Multireligious & Multidimensional:Antiwar & Social Justice Initiative

[Ian David]

From: "The Shalom Center, NCC, &c" <[e-mail]>

Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 08:18:12 -0800 (PST)

ACTION ALERT: March 18 to April 4

THE IRAQ WAR AND BEYOND

Multireligious & Multidimensional:
Antiwar & Social Justice Initiative


For too long the attacks on peace, freedom, and justice endorsed by
some religious voices from the right have gone effectively unanswered. Now
prophetic religious communities are organizing and their respected religious
leaders are speaking out. Please add your voice!

Two months ago, The Shalom Center proposed to the emerging prophetic
religious community that on April 4, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther
King's great speech at Riverside Church in 1967 and the anniversary of his
death one year later, the religious communities of America gather at
Riverside Church to call out: "End the War, Feed the Poor!"

Now this event has become the climax of a planned series of actions from
March 18 to April 4.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE AND RALLY on Monday, April 4, will claim for our time
the faith and courage voiced in Dr. Martin Luther King's prophetic sermon
"Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence."

Dr. King's antiwar heritage and social justice commitments remain
strikingly relevant today. Indeed, he not only spoke out against the Vietnam
War but warned that if Americans did not make basic changes in our
government's policies and in our own life-paths, the triple dangers of
militarism, racism, and materialism would bring us, a generation after he
spoke, to other wars like Vietnam.

AND HERE WE ARE.

On March 19 America's people of conscience are turning up the volume.
That's the day a coalition of antiwar believers, social justice organizers,
interfaith leaders, and others led by their ethical commitments -- a
remarkable and growing Community of Conscience -- will begin a new address
and challenge to the nation and its directions.

We urge and hope that all those involved with The Shalom Center join in this
process -- through religious and ethical gatherings in our own local
communities on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday March 18-20; on April 4 in New
York City; and in the other events described below.

On March 19, CALC-I (Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq) launches
its prophetic public witness against the Iraq violence, in a dramatic
gathering in New York at the Riverside Church. CALC-I will be taking peace
and social justice teachings to every local faith community where its
witness is welcome. It looks ahead to launching a "sanctuary movement" of
pastoral care for those who resist participating in the Iraq War.

Simultaneously, from the Midwest ,FREEDOM RIDE 2005 kicks off. A
national bus tour, it provides a rolling forum for hundreds of thousands of
caring Americans who want to speak out against the Iraq War and its conduct,
and to speak out as well for economic, civil and social justice in our own
land.

To contribute to and learn more about this prophetic interfaith
movement go to www.drivedemocracy.org. More information is also available
at the Clergy and Laity Network (CLN): www.clnnlc.org. You can find more
about CALC-I's antiwar and social justice agenda at www.unitedforpeace.org.

FREEDOM RIDE 2005 will initially visit Dallas, Tulsa, Kansas City,
St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus. Cleveland, Pittsburgh,
Washington and Philadelphia, stopping also for rallies along the way.
Suggestions for route stops are welcome. FREEDOM RIDE 2005 will arrive in
New York on the eve of April 4 for the major event planned there. To learn
more about FREEDOM RIDE 2005 and how you can help to make it happen, click
here: drivedemocracy.org.

Also to be presented in the service will be A DECLARATION TO THE
NATION drawn from one million committed Americans! So, get this WRITE-IN
invitation to everybody:

JOIN A VIRTUAL "WRITE-IN RALLY"
with ONE MILLION FAITHFUL PEOPLE
Sending A DECLARATION TO THE NATION against the Iraq War
and Affirming God's Future for Us All

One million Americans committed to peace and justice will share their
ideas and visions online. The WRITE-IN uses a friendly new collaborative
writing system. You can participate from any Internet computer anywhere.
You can focus your passion and concern over the Iraq War, share your
insights, and create fresh new ways of speaking for peace and justice in our
time, all while participating from your own computer space.

You will need to register March 20 - 27 at www.faithvoices.org. You can also
receive further details at that site.

Co-sponsors include the National Council of Churches, United for
Peace and Justice, Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq (CALC-I),
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Unitarian Universalist Association, The Shalom
Center, Faith Voices for the Common Good, DriveDemocracy. org, Disciples
Justice Action Network, Progressive Christians United and a growing number
of religious and social justice bodies. The Riverside Church, New York, is
graciously the host church. Clergy and Laity Network (CLN), also a
co-sponsor, serves as coordinator. A growing list of co-sponsors is posted
on the Clergy and Laity Network website: www.clnnlc.org.

To subscribe to our email lists, including some locally specific lists,go
to:
http://www.shalomctr.org/index.cfm/action/subscribe.html

Your help is crucial to our doing the work that helps you work for peace,
justice, and the earth. To make a (tax-deductible) donation to THE SHALOM
CENTER, go to:
https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=3273
If your gift is $180 or more, we will send you a thank-you gift of one of
Rabbi Waskow's books , inscribed to you or a friend.

or if you prefer to send a check, please send it to the address below.

******************************************************
We draw on the spiritual wisdom of Jewish and other traditions
to challenge the pharaohs of our generation ?-
unaccountable corporate and governmental power,
and our own blind habits, overwork, arrogance, and envy --
and to seek peace, justice, compassion, and healing of the earth.

Our postal address is
The Shalom Center
6711 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119
United States