THIS WEEKEND in D.C.! Silent March/New Memorial to Iraq Civilians

[Hissyspit]

www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545



I posted this yesterday and it dropped like a rock. Please recommend to Greatest, so that people can find this information. Much appreciated.

"Unveiled at the press conference at 10 a.m., May 11, will be a new memorial that creates a space for reflection of the overwhelming enormity of the loss of Iraqi lives. Through words and visuals, visitors are challenged to imagine what life would be like if this war were happening on U.S. soil."

Dear Friends,

Over the next several days, including this coming weekend, a number of exciting events and activities are taking place in Washington, DC, New York, and other cities, many of them organized by member groups of United for Peace and Justice. We know it will not be possible for many of you to attend, but we thought you'd like to know what's happening. Links to websites for all of the activities are included below, and we encourage you to take a look at the sites to see if there are other ways you can be supportive of these efforts.


May 11: We Will Not Kill: International Conscientious Objectors Speak Out! (NYC) LINK

May 12-14: Operation Refuse War: An International Conference of Resisters to Global War (DC) LINK

May 13-14: Join CodePink for Mother's Day (DC) LINK

May 14: Eyes Wide Open Exhibit & Silent March Against the War in Iraq (DC)

Schedule of Events

NOTE: Rain is likely this weekend, and may affect the timing and location of the events listed here. This schedule will be updated as often as possible, but for the most up-to-date information, call 202-483-3341 ext. 302

Thursday, May 11
10:00am – 6:00pm Eyes Wide Open exhibit, opening with press conference and unveiling of new memorial recognizing Iraqi civilian casualties. Sponsors: American Friends Service Committee, Gold Star Families for Peace, Gold Star Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Veterans For Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Friday, May 12
10:00am–6:00pm Eyes Wide Open exhibit (Details)

Saturday, May 13
10:00am–6:00pm Eyes Wide Open exhibit (Details)
11:30am Silent march around the National Mall (Details)
1:30pm Speak-out and musical performances

Sunday, May 14 (Mother’s Day)
11:00am – 4:00pm Eyes Wide Open exhibit (Details)

May 14-15: GI Rights Hotline Gathering (Oakland) LINK

May 15: Advisory Council Meeting (DC) LINK

May 16: Lobby Day on Capitol Hill for CO Recognition (DC) LINK

Find an upcoming peace and justice event near you on UFPJ's events calendar.



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Also from e-mail:

Operation Refuse War: A Week of Action Uniting Resisters
In Celebration of International Conscientious Objectors Day
May 11-16 2006
New York City and Washington DC
www.operationrefusewar.org

Through workshops, actions, and an international conference, Operation Refuse War will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face around the world, as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement.

We Will Not Kill: International Conscientious Objectors Speak Out!
New York City, May 11 2006; 7pm-9pm
Location: Friends Meeting House, 15 Rutherford Place, Manhattan

Bringing together conscientious objectors from South Korea, Colombia, Israel, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and the United States, this panel and discussion will explore the potential of conscientious objection as a strategy for building a global anti-war movement.

Operation Refuse War: An International Conference of Resisters to Global War
Washington DC, May 13-14 2006
Location: Church of the Brethren, 337 North Carolina Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

Operation Refuse War will be an opportunity for conscientious objectors, anti-war activists, and military families from around the world to come together to share strategies and build community.
Workshop Topics Include:
Building Support for COs From the Outside | What Does an International CO Movement Look Like? | Connecting Resistance Within the Coalition of the Willing | All Wars or This War? Conscientious Objection as a Political or Moral Choice | Personal Stories of Conscientious Objection and Draft Resistance Building Bridges With Military Families
Register now at www.operationrefusewar.org.

Sponsoring organizations include: The War Resisters League, War Resisters International, American Friends Service Committee Youth and Militarism Program, the Center on Conscience & War, Iraq Veterans Against the War - NYC Chapter, the Washington Peace Center, the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, Veterans For Peace, Military Law Task Force of the National Lawyers Guild, Fellowship of Reconciliation: Disarmament Program, Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors (CCCO), and Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) (list in formation).

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On the heels of the awesome April 29 march in New York City, you can keep the momentum going by joining UFPJ’s member group CODEPINK: Women for Peace in Washington DC on May 13-14 for Mother’s Day Weekend!

Your favorite women in PINK are getting back to the heart of Mother’s Day with an all-night vigil, concert, celebration and strategizing session in front of the White House. On May 13-14, from 3pm on Saturday to 3pm on Sunday, celebrities and peace activists, concerned moms and kids, dads, families and more will vigil in front of the White House for a full 24 hours, demanding an end to the war in Iraq and an end of hostile talks with Iran.

Join Gold Star parents Cindy Sheehan, Elaine Johnson and Fernando Suarez, as well as Susan Sarandon, Dolores Huerta, Randi Rhodes, Patch Adams, Reverend Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, and hundreds of moms and activists from around the country.

Why Mother’s Day? Believe it or not, Mother’s Day wasn’t invented by Hallmark. Instead, the Original Mother’s Day Proclamation, written by Julia Ward Howe in 1870, was a rallying cry for mothers to take a break in their normal routine to gather together and figure out how to make their sons and husbands quit the business of warfare. ""Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience," Julia wrote. "We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. " Her solution? Women should gather together to "promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."

So Come Get Back to the Heart of Mother’s Day. Come to Lafayette for the whole night, or just attend for a few hours -- we’ll hold our own congress of women to create peace in a violent age. And we want you there!

We will hold a concert, an aerial photograph, and a huge teach-in on grassroots organizing and national campaigns, with strategists like Phyllis Bennis and Medea Benjamin. We will stand in solidarity with military families, and hold an interfaith service. We’ll write letters to Laura Bush. Patch Adams will wear his best pink dress. You won’t want to sleep!

Find out more information, read Julia Ward Howe’s proclamation and sign up to attend here.

CLICK ON LINKS FOR MORE INFO!

[Hissyspit]

1. DUer Ava will be at the Code Pink gathering!

[Harper_is_Bush]

2. Kickin'.

[0007]

3. I hope they get plenty of photos for this one and it would be nice

if the media would show up.

[Hissyspit]

4. afternoon kick n/t