National Campaign of Nonviolent Actions Planned at Congressional Offices

The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance Against the War in Iraq (NCNR) is initiating a campaign of nonviolent sit-ins at the offices of members of Congress who refuse to speak out or otherwise take appropriate action to end the war.

"A Call to Conscience for the U.S. Congress" will begin on the national Martin Luther King holiday on January 16, honoring the fallen leader’s philosophy of nonviolence and his opposition to war, and extend through the third commemoration of the beginning of the war, on March 20. It is expected that dozens of local groups will join the nonviolent campaign to move their members of Congress; a listing of initial planned actions immediately below, and additional actions will be announced as they are finalized in the coming weeks. (Additional actions are currently being planned in cities such as Chicago, IL; Syracuse, NY; Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; and Philadelphia, PA.)

NCNR promotes nonviolent opposition to the war, following the disciplines and practices of nonviolent leaders such as King and India’s Mahatma Gandhi, and is the only national anti-war campaign and network devoted exclusively to nonviolent resistance.

For a complete copy of "A Call to Conscience for the U.S. Congress" and other information about the NCNR, go to www.iraqpledge.org

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Current Planned Actions to Begin "A Call to Conscience for the U.S. Congress"

Arlington, TX – Local Veterans for Peace and Code Pink groups will establish a weekly presence outside the office of Rep. Joe Barton. Contact: Desiree Fairooz, 817-521-7856

Baltimore, MD – The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore will be visiting the office of Rep. Ben Cardin on January 13th to read Martin Luther King’s famous Riverside Church speech and repeat their demand that the Congressman vote against further funding for the war, with several members planning to sit-in if necessary. Contact: Max Obuszewski, 410-323-7200, x31 or mobuszewski@afsc.org

Bethlehem, PA - The group LEPOCO will visit Rep. Charlie Dent's office on January 17th, with a request for a meeting to discuss the Iraq war and persuade the Representative to sign on to bills calling for an end to the war. If necessary, the group will set up a mock court to put the war on trial, reading names of both U.S. & Iraqi dead. Contact: Robert Daniels II, 610-781-5612

Eugene, OR - The group Civil Resisters plan to confront Sen. Gordon Smith in public on Friday, January 13th using creative street theater. Contact: Peter Chabarek, frodo55@epud.net

Madison, WI - On January 17, members of the Pledge of Resistance - Wisconsin will visit the Madison office of Senator Herb Kohl, to follow up on written requests that he speak out against the war and take specific actions. The antiwar activists are prepared to remain in his office if Kohl refuses to end his support for the war, and they expect to return on a regular basis through March 20. Contact Joy First, 608-222-7581

Montgomery & Prince George’s Counties, MD - Montgomery County Peace Action is planning a meeting and possible action at the office of Rep. Albert Wynn, as well as joining with the Peace and Justice Coalition, in Prince Georges County, MD to challenge Rep. Steny Hoyer.to speak out against the war. Contact: Jean Athey, 301-570-0923

Portland, ME - Repeating their continuing demand for a town hall meeting to discuss the war, on January 11th Peace Action Maine plan to go to the office of Senator Susan Collins and read the names of the dead. (This will be the the 7th Reading of the Names of American soldiers who have died in this Iraq war and an equal number of Iraqi civilians who have perished because of the U.S. war and occupation.) Contact: Karen Wainberg, 207-773-8382 or kwainber@maine.rr.com

Contact: Gordon Clark 301-589-2355, Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200 x31