December 7, 2006 Peace Event at Pasadena Community College

Thursday, as part of a long-term campaign to bring an end to the war in

Iraq and Afghanistan and to begin the healing process both abroad and at home, we the people are making a declaration of peace. For over three

and one half years, we have marched and we have rallied; we have campaigned for political change and we have lobbied our representatives.

Yet still this war rages on. We the people, along with a clear majority of Americans, have told our elected officials that it is time for our sons and daughters to come home. Yet still, they do not listen.

As citizens of a democratic state, we must try all options. We have

raised our voices and we have used our votes. Still, the proposed

solutions to this war from people of power include sending more troops,

instead of setting timetables and bringing the young men and women home.

We therefore place our bodies on the line, in the path of escalating the war and so will preventing more young people joining the military. We

do so to save the lives of young people, both here and in Iraq. We risk as much as we can to bear witness to the unnecessary loss of life caused by war and because our children risk far more when they enlist in the military.

Because we want our children to be students and not soldiers. Because

we seek to save the lives of young people, we seek to close this recruiting center - even if for just one day. We do this in the tradition of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Caesar Chavez, without the use of

violence and with love in our hearts. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote, "we present our very bodies as a means of laying our case

before the conscience of our local and national community." We therefore are using our bodies today as a barrier to continued war, and we do so for the entire international community to bear witness.

On Wednesday, Dec 6th, the Baker Commission will come out with recommendations for the US in Iraq. By our statements and actions we are

making our opinion known that we oppose any move in Iraq that does not start with a detailed commitment to remove US armed forces from Iraq,

starting immediately.

Over 2900 US armed forces members have died in Iraq and more than 600,000 Iraqis have died. Pasadena Community College students,

professors and staff will join with local peace groups including Foothills Peace Coalition, Alhambra Peace Vigil, South Pasadena Peace Vigil, Pasadena Peace Vigil, Peace Witness and organizations including

Catholic Worker LA, Code Pink LA, American Friends Service Committee,

and Somos Seres Humanos in an all day presence for peace in Pasadena.



Thursday, Dec 7th

8 AM - 11:50 AM Signs & Presence for Peace on Colorado Blvd.

12 PM - 1 PM Student Rally on Pasadena City College Campus

Meet at Sculpture Garden

12:45 PM Press Conference @ Armed Forces Recruitment Station

1 PM - 8 PM Support Members Engaging in Direct Action

And Candlelight Vigil @ Recruitment Center



Be Prepared

We will have two black draped coffins as well as signs against the war

in Iraq. Please bring more signs.