Press Advisory: Over 120 Coalitions & Organizations Sign Open Letter to the Middle East
Thursday August 24, 2006
US
Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Press Advisory
Over 120 Coalitions &
Organizations Sign Open Letter to the
Groups protest indiscriminate attacks on civilians,
The signatories called
The letter speaks directly to the region's people: "We want you to know that when we
see and hear the news we are imagining your families, your homes, your hearts,
your hopes, your terror. We are working hard for peace with justice. The pro-war forces arrayed against us are far more powerful
than us. The road to peace is far too long, and many will suffer. But we vow to
do all we can to bring an end to the
Although a fragile cessation of hostilities
has taken hold in
The poet Kathy Engel, also a US Campaign board member,
said, "There are times in our lives when we have no choice but to act and
speak on behalf of what we know to be justice. I've been in different war zones
but when I went to the refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza it was the worst
thing I've ever seen and we're all responsible, especially US taxpayers."
The Open Letter is being disseminated today throughout the
For interviews or more information, contact
office@endtheoccupation.org
Open
Letter Re US Policy in the
From
People in the United States Who Believe that
Only
Justice Will Bring Peace
Our
lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dear Sisters and Brothers Living
With War,
We write to you in anguish, to express what cannot possibly be contained in
words. We need a new language to speak about what humanity means and
still can mean, what our humanity must create in this danger.
We send our solidarity, our commitment, our love. We write to let you know that
many in this country are organizing, educating, protesting, and engaging in
nonviolent civil disobedience to change
We are opposed to and greatly saddened by indiscriminate attacks
on civilians, whether Lebanese, Palestinians, Iraqis, or Israelis, and the
horrific death, destruction, and displacement that is taking place.We believe that
We reaffirm that
We strongly oppose
We are
women and men of all ages, from all parts of our country, all professions, all
faiths, all races, all national backgrounds. We are not reflected in the
mainstream media because of the stronghold of fear and lack of information
strangling the imagination and collective public voice of this country. But we
are here and we want you to know you are not alone. We work in small community
groups, in nationwide coalitions, in places of worship and as artists, writers,
teachers. We want you to know that when we see and hear the news we are
imagining your families, your homes, your hearts, your hopes, your terror. We
want you to know.
We are
working hard for peace with justice. The pro-war
forces arrayed against us are far more powerful than us. The road to peace is
far too long, and many will suffer. But we vow to do all we can to bring an end
to the
* We put pressure on our elected representatives to support an immediate
ceasefire and then negotiate a just peace. Although the war on
* We are educating US citizens on the consequences of our government's
foreign policy. We organize teach-ins in places of worship, trade unions,
schools and other public forums. We ground our teaching in universal human
rights and international law. Many of us promote the call to support boycotts,
divestment and sanctions against
* We seek to amplify the voices of those suffering as we support the
steadfastness of the people of
* We seek as well to expose and reverse the damage to our own country. We know
that militarism destroys our economy, our communities and our humanity. We know
that many who fight our government's wars are the young and poor who feel they
have no other options. We know that our schools, our jobs, our democracy,
and our civil rights are held hostage to the military economy that currently
drives our government. Our struggle is thus one of solidarity, not of charity.
* We take our protests to the streets in demonstrations and vigils - outside
Israeli Consulates, US Federal Buildings, and in all public spaces. We call for an end of US military and political support to
We cannot
and will not remain silent. We will work until our country stands for peace and
justice in all countries throughout the world.
United for Peace and Justice, a nationwide coalition of
1,400 organizations
Jewish Voice for Peace, a national, Jewish-American group dedicated
to changing American Middle East policy
National Assoc. of Muslim
American Women, an accredited humanitarian NGO
Zeitouna: Arab & Jewish
Women Working for Peace & Justice
Free Press Houston, A magazine
dedicated to telling the truth
Universal Coalition for
Interfaith and Intercultural Knowledge, For GENUINE peace, shared planet,
mutuality, care
Just Peace Productions, Public
Access Megaphone Network for The People
WILF
MAM Intercontinental
Nonviolence International,
Bloomington Peace Action
Coalition (BPAC), committed to ending the war on
People for Peace and Justice,
working for peace for 4 years.
Peace Farm
DC Poets Against the War,
Mountain Forum for Peace, working
for a just and peaceful world.
Western Washington Fellowship
of Reconciliation, working for a just peace through nonviolence
Bay Area Women in Black, Jewish
feminists and allies working for peace and justice
Volunteers for TAWO, volunteer
gardeners
Progressive Democrats of
America, executive director
South Bay Mobilization for
Peace and Justice, We oppose war and occupation everywhere!
ThinkingPeople, a peace and
social justice org.
Not in Our Name Project,
National Anti-War/Social-Justice network
Two-Edged Sword Incorporated,
We are Defenders of Rights
Women in Black Asheville, North
Carolina, Weekly public silent vigil mourning violence
Palestine Solidarity Committee
Seattle, direct action, education for public awareness.
Interfaith Peace-Builders,
Israel/Palestine Delegations - Education & Advocacy in US
Action Center For Justice,
Dedicated to abolishing war, racism and injustice
Rose Gardens For Peace,
American Indian organization promoting peace in
Forum For Peace and Justice
Green Party,
Sound Nonviolent Opponents of
War (SNOW), coalition of neighborhood groups and organizations
http://www.wearewideawake.org,
Third Intifada: Nonviolent Resistance +Truth
Women in Black,
Women in Black -
Jews for a Free
Women in Black and
Poets Against War
Peace Coalition of
Howard
Arab American Institute, We are
for democracy and peace for all individuals
Brudging Consultancy Services,
Diversity and Management Development Training Company
Reapalife, Pan-African
organization opposed to colonialism, neocolonialism, and Eurocentrism
American Arab Anti
Discrimination Committee Phoenix, Concerned citizens defending yours and our
rights
Peace Action Youngstown for a
Sane World, truth to power; educate, motivate, ORGANIZE!
Women's Advocacy Organization,
WAO is a CSUS campus club
RHFACTOR -
DeKalb Interfaith Network for
Peace and Justice, Dedicated to ending war, peace, and justice
Break the Silence, Art &
Culture to support resistance & mobilize solidarity.
WESPAC Foundation, We are a
peace and justice action network.
US Peace Council
Peace Action, country's largest
peace group with 100,000 members
Aiken Peace, Local peace group,
affiliate of Carolina Peace
Georgia Peace and Justice
Coalition/Atlanta, Network of community, faith, and student organizations and
individuals
Syracuse Peace Council,
Grassroots peace and social justice organization.
MSA West, A coalition of Muslim
Student Associations across the West Coast
Global
Committees of Correspondence
for Democracy & Socialism,
ICCNC, Islamic Cultural
Monterey County Citizens for
Middle East Peace, A grassroots, multifaith organization to affect
Sitkans for Peace and Justice,
We organize peace activities in
CODEPINK:Women for Peace,
Women's movement working for global peace and human rights
Boston Coalition for
Palestinian Rights, change
Women in Black-
Brooklyn Parents for Peace,
Not In My Name, Predominantly
Jewish, Chicago-based, anti-occupation group
Codepink Pittsburgh,
Coordinator Codepink Pittsburgh
Colorado Palestine Solidarity
Campaign, works steadily to advance the cause of justice for the Palestinian
people.
Out Against War: LGBT &
Friends Coalition for Peace & Justice, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
antiwar group
Islamic Development Group, A
Community Education Group
Progressive Democrats/Santa
Monica Mountains, Progressive Democrats/Santa Monica Montains is a chapter of
Progressive Democrats of America dedicated to ending war and electing pro-peace
Democrats
Bethlehem (NY) Neighbors for
Peace,
Alameda Peace Network, Devoted
to finding nonviolent conflict resolution
BIZART, DEDICATED TO PEACE,
FREEDOM AND JSUTICE FOR PALESTINIANS AND LEBANESE.
WIAMEP:
Esperanza Peace and
Veterans for Peace,
EMERGENCY COMMITTEE TO DEFEND
CONSTITUTIONAL WELFARE RIGHTS, Executive Director & International
Representative, ECDCWR--
Northwest VEG, Compassionate
Living Grounded in Vegetarian Choices
St. Louis Branch, Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom, International organization of women
to promote peace
Portland Peaceful Response
Coalition, Grassroots organization working for peace through justice.
pdxjustice Media Productions,
Community radio and television production organization.
Marin Friends Meeting, As
Quakers, we support non-violence everywhere.
split britches theater
company,Lesbian Performance Company
devoted to new writing
Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents
of War, We oppose violence, militarism, and military occupation
Court St Joseph #139, Catholic
Daughters of the
Idaho Peace Coalition,
volunteers dedicated to compassionate and nonviolent action
World Can't Wait!, working to
Drive out the Bush Regime
Salem-Palestine Solidarity
Group for
PeaceVermont, Peace and justice
organization in central
Every Church A Peace Church,
Promoting a registry lising of nonviolent churches.
After
Bubbes & Zaydes
(grandparents) for Peace in the
Maine Haiti Solidarity, Active
for justice in
Committee for peace in
N. C. Peace Action,
Culturally Speaking, Building
bridges between Muslims and larger community.
Vermonters for a Just Peace in
Palestine/Israel, Concerned Vermonters Against Israeli Occupation
Citizens for Justice in the
Middle East--
Americans United for
Palestinian Human Rights, Working to end the Israeli occupation
Student Peace Action Network,
Students/youth organizing for peace and justice
LA Jews for Peace,
Lakeshore Peacemakers, We are
peaceseeking locally and globally.
USC Students for Justice in
SUSTAIN-Philly: Stop US Tax Aid
to
Women in Black-Phoenix, weekly vigil - participate in community peace events
WILPF