The Declaration of Peace

L.A. Action Part of Nationwide Protests on War’s 4th Anniversary

Los Angeles, CA – Students from Roosevelt High School will be joining representatives from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Catholic Worker House and others to shut down an Armed Forces Recruitment Station in East Los Angeles on Monday, March 19. This action is part of a nationwide Declaration of Peace campaign to protest the war on the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. More than 120 events will take place in 33 states nationwide.

Over 3,000 U.S. Soldiers have lost their lives, and opportunities for vital education programs have been drowned by a soaring federal budget deficit. However, despite overcrowding and the lack of basic teaching materials, the Los Angeles Unified School district pays more than half the cost of local JROTC programs.

WHO: Roosevelt High School Students, AFSC, Catholic Workers, March 25th Coalition, Latinos against the War and others.

WHAT: Protest against the war, Non violent civil disobedience

WHEN: Monday, March 19 at 4:30PM PT

WHERE: Plaza del Sol 1241 S. Soto St. Los Angeles 90023

The American Friends Service Committee is an international peace and justice organization, founded by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). In 1947, AFSC accepted the Noble Peace Price on behalf of all Quakers worldwide. For further information see www.afsc.org/losangeles.

The Declaration of Peace is a grassroots nonviolent action campaign of more than 800 groups calling on the US government to establish a comprehensive plan to end the US war and occupation in Iraq. It works to stop US military escalation in Iraq, to defund the war, to bring the troops home safely and to support a comprehensive peace process.

Candle Light Vigil for Peace in Pasadena was a success with more than 60 vigil supporters situated on both sides of Colorado Blvd. and directly in front of a military recruitment station. The vigil was well attended and members of the media were present.

Witness to Peace; Civil Disobedience to Save the Lives of our Children was attended by more than 60 people, members of Declaration of Peace Coalition including American Friends Service Committee, Veterans for Peace, United for Peace and Justice, Code Pink, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Student Peace Action Network, Catholic Worker, Coalition for World Peace, Foothills Peace Coalition, Whittier Area Peace and Justice Coalition, came out and peacefully expressed their opposition to the recruitment policies and practices of the Armed Services by declaring non violent civil disobedience in front of a recruitment station on Hollywood Blvd. More than 28 people risked arrest by blocking the doors to the center.

We were able to successfully close down the recruitment center for one entire day. Although we were willing to risk arrest to meet this end, we proved that we were able to accomplish this goal without arrests. Members of the media were present and we were able to march with coffins draped in American flags in a solemn procession down some of the most transited streets in Hollywood. We read aloud names of American soldiers as well as the names of the civilians who have been killed in Iraq and conducted a non-violent sit it at the front of the recruitment station on Hollywood Blvd.

Rally for Peace was a success that took place in Long Beach where a Vigil at the Long Beach Federal Building took place with more than 50 people in attendance, supporting the Declaration of Peace. AFSC coordinated with the Stop-the-War Ministry Team of First Congregational Church in Long Beach for this event and it was covered by the Press Telegram.

See also:
gazettes.com/protest09282006.html
la.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/179830.php
la.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/179863.php
pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=3850&IssueNum=38

The marchers arrive at the army recruitment center in Hollywood

See LA IndyMedia for original and photos

LOS ANGELES, September 25, 2006 – A coalition of faith based groups succeeded in closing the army recruitment center in Hollywood today.

Early this morning a group of about 50 marched down Hollywood Blvd. to the recruitment center and proceeded to block the entrance. They were prepared to risk arrest but it did not come to that. Police monitored the group but did not interfere. It is believed that the center knew in advance of the action and closed because of the demonstration.

About 25 people set up an all day vigil at the front doors to make sure the recruitment center did not try to reopen. One of the people who took part, Ann Bishop, said of the action “We may have saved a few lives. Somebody didn’t sign up, and maybe having a day to think it over they won’t sign up, and they won’t go some where and be killed or kill any body”.

MP3 Audio: Declaration of Peace
Recording of the statement read at today’s anti-war action in Hollywood.