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Friday is Iraq Moratorium #3.

On Friday, Nov. 16, antiwar activists will take the “Anti-Torture Train” to San Jose, Calif., where more than 20 groups are sponsoring a march, picket, and news conference in front of a corporation that organizers say profits from illegal kidnappings and torture by handling the logistics for the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" flights – torture flights.

On the way, they will leaflet Caltrain passengers to educate them about U.S. torture policy, the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" of suspects to other countries for abusive interrogation, and efforts in Congress to end the practice.

In New York City, a morning rush hour action at Union Square will feature hand-painted Pietas and black-clad leafleters.

Protesters in a number of cities will bang pots and pans in front of Congressional offices, as part of the Raise Hell for Molly Ivins campaign, inspired by the late progressive columnist and activist.

In Minneapolis and St. Paul, a student walkout is planned at a number of schools and campuses at noon, with an all-day teach-in and workshops, reminiscent of the 1969 Vietnam War Moratorium, at Macalester College.

Students from 15 colleges and universities in the Boston area, dressed in black, will walk in a silent procession to call for an end to the war in Iraq.

In hundreds of other communities across the country, groups will hold vigils or rallies, while tens of thousands of individuals take some personal action to call for an end to the war.

It’s all part of the third Iraq Moratorium Day, a loosely-knit nationwide effort that asks people to take some action, either individually or collectively, on the third Friday of every month.

That action can be as simple a gesture as wearing a black armband or button for the day, as big as participating in a large-scale protest, or a lot of things in between. The group’s website, <a href="http://www.IraqMoratorium.org"> link </a> has a list of suggestions, tools for organizers, a list of upcoming actions, and reports on previous month’s events.

The Moratorium, inspired by the Vietnam War Moratorium in 1969, is designed to grow, expand and escalate over time, recognizing that the struggle to end the Iraq war will be a long-term one. Organizers say interest and participation are steadily growing.

“Clearly, a solid majority of the American people oppose the war, think it is a mistake, and want our troops home,” Eric See, a Moratorium organizer in California, said. “Every opinion poll tells us that. The Moratorium offers people a chance to translate those feelings and opinions into action, and to take some personal responsibility for ending the war.”

The Moratorium marches on while the antiwar movement continues to discuss strategy, tactics and where to go from here.

Its job is not to persuade Americans to oppose the war. They already do.

The challenge is to find a way to reach them, mobilize them, and get them to become active, vocal advocates to end the war.

The Moratorium does not try to dictate what anyone should do, but encourages coordinated actions on the same day and its website serves as a clearinghouse to collect and share information about what is happening nationally on Moratorium Day.

The effort has the endorsement of dozens of organizations, including veterans, labor and peace groups, and the usual sprinkling of celebrities. But its focus is on getting individuals involved, especially those new to the peace movement, and getting the new Silent Majority to speak up.

(Bill Christofferson, a Vietnam veteran, former journalist and longtime political consultant, now retired, is a volunteer with the Iraq Moratorium. He lives in Milwaukee.)