Hollywood celebs call for virtual march against war

Hollywood celebrities and US church leaders called on Wednesday for a ‘‘virtual march’’ on Washington via phone, fax and...

Hollywood celebrities and US church leaders called on Wednesday for a ‘‘virtual march’’ on Washington via phone, fax and e-mail to oppose any military intervention against Iraq.

The protest was announced just days after global demonstrations by millions against President George W. Bush’s stance on Iraq that insists Baghdad must give up its alleged weapons of mass destruction or face military action. ‘‘Today we are calling for Americans who are opposed to a US-led invasion of Iraq to keep marching,’’ said Tom Andrews, head of the ‘‘Win Without War’’ coalition of non-profit, religious and civil activist groups that oppose a military campaign in Iraq.

‘‘The virtual march on Washington will be an opportunity for every American opponent of an invasion of Iraq to stand up and be counted in every state in the United States,’’ Andrews told a news conference.

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TV ads starring actor Martin Sheen and airing from Thursday on local cable stations in LA and Washington will urge viewers to register on a coalition website. There, they will commit to calling Bush and each of their senators in Congress at a chosen time on February 26, said Andrews, a former Democratic member from Maine.

He added that the goal was to have phones in the offices of the President and every Senator ringing every minute of the day. (Reuters)

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