October 25 March and Rally against the Occupation of Iraq!
In ten days, tens of thousands will gather in Washington DC to express the growing opposition to the Bush administration's policies and its illegal occupation of Iraq. It is time to end the disastrous occupation of Iraq, time to bring the troops home. If you're looking for a way to express your anger about the lies we've been told, the lives that are being lost unnecessarily, and the billions being spent for an unjust occupation while our cities suffer, get on the bus to DC!
Bush has the gall to tell us things are getting better in Iraq, but the news from Iraq only gets worse. More than 7200 Iraqi civilians and 330 U.S. soldiers have been killed to date. Millions of Iraqis have been deprived of affordable, reliable access to electricity, clean water, gas, and medical care. The U.S. is ramming through plans to sell off virtually all of Iraq's industries to transnational corporations.
Bush is demanding billions for an illegal military occupation, while the government resists paying for vital domestic social and economic programs and the damage done to Iraq by 12 years of war, sanctions, and occupation. In Washington we will demand: Money for jobs, education & healthcare, not war and occupation.
As the October 25-26 weekend is also the second anniversary of the passage of the so-called Patriot Act, authorizing political arrests, indefinite detentions, domestic spying, and religious and racial profiling, the demonstration will also be a call to Fight Back Against the Patriot Act.
MOMENTUM BUILDING
Since United for Peace and Justice and International ANSWER decided to co-sponsor this march, a broad range of peace and justice groups have signed on. UFPJ brought the Bring Them Home Now Campaign, National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, Racial Justice 911: People of Color Against the War, Not in Our Name, and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation into the march's organizing committee. Over 120 regional organizing centers in cities around the country are bringing busloads of protesters to this demonstration.
But this mobilization will be a success because local coalitions, community groups and individuals like you make it a priority. What you do over the next ten days will make a big difference in how broad and large this march will be.
GET COMMITMENTS FROM OTHERS TO MARCH WITH US:
Forward this email to friends and appropriate listservs. Download and distribute leaflets from www.unitedforpeace.org." class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org. Organize phone banking nights. Make sure everyone knows about October 25th and knows how to get there.
MAKE TRANSPORTATION PLANS:
People are coming from as far away as Houston and Chicago to this march. It's not too late to organize carpools. Rent a bus or van.
Need a ride? Offering a ride? Please post your information at our ride board at www.unitedforpeace.org/ride.php." class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/ride.php.
In the New York region: Individuals can buy bus tickets directly from UFPJ. UFPJ can also help your group or organization secure a bus. Call 212-868-5545 or email Yvonne Lewis at yvonnedl@yahoo.com.
DONATE TO SUPPORT THE MARCH:
Organizing a major mobilization takes a lot of time and effort, and it also takes money. We must raise another $10,000 over the next ten days to ensure the success of this mobilization, and to make it possible for us to keep doing this critically important work after October 25th.
Please visit www.unitedforpeace.org/donate" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate to make an online donation. Or you can mail a check to UFPJ at PO Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108.
Please check our web site at www.unitedforpeace.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org for updates and details on the mobilization. Contact our office at 212-868-5545 if you need more information or assistance.
See you in Washington on October 25th!
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To find out more about what's happening in Iraq, visit the Occupation Watch Center's website: www.occupationwatch.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.occupationwatch.org
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UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
www.unitedforpeace.org" class="url" target="_blank">http://www.unitedforpeace.org 212-868-5545
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