United for Peace and Justice Update: Anti-War Assembly Today

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http://webmail.atl.earthlink.net/wam/index.jsp?x=136757168

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Dear Friend of United for Peace and Justice,

Finishing touches are being put on the agenda, packets are being stuffed, and signs are going up. Today, more than 300 representatives from grassroots and national peace and justice organizations from around the country will come together to strategize on ways to end the war and occupation in Iraq. Military families, veterans, labor and religious leaders, and both new and seasoned organizers committed to ending the war on Iraq and building a lasting peace and justice movement are meeting this weekend outside Chicago to participate in the 3rd National Assembly of United for Peace and Justice.

Author and activist Tom Hayden will open the National Assembly on Friday evening, offering concrete strategies from his new book, Ending the War on Iraq. Throughout the weekend, delegates will meet in small groups and plenary sessions to set the priorities for the coalition and discuss how to engage people in communities across the country in ongoing work to end the war.

We all know that the country is solidly against the war, yet the Bush administration continues to plow forward with -- and Congress continues to fund -- new military offensives that put U.S. servicepeople and Iraqi civilians at greater risk. With Bush and Congress continuing to ignore public opinion, the antiwar movement is at a pivotal moment.

If you are in the Chicago area, we invite you to join us on Saturday night, at 8pm, for a public forum -- An Evening of Solidarity: International Voices of Peace and Justice -- featuring Iraqi labor leaders, the vice president of Gaza's Red Crescent, the president of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, and a parliamentarian from the UK who is a leader in the British antiwar movement.

We are excited by the prospect of so many voices dedicated to peace and justice coming together, and look forward to launching the initiatives that will come out of discussion this weekend. And we need your support to carry this work forward.

We are also happy to announce the winning design of our recent t-shirt design contest! We received more than 150 entries, and were thrilled by the time and creativity so many people put into this project. For a limited time, those who sign up as new sustainers and commit to a monthly donation of $5 or more will receive a “Peace Doesn't Grow on Trees – Demand It” t-shirt, designed by Carlos Carranza, as a thank-you gift. This new t-shirt, as well as our four finalist designs, are now available on our GoodStorm storefront.

We have done so much together over the last four years, but there is much more to be done. Our Assembly this weekend will help define our work in the months ahead. We will be sure to keep you informed on upcoming opportunities to take action.

Yours, for peace and justice,

Leslie Cagan
UFPJ National Coordinator