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Contact:
Edric Guise, 562-434-1446,
September 15, 2006
Democratic Congressional candidate Jim Brandt responds to Stop-the-War Ministry Team Request to Sign Congressional Declaration of Peace Pledge
Local group urges candidate to support efforts to end the war in Iraq
LONG BEACH, CA – In response to a meeting with members of the Stop-the-War Ministry Team of First Congregational Church in Long Beach last Tuesday afternoon, Congressional candidate Jim Brandt today signed the Congressional Declaration of Peace Pledge. Mr. Brandt is running as the Democratic candidate for Congress from District 46.
The Declaration of Peace is a statement with eight distinct points that call for withdrawing U.S. Troops from Iraq, rebuilding Iraq and stabilizing the Middle East (www.DeclarationOfPeace.org). The Ministry team is a local group of activists, one of hundreds around the country, who seek Congressional support for the Declaration of Peace and who, if that support is denied, have committed to engage in nonviolent protests and/or civil disobedience throughout the nation.
The Stop-the-War Ministry Team has also met with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who is Mr. Brandt’s Republican opponent in the upcoming election. At that meeting, Mr. Rohrabacher expressed agreement with the Ministry Team that the United States should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq, but he refused to sign on to the Pledge, disagreeing with the remaining points.
Describing Tuesday’s meeting with Mr. Brandt, Dr. Robert Kalayjian, who is a local physician, Vice-Moderator of First Congregational Church of Long Beach, and a member of the Ministry Team said, “Jim Brandt is a bit of an enigma. A businessman who suggested that we might liken the Iraq war to a business with a failing product. A good business will cut its losses and walk away from the product. But he also feels strongly and with heart that we will only see more death of Americans and Iraqis if we try to win a losing situation. I also like the fact that he is willing to stand up and take that position while his fellow Democratic Congresspeople keep talking politically and take no position and speak in circles.”
The Congressional Declaration of Peace Pledge is a commitment by Representatives and Senators to support the Declaration of Peace and to cosponsor legislation that will create momentum for a comprehensive plan to end the war and occupation of Iraq.
The pledge specifically asks members of Congress to cosponsor legislation such as H.R.4232 (End the War in Iraq Act of 2005), H.Con.Res.348/S Con Res93 (about military withdrawal and oil control) and H.Con.Res.197 (No Permanent Bases in Iraq).
Currently, local Declaration of Peace teams around the country are meeting with their representatives to secure pledges of support and to inform Congress about the Declaration of Peace project. This project not only involves direct work with Congress but also outreach to communities all over the country supported by nonviolent protests, including civil disobedience, aimed at ending the war.
For more information, please contact: Edric Guise at (562) 434-1446 or FCCPeace@aol.com.