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"Neighbors
for Peace and Justice"
- grassroots residents opposed to war in Iraq
Nov. 30
Hi, Bill,
Just as there are many U.S. military veterans who are opposed to
a war against Iraq and actively demonstrating against it, we believe
that there are likely to be participants in the Los Angeles Community
Policing effort who feel similarly and may wish to join our efforts.
We are a group of concerned residents of Mt. Washington, Eagle Rock,
Highland Park, and Glassell Park who joined together with a single
goal: to oppose a war against Iraq. We did not have a name for our
organization. Some of us had attended demonstrations in Silverlake.
They were the first group in Los Angeles to assume the name "Neighbors
for Peace and Justice." (I believe that the name originated
in New York City.)
Because we have the same goal and are similarly without political
affiliation, we have decided to use the same name. There are several
other groups in the city who also use the name "Neighbors for
Peace and Justice" (e.g., Studio City, Alhambra, Venice). Some
of them are branches of the Silverlake group; others operate completely
independently.
There are bi-weekly meetings of the first "Neighbors for Peace
and Justice" located in the Los Feliz/Silverlake area of Los
Angeles. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each
month, 7pm-9pm at City Councilman Eric Garcetti's Field Office:
Sunset Boulevard at Maltman Avenue in Silverlake.
To contact the
Mt. Washington - Eagle Rock - Highland Park - Glassell Park branch
of "Neighbors for Peace and Justice."
"Neighbors for
Peace and Justice" is a grassroots organization comprised of
residents of Mt. Washington, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, and Highland
Park who are opposed to war in Iraq. We have no political affiliation.
We begin protesting on Saturday, November 30th, from 1:00pm-3:00pm
and will continue our weekly protests at the same time and place
until they are no longer deemed necessary.
We believe that a pre-emptive war in Iraq will result in the following:
- An increase
in the risk of terrorism, both domestically and internationally.
- Media distraction from Bush Administration scandals.
- Seizure of Iraq's rich oilfields. (Guess who gets Saddam's
oil?)
- Needless deaths of innocent Iraqi citizens and Americans.
- A disproportionate percentage of People of Color risking their
lives while serving in U.S. Armed Forces. |
Our peaceful
protests will be situated at Eagle Rock Blvd. and El Paso Ave. We
will hold them every Saturday from November 30 until there is no
longer a need, from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Please join us!
Please help us to get the word out. Invite friends and family who
may be interested and available. Please bring a sign large enough
for car passengers to read (we will have several available if you
cannot get a sign together in time).
We look forward to protesting together with you!
Peace,
Robert J. Squires
Mt Washington
P.S. Regular antiwar events in the Los Angeles area are as follows:
- Monday
through Friday, 2:00pm-4:00pm:
..... Post Office, So. Pasadena
- Friday, 11:30am-1:30pm:
..... Lake Street at Cordoba, Pasadena
- Friday, 5:00pm-6:30pm:
..... Peace Vigil - 220 E. Colorado
St., Glendale
- Friday, 5:00pm-7:00pm:
..... No War in Iraq Protest -
Vista theater in Silverlake
- Friday, 5:00pm-7:00pm:
..... Echo Park Peace Vigil - Alvarado
and Glendale Blvd, Echo Park
- Friday, 5:00pm-7:00pm:
..... Studio City Peace Vigil -
Laurel Canyon Bl and Ventura Blvd, Studio City
- Friday, 5:30pm-6:30pm:
..... Main and Garfield, Alhambra
- Friday, 6:00pm-7:00pm:
..... Peace Walk and Vigil - Anton
and Bristol, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
- Friday, 6:00pm-7:00pm:
..... Riverside Peace Rally - Shoe
City - Tyler Mall, 3535 Tyler St, Riverside
- Friday, 6:00pm-8:00pm:
..... Peace Demonstration - 3rd
Street and Santa Monica, Santa Monica
- Friday, 6:00pm-9:00pm:
..... Peace Vigil - 5200 E. 2nd
St, Long Beach
- Saturday, 12:00pm-1:30pm:
..... Young Koreans United Anti-War
Rally - Wilshire & Western, Los Angeles
- Saturday, 1:00pm-3:00pm:
..... No War in Iraq Protest, Eagle
Rock Blvd. at El Paso Ave., Glassell Park
- Saturday, 6:00pm-7:30pm:
..... Interfaith Peace Vigil -
Third and Fairfax, Los Angeles
- Sunday, 2:00pm:
..... Venice Peace March - Rose
Avenue and the Boardwalk, Venice Beach |
10 Reasons to Oppose
the War with Iraq (from the American Friends Service Committee)
1. War with Iraq won't make us safer.
A unilateral attack by the United States will inflame anti-U.S. sentiment
and may stimulate more attacks by extremists.
2. There is no imminent threat.
There is no hard evidence that Iraq has nuclear weapons. Iraq has
little means to deliver chemical and biological weapons to threaten
countries in the Middle East, let alone the U.S.
3. A preemptive attack violates the U.N. charter.
The U.N. Charter forbids member countries from attacking another country
except in self defense. If the U.S. puts itself above international
law it will further encourage other nations to do the same.
4. Our allies don't support us in this war.
U.S. allies in the Middle East oppose a U.S. attack on Iraq. Our European
allies have urged the U.S. to work through the U.N. An invasion of
Iraq would isolate the U.S. from the rest of the world and shatter
the principles of international cooperation and mutual defense that
are key to U.S. and global security.
5. Thousands of innocent people may die.
Pentagon estimates say that an invasion of Iraq could lead to the
deaths of 10,000 innocent civilians.
6. Young American men and women will fight and die.
U.S. military action and possible occupation is likely to produce
far more casualties than the previous Gulf War or the war in Afghanistan.
Many combatants will suffer physical and psychological repercussions
for years after the war ends.
7. Funding for education, environment and health care is already
being cut in order to pay for the "war on terror."
Estimates put the cost of a war with Iraq at $60-$100 billion
with ongoing billions for occupation and rebuilding Iraq.
8. Things may not be better after a war.
We have no guarantee that a new regime in Iraq will make life any
better for the Iraqi people or be any friendlier to the U.S. than
the current one. The Taliban were once our allies in Afghanistan.
Will the new regime in Iraq become our enemy after a few years?
9. There are other options.
The U.S. can work through the U.N. using mechanisms such as the resumption
of weapons inspections, negotiation, mediation, regional arrangements,
and other peaceful means.
10. The American people have deep misgivings about this war.
Many people know deep down that this war makes no sense. They are
starting to speak up and make themselves heard. You can add your voice
to activities in your community.
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