
recieving many positive responses. . The demonstration was also met
with by racism and nationalism by some and the threat of arrest by the
police on several occasions. Faced with responses such as, “Kill all
the Iraqis!”, “Waterboard Em!”, and several other insults, IVAW
members courageously marched on to bring the war home. The event
included a performance on the busiest corner of the parade route where
IVAW members got the crowd’s attention by crossing the street yelling
at a crowd of activist playing Iraqi civilians who were then arrested
and then disguised by the infamous black hoods in a loud and realistic
scene. IVAW-CT expects participation to grow from the event.

To contact IVAW’s Connecticut chapter, you can call:
Jeff Bartos 860-866-8197

Wes Strong
CTSAW Organizer