Protest at Congresswoman's Doris Matsui’s Office. Defund this War!

[Tom Joad]

http://sacramentofordemocracy.org/?q=node/view/4882

Sacramento For Democracy, a chapter of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), has played a key leadership role in organizing a series of “peace-ins” and other protests at the office of Representative Doris Matsui over the past week.

SFD activists and other members of the Sacramento Coalition to End the War are asking Rep. Matsui to publicly announce that she will not vote to further fund the war and occupation of Iraq. They are refusing to leave her offices during the day – and there is no end in sight to the daily “peace-ins.”

On Thursday, January 11, Karen Bernal and Roanna Costa Krisko of Sacramento for Democracy (SFD) organized 25 other peace advocates, ranging from veteran peace activists to first time protesters, to occupy Matsui’s offices from 8:30 to 5:30.

They also coordinated a demonstration outside of the Federal Courthouse from 4:00 to 5:30 pm to oppose the escalation announced by the Bush Administration in his speech on January 10 and Rep. Matsui's refusal to support the troops by bringing them home. Over 80 people, including veterans, union members, seniors, students, immigrant rights activists and indigenous rights advocates, attended the demonstration.

“We are calling on all of Rep. Matsui's constituents to join us in telling her that we do not want another penny wasted on this illegal and immoral war,” said Bernal. “Last year, she voted for a $70B supplemental defense appropriations bill for the fiscal year of 2007. That money remains unspent and it is unthinkable to consider spending even more, given all of the evidence that a continued presence will only mean more violence, death and a greater resolve on the part of the Iraqi people to resist this illegal occupation.”

She continued, “Rep. Matsui can't have it both ways. She cannot say that she's against the war, yet vote to continue funding it. That is by definition illogical. She needs to be more principled on her position in this matter. A vote for continued funding is a vote for death and a policy that has been demonstrated to be both failed and immoral.”

“As a PDA chapter, Sacramento for Democracy has been organizing support for legislation to cut off funding for the continued occupation, and for the safe, orderly and honorable withdrawal of the U.S. from military operations in Iraq,” Bernal added.
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This is the kind of work that needs to be done across the country. We cannot be content to sit and wait for our Representatives to do the right thing. This truly represents the spirit of Martin Luther King, who was just as direct and challanging toward Democrats as Republicans that supported the status quo.

King said "There comes a time when silence is betrayal", it is also true there comes a time when mere lipservice is also betrayal. We can't let congresspeople get away with token opposition while they vote to continue the war, in some form or another.

Let's not repeat history, we need more than "puny opposition" that seem to suit some cowardly officeholders.
From our history:
Frederick Douglass, former slave, extraordinary speaker and writer, wrote in his Rochester newspaper the North Star, January 21, 1848, of "the present disgraceful, cruel, and iniquitous war with our sister republic. Mexico seems a doomed victim to Anglo Saxon cupidity and love of dominion." Douglass was scornful of the unwillingness of opponents of the war to take real action (even the abolitionists kept paying their taxes):

The determination of our slaveholding President to prosecute the war, and the probability of his success in wringing from the people men and money to carry it on, is made evident, rather than doubtful, by the puny opposition arrayed against him. No politician of any considerable distinction or eminence seems willing to hazard his popularity with his party ... by an open and unqualified disapprobation of the war. None seem willing to take their stand for peace at all risks; and all seem willing that the war should be carried on, in some form or other.

[shance]

1. Go Sacramento for Democracy!!******

Let's join them and do it in other cities.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

2. Good idea

E-mail them, phone them, tell them what you want. Don't stop at just your reps. Keep their feet to the fire. Make them Hear us loud and clear