VARIOUS PEACE GROUPS WILL BE AT THE WHITE HOUSE DEMANDING AN TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski at verizon.net

 

PRESS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   October 4, 2008

Contact: Max Obuszewski [410] 366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net

 

VARIOUS PEACE GROUPS WILL BE AT THE WHITE HOUSE DEMANDING AN TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

 

WHO: The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore was formed for individuals willing to engage in nonviolent civil resistance to first prevent and later to protest the war in Iraq. It is affiliated with several national peace groups, including the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR] and United For Peace & Justice. 

 

Disappointed with President Obama’s unwillingness to significantly change course from the Bush Administration, and his talk of troop increases in Afghanistan, a coalition of national antiwar groups will be joining together on a day of nonviolent direct action at the White House.  Members of the coalition include NCNResistance, Peace Action, the War Resister’s League, Code Pink, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Veterans for Peace, World Can’t Wait, and others. 

 

WHAT:  A letter was sent to President Obama requesting a meeting, but no response was received.  So members of NCNR and Peace Action will try to seek this meeting to compel the president to end the occupation of Afghanistan and to bring the troops home.  In the event that the meeting is refused, dozens of peace and justice activists, including Max Obuszewski of the Pledge of Resistance, will do a die-in on the White House sidewalk.

 

WHEN:  Monday, October 4, 2008 at 12:15 PM

 

WHERE: on the White House sidewalk, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, WDC

 

WHY:  The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance has long challenged the Bush administration and members of Congress for supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the shredding of the Bill of Rights, torture and the lack of due process for detainees.  NCNR members and their supporters are very disappointed with the Obama administration, as its foreign policy is little different from that of Bush and Cheney.  So many peace groups have organized a rally in McPherson Square at 10:30 AM on Monday, October 5, the birthday of Philip Berrigan.  A speaker at the rally will be Elizabeth McAlister, his wife and co-founder of the Jonah House community

 

The demands on October 5 are as follows:

1)      That the U.S. ceases its immoral and unlawful combat operations and military occupation of the sovereign nation of Afghanistan.  Also, that the bombings and all other incursions into Pakistan be immediately stopped and all U.S. troops be removed from Iraq now.

2)      That the U.S. engages in vigorous international aid efforts, particularly medical assistance and infrastructure reconstruction, in Afghanistan and Iraq.

3)      That the U.S. closes the prison at Bagram Air Base, and releases those who have been held with no charges.  Those who have been charged with a crime will be tried in civilian courts.  The same should happen immediately at Guantanamo.

4)      That money appropriated for the disastrous and tragic wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is instead used for life-affirming programs in the U.S. and abroad, such as health care and housing for the poor.

 

After the rally, the activists will go to the White House believing they have a First Amendment right and an obligation under Nuremberg to act when our government is breaking the law.  Too many innocent people have suffered and died as a result of our government’s illegal actions, and the protest will take place as the Pentagon begins its 9^th year of war and destruction in Afghanistan.  Should Obuszewski and the others get arrested at the White House, they will continue to speak truth to power at the trial.     

 

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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs