PEACE GROUP PLANS STATE HOUSE PROTEST ON OCTOBER 2, FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF “BLANK CHECK AUTHORIZATION” OF IRAQ WAR
The Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action (CFPA) is planning a protest Rally on the fifth anniversary of the “blank check” authorization of the Iraq War from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM on Tuesday, October 2 on the State House Steps in Trenton, 125 W. State Street.
October 2, 2002 was the date Congress passed a resolution authorizing President Bush to use all necessary means, including unilaterally initiating war, to combat terrorism. A large blown-up blank check will be at the Rally to illustrate the message
Speakers confirmed to date include
- The Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director of CFPA
- Leslie Potter, District Director for Rep. Rush Holt
- Carol Kiger Allen, Co-Chair of CFPA’s Committee for Political Action
- Bruce Tornari, a Vietnam War combat veteran
- Ladonna Blount, Central Jersey Organizer, NJ Citizen Action
- The Rev. Carol Haag, a Unitarian Universalist minister
- Dr. Brent Lollis, Executive Director of the American Iranian Council
- Desiree Ramos, Press Secretary of Sen. Bob Mendendez
Other speakers invited include the other three members (out of fifteen total) of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation who opposed the 2002 resolution, in addition to Representative Rush Holt and Senator Bob Menendez: Representatives Frank Pallone and Donald Payne; as well as then Senator (now Governor) Jon Corzine.
Carpooling from the Princeton area will leave from the Rite Aide (formerly Eckerd) Drug end of the Princeton Shopping Center, 300 N. Harrison Street at 11:15. Those wanting to carpool, as well as anyone wanting further information, are requested to contact the CFPA office at (609) 924-5022 or through its web site www.peacecoalition.org.
“Most of the New Jersey delegation to the US Congress, except for the five noted above, gave President Bush a blank check to authorize war against Iraq five years ago. The result has been an unmitigated disaster, with nearly 3,800 US soldiers at least 600,000 Iraqis killed to date. The country is in ruins, at least 2 million are refugees, and a civil war quagmire, with US troops caught in the middle, is going on endlessly.
We are grateful that the remaining Democrats in the New Jersey Congressional delegation have changed to now oppose the war, and are voting for legislation to mandate a rapid exit timeline and strategy. We are outraged that all six NJ Republican Representatives continue to vote for unrestricted, full funding for President Bush’s illegal and immoral war in Iraq.
On this fifth anniversary of the Blank Check Authorization, we call on them and all members of Congress, to stop giving further blank checks for funding this war, and instead vote to mandate an end to this war. Congress did so to end the Vietnam War, and should do so now to end this war,” said the Rev. Robert Moore, Executive Director of CFPA.
