By Maggie Downs
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DOWNTOWN - A variety of local organizations are planning to come together March 20 to publicly show their opposition to the war in Iraq.

Cincinnati's March and Rally Against War and Occupation will start at noon that Saturday on Fountain Square. The event comes one year after the March 19, 2003, U.S. invasion of Iraq and as hundreds of military personnel from Greater Cincinnati still serve there.

In January 2003, hundreds turned up at a peaceful anti-war rally in Fountain Square. It was sponsored by Moms and Dads for Peace, one of the organizations hosting this year's event.

This year, they hope thousands will be present at the event.

Attendance this time is even more important, according to planners.

"A year later, with the knowledge that no weapons of mass destruction existed, with the knowledge that we were misled, it becomes even more important to stand up and make our voices heard," said Barbara Chin, a volunteer from downtown. "We need to show one year later, people still don't support this."

The tentative plan for the afternoon includes a series of speakers at Fountain Square, a memorial for those who have died in Iraq - 552 Americans and thousands of Iraqis - and a short march followed by another meeting on the square.

Organizers at Cincinnati's Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center say this collective effort gives strength to individual groups.

"We give courage to each other and inspiration to each other," said Sister Alice Gerdeman, coordinator for the center, which is a faith-based advocacy and education group. "The more energy we find through each other, the more effect we can have."

Besides the center, participating groups include Coalition for Peace with Iraq, International Socialist Organization, Peace Seekers, UC Anti-War Committee, Claver Jesuit Mission, Moms and Dads for Peace, Nuclear Awareness Group and Women in Black.

Many of the organizations have formed over the past year since the war began for a variety of reasons.

Some are faith-based. Some are concerned with the number of Iraqi deaths. Some are concerned for American soldiers.

"Several groups got together about specific aspects about the war," Gerdeman said. "... We just got to know each other better."

The organizers insist the peaceful protest will make a lot of previously unknown voices heard.

"It's important that everyone has an opportunity to come together and register our pain at what's still going on, as well as our displeasure with our politicians," Chin said. "This is a very clear statement."

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E-mail mdowns@enquirer.com