Organizing Locally

From www.unitedforpeace.org

Thanks to everyone who has sent in reports on their visits (or attempts to visit) to members of Congress. You will find a synopsis of those reports below.

Congressional Recess Calendar

UPCOMING EVENTS TO END THE WAR AND HOLD WARMAKERS ACCOUNTABLE

Put these in your calendar!

In-District Meetings with Members of Congress:
President Bush threw down the gauntlet to his Congressional critics in a speech this week: "When our soldiers hear politicians in Washington question the mission, they are risking their lives to accomplish, it hurts their morale. In a time of war, we have a responsibility to show...our nation is united and determined to prevail."

End the War on Iraq: Bring All the Troops Home Now

A Call for a Week of Local Action: March 15-22, 2006

March 19th will mark the third anniversary of a war that never should have happened -- a war based on lies that continues to devastate the lives of thousands, both in Iraq and the United States.

January 10th, 6:30-9:00pm
Agenda
6:30 -- 7:00 – Dinner & Networking
7:00 – 7:05 - Introductions
7:05 – 7:15 - Iraq Veterans facts and figure
7:15 – 8:05 - Panel Discussion
8:05 – 8:10 - Bill Black’s 5-minute Speed Seminar on framing the Anti-War Message

By United for Peace and Justice

Does the thought of watching President Bush give the State of the Union address alone leave you feeling a bit depressed? We have the solution: throw a house party to support UFPJ and your local peace and justice group. And have fun!

By Stephen Pearcy

Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

For most people, the last several weeks probably involved holiday gatherings with friends and family. Locally, we saw little, if any, direct action.

Confirmed Speakers:
Congresswoman Maxine Waters,
Tom Hayden,
Jeff Key (Iraq Veterans Against the War),
Erin Sikorsky-Stewart (State Political Director, California Peace Action)
More speakers TBA

Out of Iraq – Forum
***************************
Featuring:

Ray Mcgovern - US Army Veteran and 27 year CIA analyst
Gael Murphy - Co-founder of CODEPINK: Women for a Peace
Steve Cobble - Strategic Political Advisor and Speechwriter

We need your help to get ready for the State of The Union Address Protest on January 31st. We will bring out the noise and demand Bush step down. We have flyers available at the office and soon available for download. There are weekly meetings on Sundays at 1 PM at the Peace Center. Also, World Can't Wait is participating with the After Downing Street Coalition, Progressive Democrats of America and other organizations in public meetings Saturday, January 7, on the topic of ending the war!

Congressman John Conyers will speak at the Jan. 7th Town Hall Forum in Livonia, Mich.

Brave Troops Foolish Leaders: Operation Homecoming Event this Saturday

(Seattle, WA) The Backbone Campaign and Progressive Democrats of
America are hosting a town meeting to launch Operation Homecoming and to

Laura Flanders will be MCing the Jan 7 Out of Iraq event in Brooklyn, NY.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/event

Out of Iraq Events Planned in Over 130 Cities
Local organizations have planned over 130 Out of Iraq events around the country on or about January 7th. Most of the events are town hall forums, and several will feature members of Congress, including Bobby Scott, Diane Watson, Jim McDermott, Adam Smith, Bob Filner, Martin Sabo, Jim Moran, Marty Meehan, Jay Inslee, John Conyers, and John Murtha. Several other events will feature congressional staff, congressional and senatorial candidates, local elected officials, and leaders of the peace movement, including Gold Star Families for Peace founder Cindy Sheehan, and After Downing Street Co-Founder John Bonifaz.

As of Jan 5th we have 124 events planned for Saturday, Jan 7!
SIGN UP FOR ONE

WHO: David Swanson, Moderator, co-founder, After Downing Street; Allan J. Lichtman, History Professor, American University; Lila Rajiva, author of Abu Ghraib and the Media, The Language of Empire; Cliff Kindy, Christian Peacemaker Teams; Kevin Zeese, Peace Activist, Democracy Rising; DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (invited)

Nation-Wide Out Of Iraq Day

Join progressive, pro-peace activists around the country for a nation-wide ‘Out of Iraq Day.’

TIME: Saturday, Jan. 7th @ 1:00 PM

PLACE: Lafayette Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford St, Brooklyn

Over 100 people have signed up for the January 7th event in Tacoma, Washington, sponsored locally by America In Solidarity ( www.americasolidarity.com ). Congressman Adam Smith is going to address the public in a town hall-style format with workshops and a concert to follow. So, we are challenging you to get out people in your hometown, because we are in Tacoma!

Todd Iverson, co-founder, America In Solidarity
www.americasolidarity.com

As of Jan 4th we have 114 events planned for Saturday, Jan 7!
SIGN UP FOR ONE

By the Tallahassee Democrat (Fla.)

A local peace organization is seeking participants for a program recognizing U.S. casualties in Iraq and Florida's 97 soldiers killed in action. Readers will be scheduled for 15- to 30-minute intervals from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the east lawn of the Capitol. Flower donations are welcome. It is sponsored by Codepink, AfterDowningStreet and Vets for Peace. Call Lydia Vickers at 385-5322 or e-mail ljvltg@yahoo.com.

By Paul Boerger, Mount Shasta Herald, Wednesday, January 4th, 2006

As part of a National Day of Town Forums Mount Shasta for Peace will hold a peace rally January 7th beginning at 11 am at the Mount Shasta city plaza.

As of Jan 4th we have 105 events planned for Saturday, Jan 7!
SIGN UP FOR ONE

As of Jan 3rd we have 101 events planned for Saturday, Jan 7!
SIGN UP FOR ONE

By the Backbone Campaign

*Brave Troops Foolish Leaders: Operation Homecoming Event this Saturday Progressives Organize to call for End of Iraq War and for Accountability of Bush Administration*

Event: Out of Iraq Forum, part of more than 70 events being held across the country focusing on how the U.S. can get out of Iraq. See enclosed for information on national events.

Where: The Langston Hughes Theater, at Bus Boys and Poets, 14th and V. Streets, NW. C-SPAN has taped other events here. The theater was designed to make it easy for television taping. The number of Bus Boys and Poets is 202-387-7638).

Week of March 13-17
Students Say NO to War in Iraq!
College Not Combat, Troops Out Now!

On March 13-17*, students will hold events at high schools and colleges around the country demanding an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq and money for young people's education, not military recruitment. This week of action leads into the global days of protest on March 18-19, where students will join many others in marking the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and demanding to bring the troops home now!

Announcing: Out of Iraq Forum

Featuring David Swanson from After Downing Street

In conjunction with After Downing Street the Virginia Grassroots Coalition will be hosting one of the nationwide "Out of Iraq" forums during their regular monthly meeting to discuss the Iraq War and what we can do to help bring our troops home. David Swanson from After Downing Street will be there to share ideas and help answer questions.

Rep. Marty Meehan - Bringing Our Troops Home from Iraq, Memorial Hall Elm Square on Main Street, January 04, 2006, 07:00 PM, Andover,MA --

Rep. Marty Meehan - Bringing Our Troops Home from Iraq, Crisafulli Elementary School 13 Robinson Road, January 05, 2006,07:00 PM Westford,MA --

January 7 Out of Iraq Town Hall Meeting

The Sacramento Coalition to End the War has organized a town hall meeting to discuss the current status of the war in Iraq, to review pending federal legislation that addresses the withdrawal U.S. troops, and to strategize regarding ways to hasten the end of the U.S. military occupation.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) will hold a town hall meeting regarding the Iraq War on Jan. 5 in Arlington with Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA).

Where: National Rural Cooperative Association
4301 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203