[WestMALocals] Fwd: [AriseAction] Federal Building Action in Solidarity with Cindy Sheehan this Friday, please spread the word

[Owen Broadhurst]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: American Friends Service Committee <afsc at crocker.com>
Date: Aug 17, 2005 2:24 PM
Subject: [AriseAction] Federal Building Action in Solidarity with
Cindy Sheehan this Friday, please spread the word



Greetings Friends,

Many of you have emailed to say that you are joining tonight's many
vigils in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan's profound efforts outside of
President Bush's Texas ranch.  As you well know, her work has touched
the heart of our nation.

I am writing now to another vigil and speak out and would be grateful
if you would spread the word:

On Friday, August 19 at 11:00am, the Lucey Family (a Belchertown
family who lost their son/brother last year when Jeff committed
suicide shortly after returning from the Iraq war) and (very possibly)
other Massachusetts military families will travel to the Federal
Building (1550 Main Street, Springfield) to lay the 27 pair of boots
representing the fallen Massachusetts soldiers on the plaza in
solidarity with Cindy's witness and Camp Casey.  Please join us for
this action.

The Lucey family and their allies will be demanding that Mr. Bush meet
 immediately with Cindy and the family members vigiling with her now
in Texas.  We will also visit Congressmen Neal and Senator Kerry's
offices calling for the immediate return of U.S. troops.

All around the country constituents will also ask federal legislators
to answer the questions Cindy is asking President Bush:  Why are we in
Iraq?  Why did we go to war?  Why are our children dying in such
number?  How can we stop this endless war?  We will also ask:  How can
we think that killing Iraqis in such vast numbers will bring peace to
that region?  How are our legislators currently accountable to our
calls for an end to this war?

The boots are part of AFSC's Eyes Wide Open exhibit currently touring
the United States.  As I type, boots from most of the states in the
country are on their way to AFSC / Gold Star Families / Military
Families Speak Out / Iraq Vets Against the War organizers for
solidarity actions such as ours at the Federal Building.  Cindy will
likely speak in WMA when the full Eyes Wide Open exhibit returns to
the area in November.

About Cindy Sheehan and her work:

Since the death of her son Casey, Cindy Sheehan has fought to spare
other mothers her tragedy by demanding that U.S. troops come home from
Iraq. On August 6, 2005, Cindy began a vigil outside of President
Bush's ranch near Crawford, Texas, just as the President began his
five week vacation ranch-based vacation. She is determined to stay
there until the President meets with her.

At this moment, I don't know what will happen after Friday's action.
There have been lots of good ideas coming in from folks -- urging us
all to continue vigiling, taking to the streets, camping at
legislators' offices and homes, raising the stakes of our resistance. 
Military Families Speakout follks are interested in supporting this
effort nationally.  Please feel free to call AFSC.  I would be happy
to make the boots available for local organizing, should folks want
them and happy to work with folks on continuing actions.

Lots has already been planned for this fall, as you well know -- the
Sept. 24 mobilization, nonviolence trainings, readings, cabarets,
teach-ins, gathering meetings.  Perhaps the next few days will help us
all further galvanize our collective fall work.

With gratitude for all you do and in peace,

Jo
Jo Comerford
American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts
140 Pine Street, Room 10
Florence, Massachusetts 01062
413.584.8975 (W)
413.584.8987 (F)
413.695.6059 (C)
afsc at crocker.com
www.WesternMassAFSC.org

Peace is not merely the absence of tension, it is the presence of justice.
~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


AriseAction, the mailing list of the Arise Peace and Solidarity Committee
To post a message, write to AriseAction at yahoogroups.com
To join AriseAction send an email to 
AriseAction-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe send an email to 
AriseAction-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
The AriseAction Archives are at 
http://www.yahoogroups.com/messages/AriseAction




________________________________