Important Logistical Information for March 17
Anti-War March & Rally in Los Angeles

On the 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War!
U.S. Out of Iraq! Bring the Troops Home Now!

Come together with tens of thousands of people in LA on March 17 to protest the criminal war and occupation of Iraq. There will be a march, and rally, featuring a free concert by the Grammy-winning band Ozomatli and performance by the legendary Jackson Browne. March 17 will be the largest protest to stop the war in LA in recent years!

The plan for March 17: Assemble 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles. We'll have a few brief opening speakers and then march through the streets of Hollywood (about 1.2 miles) to the corner of Hollywood and Highland for a rally with speakers, a free concert by Ozomatli and more.

This anti-war march was initiated by the ANSWER Coalition. It is being built by a large coalition of progressive groups in LA. The march and rally are fully permitted. More than 2,000 additional organizations and individuals have endorsed the ANSWER call to action. Click here for a list of endorsers.

This e-mail contains detailed logistical information for the March 17 protest in Los Angeles. Please read through the e-mail. Click on any of the links in the outline below to go to a particular portion of the message.

How do I get to the Los Angeles Protest?

·Busses, Vans, and Car Caravans Coming to LA
·Driving Directions
·Parking
·Public Transportation

What You'll Need to Know on March 17

·Drop-off & Pick-up Directions, Parking & Getting Back to Your Car
·Medical
·Media
·Weather
·What you Should Bring
·Food
·Disabled Protesters
·Youth & Student and Other Contingents at the March

How You Can Get Involved

·Volunteers
·Banners/Signs/Drummers
·Literature/Flyers/Leaflets
·Work Sessions
·Having an Information Table at the Rally
·Donate

Buses, Car Caravans and "Peace Trains"Coming to Los Angeles

Transportation is being organized from over 40 cities and towns throughout Southern California and the surrounding area. Students on close to 60 campuses are also mobilizing. Click here for a list of organizing and transportation centers.

Click here for transportation flyers from Orange County, Riverside and Ventura.

If you're organizing people from your area, fill out the online form or e-mail us at answerla@answerla.org so we can help get the word out.

Driving Directions

For detailed driving directions to Hollywood and Vine from where you live, click here.

The following driving directions set forth how to get to Hollywood and Vine from various places in Southern California. Of course, there are other routes available. These are merely provided for your convenience.

From San Pedro and South LA: Take 110 North. Take 101 North freeway exit towards Hollywood. Several miles later, take the Hollywood Blvd. exit and go west on Hollywood Blvd. You can also exit on Sunset Blvd. (one exit before Hollywood).

From Pasadena: Take the 110 South to 101 North to the South to 110 South to the Hollywood Blvd. exit. Go west on Hollywood Blvd.. From Santa Monica: Take 10 East. Exit La Brea going North. Take La Brea to Hollywood Blvd. Turn right on Hollywood Blvd. Or Take the 10 East to the 405 North. Exit onto the 101 South toward Hollywood. Take the Hollywood Blvd. exit. Go west on Hollywood Blvd. From San Bernardino: Take 10 West. The 10 West becomes the 101 North. Exit Hollywood Blvd. Go west on Hollywood Blvd. From Orange County: Take 5 North. Merge onto 101 North. Exit Hollywood Blvd. Go west on Hollywood Blvd. From Ventura, West San Fernando Valley and Burbank: Take 101 South. Exit Vine St. Turn right onto Vine. Turn left onto Hollywood one block later to find parking.
Parking

Parking is relatively easy and inexpensive in Hollywood. Here are some parking ideas for people who are driving to get to the demonstration.

Near Hollywood and Vine

There is plenty of parking conveniently located near Hollywood and Vine. Street parking is available on Hollywood and on many side streets to the east of Vine.

There are open-air pay parking lots south of Hollywood Blvd. near Argyle. More pay lots are on Vine, just north of Hollywood Blvd. Parking runs from $5 to $10 for the whole day.

Several enclosed lots are reasonably priced. The Arclight Cinema lot on Sunset, just west of Vine is only two or three dollars with validation. The small shopping mall on the northwest corner of Sunset and Vine is also only several dollars with validation from the nearby Borders book store or Baja Fresh. Hollywood and Vine is just two blocks north of both of those lots. Map of the area around Hollywood and Vine.

Near Hollywood and Highland

You can also park near Hollywood and Highland and walk or take the Metro back to Vine. There are pay lots on most streets between Vine and Highland, just north of Hollywood Blvd. A large lot is on Las Palmas (1 blk east of Highland) just north of Hollywood Blvd.

Parking in the Highland mall is very easy and cheap ($2.00 for 4 hours with validation). There are also pay lots north of Hollywood on Highland. Parking there runs from $5 to $10 for the whole day. After parking at any of those spots, you can walk back to Vine (15 min) or take the Hollywood and Highland Metro one stop east to Hollywood and Vine. Map of the area around Hollywood and Highland.

Transportation to & in Los Angeles

Public Transportation near the protest

The assembly point at Hollywood and Vine is easily accessible by public transportation. You can get there by both Metro and bus.

Hollywood and Vine has its own Metro stop. It is on the Red Line. Union Station is also on the Red Line. Click here for a map of Metro rail stops in LA.

For public transit directions from your starting location, click below to use the trip planner feature. Just enter your starting location and input Hollywood/vine as your ending location, and you will receive detailed public transit directions: http://www.mta.net/default.asp. This will tell you exactly what buses or rail lines to take, how long your trip will take and how much it will cost.

Buses travel directly to Hollywood and Vine on a regular basis from all different directions of the city. Click here for a bus map of Hollywood.

For a map of the entire LA bus system, click here: LA Bus map.

Transportation to LA from far away

The following links to transit providers provide routes, fares, and information on how to purchase tickets to get to Los Angeles:

Train: Amtrak
Bus: Greyhound
Plane: Orbitz

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Directions & Getting Back to Your Car

Bus/Van/Car Drop-Off

The march assembly site is Hollywood and Vine. Buses and vans can drop passengers off within a block from this location on Hollywood Blvd. Buses cannot park here, but they can pull up and unload along Hollywood by Argyle (1 block east of Vine). There are parking lots on Hollywood and Argyle. Map of the area.

Bus/Van/Car Parking Information

Vans and car caravans can drop off passengers on Hollywood east of Vine and then park in an adjacent lot or on the street. There are parking lots on Hollywood and Argyle. Map of the area.

How to Get Back to Your Car

Hollywood and Highland is only about 7 blocks away from Hollywood and Vine (although the march will be longer than that). To return to your car from Hollywood and Highland, you can walk east on Hollywood Blvd. or take the Metro one stop back to Hollywood and Vine.

If you prefer to use the trip planner feature on the Metro's website, click here: http://www.mta.net/default.asp.

Housing/Hotels in Los Angeles

If you need to find housing or hotels in Los Angeles, visit LosAngeles.com. And below is a cheap hostel in Hollywood.

USA Hostels Hollywood
1624 Schrader Blvd, Hollywood
Los Angeles, CA
323-462-7777 or 800-524-6783
$26 dormitory (6-8 per room with bath)
This hostel is around 7 miles from downtown, but public transportation runs regularly.

Other LA area hostels available as well: Hostels.com.

Medical

Health care workers will be on hand to assist with basic medical needs. Please remember to bring water, snacks and comfortable walking shoes. You will be on your feet and outside for several hours. If you are a health care worker or have first aid experience and would like to volunteer to help on March 17, call us at 323-464-1636 or e-mail answerla@answerla.org with MEDIC in the subject.

Media

Please direct media questions and requests for interviews to ANSWER at 323-464-1636. Interviews in English, Spanish, Arabic and Tagalog are available. You can also e-mail answerla@answerla.org with MEDIA in the subject. There will be a media check-in table at Hollywood and Vine and also near the main rally stage near Hollywood and Orange.

Weather

The weather for March 17 is projected to be warm and sunny--a typical day in LA. Whatever the weather, we'll be marching on March 17.

What You Should Bring to the Protest

Bring snacks and water, and wear comfortable shoes since you'll be walking and standing for several hours. Also, bring appropriate gear to ensure that you are comfortable no matter what the weather is like. You may want to bring a hat and wear sun block. If you've been to an ANSWER protest before and have an "Act Now to Stop War & End Racism," t-shirt or sign, wear it or bring it to the protest!

Food

There are numerous cafes and breakfast places in the area around Hollywood and Vine and, even more, around Hollywood and Highland. Coffee shops, fast food and pizza places abound near the Highland mall. Bring snacks and water in case you get hungry during the march.

Disabled Protesters

Everyone who wants to should be able to enjoy the March 17 event. Protesters with disabilities can drive or take the Metro or Buses to Hollywood and Vine as mentioned above. The forms of public transportation are accessible to all.

Additionally, there will be restroom facilities for disabled protesters. For people who cannot march, you can attend the opening portion at Hollywood and Vine and then walk down Hollywood Blvd. (a straight shot) or take the metro to the next stop, Hollwyood and Highland. Be there by 1:45 pm for the rally. There are also a small number of slots for people to ride in a truck along the march route. For questions, check in at the ANSWER volunteer table when you arrive.

Youth & Student and Other Contingents

There will be various organized contingents of protesters gathering near Hollywood and Vine for the March 17 protest.

Youth & Student Contingent: Meet at the entrance of the Pantages Theatre on the North side of Hollywood Blvd. (between Vine and Argyle) at 11:30 am by the Youth & Student banner.

African Americans Against the War Contingent: Meet at Hollywood and Vine at 11:30 am.

There will also be contingents representing Cuba/Venezuela/Bolivia and Latin America, labor, Filipino people's struggle, women, LGBT people, Free the Panther 8 and others.

Labor Contingent: Meet at Hollywood and Argyle at 11:30 am. Flyer

Volunteers

To make this event a success, dozens of volunteers are needed to help out in many areas. If you would like to volunteer, fill out the online sign-up sheet. Help is needed for handing out literature and placards, getting out buttons, doing march security, holding banners and more. On the day of the demonstration, check in at the ANSWER volunteer table (on the south side of Hollywood Blvd. between Vine and Argyle) at 11:00 am. If you arrive later and want to volunteer, check in at the volunteer table when you get to the march. Volunteers will be needed both before and during the march and also at the main rally site at Hollywood and Highland.

Banners/Signs/Drummers

Many volunteers and helpers will be needed in this area, so please call 323-464-1636 or e-mail us at answerla@answerla.org to find out how you can help!

In addition, ANSWER is calling all progressive drummers to join the march. We need drummers to march with the Youth & Student Contingent and with the rest of the march. A vibrant contingent of drummers will greatly enhance the feel of the demonstration. Please contact us by phone or e-mail if you are a drummer and want to help mobilize others. The Youth & Student Contingent is gathering in front of the entrance of the Pantages Theatre on the North side of Hollywood Blvd. at 11:30 am.

Literature/Flyers/Leaflets

Download and copy the newest March 17 flyer (with Ozomatli on it) in English and Spanish.

Please distribute these flyers as widely as possible before March 17. Take them to your school, work, community center and everywhere you go. Go door-to-door in your neighborhood and enlist support for the protest and anti-war movement. Help make a final outreach push before the demonstration!

Worksessions

The ANSWER logistics team will hold numerous work sessions to complete work in all of the above areas in preparation for March 17.

Sat/Sun, March 10/11, 12 noon: Worksessions and outreach will take place at the ANSWER office at 1800 Argeyle Ave, #410, LA. Come in on one or both of those days to help build the march.

Tues, March 13, 7 pm: A worksession will take place after the ANSWER Activists Meeting on Tuesday, March 13, at 7 pm. Come to the ANSWER office.

FINAL WORKSESSIONS - Thurs/Fri, March 15/16: The final worksessions before the march take place all day (10 am to 8 pm) on Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16 at the ANSWER office. To volunteer or find out how you can help out, call 323-464-1636, or fill out the online sign-up sheet.

Also, take time off to build March 17. If you have vacation time available or if you can miss a class this week, come into the office to donate your time and energy to build the demonstration. There is much to do in the days leading up to the protest. Please make an extra effort to help out if you can.

Having an Information Table at the Rally

Nonprofit social justice organizations will have information tables at the rally near Hollywood and Highland. The nonprofit donation for having a table at the March 17 protest is $75.00. This payment goes towards the enormous logistical costs of the march. You must bring your own table up to 6 feet in length. Table placement in the designated table area is first come, first serve. Set up near Highland on Hollywood will begin at 11:00 am. At this time or afterward, check in at the ANSWER Coalition table or the stage on Hollywood and Highland for information on where you will be able to set up your table. It is strongly recommended that you make a reservation and donation in advance. You can make a reservation and donate in advance by credit card by calling 323-464-1636. A Reservation Organizer will also check in with you at the rally so you can pay your fee if you have not.

All commercial sales must be approved, call 323-464-1636. The donation for commercial sales is $100.00 (at minimum), unless you have worked out a pre-approved percentage of your sales with the organizers. This rate does not apply to food vendors.

You can also mail your donation for a table with a note indicating what organization you are from to: ANSWER, 1800 Argyle Ave, Suite #410, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

Donate to make March 17 a Success

The ANSWER Coalition is the organization that has assumed full responsibility for the costs of the stage, sound, and setup at the March 17 anti-war protest in Los Angeles. The cost of the march is $20,000 dollars. Please help the ANSWER Coalition meet these expenses. Click here to make a contribution to ANSWER by credit card through PayPal. You can also make credit card donations over the phone at 323-464-1636. Donations by check should be sent to ANSWER/Progress Unity Fund, 1800 Argyle Ave, Suite #410, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Checks of $50 or more are tax deductible.

What is the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition?

The ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) formed on September 14, 2001. It is a coalition of hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals and scores of organizing centers in cities and towns across the country. Its national steering committee represents major national organizations that have campaigned against U.S. intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia, and organizations that have campaigned for civil rights and for social and economic justice for working and poor people inside the United States. Find out more about ANSWER and its important work at AnswerLA.org.

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A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition-LA
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism
323-464-1636
http://www.answerla.org
answerla@answerla.org
1800 Argyle Ave, #410
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Join us each Tues at 7 pm for ANSWER Activists Meetings.