March on Washington DC: No war on Iraq

[Conghaileach]

Major press conference announces

NATIONAL MARCH on WASHINGTON DC
* SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 *
to STOP THE WAR ON IRAQ BEFORE IT STARTS

For details see http://www.InternationalANSWER.org

*CHECK OUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON C-SPAN*

Look at C-Span's schedule at
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspa...ullschedule.csp
for broadcast times (you should press "refresh" or "reload" on your
browser to make sure you have the current schedule). The time
scheduled currently is 5:52 am EST on 9/5 on C-Span 2 - but please
check the full schedule for additional broadcast times (and the
schedule does change). The program is called "March on Washington
announcement" featuring Ramsey Clark.

Other press in attendance included CNN, Reuters, Associated Press,
ABC, Washington Post, Fox News, The Final Call, Agence France Presse
(AFP), Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Greensboro News,
Hokkaido, Kyodo News, Phoenix TV, among others, so check for local,
national and international coverage.

*SPEAKERS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE*

- Ramsey Clark, former U.S. attorney general
- Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic
Archdiocese of Detroit
- Mahdi Bray, Executive Director, Muslim American Society
Freedom Foundation
- Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo, attorneys and
co-founders, Partnership for Civil Justice; members of
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering committee
- Ihab Darwish, Free Palestine Alliance
- Peta Lindsey, Howard University student, A.N.S.W.E.R.
student and youth coordinator
- Shaimaa Al-Azzawi, Muslim Student Association
- Brian Becker, co-director, International Action Center;
member of A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering committee
- Damu Smith, Black Voices for Peace
- Art Laffin, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker
- Chuck Kaufman, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua
Network; member of A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering
committee

For PHOTOS of the press conference, go to:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/news/photo/090402-
o26pressconfphotos.html

* EXCERPTS FROM PRESS CONFERENCE *

RAMSEY CLARK, former U.S. attorney general: "You may not see it in the
mass media in the United States, but the bombing of Iraq has already
started. When we were in Iraq last week, the United States carried
out five bombings in five days. Ten civilians were killed in Basra,
many more wounded. The radar that guides aircraft into the civilian
airport in Mosul was destroyed by U.S. missile attacks. The purpose
of the bombing campaign is to degrade Iraq's infrastructure and should
also be understood as a type of psychological warfare against the
people of Iraq. It is the U.S. government that is guilty of genocide.
According to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization report of
1996 and the UNICEF report of 1998, more than a half a million Iraqi
children under the age of five have died directly as a result of
sanctions. It is imperative that people of this country take action
now to stop the government from carrying out limitless violence in
their name."

SHAIMAA AL-AZZAWI, Muslim Student Association: "The people of Iraq
have been deprived of basic medicines and the things necessary to
sustain life. This has gone on for twelve long years and it must come
to an end. Economic sanctions are a weapon of mass destruction. When
we march on October 26, we will demand an end to war and a lifting of
sanctions so that the Iraqi people can live."

MARA VERHEYDEN-HILLIARD, attorney and co-founder, Partnership for
Civil Justice; member of A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering committee: "I
was in Iraq last week as part of a U.S. anti-war delegation, and
everywhere we went people asked us two questions. The first was when
the U.S. was going to begin the war against their country. Everyday
parents wake up and wonder whether or not their children are going to
be killed by U.S. bombs or an armed invasion. And the second question
we were asked was why the government of the United States is doing
this and why are the people of the United States are allowing this to
happen. We are here to say that the people of the United States will
not allow the United States government to carry out this lawless
aggression against the people of Iraq. They will be confronted with a
massive anti-war movement."

MAHDI BRAY, Executive Director, Muslim American Society Freedom
Foundation: "As a Muslim, as a Black man, as an American, I am
outraged that this administration is planning to kill thousands of
innocent people in Iraq so that the United States can dominate the
Middle East. Our organization and people throughout the country will
be mobilizing for the October 26 National March in Washington DC."

PETA LINDSEY, Howard University student, A.N.S.W.E.R. student and
youth coordinator: "From the beginning students have been at the
forefront of the movement against war and racism. We understand that
the Iraqi people are not our enemies. So on October 26th, students
and young people will gather in Washington D.C. in a mass
mobilization to say no to a new war in Iraq."

BRIAN BECKER, co-director, International Action Center; member of
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering committee: "We believe that the power
really is in the people but the people must act. Everything that we
have heard from the Bush administration in the mass media is lies
designed to prepare the population to accept a war of aggression.
Over and over we're told that opinion polls support the
administration, but we don't believe the polls. Public opinion has
not been tested. There will not be a genuine debate on U.S. policy
towards Iraq until the people are in the streets. Tens of thousands
will march on October 26 and in the days before and afterwards. The
whole world is looking to see if the people of the United States can
rise to the occasion and stop the Bush administration's mad
warplane."

********************

JOIN the CAMPAIGN to
STOP THE WAR ON IRAQ BEFORE IT STARTS!
*Below are several ways that you can get involved*

Read the CALL to ACTION for the October 26 National March
in Washington DC:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaig...o26endorse.html

- INITIAL SPONSORS -
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
National Lawyers Guild
IFCO/Pastors for Peace
Free Palestine Alliance
Muslim Student Association
Partnership for Civil Justice - LDEF
Mexico Solidarity Network
Nicaragua Network
International Action Center
Kensington Welfare Rights Union
Middle East Children's Alliance
Bayan USA-International (Filipino community)
Korea Truth Commission

To ENDORSE the Call to Action, fill out the easy-to-use
form at:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaig...dorse.html#endo

BUSES, VANS and CAR CARAVANS are coming to DC from a growing list of
cities:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaig.../o26/index.html
(updated frequently)

If you are interested in ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION FROM YOUR CITY, fill
out the form at:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaig...index.html#list

Help get the word out! DOWNLOAD the FLYER at:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/pdf/o2602flyer.pdf

If you would like SPEAKERS on the history of the U.S./Iraq conflict at
your high school, college, union, or community center, email
[email protected]

Make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION to help stop the war before it starts:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html

If you are not on the A.N.S.W.E.R. EMAIL LISTSERVE (low volume), sign
up today to receive updates on organizing and analysis of the Bush
administration's war drive:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/subscribelist.html

For background information on U.S. war plans in Iraq, see
the "Learn More" section at:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
[email protected]
New York 212-633-6646
Washington 202-332-5757
Chicago 773-878-0166
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

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