The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Rae Abileah, CODEPINK local groups coordinator, 415-994-1723
Jean Stevens, national media coordinator, 508-769-2138

CODEPINK Women To Knock All Over America in Historic "Millions Doors" Day of Canvassing For Peace!

Nationwide

With pink clipboards, "Make Out Not War" stickers and chocolate kisses
in hand, hundreds of CODEPINK women will go door-to-door Saturday all
over America, asking their neighbors to sign a petition to demand
Congress bring the troops home within one year.

They'll be joining thousands of other volunteers from
all 50 states, from 20 peace and justice organizations, doing the same
in the historic Million Doors for Peace day of action. They hope to
reach one million citizens who long for peace but are unsure how to
work toward it in the lead-up to the presidential election.

WHAT: Hundreds of women to knock on doors all over America, joining thousands of others in Million Doors for Peace campaign asking neighbors to petition for troops out of Iraq within a year!
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 20
WHERE: Nationwide!
VISUALS: Women dressed in pink, walking from house to house, interacting with neighbors, painting peace signs on doors

"We feel it's the personal contact with our neighbors,
the canvassing of America, that really makes a difference in inspiring
people who have wanted to do more, to do something, to stop the war or
work toward peace, but weren't sure how," said Liz Hourican,
coordinator of CODEPINK DC. "It's vital to the elections, a really
important part of electoral politics. And this is unprecedented, to get
out and really knock on doors. It's a big mobilization."

The petition states that the five and a half years of
war in Iraq has been an exercise of misplaced priorities, draining U.S.
taxpayers of at least three trillion dollars which could have gone
towards investments that strengthen our economy, such as health care
for our families, ensuring the best education for our children and
youth, and addressing the energy crisis. This has resulted in hundreds
of thousands of Americans and Iraqis dead and wounded and has
undermined the United States' standing as a worldwide symbol for
democracy and justice.

"The peace vote will be and should be a big factor in
this election," said Tom Hayden, former state senator and professor at
Pitzer College in Los Angeles. "The peace vote will be and should be a
big factor in this election. We cannot wait. Our invisibility now will
make it harder for us in the future."

The other participating groups include: Catholics
United, CodePink, MoveOn, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Progressive
Accountability, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and
Justice, Voters for Peace and Win Without War.

For more information, call Jean Stevens, national media coordinator, at 508-769-2138 or e-mail at jean@codepinkalert.org.

CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.

(818) 275-7232