On Sunday, March 19th, on the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, people will gather in East Falls near the home of Sen. Arlen Specter to deliver the message that this is a war that never should have happened -- a war based on lies that continues to devastate the lives of thousands, both in Iraq and the United States.
It is important to make this statement at this time because once again Congress is being asked by the President to approve a supplemental appropriation to fund the wars. This is in addition to the annual multi-billion dollar budget for the military.
As early as the first week in March, Congress will vote on an additional $72.4 billion in funding for the wars and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.
To date over $256 billion have been spent on the war! For this same amount of money our government could have:
At the same time, the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have yet to receive the resources they need to recover from Hurricane Katrina and communities around the country are impacted every day by drastic cuts in social spending. And the war has brought new assaults on civil liberties and democratic rights.
Last year, on the second anniversary of the war, more than 765 actions were organized in response to the call for local antiwar protests. This year the goal is to increase the visibility of grassroots antiwar sentiment and bring new people into this movement.
So on March 19th the members of local organizations will join with the national coordinator, United for Peace and Justice, and the global antiwar movement in a massive outpouring of opposition to the war in Iraq. Opponents of the war are planning a wide array of events in their hometowns for the entire week surrounding this anniversary.
Those assembled on the border of Philadelphia University on School House Lane will reiterate their call for Specter to author a bill (similar to "The End the War in Iraq Act of 2005," H.R. 4232) that would cut off all Pentagon spending in Iraq, except what is needed for an orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops.
The Peace Event is endorsed by Brandywine Peace Community, Communist Party of SE PA and DE, Green Party of Montgomery County, Green Party of Philadelphia, Military Families Speak Out, Northwest Greens, Northwest Peace and Justice Movement, Northwest Peace Coalition, Peace Action of Delaware Valley, Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network(PRAWN), Philadelphia War Resisters League, Saint Vincent's Peace and Justice Ministry, Veterans for Peace, VietNam Vets against the War, and Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Philadelphia Branch.
Third Anniversary of the War Peace Event will take place 2:00 until 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 19, at Schoolhouse and Timber Lanes (between Henry Avenue and Gypsy Lane) near the home of Senator Specter in East Falls.
For more information, please go to PRAWN at Prawn@lists.riseup.net or call 215-307-7980.