Dear Friends,
I am posting this information on behalf of the Baltimore
All Peoples Congress and International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act
Now to Stop War and End Racism). I hope that you will take
the time to read it and perhaps join us on Saturday
September 29.
Thank you for your consideration.
-Diane
WAR & RACISM IS NOT THE ANSWER
We extend our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to
all who lost loved ones on September 11. Like many others,
our organization had members and friends who worked in the
World Trade Center and the area, and who lost loved ones.
We are outraged at these attacks involving the hijacking of
civilian aircraft and resulting in thousands of people
being killed. We condemn these attacks in the strongest
terms. These attacks amount to the gravest abuses of
fundamental human rights and basic principles of humanity.
We call for those responsible for these attacks to be
brought to justice, in full accordance with international
human rights and humanitarian law.
However, the Bush administration is moving in an ominous
direction. More war in the Middle East can only lead to an
escalating cycle of violence. The number of innocent
victims will grow from the thousands to the tens of
thousands and possibly more. War is not the answer. War
will not help the people of this or any country.
Racist hysteria has caused horrifying attacks on innocent
Arab and Muslim men, women and children in their own homes
and mosques. Indian Sikhs and other non-Muslim people have
also been targeted. Sikhs are especially victimized because
of their distinctive turbans. Sikh temples have been
vandalized and a gasoline bomb was thrown through the
window of a Sikh family's home, hitting a 3-year-old in the
head. A 70-year-old Sikh man was found dead in a ditch
after he did not return from his evening walk. A 26-year
old Indian Catholic was severely beaten while being called
a "dirty Arab". His friend was stabbed and remains in
critical condition. An Egyptian Christian was killed in
California and a Pakistani Muslim was murdered in Texas -
all victims of hate crimes. Another Indian Sikh, described
by his neighbors as “kind and gentle”, was killed by a
gunman who later shot a Lebanese man and fired into the
home of an Afghan family. "I'm a patriot," the suspect said
as he was arrested. "I'm a damn American all the way." We
call on all people who oppose racism to stand together in
the face of this reactionary frenzy.
On September 29, tens of thousands of people plan to
demonstrate to address the immediate danger posed by racism
and the grave threat of a new war. Now is the time for all
people of conscience to come together. If you oppose racism
and war, join us on September 29 at 11:00am in front of the
White House. We urge all international organizations to
join together at this critical time.
National March For Peace in Washington DC
Saturday, September 29 at 11AM
Our legal team has acquired permits to demonstrate at
Lafayette Park in front of the White House, the White House
sidewalk and for a mass march.
For Baltimore Bus info call ‘All Peoples Congress’(410) 235-
7040 or Diane at (410) 539-7511
Partial List of Initial
Signers:
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
Jews Against the Occupation
All Peoples
Congress
International Center for Peace & Justice
Middle East Children's Alliance
Human Rights Center
Sikh Student Organization
Women for Afghan Women
Rev. Lucius Walker, Pastors for Peace
Committee for a Democratic Palestine
Women for Mutual Security
European Peace Forum
National Lawyers Guild
Struggle Against War
Coalition,Italy
Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom
Plowshares/Jonah House, Baltimore
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
Teresa Gutierrez, Co-Director, International Action Center
Coalition Against Global
Exploitation
Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement
United American Indians of New England
Nicaragua Network
Ray LaForest, Labor Organizer, 1707 AFSCME
AFSCMELocal1072
Martin Espada, Poet
Mexico Solidarity Network
Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council
Nino Pasti Foundation, Rome, Italy
Al-Awda, New York and New Jersey
Ben DuPuy, former deputy ambassador, Haiti
Michel Shehadeh, Los Angeles 8 Case Respondent
Muslim Student & Faculty Association
International Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Committee in Support of Iraqi People, NY
Minnie Bruce Pratt, writer and anti-racism activist
National Action
Network
Vieques Support Campaign
SAFRAD Somali Association
Arab Cause Solidarity Committee, Madrid, Spain
Korea Truth Commission
Elmar Schmaehling, Retired Admiral, German Navy
Unity for
Action
Michel Collon, War Journalist, Belgium
African Immigrant and Refugee Coalition of N. America
S.a.k.h.i. for South Asian Women
Rainbow Flags for Mumia
Dominican Workers Party, New York
Baltimore Emergency Response
Network
Congress for Korean
Reunification
Baltimore Coalition Against the
War
International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End
Racism)
National Office: 39 W. 14 St., #206, NY, NY 10011(212) 633-
6646 iacenter@iacenter.org
Washington DC Office: 1247 E St. SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-2777
For Baltimore Bus info call ‘All Peoples Congress’
(410) 235-7040 or Diane at (410) 539-7511 |
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