Help make this the last anniversary of this war!
Last week we sent you information about United for Peace and Justice's upcoming 5 Years Too Many mobilization marking the 5th anniversary of the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq.
Today,
we'd like to highlight the actions that will be taking place on March
19th, the anniversary of the U.S. "shock and awe" assault on Iraq, the
day on which five years of horrifying death and destruction began.
March 19, Mass Nonviolent Direct Actions in Washington, DC:
We've marched, we've vigiled, we've lobbied -- it's time to put our
bodies on the line in large numbers. We encourage everyone who can to
join us in DC, on Wednesday, March 19th, to be part of the day of
action, or to assist in support work. We are working to have
delegations from all 50 states take part in this massive day of action.
March 19, Local Actions Throughout the Country:
While we are working hard to have a large turnout in DC on March 19, it
is also necessary to be visible and vocal in our local communities on
that day. Congress will not be in session and so our representatives
and senators will be in their home districts/states. We are aiming to
have at least one action in each of the 435 congressional districts. We
encourage those who are not able to make it to DC on March 19 to
organize and participate in local actions. These events will vary in
location and character -- some will be vigils, others civil
disobedience actions, some will be held at congressional offices,
others in town squares -- but they will all be tied to the actions in
Washington and sending the same message to the policy makers: It is
time to end this war and occupation!
Our activities to mark the 5th anniversary are designed to offer new
opportunities for people to publicly express their opposition to the
war. We believe the anti-war movement must use the 5th anniversary
as the beginning of a renewed and bolder effort to finally bring this
war to an end. This is a challenging call to action, but it is urgent
that we mark the 5th anniversary in as strong
a way as possible to help ensure that ending the war in Iraq remains a
central issue in the public discourse throughout this year.
We need your help to make all of this happen. Here's what you can do:
- Make plans now to join us in Washington on Wednesday, March 19th. Visit www.5yearstoomany.org/march19dc for more info and to register to join us in DC. The call for the actions in Washington is included below --please share it with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, people you go to school with and everyone else you know and encourage them to make the trip to DC.
Finally, we will soon be sending information about the other major 5th anniversary event we are supporting -- the Winter Soldier hearings being organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Please keep your eyes open for email from us with more details on how
you can get involved in solidarity activities in your area.
Take Action in the Nation's Capitol on Wednesday, March 19
March 19th will mark the beginning of the 6th year of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Enough is enough!
We are organizing creative, nonviolent acts of civil disobedience in
Washington, DC, to interrupt business as usual for those promoting and
profiting from war and empire building. Focusing on the pillars of war,
our actions will take place at multiple sites, demonstrating the real
costs of war and offering visions for a more just and sustainable
world, a world at peace.
- If your organization would like to help mobilize people from your area to go to DC for March 19, please email dc@5yearstoomany.org
Information on civil disobedience trainings, etc. coming soon!
Five years of war and occupation in Iraq ... at what cost?
- A
country in shambles with 650,000 to 1 million Iraqis dead or wounded,
4,000,000 displaced, families and communities ripped apart. Nearly
4,000 U.S. service people killed and over 40,000 wounded, many then
neglected by our government. All the while U.S. corporations reap huge
profits as they plan to control Iraq's oil.
-
Over
$1.2 trillion spent on death and destruction while at home millions of
uninsured have no access to affordable healthcare, public
infrastructure is collapsing, the housing mortgage crisis is growing,
unemployment is rising and the Gulf Coast has yet to be rebuilt.
-
Continued
abuses on our natural environment with corporate greed protected. The
Arctic and Greenland melting before our eyes, Indigenous cultures and
peoples being destroyed, extreme climate events -- all tied to the
addiction to oil.
- Torture,
illegal surveillance, domestic spying, erosion of civil liberties. A
criminal administration with a Congress and judiciary no longer
offering adequate checks and balances. The Constitution, with its
articles of impeachment, rendered irrelevant and disregarded.
- And
now threats of an attack on Iran and escalation of the U.S. military
operation in Afghanistan. False claims of weapons of mass destruction,
while all along the WMDs have been right here in the U.S.
These Are the Times in Which We Live. This Is Our Time to Respond.
We Will Not Be Silent!
On March 19 -- Join the Nonviolent Action and Civil Disobedience
in Washington, DC
United
by common demands and organizing principles, groups are encouraged to
participate in nonviolent mass actions and/or organize their own
actions in coordination with others. There could be sit-ins, die-ins,
blockades, pray-ins, bike blockades, street theater, poetry readings,
puppets, speak-outs and more at government agencies, war profiteers,
corporate media, military recruitment centers, or other pillars of war
and empire in DC. Unleash Your Imagination!
Start organizing affinity groups and local meetings now. For more
information about the DC actions on March 19th contact: www.5yearstoomany.org or email dc@5yearstoomany.org |
