The Declaration of Peace is a grassroots nonviolent action campaign calling on the U.S. government to establish a comprehensive plan to end the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq. The nationwide campaign is working to move Congress to defund the U.S. occupation of Iraq, to initiate the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq, and to support an Iraqi-led peace process.
Consultations with peace and justice coalitions, faith-based groups, veterans and military families, elected officials and staff, and community leaders from around the country led to the development of the Goals of The Declaration of Peace, a nine point framework for a comprehensive plan for peace in Iraq, including:
- An end to all funding of U.S. military operations in Iraq.
- Safe and rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops and coalition forces from Iraq, with no future deployments.
- No permanent U.S. military bases or installations in Iraq.
- Support for an Iraqi-led Peace process, including a Peace conference to shape a post-occupation transition.
- Return control of Iraqi oil to the people of Iraq, as well as complete sovereignty in their economic and political affairs.
- Support for reparations and reconstruction to address the destruction caused by the U.S. invasion, military occupation, and 13 years of economic sanctions.
- Establish a U.S. “peace dividend” for job creation, health care, education, housing, and other vital social needs at home.
- Increased support for U.S. veterans of the Iraq war.
- No war against Iran or any other nation.
In September 2007, the DoP Education Committee published a document “fleshing-out” the 9-point Peace Plan framework. The Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and accompanying Talking Points continue to be updated and are designed for public education and for Congressional lobbying.
Read about and download the 65-page Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq and the 6-page Talking Points.
We continue to take every nonviolent step possible to meet these goals.
The Campaign
More than 500 national and local peace and justice organizations and coalitions endorsed The Declaration of Peace in Phase 1.
Now, more than 800 organizations and coalitions have endorsed The Declaration of Peace.
We invite these organizations to be actively involved in the current phase of this campaign.
Click Here for a List of Endorsing Organizations
If your organization would like to endorse this effort, you can do so by signing The Declaration of Peace Pledge online. At the bottom of the Pledge, be sure to check the box indicating, “Yes - My Organization would like to endorse The Declaration of Peace.”
Phase 1 (May through Sept. 28, 2006)
During the September 21-28, 2006 Week of Action, thousands of people and hundreds of endorsing organizations participated in 375 Declaration of Peace events in cities and towns across the United States. These public actions for peace were the culmination of a four-month initiative to call on members of Congress to publicly commit to co-sign legislation to bring U.S. troops home safely and to support a plan for a just and lasting peace. One of the objectives of this campaign was to contribute to making the fall mid-term Congressional elections a referendum on the war.
Phase 2 (Dec. 2006 through March 21, 2007)
Marking the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, The Declaration of Peace encouraged the organizing of hundreds of local events across the U.S., including nonviolent sit-ins and die-ins in 15 cities.
The Declaration of Peace also endorsed and helped organize the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, where thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. for prayer, a candlelight procession and vigil, and nonviolent action resulting in 222 arrests at the White House.
Phase 3 (June through September 21, 2007)
Building on earlier efforts, The Declaration of Peace reinforced the growing sense of urgency about the war by coordinating nationwide dramatic nonviolent actions to Defund the War and Establish A Comprehensive Peace Plan for Iraq. Nonviolent die-ins and other events took place in Washington, D.C. and scores of other towns and cities across the U.S. during the September “Days of Decision”.
Phase 4 (January through March 21, 2008)
The Declaration of Peace actively supported United for Peace and Justice during the “5 Years Too Many” campaign. Thanks to tireless local organizing, more than 700 events took place in all 50 states and D.C. around March 19, 2008. See reports and photos from D.C. and across the U.S. by clicking below.
During April through June 2008, The Declaration of Peace worked in earnest to “Defund the War”, coordinating grassroots efforts to move members of Congress to vote against further funding of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Town hall meetings and face-to-face meetings with Representatives and their staff took place. Phone calling and write-in campaigns were launched. Public demonstrations, sit-ins, and other events happened across the country.
However, this wasn’t enough to stop the passage of more war appropriations.
In a final vote on June 26, 2008, the Congress approved an astonishing $161.8 billion to continue the U.S. occupation of Iraq well into the next presidential administration!
(Follow the Iraq War Funding chronolgy here.)
Everyone who has supported and engaged in the work of The Declaration of Peace — Thank you for your diligence and inspiring hard work!
Now …
Phase 5 (August through November 4, 2008)
Keep Peace for Iraq in the forefront of election campaigns.
The Declaration of Peace calls on everyone to recommit, regroup, and redouble our efforts to move U.S. policy-makers to bring U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq and to work for Peace in Iraq.
During the August Congressional recess (Aug. 11 - Sept. 5, 2008) and throughout the election season:
- Question all candidates for federal offices on ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
- Make the public aware of the war funding voting records of your members of Congress.
- Speak out, write about, and take action for Peace for Iraq.
The Declaration of Peace is grassroots-driven and volunteer-run.
The Declaration of Peace National Coordinating Body makes major decisions on the direction of the campaign, with input from local organizers across the country. The National Coordinating Body is composed of representatives of the DoP working committees. These committees include: Communications, Finance, Local Organizing, Education, and Nonviolence Training. These committees meet by telephone conference calls.
Learn more about the Working Committees here.
If you are interested in working on a DoP committee, please contact the campaign at info@declarationofpeace.org.
Contact The Declaration of Peace at: info@declarationofpeace.org.