All they are saying to new Congress: Give peace a chance

Idea exchange
December 2006

All they are saying to new Congress: Give peace a chance
Have yourself an alternative shopping Christmas

All they are saying to new Congress:
Give peace a chance
A group of national peace organizations is attempting to continue the momentum for change generated by the November elections by urging the new Democrat-controled Congress to begin pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. According to the Mandate for Peace Campaign : "The people have spoken out through the mid-term election! By voting out pro-war candidates and changing control over Congress, we have repudiated war policies and issued a mandate for new policies that promote peace and international cooperation."

"Now that we've changed control over Congress, it's time to make sure our new Representatives represent the will of the people and change course in Iraq."

To that end, the group urges site visitors to:

• E-mail Congress: Through the new www.mandateforpeace.org website, you can e-mail your Representative the text from the Mandate for Peace petition or put into your own words what you want him/her to do to end the war in Iraq.
The Mandate for Peace petition reads, in part, "We insist that the newly elected Congress, in its earliest days in office, pass legislation requiring the prompt removal of all U.S. troops from Iraq and discontinue funding for military purposes in Iraq except the safe withdrawal of all U.S. forces."

Click here to e-mail your Representative.

• Meet with your newly elected member of Congress: We need to get on our new Representatives' schedules right away, by scheduling meetings with them about the need for a change of course in Iraq. Organize a meeting with your new member of Congress, with participants from various constituencies in your community. Bring information about polls showing that Americans said Iraq was their top priority going into the mid-term election. Try to get them to commit to the demands in the Mandate for Peace petition. Tell them you are watching to make sure they represent the will of the voters when it comes to ending the war in Iraq! Please let us know about your meeting by sending an email to andrea@globalexchange.org.
• Join the December 4 national call-in day:
On Sunday, December 10th, Democratic Party Representatives and Senators will be meeting in Washington to develop their new position on the Iraq war. We need to tell the Democrats what we want! So far, there are some Democrats who are calling for a timeline for withdrawal and an end to funding of the war, but many Democrats, including Senator Harry Reid, are saying that funding must continue. They are also talking about beginning a troop withdrawal in the next few months but without any definitive timeline for completing the withdrawal. This means the U.S. military presence in Iraq could go on for years, and continue to inflame Iraqis and people all over the Middle East.
Call the Democrats on Monday, December 4 and tell them this isn't good enough. We voted them into office to end the war, and that's what they need to do. Call the capital switchboard: 202-224-3121.
• Take the Mandate for Peace to Washington on January 27 - 29: Join United for Peace and Justice in a massive march on Washingtonon Saturday, January 27 to call on Congress to take immediate action to end the war.
On Election Day the voters delivered a dramatic, unmistakable mandate for peace. Now it's time for action. On January 27, we will converge from all around the country in Washington to send a strong, clear message to Congress and the Bush Administration: The people of this country want the war and occupation in Iraq to end and we want the troops brought home now! The march will be followed by a lobby day on Monday, January 29th.

Click here for more information.

Back to page top