http://sacramentofordemocracy.org/?q=node/view/4949Monday, Jan 29, 2007
Contact: Cres Vellucci, Sacramento Coalition to End the War, 916/996-9170
‘Peace-in' at Rep. Doris Matsui office begins 4th week with no end in sight; Lawmaker fails to support troops, says Coalition
SACRAMENTO – The "peace-in" at the Federal Courthouse offices (501 I St.) of Rep. Doris Matsui begins its fourth week Monday, with those participating in the vigil hopeful that the lawmaker will reverse her decision and decide to support the US troops in Iraq rather than leave them in harm's way.
The 9-5 daily sit-in began January 8 – organized by a broad-based and growing Sacramento Coalition to End the War – and is designed to convince Rep. Matsui that she should join other members of Congress and refuse to vote for any further funding for the war beyond the $70 billion already approved for 2007.
Voters in the 5th Congressional District have responded to the "peace-in," and flooded Rep. Matsui's office with phone calls, faxes and personal visits since early January. Numbers of people joining the sit-in have steadily increased – so much so that the lawmaker's offices are often overflowing with people.
Last week, Rep. Matsui relented and met via teleconference with those opposed to the war. She also met privately for a few minutes with several demonstrators in office. But the chats were disappointing.
"Rep. Matsui is not listening to us, and apparently still puts partisan politics above the safety of our troops," said George Main, a spokesperson for the Coalition and president of Veterans for Peace in Sacramento. "Rep.Matsui talks about months and months of oversight hearings, and ‘political considerations' when US troops are dying needlessly," he added.
"Rep. Matsui says she is opposed to the war, but she has not signed ontoany meaningful legislation to do that. Every minute, every hour, every day Rep. Matsui, and others in Congress like her, play politics, US troops die,and are maimed in this war. The political games must end. This war and
occupation must end," said Maggie Coulter of Peace Action.
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Rep Matsui is guilty of the "puny opposition" that will allow this war to go on,in one form or another, for years to come. An sad american tradition.
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.