Monday, September 17, 2007
Contact: Coalition to End the War, 916-996-9170
10 arrested, including 4 vets and mother of soldier in Iraq, inside office of Rep. Doris Matsui, who refuses to sign ‘Declaration of Peace’
SACRAMENTO – Ten anti-war activists – including four veterans and the mother of a U.S. soldier now in Iraq – briefly occupied and then were arrested Monday inside the offices of Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) as they attempted to get her to agree to a “Declaration of Peace.”
The 10 were handcuffed about one hour into the demonstration around noon Monday, and charged with a “disturbance.” Outside the 12th floor office, dozens of other activists held a “Die-In” to protest the war.
“For the past several years we have repeatedly and politely met with the representative’s staff, and asked her for a meeting, but it has not worked. She still supports the policies of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which includes providing more money for the war,” said Cres Vellucci, a Vietnam veteran and member of Veterans for Peace and Coalition to End the War.
“Nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have now been killed and tens of thousands horribly wounded, along with hundreds of thousands of Iraqi killed…it is past time for the voters of her district to not only ask, but demand, that Rep. Matsui officially declare her desire to end the war now,” he added.
He said that Matsui has refused to sign the “Declaration of Peace,” which simply states that she supports legislation to end the war now and won’t vote for any money for the war.
At a similar demonstration in March – on the 52nd day of a “peace-in” at Matsui’s office – seven people were arrested inside Matsui’s offices, including five veterans, as they read the names of U.S. and Iraqi civilian dead. It was the longest such sit-in of the Iraq War.
This month Congress is expected to vote on another war-funding measure – $148 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including $116 billion for Iraq. Monday’s action coincides with similar Die-In protests across California and the nation this week, and a Monday People’s March to Congress in D.C.