Thursday, Jan. 11: A Nationwide Surge of Protest Of The US Military Occupation of Iraq

[Sapphire Blue]

America Says NO more troops! Thursday, Jan. 11th

A Nationwide Surge of Protest Of The US Military Occupation of Iraq

President Bush is expected to reveal his "new strategy” for Iraq on Wednesday January 10th. Defying the mandate of Americans who voted in November to end the madness and begin to bring our troops home, he will call for an escalation in the number of US combat troops in Iraq.

Let's deliver an immediate and direct response to the president’s call for escalation: NO!

Volunteers will host actions in cities and towns across the country within 24 hours of the president’s speech with a simple message: "America says NO more troops in Iraq!”

Search for an America Says NO! event in your area: http://AmericaSaysNo.org

[KaryninMiami]

1. Kick- perhaps we can get more national groups on board?

PDA, DFA, MoveOn, Gold Star Families, Code Pink, etc. They already have a pretty good list of co-sponsors, but we're gonna need a groundswell to make an impact and given that "the decider" believes he can do whatever he wants, we're in for a rough ride.

[demnan]

2. I'll be there

Anybody want to have dinner afterward?

[jarnocan]

3. sorry not heaer in time to REC> but KICK THANKS there is a petition too folks.

http://afterdowningstreet.org for mre events.

[demnan]

4. I went tonight

There was a nice peaceful crowd - about 200 people which is really good for a last minute event like this. It was very cold! We stood in front of the White House and lit candles. Barbara Lee, the Representative from Oakland, CA came and spoke to us. Also a former rep from Maine, I forget his name but his speech was very powerful. They read the names of soldiers from the DC area who had died. I got a couple of cool signs to take back to my local peace activist movement in the suburbs.

I'm glad I went. After the speech last night and the Iran thing I felt I had to do something.

On edit:

There was also a representative from a veterans organization whose son had just returned from Guard duty in Iraq and an Iraqi guy with both Sunni and Shia relatives. Sorry I'm a little fuzzy on things, maybe tomorrow I'll have a more comprehensive report.