The Declaration of Peace

St. Louis Action Part of Nationwide Protests on War’s 4th Anniversary

St. Louis, MO – Local activists will hold a 24- hour vigil culminating in a procession and attempt to deliver a $100 billion war bill and deed for the war to the office of Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Protesters will demand that Sen. McCaskill vote no on upcoming legislation that would provide funding for the war. This action is part of a nationwide campaign with actions taking place more than 30 states under the umbrella of the Declaration of Peace campaign and Occupation Project.

WHO: 24-Hour Vigil: Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out and the St. Louis Instead of War Coalition* March to Sen. McCaskill’s office: The Occupation Project, St. Louis

WHAT: Vigil: 3,000 tombstones with names of U.S. military and Iraqi civilians March: Participants will risk arrest to deliver a $100 Billion War Bill and a 6’X4’ Deed for the War.

WHEN: Vigil: Sunday March 18 at 12 NOON – Monday, March 19 at 12 NOON March: Leaves Kauffman Park Monday, March 19 at 12 NOON.

WHERE: Vigil: Kauffman Park, Tucker and Chestnut, Downtown St. Louis. March Destination: Office of Senator Claire McCaskill Robert A. Young Federal Building 1222 Spruce Street Room 8.304, St. Louis, MO 63103

*The St. Louis Instead of War Coalition includes: American Friends Service Committee, Catholic Action Network, Center for Theology and Social Analysis, Human Rights Action Service, Institute for Peace and Justice, Military Families Speak Out - Midwest Chapter, Peace Economy Project, St. Louis Friends Meeting, Veterans for Peace, Women in Black, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, World Community Center. More information at www.insteadofwar.org

More information on nationwide actions:
Declaration of Peace
The Occupation Project

On Thursday evening, September 21, a spirited crowd gathered to hear Marine Cloy Richards (Iraq Veterans Against the War) and his mother Tina Richards (Military Families Speak Out (Missouri/Midwest)). You can hear Cloy’s moving reflections on his two tours of combat duty in Iraq and the damage which the war is inflicting on the Iraqi and American people by clicking here for video, or clicking here for audio only. (8 minutes, missing the very end). Also see this video of MFSO’s vigil in SE Missouri.

MC Michael McPhearson (Veterans for Peace), who is a veteran of the first Gulf War and whose son served in this Iraq war, provided context. Instead of War presented copies of more than 3,000 signatures on the Declaration of Peace petition, to George Weber, candidate for Congress in Missouri District 2, and Steven Engelhardt representing Congressman Lacey Clay (Missouri District 1), who also spoke strongly against the Iraq war. (All St. Louis-area Missouri candidates for U.S. Congress were invited to attend.) These signatures, gathered after work in just a few weeks, reflect the growing public outrage at the destruction, corruption, and incompetence of the Iraq war and occupation.

By St. Louis Instead of War Coalition