Indiana Statewide End-the-War Rally, Oct 29, Terre Haute

[IndianaGreen]

This event is scheduled on the same day as the Eugene Debs dinner, so if you are coming to the dinner you can attend the rally as well.

Indiana Statewide End-the-War Rally

Saturday, October 29, 2005
1:00 pm

Vigo County Courthouse
33 South Third Street
Terre Haute, Indiana

Two weeks ago, hundreds of Hoosiers came together in Washington, D.C. with nearly 300,000 others from across the country to demonstrate, lobby, and act for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq and ending the war.

Now is the time to continue the momentum, energy, and excitement generated by the Sept. 24-26 D.C. Mobilization. Let us all commit to deeper involvement to End the War and Occupation in Iraq!

Citizens and activists will come together from across Indiana for the October 29th End-the-War gathering, which will include speakers, inspiration, literature, activist networking, and “take action” opportunities.

Organized by the Indiana Peace and Justice Network, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Terre Haute Stop War on Iraq, and others.

Contact the following in your part of the state for ride-share coordination on the 29th. Please share your vehicle with those who may need a ride.

Indianapolis --
Contact: Julie Fernat at [e-mail]

Bloomington --
Contact: Timothy Baer at [e-mail]

Northwest Indiana --
Contact: Nick Egnatz at [e-mail]

Lafayette --
Contact: Sheila Rosenthal at [e-mail]

Plan now to participate!

Indiana Statewide End-the-War Rally
Saturday, October 29, 2005
1:00 pm
Vigo County Courthouse
33 South Third Street
Terre Haute, Indiana


**********


Timothy Baer
Organizer, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition
[e-mail]
http://www.BPAC.info

[IndianaGreen]

1. 2,000 U.S. DEATHS TOO MANY ~ GET THEM OUT NOW!

“2,000 U.S. DEATHS TOO MANY ~ GET THEM OUT NOW!”

INDIANA STATEWIDE END-THE-WAR RALLY

Saturday, October 29, 2005
1:00 pm
Vigo County Courthouse
33 South Third Street
Terre Haute, Indiana

Citizens and activists from across Indiana will come together in Terre Haute on October 29, 2005 for an End-the-War Rally that will include speakers, inspiration, free literature, activist networking, and “take action”opportunities.

The gathering on the 29th continues the momentum and excitement that was generated during the weekend of September 24-26, when hundreds of Hoosiers came together in Washington, D.C. with nearly 300,000 others from across the country to demonstrate, lobby, and act for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq and ending the war.

Nearly 2,000 U.S. troops have died in this war, and no end is in sight – daily, weekly, monthly, the number of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded in Iraq increases. As of October 13, 1,966 U.S. military personnel have been killed in action in Iraq and more than 14,900 U.S. soldiers have been wounded in action.

The Iraqi civilian death toll is in the tens of thousands. A minimum of 26,521 and upwards of more than 100,000 civilians in Iraq have been killed since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

U.S. citizens increasingly disapprove of the U.S. involvement in Iraq. 59% of the people would like to see the U.S. leave Iraq as soon as possible, even if Iraq is not completely stable, according to a nationwide CBS poll from October 3-5. The tide also appears to be turning in the U.S. House of Representatives. On May 25, 2005, 128 Congressional Representatives voted "Yes" to an amendment on the Defense Authorization Bill, calling for the development of a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq.

However, 7th District Congresswoman Julia Carson is the only Indiana Representative to show any support for measures to bring the troops home from Iraq. Senator Lugar and Senator Bayh have, so far, not supported the only initiative in the Senate, introduced by Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, to urge the United States to make a commitment to get combat troops out of Iraq by the end of 2006.

There are several legislative initiatives that have been introduced into the House of Representatives aimed at withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. House Concurrent Resolution 35 (HCR 35) was the first of these resolutions, introduced on January 26, 2005 by California Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. HCR 35 currently has 34 co-sponsors, none of them from Indiana. The other legislation includes House Joint Resolution 55 (the “Homeward Bound” bill), House Concurrent Resolution 197 (No Permanent Bases in Iraq), and House Resolution 3142 (calling for no long-term or permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq), all introduced in June 2005.

Anti-war and peace activists from across the state hope that the End-the-War Rally on October 29 will serve to advance a number of goals.

Because of the revitalized spirit and energy engendered by the participation of hundreds of Hoosiers at the September D.C. Mobilization to End the War on Iraq, Indiana activists desired to come together in their home state to reestablish unified efforts, recommit themselves, and draw others into the serious work of ending the war and occupation in Iraq.

The Rally will also serve as an opportunity for people from different parts of Indiana to be together to remember and memorialize the nearly 2,000 U.S. soldiers and the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed since March 19, 2003.

Speakers from a number of Indiana Peace organizations, as well as parents of U.S. soldiers from Terre Haute, will be featured at the Rally.

Organizers of the Terre Haute gathering are planning a community action component designed to encourage Indiana Representatives and Senators to take a strong stand for swift withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by supporting legislation that would initiate a real exit strategy.

Participants of the rally will be encouraged to gather signatures in support of HCR 35 throughout Terre Haute. In the coming month, the completed petitions will be presented to Indiana Congressional Representatives and Senators in the hope of persuading them to co-sponsor “out of Iraq” legislation.

The Indiana Statewide End-the-War Rally will take place on Saturday, October 29 beginning at 1:00 pm at the Vigo County Courthouse at 33 South Third Street in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The Rally is being organized by activists and organizers with the Indiana Peace and Justice Network, Bloomington Peace Action Coalition, Terre Haute Stop War on Iraq, and the Northwest Indiana Coalition Against the Iraq War.

*******

Ride sharing is being organized from many parts of Indiana. Contact should be made to the following regional representatives:

Indianapolis --
Contact: Julie Fernat at [e-mail], phone: [phone]

Bloomington --
Contact: Timothy Baer at [e-mail], phone: [phone]

Northwest Indiana --
Contact: Nick Egnatz at [e-mail], phone: [phone]

Lafayette --
Contact: Sheila Rosenthal at [e-mail], phone: [phone]

Terre Haute

Contact: Cathy McGuire at [e-mail], phone: [phone]

*******

Please use the following links for more information:

Sept. 24-26 D.C. Mobilization: News Coverage, Photos, Stories, Assessments

http://www.bpac.info/primaryfiles/DCMobilizReports&Photos.html

Iraqi civilian deaths
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

U.S. and Coalition forces casualties
http://icasualties.org/oif/

House Concurrent Resolution 35

http://woolsey.house.gov/Hottopicssoldiers.asp?ARTICLE4764=4772

Talking Points: “Stay the Course” or Get Out Now?
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/Talking_pts_cong_ed_day.doc


***********

Contact: Timothy Baer
Organizer,
Bloomington Peace Action Coalition
Indiana Peace and Justice Network
[phone]
[e-mail]
http://www.BPAC.info

[FtWayneBlue]

2. Sorry I couldn't make it.

Any reports on how it went?