Friends of  Peace & Justice Coalition, Prince George’s County—

Here’s a handy summary of this Saturday’s antiwar action in New York and many other cities. It includes one more notice of  bus transportation from D.C., that was not included in our latest leaflet. (This round of leafletting was finished Feb. 12 at College Park metro, where an even  larger percentage of commuters took an interest in our “Stop the War” message than at Greenbelt or New Carrollton last week.)

How to speak out against war if you’re not going to New York:  some suggestions for that are in our leaflet, too.  You can read it on our web site: www.justpeace-pgmd.org.  (Thanks to Alexander Barnes for timely postings there.)

What local actions shall we take next, whether yet to avert this war or to dig in to oppose it?  Everyone’s voice will matter.  Please bring or send your ideas to our next meeting, Tues., Feb. 25, 7:30 pm at the Greenbelt Community Center

(15 Crescent Rd.).     Other agenda item suggestions also welcome.           

In the meantime, the Coalition  has sent letters

·         supporting the Living Wage bill (C.B.1-2003) to the Prince George’s County Council

·         in support of the death penalty moratorium, state living wage bill and a progressive state tax structure to all members of the P.G. County delegation in Annapolis

·         against tax cuts for the wealthiest, and also against federal funding through “faith-based” rather than secular channels, to Sarbanes, Mikulski, Hoyer, Wynn and Van Hollen. Thanks to Donna Hoffmeister and Jean Snyder, respectively. (Will e-mail the texts on request.)

“There is no peace without justice, nor justice without peace.”  

----- Original Message -----

From:       Marvin Wingfield

To:            Marvin Wingfield

Sent:        2/12/2003 4:16:24 PM

Subject:  ADC Update: The World Says No to War

 

ADC Update:

The World Says No to War

This coming Saturday, February 15, is an international day of peaceful
protest to oppose a war with Iraq.  Hundreds of thousands or potentially
millions will be gathering for events that will be held in 306 cities across
the globe to say NO to war.  This could be the largest outpouring of
anti-war sentiment in history.

Here in the United States, a massive rally will be held in New York City at
49th Street and 1st Avenue at 12 noon.  As of today, only a permit for the
rally has been issued in New York.  Organizers are awaiting a second permit
to march past the United Nations offices.  Unless a permit to march is
issued, those who march may be in a potential arrest situation.  To
reiterate, the rally at 49th Street has an official permit to take place
from the New York Police Department; a permit for the m! arch is still
pending. See www.unitedforpeace.org for the latest information.

The rally is organized by the United for Peace and Justice campaign, which
has over 200 peace and justice groups as part of its network.  All are
united in the effort to prevent another war with Iraq, another disaster for
the long-suffering Iraqi people.  The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC) is part of this coalition and members from across the nation
will be saying no to war with Iraq.  ADC strongly encourages its members,
chapters, and supporters to take part in the New York City rally, the San
Francisco
rally, or any rally in their area.

For the most up-to-date information or to learn more about what is being
planned in your area, see www.unitedforpeace.org.  Organizers are advising
participants to bring along a radio to listen to live coverage on WBAI 99.5
FM.  This station will also serve as the main source of public announcements
and updates about the rally logistics.  Speeches will also be broadcast live
on this station during the rally.

For bus transportation from Washington, DC, to New York, ADC and other
organizations have chartered buses to go to New York on February 15 to
participate in the antiwar rally organized by United for Peace. The buses
will be leaving at 6:30 AM from Washington DC on the morning of Saturday,
February 15.

Tickets are $25 for students and $30 (non-students). Tickets need to be
purchased in advance at www.adc.org or b! y calling the ADC Organizing
Department at 202-244-2990. Seats are limited and first-come first-served.

Confirmed Speakers for the New York City rally are:
Bishop Desmond Tutu
Julian Bond
Danny Glover
Harry Belafonte
Martin Luther King III
and many others

 

Also:  The United for Peace and Justice Organizers are conducting a national campaign, asking individuals and organizations to press NY officials to issue the march permit.  Please take a few minutes to contact the officials.  Here is the UFPJ appeal:

SPEAK OUT: The denial of our right to march sets a very dangerous
precedent for free speech in this country—we ask you to raise the biggest
ruckus you can about this attack on our rights. Some suggestions:

Fax a statement from your organization to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg
insisting on our right to march on February 15. Fax#:  (212) 788-2460

Ask sympathetic elected officials, community leaders, and/or celebrities
to contact Mayor Bloomberg and demand that the City issue a march permit.

Contact your local media, write letters to the editor, call in to radio
talk shows, get the word out about this outrageous denial of our
Constitutional rights.

Make phone calls of protest to these officials:
*NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg: 212-788-9600, 212-788-3010, 212-788-3040
*NYC Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly: 646-610-8526
*NYPD Chief of Department Joseph Es! posito: 646-610-6710

Send emails protesting the denial of our march permit Mayor Bloomberg:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Commissioner Kelly: rkelly@nypd.nyc.gov
Chief Esposito: jesposito@nypd.nyc.gov

Sign this online petition supporting our right to march:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?FEB15


================================
Anti-Discrimination Committee
4201 Connecticut Ave, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20008, U.S.A.

Tel: (202) 244-2990
Fax: (202) 244-3196
Web: http://www.adc.org