Declaration of Peace - Defund the War
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Declaration of Peace |
The Declaration of Peace is a nationwide nonviolent action campaign for an end to the US War in Iraq. The campaign started in the spring of 2006, building up to a week of actions around the country starting on September 21, the International Day of Peace.
Over 375 events took place nationwide, including 24 nonviolent direct actions in 21 cities, with 268 arrests. 11 members of Congress signed the Congressional Peace Pledge, vowing to work in Congress to establish a timetable for a swift withdrawal from Iraq. Visit the Declaration of Peace events calendar to see events planned all across the country.
The next phase of the Declaration of Peace is focused on stopping the Iraq supplemental appropriations bill, which should be sent to the House in early February, and commemorating the fourth anniversary of the invasion, March 16-19.
As part of United for Peace's lobby day on January 29, several people from South East New England are traveling to DC to visit with Congressional representatives about the upcoming appropriations bill.
If you wish to be involved in Declaration of Peace organizing locally, please call the office at 401-521-3584. For more information on the national campaign, please visit the Declaration of Peace Web site.
February 20-22, 2007: Declaration of Peace Visits Representative Patrick Kennedy's Office
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Declaration of Peace speaks with George Zainyeh, Kennedy's chief of staff. Photo credit: Providence Journal: Bob Breidenbach |
In recent months the local campaign has focused on Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI). From February 20-22, the Declaration of Peace visited his Pawtucket district office to urge him to vote to defund the war and withdraw the troops from Iraq. They also visited Representative James Langevin's office on Thursday the 22nd.
[Watch a video on YouTube of the visit by Paul Hubbard]
September 25, 2006: Declaration of Peace Visits Senator Jack Reed's Office
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| Senator Reed meets with the group but declines to sign the Declaration of Peace. Photo: Maryellen Kurkulos |
On Monday, September 25, 11 activists from AFSC and RI Military Families Speak Out were arrested in Senator Jack Reed's office after nearly six weeks of letters, faxes, and phone-ins to the Senator's office to urge him to take leadership on setting a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq. The Senator met very briefly with the 11 before leaving the office for the rest day, and declined to sign the Declaration of Peace or to discuss the matter with them at length. The 11 stayed until the office closed, having decided to remain in the office until Reed agreed to sign the Declaration or co-sponsor legislation in keeping with its goals. Among the 11 arrested was Stephany Kern of Westerly, RI, whose son, Lance Corporal Nickolas Schiavoni, was killed in Iraq in November.
As of the action at Reed's office, organizers are considering next steps as our engagement with the RI congressional delegation continues. Sign up for AFSC's email alerts and subscribe to our Events Calendar to find out when the next action will be. For more information on the Declaration of Peace and to sign the pledge, go to DeclarationofPeace.org. To get involved in organizing locally, call the office at 401-521-3584.
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