WASHINGTON - March 15 -

-- Anti-War Movement to Offer Voters a Pledge

-- New group to launch Friday for 3rd anniversary of Iraq War, seeking five million voters to sign pledge not to support pro-war candidates

-- Well-funded effort aims to make Iraq War "an issue candidates can't ignore"

WHAT: Voters for Peace, a new non-partisan group, will be launched this Friday, March 17 -- the eve of the third anniversary of the start of the Iraq War -- to highlight growing public opposition to the war in Iraq and other wars of aggression among disaffected Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike.

Speakers representing the ideological spectrum will appear at the National Press Club at 10 a.m. this Friday, March 17, to formally launch the new organization. They will unveil results of a new public opinion poll showing large numbers of voters would sign a pledge not to vote for any candidate who does not make a "speedy end" to the war in Iraq, and opposition to future wars of aggression, a campaign position.

Voters for Peace will unveil such a voter pledge on Friday, and announce it aims to gather two million signatures on it this year, and five million by the 2008 presidential election.

WHEN: Friday, March 17, 10 a.m.

WHERE: National Press Club, First Amendment Room, 14th and F Streets NW, Washington, D.C.

WHO:

-- Linda Schade, spokesperson for Voters for Peace

-- Michael Berg, father of Nick Berg, who was killed in Iraq

-- Kara Hopkins, editor, American Conservative magazine

-- Kevin Martin, executive director, Peace Action

-- John Nichols, "The Online Beat," The Nation magazine (invited)

-- Bill Scheurer, editor, The PeaceMajority Report

-- Kevin Zeese, director, Democracy Rising

A recent Zogby poll of active-duty troops in Iraq found nearly three quarters want to end the occupation within a year. Voters for Peace will announce the results of its own poll of the U.S. public, which shows widespread support for its pledge drive and for a swift withdrawal of troops.

"When policymakers distort the facts and manipulate public opinion to justify wars of aggression in our name, it is the public's right and duty to speak out and act," said Linda Schade, an advisor and spokesperson for Voters for Peace. The group has $1 million pledged for startup funding, and is developing both an educational project and a 501c(4) organization for promoting an end to wars of aggression. Its voter pledge will appear at http://www.votersforpeace.us.

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