Project Occupation - Stop the Funding of Iraq War

Stay Out of Iran,
Bring the Troops Home Where They Belong

Friends of Peace and Justice,

We're writing to you to tell you about a new, national concerted effort to stop the U.S. war against Iraq. The project was conceived originally by Voices for Creative Nonviolence (www.vcnv.org), the word "occupation" in the name having multiple meanings: ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq; the occupation of Congressional representatives' and senators' offices; and bringing home to the public the meaning to real human lives of occupation in
war. The focused purpose of this project is simply stated to end the war against Iraq and to accomplish that by obtaining commitments from Congress to ending the funding for it through U.S. law and the Constitutional duty of Congress to represent the people.

The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Denver groups have taken on this Project Occupation to obtain the commitment of our local U.S. House Representatives and U.S. Senator Ken Salazar to vote against any additional funding for the war against Iraq except funding necessary to extract our U.S. soldiers and private mercenary forces and bring them home. (We do support U.S. funds for reconstruction, reparations for damage to people and property, an international peace force if Iraq requests it, and funds
necessary for diplomatic efforts).

An oft used slogan by Congress is that they must "support the troops" and that is used as the standard excuse for not being able to stop the funding. We find this to be disingenuous and simply a means to avoid facing the hard facts that this war must end. The purpose of the war was not to "support the troops", and in fact the purposes stated have been shown to all have been fabricated to meet the Bush administration's policy, twisting the truth, and outright lies.

In recent weeks, the Bush Administration has taken actions that increase the likelihood of a U.S. air war against Iranian nuclear and military facilities. Such an attack would be an utter disaster for Iranians and all people in the Middle East, and, according to Physicians for Social Responsibility, would result in the death of 2.6 million Iranians within 48 hours . For this reason, we must also demand that our Congress people support legislation that would prohibit the Bush Administration from attacking Iran.

What is Project Occupation:

Volunteers have signed up to go into the offices of Representatives and Senator Salazar in the weeks leading up to the next supplemental military appropriation budget for the Iraq war and the "war on terror". That budget is due to be submitted from the White House on February 5 and taken up by Congressional committees immediately thereafter, with possible House action during February or March. It is expected to be approximately $100 billion dollar request, bringing the total request for this fiscal year to about $170 billion. We cannot predict the exact timeline of Congressional action, but hearings are expected prior to the Presidents Day weeklong recess from February 19-26.

Presently we plan that small organized teams of volunteers will go into the offices on a series of days, potentially during the recess week, sitting in the offices with the demands that U.S. House Representatives and Senator Salazar publicly commit to stop funding the war on Iraq and support legislation to prohibit an attack on Iran. Until they do this we will keep coming back, again and again, with new teams, potentially on increasing frequency and with increasing numbers.

All such "occupations" will be totally nonviolent in action and language, and all volunteers must pledge to a nonviolent code of conduct to participate. Most volunteers will sit in the offices, making an insistent presence and with the consistent demands to stop funding for the war on Iraq and prohibit an attack on Iran and will leave at the end of office hours. The RMPJC and Denver groups will organize these volunteers, in order to make sure that people are in the office on crucial dates and on a regular basis.

Some Project Occupation volunteers, in affinity groups, may elect to refuse to leave the office at closing, risking arrest. Affinity groups that decide to risk arrest will be self-organizing. If you wish to join an affinity group, you can let us know. There is a gathering of individuals interested in non-violent civil disobedience on Tues, Feb 13, 5pm-7pm,m 2010 Upland in Boulder.

Nonviolence Training for Volunteers -

All volunteer Project Occupation persons are asked to take part in a
non-violence training session prior to performing an occupation. There will be trainings of two lengths. People who are not planning on risking arrest and who will leave the office when asked are requested to take a two hour training. People who are risking arrest will be asked to take an eight hour training and then join an affinity group.

If you have questions, please call RMPJC office at 303 444 6981.

Together we can stop this insanity by calling for courage by on Congress people to vote to stop the funding.

In peace,
The Project Occupation Team
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center
303 444 6981