Media Advisory



For immediate release For further information:

September 12, 2006 Georgie Noguera (213) 489-1910 ext. 120 gnoguera@afsc.org


Steven Gibson (562) 900-2834 sgibson@afsc.org



Week of Action in Support of National Declaration of Peace

Culminating in Civil Disobedience to Shut Down Armed Forces Recruitment Center

Monday, September 25th (10 am – 1 pm) 7060 Hollywood Blvd.

The United Nations has designated September 21st as the International Day of Peace. The National DECLARATION of PEACE Coalition will engage in a week of nonviolent action to end the war in Iraq, beginning September 21st. This day will bear witness to candlelight vigils throughout the Los Angeles area and the nation. Los Angeles groups will participate in vigils, marches, protests and non-violent civil disobedience.

These civic actions will lead up to “WITNESS TO PEACE: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN”on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 10 AM – 1 PM at the Hollywood Military Recruiting Office at 7060 Hollywood Blvd. (between La Brea and Highland). Locally, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) plans to participate in the activities of this week by helping organize “Peace Witness” and other peace activities and events.

With nearly 70% of the people of the United States opposing the war in Iraq, it is a critical time to bring the troops home and to establish a comprehensive process for peace in Iraq. Between now and September 21st people across America are calling on their Senators and Representatives to publicly support the Declaration of Peace goals for a comprehensive plan for peace (see below) and to co-sign pending legislation to meet these goals.

This plan must be approved and set in motion by September 21, 2006 and completed no later than March 19, 2007, ending four years of war and occupation in Iraq. We will take every non-violent step possible to meet this goal before this deadline.

Member organizations of the Declaration of Peace Coalition have announced plans to participate in candlelight marches, vigils and non-violent civil disobedience starting September 21st at Congressional district offices, government offices and in Washington DC at the Capitol and White House.



The Declaration of Peace was created through discussions beginning last January between student groups, religious leaders and secular peace organizations whose goal was to end the war in Iraq. The Declaration of Peace is a coalition of over 330 national, regional and local religious, peace, social justice, veteran and student groups, including the American Friends Service Committee, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP), United for Peace and Justice, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Student Peace Action Network, Catholic Worker and Stop-the-War Ministry Team of First Congregational Church in Long Beach.

Some Goals of the Declaration of Peace

The Declaration of Peace is a commitment to take non-violent steps for a comprehensive concrete and rapid end to the US war and occupation of Iraq:

 Withdrawal of US troops and all coalition forces immediately

 No permanent US military bases and installations

 Support for an Iraq-led peace process, including a peace conference to shape a post-occupation transition (and an international peacekeeping presence if mandated by this peace process)

 Return of Iraqi control over its oil resources and the political and economic life of the nation

 Increased support for US veterans of the Iraq war

 Reparations and reconstruction to address the destruction caused by the US war and thirteen years of sanctions

 Establish a “peace dividend” for job creation, health care, education, housing and other vital social needs

For more information please visit us at:

peacewitnessla.org

declarationofpeace.org

afsc.org

The American Friends Service Committee is an international peace and justice organization with a regional office in the downtown Los Angeles area. Founded in 1917 and governed by the Society of Friends (Quakers), its programs of peace, relief, reconciliation and development are based on non-violence and belief in the inherent goodness of all persons. In 1947, AFSC accepted the Noble Peace Prize on behalf of all Quakers worldwide. For further information please visit us at www.afsc.org.