Countdown to D.C. Anti-War Mobilization!
Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) staff and volunteers have been intensely focused during the past few weeks on making the events planned for Washington , D.C. on September 24-26 a tremendous success.
Saturday, September 24
PDA members from across the Nation will participate in an Anti-War March, Rally, and Peace Fair. PDA activists will meet for the March at the National Mall, between 14th and 15th Streets on the Constitution Avenue side of the Mall at 10:00 am. Look for PDA banners, signs, buttons, and shirts. PDA chapters from 27 states have already confirmed their attendance.
PDA will have a table at the Peace and Justice Festival under the National Organizations tent. The Festival will run all day from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. Look for us there!
At 3:00 p.m., there will be an "Operation Ceasefire" Concert and Rally featuring Cindy Sheehan. Complete event details are available at United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ).
If you're not able to attend the events in D.C., please visit the events calendar on the PDA website for a current listing of local anti-war events happening in your state September 24-26.
PDA volunteers are still very much needed in Washington , D.C. on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. No special skills are necessary, and shifts as short as two hours are still open. To volunteer, contact Diane Valentino at diane@pdamerica.org.
Sunday, September 25
PDA is holding a National Grassroots Strategy Day. Click here for agenda. In addition to speakers already announced, Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, both long-time PDA supporters and co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, will join us. Breakout sessions at the event include: Building a PDA Media Response Team, Working with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Building Progressive Caucuses, and Building Alliances with PDA and PDA Chapters. Order your tickets by Thursday at midnight. Click here.
Monday, September 26
PDA is participating in a National Lobbying Day Campaign where hundreds of activists will directly lobby their congressional representatives and send a powerful message to Congress that they must take action to stop this war! Delegations will include Cindy Sheehan and fellow members of Gold Star Families for Peace on the Bring them Home Now Tour. If you have not done so, the first step is to register now. You can register as an individual and join a delegation that will be set up. The delegation you join will meet with your Representative, and will join others to meet with your Senators. PDA will also be participating in a Press Conference at 11:00 am (Location TBD).
Iraq Hearings: September 15
In advance of the events of September 24-26, there was a fabulous Rally to End the War at Lafayette Square Park (in front of the White House) sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America, After Downing Street, Code Pink, Peace Action, Democrats.com, and Democracy Rising. That same day, a coalition of progressive organizations presented to Congress and the White House a petition for an exit strategy from Iraq signed by more than 25,000 people. Read more.
Resolution of Inquiry
Close, But Still No GOP Oversight
By Steve Cobble, PDA Advisory Board Member
In regard to the Resolution of Inquiry on the Downing Street Minutes
The International Relations Committee staff was busy counting up a tie vote when one of the well-trained white male cadre that make up the Republicans in the U.S. House walked in late through the door.
"There's our vote," one of his homeboys shouted.
And in the time-honored reaction of conservatives everywhere, the latecomer shouted out "I vote no."
Except that he was supposed to vote "yes," because the motion was to kill Representative Barbara Lee's valiant effort to force out into the open the executive branch documents related to the Downing Street Memo. Read more.
Links
Sept 24-26 Events: http://pdamerica.org/articles/events/sept2005/index.php#rally
Peace Fair: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3089
Cindy Sheehan: http://www.meetwithcindy.org/
UFPJ: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/
Local Events: http://pdamerica.org/events/main-list.php
Sept 25 Agenda: http://pdamerica.org/articles/events/sept2005/agenda.php
Order Tickets for 25th : https://www.pdamerica.org/dc-sept-tickets.php
Register for 26th : http://www.unitedforpeace.org/modinput4.php?modin=102
People's Petition: http://www.peoplespetition.org/peoplespetition/
Iraq Hearings: http://pdamerica.org/articles/events/2005-09-15-rally-followup.php
Resolution of Inquiry: http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/bills/?bill=7877436
Downing Street Minutes: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/840
Article about GOP Oversight: http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=242#more-242