Will the Democrats stand up for peace or lay down for war?

A message from Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator of United for Peace and Justice regarding a proposed $162.6 billion war funding bill the House of Representatives will consider next week:

We are outraged that the Democratic Party leadership is working to give President Bush every penny he has asked for to continue a war they say they oppose. Amazingly, the bill includes $66 billion for fiscal year 2009, giving the next president the opportunity to continue the war with little or no accountability to Congress until next summer. This is an appalling abdication of responsibility.

We should be clear about what this means. What Congress is really doing by authorizing this war for another year, is writing a death sentence for hundreds if not thousands of U.S. servicemembers and Iraqis.

And here's the bottom line. There will be consequences. UFPJ Legislative Coordinator Sue Udry stated.

United for Peace and Justice and other national peace groups are watching this vote, and will make sure voters are reminded this fall who voted to continue the war, and who voted to end it.

Nov. 16: The 3rd Iraq Moratorium Day

photo Tom Good / Next Left Notes

From: UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

On the 3rd Friday of every month, since September, people around the country have been taking antiwar action in their own communities, workplaces, schools and other locations as part of the Iraq Moratorium. United for Peace and Justice urges you to join the building momentum on Friday, November 16th.

The idea is to not only do something yourself, but to also use this as an opportunity to get other folks involved, especially people who oppose the war but have yet to take any public action. Throughout the country there is widespread, deep opposition to the ongoing war and occupation in Iraq. But many people have yet to find a way to make their voices heard. Now is the time to reach out to those folks and to offer them new opportunities to be part of this movement.

UFPJ also believes this is a critically important time for raising our concerns about a new war on Iran. Just as we must end the war in Iraq, we need to make sure there is not a new war against Iran! We hope when you take action on Nov. 16th you will connect Iraq and Iran. To help you with that, we have prepared a 1/2-page leaflet called "Want to Do More?" that you can easily copy and distribute.

Here are a few other ideas for what you can do on the 3rd Iraq Moratorium Day, on Friday, Nov. 16:

Wear an anti-war button, armband, or t-shirt -- something visible expressing your opposition to the war. Give other people buttons or armbands to wear on Nov. 16th also.

Put an anti-war sign in your house or apartment window, on your lawn, or in your car window.

Check to see if there is an activity planned in your city on that day. If there is, help get the word out and bring more people to it.

If you want to plan an activity, click here to get ideas from what people have done on previous Iraq Moratorium days. And once you plan an event, be sure to post it on the calendar.

Make a special effort to call into radio talk shows on Nov. 16th. Talk about why you oppose the war in Iraq, why you want to stop a new war in Iran, and why you want all of the troops to be brought home now.

Download and distribute our ­"Want to Do More?" flyer in your community, where you work, at the school you attend, or anyplace where people gather.


Peace,

Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ

UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
212-868-5545
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