As the bulk of what we hear in the media focuses upon the violent conflict between the US military forces and various militias, we need to make special effort to listen to and hear from those experimenting with the tools of nonviolent resistance during these conflicts. The fast of Palestinian detainees and the march called by Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani) are two examples. Voices will fast in Chicago from Sept 1 through Sept 10 to support those in Iraq and Palestine who are seeking to live and act nonviolently to end the deadly conflicts consuming their countries.

Leading Cleric Returns To Iraq, Calls For March To Najaf

By Evan Osnos
Chicago Tribune

BAGHDAD, Iraq - (KRT) - Iraq’s paramount Shiite cleric unexpectedly returned to Iraq on Wednesday and thrust himself into the bloody standoff in Najaf, calling for a nationwide march on the holy city in a bid to quell three weeks of fighting between U.S. forces and Shiite rebels.

The call for peace from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani - whose words have sent thousands into the streets in the past - could be a pivotal turn in the showdown between rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

It raises hopes among some Iraqis of a breakthrough, but also sets the stage for a huge and potentially volatile human surge into a city swarming with U.S. troops and Iraqi militants.