| NEW
YORK - March 31 - Acting in the tradition of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. United for Peace and Justice has called for anti-war
activities over the weekend of April 4 to 7. From vigils and rallies
to mass leafleting and civil disobedience, anti-war protesters
around the country will link their messages of peace with broader
themes of social and economic justice.
According
to UFPJ co-chair, Leslie Cagan, "The Bush Administration
is spending billions of dollars in an unprovoked, illegal and
immoral attack on Iraq while they ignore the plight of people
at home."
Cagan said
the latest round of activism will urge an immediate end to the
war and withdrawal of troops from Iraq. UFPJ's latest call to
action states: "We must keep the pressure on the Bush Administration
because of its rogue interaction in the world community, its
ignoring of international public opinion, and its disregard
for the international diplomatic community in the UN. We must
mobilize to stop the war now in order to save as many lives
as possible. We must stop the war now so we can prioritize education,
jobs and economic recovery instead of militarism and destruction."
Dr. King is regarded as the nation's foremost advocate for peace
and justice, articulating the link between immoral war abroad
and racism and poverty at home. This weekend's activities are
being conducted in his honor.
Below are
some of the activities supported by United for Peace and Justice;
a comprehensive listing of local events can be found at www.unitedforpeace.org
ACTION CALENDAR.
April 4th:
UFPJ calls for activities at schools, in workplaces and in our
communities that highlight the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. by linking our work for peace to the struggle for economic
and social justice: marches, rallies, educational events, vigils,
and mass leafleting.
April 5th:
(a) Citizen Works calls for teach-ins, rallies, protests, parades,
and other events as part of this year's Big Business Day. Under
the theme of Challenging the Business of War, these activities
will ask who pays and who benefits from this war? For more information,
see www.citizenworks.org.
(b) Campus Anti-War Network is organizing a Festival of Peace
in Washington, DC and demonstrations in Chicago and San Francisco
under the theme of "no war at home and abroad." For
more information, see www.antiwarnetwork.org.
April 6th:
Local educational and protest activities linking the cost of
this war to the cuts in housing, health care, environmental
clean-up, mass transit, veterans benefits and other critical
programs. Churches around the country are planning sermons and
seminars.
April 7th:
Direct Action to Stop the War (SF/Bay Area) calls for a National
Day of Direct Action and Civil Disobedience to Stop the War
at Home and Abroad with non-cooperation targeting federal and
government buildings, oil corporations, arms manufacturers and
arms transportation systems. Instead of going to work or school,
sustain the resistance to this war by participating in or supporting
mass nonviolent direct action. For more information and resources,
see www.actagainstwar.org.
Looking
ahead, UFPJ supports the activities being organized by the Latin
American Solidarity Coalition from April 10th to 15th in Washington,
DC. In addition to a major national conference, LASC is organizing
a March and rally on April 13th and two days of Congressional
lobbying on April 14th and 15th. For information, see www.lasolidarity.org
or call LASC at 202-234-3440.
United
for Peace and Justice is a national coalition of over 200 groups
that oppose the war against Iraq. UFPJ organized the massive
anti-war protests in New York on February 15th and March 22nd.
###
|
