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Walla Walla Community Coalition For Peace
News & Events
News Release
August 21, 2007
WALLA WALLA COMMUNITY GROUP TO PRESENT IRAQ WITHDRAWAL PETITION TO REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS
Representatives of the Community Coalition for Peace will present a petition to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers in Walla Walla on Wednesday, August 22. The petition, signed by more than 300 Walla Walla area residents of the 5th Congressional District, calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops and personnel, and their replacement with United Nations and regional peacekeepers.
Specifically, the petition to Rep. McMorris Rodgers and U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell asks that they “immediately call on President George W. Bush to inform the United Nations that the United States is ready and willing to withdraw all U.S. forces and personnel from Iraq as soon as the United Nations, without U.S. interference, shall determine, and to fund their replacement by United Nations peacekeepers and regional peacekeeping forces to assist in efforts to restore stable government within Iraq.”
Rep. McMorris Rodgers is scheduled to be in Walla Walla on Wednesday, and has invited area residents to join her for a town meeting on general issues of concern from 1:30-2:30 at the Walla Walla Regional Airport terminal.
According to M’Lisse Moerk, chairperson of the Community Coalition for Peace, the group has been collecting signatures for the last two weeks at the Farmers Market, and already has over 300. “I think people are looking for a responsible way for us to end our deadly occupation of Iraq. This is a specific proposal to accomplish that by removing the U.S. presence and replacing it with international peacekeepers, to hasten the transition to stable government there. It seems to have broad public support.” The group will be continuing to collect signatures on the petition, which it will forward to Rep. McMorris Rodgers as well as to Senators Murray and Cantwell. The Coalition’s website is www.communitycoalition.zoomshare.com. Moerk can be reached by telephone at 509-525-3048.
Deciders,
Before her death in February, nationally syndicated columnist and author Molly Ivins urged us all to use our imaginations and do what we could to let our legislators know that the American people are the "deciders" and that a majority of the American people do not support this awful war. She exhorted us to hit the streets and do something to make the "ridiculous look ridiculous."
Community Coalition for Peace has decided give our community the means to do just that. Molly said, "We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, Stop it, now!" So here's your chance. On the first and third Sundays of the month show up at 1:00 at First and Main streets. Bring your pots, pans, wooden spoons, etc. Right after we read the names of those U.S. soldiers who have fallen in the past two weeks, we will form our own unique "drum circle" led by local musician and artist, Candace Rose. Look at it as a way to physically demonstrate your outrage and blow off some steam.
We'll be nice, but we won't be quiet!!!
If you want to sign a letter right this minute that tells your legislator to please end the war now by using the power given to them under the Constitution: stop the funding, close all military bases in Iraq, and bring the troops home and let them know it is time to end the destruction, and rebuild war-torn Iraq and hurricane ravaged communities in the U.S., go to this website:
Check out this website as a resource for making your own signs for peace.
See You Every First and
Third Sunday of the Month
1:00
First and Main
B.Y.O.P (bring your own pan)
Peace Takes Courage
Be Courageous
M'Lisse Moerk Chairman, Community Coalition for Peace
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MILITARY RECRUITING IN THE SCHOOLS
People concerned with issues of military recruiting in the schools are invited to call Annie Capestany, chair of the Fair Recruiting in Education committee (FRE), 525-8602.
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