The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear Friends, We are writing to you about a series of promising events planned for January 7 – 20, 2001, in New York City and Washington DC. Numerous groups and individuals have worked very hard, in the past decade, to urge member states of the UN to unilaterally break the embargo, and to help US people understand the effects of economic warfare and ongoing bombardment, in Iraq, all the while building opposition to these policies. As we approach the tenth year since the Gulf War began, a core of VitW people will gather in New York City, beginning on January 7, for a one day retreat gathering. During that day, we’ll further organize ourselves for the activities described below. Please feel welcome to join us in NYC for leafleting, vigiling, and "busing." We’ll supply details about times and places in the near future. Drop us a note, please, if you know that you can commit any definite length of time. We’ll try to arrange housing for people who travel to New York, but we would need advance notice and, unfortunately, we can’t guarantee housing. We do ask all who join us to be self-funded, e.g., we can’t afford to offer meals or assist with travel expenses. Very importantly, may we suggest that you consider organizing January outreach, education and nonviolent resistance to warfare at a place that glorifies warfare in your own community. January 7-20 2001—Enough is Enough! activities in New York City & Washington, DC i--the Remembering Omran bus tour drew attention and heightened interest in communities all along the west coast during the past autumn. Thanks to the Middle East Children’s Alliance and a sturdy crew of drivers, we can bring the bus to New York City where the rolling "billboard" will reach numerous groups; (to reach the bus, call 202.258.4958) VitW members hope to park the bus near the USS Intrepid war museum, in mid-town Manhattan, once a day, for one week, to make available to USS Intrepid staff and visitors an alternative "peace museum," replete with coffee and donuts for brave visitors. We will also seek a meeting between USS Intrepid officials and a broad range of educators, clergy, and local leaders who share concern over the message that the USS Intrepid delivers to schoolchildren, older students and millions of visitors. Of particular concern is an exhibit that helps visitors, through simulation, pretend to be bomber pilots in warfare over Iraqi skies. Together with peace activists in New York City, we will seek nonviolent means to further educate people about the consequences of warfare against Iraqi civilians. ii--during lunchtime hours, we plan to drive the "Remembering Omran" bus through Times Square while we leaflet people in front of a US military recruitment center directly across from Times Square; our leaflet will urge people to reject threat and force as a means to solve problems, recognizing that the ten years of violent, lethal economic warfare against Iraq has caused the deaths of over one half million children and strengthened the Iraqi regime. iii--we will also plan, each day, to hold a vigil in front of the US Mission to the UN where we hope to reach UN diplomats and staff with a leaflet stating: "Enough is Enough: unilaterally break the siege against Iraq." We’ ll do our best to bring this message to the widest possible audience within the United Nations. We look forward to celebrating Martin Luther King’s birthday, in New York City, at both the United Nations and the USS Intrepid, believing that his message and the brave witness of the civil rights movement constitute one of the finest "exports" the US can ever offer. Finally, for activists in NYC or the surrounding area planning to visit Washington DC in advance of the inaugural events, please consider hitching a ride with the Remembering Omran bus which will head toward DC on January 17 We’ll keep you posted as more details develop. Please let us know if you think you would like to receive preparation materials for the January 7 – 17 events in New York City. Sincerely, Kathy Kelly Danny Muller Lauren Cannon Tom Jackson Stephanie Schaudel Tom Walsh for Voices in the Wilderness Chicago office -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk