Neighbors for Peace & Justice
http://www.neighborsforpeaceandjustice.org

Support Local Civilians Who Have Traveled to Iraq for Humanitarian Purposes Fight U.S. Government's Pursuit of Charges Against Those Making Similar Trips

As Southern California Reservists Are Ordered Back to Iraq
Poll Released Today Reveals Majority of Americans Have Doubts About Iraq War

WHEN: 5:00 PM, Friday, November 14th

WHERE: Los Feliz Neighborhood Weekly Peace Vigil
Outside the Vista Theater 4473 Sunset Dr.
(Intersection Hillhurst, Hollywood, & Sunset Blvd)

WHAT: The U.S. Treasury and Justice Departments are pursuing charges against several individuals and groups that have traveled to Iraq. All of them have refused to pay any fines and are risking prison time. On November 14 events will take place in 10 U.S. cities including New York, Chicago, and Montgomery, AL, where humanitarian visitors to Iraq will are supporting their fellow travelers who have been by brought-up the U.S. government on charges of breaking the sanctions before and during the war and occupation. Locally they will gather with their at a neighborhood peace vigil in solidarity with their fellow humanitarian travelers, and share photos, videos and stories of their trips. They will also exhibit samples of items they packed with them in order to assist the Iraqi people.

WHO: Local humanitarians who have traveled to Iraq and their supporters including:

Juanita G. Shenk, 69, a retired R.N. from Pasadena visited Iraq from Feb. 24-Mar. 10, 2003 as a witness. ‘I went to Iraq because I had to do something in the face of an impending war with which I disagreed profoundly. I could and did march in the streets of Los Angeles and Pasadena; but I had to do something to reach out to Iraqi people in solidarity, to let them know they were not alone. I especially wanted to identify with Iraqi Christians.’

Barbara Johns, 31, an LA-based, writer and daughter of a former US General, traveled to Iraq October 27 to November 3, 2002. ‘My trip to Iraq was the first time I had truly stepped out of my 'safe zone' as a traveler with the goal of extending friendship to the people there. Everyone there seemed to have been deeply affected by the sanctions, whether it be mysterious medical problems with no supplies to treat them, schools without a single sheet of paper to write on, or entire cities without enough drinking water. A doctor from the University of Baghdad told us of the difficulty in maintaining a regular school schedule when it was almost impossible to get books. He relayed to us a particular fondness for Mark Twain, and I remembered that first lady Laura Bush also shared a love for Mark Twain. I wondered what a conversation between them would be like- I wondered if it would be possible for them to become friends. The mothers of Basrah were particularly worried about the impending war- where could they take their children when the bombs began to fall? There was nowhere to go. They would cry and ask us what they should do. I had no answers for them. I would like to go back and see if these mothers and children survived’

For more information go to:

Voices in the Wilderness files an Answer and Counter Claim in US District Court
29 September 2003
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/

War Vigils Evolve, Continue
Published on Monday, November 10, 2003 by the Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vigils10nov10,1,6176507.story

Poll: Majority of Americans say Iraq war faught on faulty accusations
Posted November 13, 2003
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-11-13-war-poll_x.htm

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...and your fascination for and support of people who break the law?