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We've all been moved by the heroic struggle of the Iranian
people against a government that refused to count their votes - and by
the brutal murder of
Neda Agha-Soltan.
Here in the U.S., we voted twice to remove the warmongering Republican Congress and President. But we must still struggle to end their wars and to hold them accountable for their war crimes, including torture.
So let's take our inspiration from the Iranian people
and renew our progressive activism here in the U.S. today. Check here
for information on PDX actions!
1. Wednesday Is Afghanistan Exit Action Day
U.S. bombing in Afghanistan and Pakistan has killed
hundreds of civilians and created hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Watch the
powerful videos at RethinkAfghanistan.
Yet Congress is set to authorize $550 billion in military spending with an additional $130 billion to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than George W. Bush ever requested.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) wants an exit strategy from Afghanistan and his bill ( H.R. 2404 ) has 89 Congressional co-sponsors. On Wednesday, he will propose it as an amendment to the war funding bill - but he needs our help.
Tell Congress to Demand an Afghanistan Exit
Strategy
http://democrats.com/afghan-exit-petition?cid=ZGVtczU4OTAxOWRlbXM=
Also call your Representative today at (202) 224-3121
to co-sponsor Rep. McGovern's Afghanistan Exit Strategy bill H.R. 2404,
and to vote for Rep. McGovern's amendment to the Defense Authorization
bill (H.R. 2647).
2. Thursday Is Torture Accountability Action Day
A large coalition of human rights groups will hold rallies
and marches in major U.S. cities, including a rally in Washington,
D.C.'s John Marshall P ark at 11 a.m. followed by a noon march to the
Justice Department where some participants will risk arrest in
nonviolent protest if a special prosecutor for torture is not appointed.
Events are planned in Washington, D.C.; San Francisco,
CA; Pasadena, CA; Thousand Oaks, CA; Boston, MA; Salt Lake City, UT;
Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; Honolulu, HI; Tampa, FL;
Philadelphia, PA; and Anchorage, AK, with details available online:
http://tortureaccountability.webs.com/eventsacrossus.htm
In Pasadena at 12 p.m. PT citizens will submit a formal judicial misconduct complaint against 9th Circuit Judge Jay Bybee, former Assistant Attorney General.
If you can't attend an event, please take action from home:
Urge Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a
special prosecutor for torture:
http://democrats.com/special-prosecutor-for-bush-war-crimes?cid=ZGVtczU4OTAxOWRlbXM=
Call Eric Holder at 202-514-2001. Fax him
at 202-307-6777 or
send him a free fax: http://www.peaceandjustice.it
Tweet this:
Rallies all over US on 6/25 demanding accountability for torture:
http://tr.im/pppa
Thanks for all you do!
Bob Fertik
Can you call Rep. Blumenauer today and ask
him to join others in Congress
in co-sponsoring H.R. 2404—-the McGovern bill pushing for an exit strategy
from Afghanistan?
Representative Earl Blumenauer
Phone: 202-225-4811
This week, Congress will vote for another $95 billion for the endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan (Af/Pak).
But 40 House Progressives can end these wars if they simply vote NO. That's because all 178 Republicans opppose $5 billion added for the IMF, and 178+40=218, a House majority.
Tell Congress: Healthcare Not Warfare
http://www.democrats.com/healthcare-not-warfare?cid=ZGVtczU3MjcwNmRlbXM=
On May 14, 51 Democrats
voted NO. Now those 51 are under immense pressure to
switch to YES. Don't let them switch! Check if your Representative is
here:
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/Supplemental
Then call and report the response you get using the
webform.
If you use Twitter, you can "retweet" my
messages to key Members of Congress:
http://www.democrats.com/tweet-against-war-funds
Post your commends and look for updates here:
http://www.democrats.com/progressives-and-bluedogs-can-defeat-war-supplemental
Thanks for all you do!
Bob Fertik
2. Break Up the Banks - Town Hall Meetings
In April, we joined A New Way Forward to hold
nation-wide protests against Washington's massive bailout of the
banks that created our financial crisis.
During the week of June 8, A New Way Forward will hold Town Hall Meetings to build support for breaking up the banks. If they are "too big to fail" then they are "too big to exist."
Please sign our petition to Congress:
http://www.democrats.com/break-up-the-banks
Find a Town Hall Meeting near you, or help organize
one:
http://www.anewwayforward.org/demonstrations/
Thanks very much.
Support the DREAM Act!
The Development,
Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is bipartisan
legislation that addresses the situation faced by young people who
were brought to the United States years ago as undocumented
immigrant children, and who have since grown up here, stayed in
school, and kept out of trouble.
If passed, the DREAM Act would facilitate access to college for immigrant students in the U.S. by restoring states’ rights to offer in-state tuition to immigrant students residing in their state. The “DREAM Act” would also provide a path to citizenship for hardworking immigrant youth who were brought to the U.S. as young children and to pursue higher education or military service, enabling them to contribute fully to our society.
Tell me more"In Russia, in China, and here... very mediocre people have the power to end life altogether."
Saul Bellow add events to Calendar
Become an active resource for your community! No more business as usual.
These are difficult times, but together we make a difference! Join a union, church,
reading group, pool team. Attend a rally, concert, lecture, demonstration, event,
protest, or workshop. Become part of a local town hall, school board, newspaper,
radio station, public school, university, library, social center, or recreational facility.
Teach, share, and celebrate. Together we become the difference we seek.
Hunger Hurts the Working Poor
In America, 40 percent of those seeking food assistance are employed. Fight hunger at home. more»
Fight Against Childhood Hunger
Hunger affects more than 13 million children in America every day. These undernourished children are in... more»
Protect the Arctic Refuge The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to caribou, snow fox and millions of migratory birds. It is... more»
petition
overview |
letter
educators, legislators, voters, military personnel,
allies, and patriots
Sponsored by: The Wordsmith
Collection
Robert Gates should not be retained as Defense
Secretary. Mr. Gates has a troubling track record.
He misled the American people, lied to the commander-in-chief,
and intentionally misled congress. In this behavior he has
operated outside the law and undermined American security
interests. At this critical time we need competent,
honest, and credible leaders. Robert Gates, according to
the testimony of Mel Goodman and others, regularly "spins"
intelligence to fit his own political agenda. This
"politicized intelligence has put him in conflict with the
Secretary of State, the Senate, and has done great harm to our
intelligence community.
For additional information reference www.WritingResource.info/gates.html
For additional information reference www.WritingResource.info/gates.html
We the undersigned feel that Robert Gates should
not be retained as Secretary of Defense. According to his
colleages in the CIA, CIA division chief Mel Goodman, and former
Secretary of State George Shultz, Gates betrayed a
president, lied to the US Senate, and intentionally misled the
American people to further his own political agenda. Mr.
Gates' spin and politicized intelligence has cost America her
reputation and credibility. In his tenure as head of the CIA he
did great harm to the intelligence community and may have cost
American lives. We can do better. Thanks for helping alert
Barack Obama to this potential National Security fiasco.
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