IRAQ CRISIS ACTION ALERT

[alerts@unitedforpeace.org]

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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
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MAY 1, 2003: BUSH DECLARES THE IRAQ MISSION "ACCOMPLISHED"

APRIL 29 to -MAY 1, 2004: LOCAL ACTIONS AND MEDIA WORK AGAINST THE
ESCALATING CRISIS IN IRAQ

We must take action to express our urgent concern about the repression and
chaos inside Iraq. During the first half of April, a spiral of violence has
taken the lives of growing numbers of Iraqis and Americans. Hundreds of
Iraqis and more than 100 U.S. troops have been killed so far this month.
The siege of Fallujah led to the deaths of nearly 1,000 people when the
Pentagon responded to an atrocity against Americans with excessive force
and collective punishment. Throughout Iraq, occupation troops continue to
violate the human rights of the Iraqi people by firing into civilian areas,
detaining thousands of men and boys without charges, interfering with
medical assistance, demolishing homes, and curtailing the rights of free
press and freedom of assembly.

The crisis in Iraq demands our attention, and our action. If the mission
was "accomplished" a year ago, then it's high time to end the occupation
and bring home the troops.

The situation in Iraq is but one part of the deadly policies of the Bush
Administration; now is the time for us to make the connections. Just last
week Bush met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and lent unilateral
U.S. support to his plan to leave settlements in the occupied Palestinian
territories in tact. A few days later another Palestinian leader was
assassinated by the Israeli military, with no sanctions taken by the U.S.
The Bush Administration's policies are aggravating an already intolerable
crisis, one that could quickly engulf the whole region. Occupation: wrong
in Iraq, wrong in Palestine.

UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE URGES YOU TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

*ORGANIZE AN APRIL 30 OR MAY 1 ACTION IN FRONT OF YOUR SENATORS' OR
REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICES OR AT ANOTHER CENTRAL, VISIBLE LOCATION.

>>Hold a vigil, picket or rally in front of the office of your elected
>>officials, or at some other high visibility location.

>>Invite military families and veterans in your area to participate in the
>>event.

>>Bring posters with pictures or names of Americans and Iraqis who have
>>been killed in the war and occupation.

>>Some groups might prefer to schedule a meeting with Senators or
>>Congressional Representatives. Find out in advance if this legislator is
>>among those calling for increased numbers of troops. It is important to
>>convey your conviction that this does not represent your views and that
>>to lower the level of American and Iraqi casualties, occupation troops
>>should be removed from population centers now.

>>Be sure to emphasize that the continued presence of an American army of
>>occupation is an impediment to the peace, self-determination and security
>>of both the American and Iraqi people.

We should try to turn out as many people as possible, even on such short
notice. But remember,- just a few people holding signs outside a
Congressional office or in a busy area can send a strong message. Please
list your event at http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar_gxinput.php so we can
publicize the events as a national day of protest.


*CIRCULATE UFPJ'S PETITION AND FACT SHEETS ON IRAQ.

UFPJ's new petition on the occupation is available on our web site at
http://unitedforpeace.org/downloads/emergencypetition.pdf, and educational
materials are available to download from
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2060.

Start collecting signatures immediately, for delivery to your Senators and
Representatives on May 1, or begin circulating the petition on May 1 for
delivery on Memorial Day weekend. The petition campaign will continue in
the coming weeks, but we hope to gather tens of thousands of signatures by
May 1st. Please make copies of the completed petitions before you mail them
in: you will want to keep one copy for your group and we would love to get
copies here at the UFPJ office. That will help us keep track of how the
petition campaign is going all around the nation.


*GET THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION ON APRIL 29:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND CALLS TO RADIO TALK SHOWS.

We must get out the message that sending in more troops is NOT the answer
to Iraq's problems. Use the anniversary of Bush's "mission accomplished"
speech as an opportunity to write a letter to the editor explaining that
the occupation is part of the problem, NOT the solution. Then take this
message to the airwaves: every city and town has dozens of radio talk shows
that allow call-ins. Make a call on April 29 and explain why the occupation
is actually increasing the level of chaos and violence in Iraq and needs to
end. Use the calls to help promote the vigil or other activity you're
organizing for April 30 or May 1. Information on how to do participate in
this media campaign will be on our web site in a day or two:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org


* MAKE A DONATION TO UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE:

It is the donations from people like you that make it possible for UFPJ to
do this important work. Please take a moment right now to make an online
donation, just click on to: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/donate  Thank you!


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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.unitedforpeace.org/email
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