16 minutes of silence, one minute for each year of the current wars in both countries. We then read, in unison, from the poetry of Muriel Rukeyser and Iraqi poet Dunya Mikhail. Watch footage of the demonstration on PressTV.

Split This Rock thanks all who joined with us for this moving, powerful event, especially the Institute for Policy Studies, the Washington Peace Center, AWP participants, and co-organizers Brenda Hillman and 2010 Split This Rock featured poet Allison Hedge Coke.

The Poets' Contingent at the One Nation Working Together March on Washington

Demand the changes we voted for! One Nation Working Together is a social movement of individuals and organizations committed to putting America back to work and pulling America back together. Coming from a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, andorientations, we are determined to build a more united country with good jobs, equal justice, and high-quality public education for all.

On Saturday, October 2, 2010, thousands of Americans from across the country gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, to demonstrate our re-commitment to change. The poets' contingent carried signs with lines of poetry.

This movement includes human and civil rights organizations, unions and trade associations, nonprofit organizations, youth and student groups, religious and other faith groups, educational, peace, environmental, and ethnic associations, and any other groups and individuals who are committed to pulling our country back together now.

Speak Art to Power

Poets gathered at Split This Rock Poetry Festival in March 2008 signed an Appeal to Poets, Writers, and Creative Artists, and committed to a week of creative