March of the Dead in Wisconsin Too

From Joy First:

MARCH OF THE DEAD: GRIM REMINDER OF COST OF WAR AS CONGRESS BEGINS NEW SESSION

MADISON, WI – As Congress begins its 111th session in Washington, DC on January 6, activists in Madison will participate in the March of the Dead in solidarity with similar marches in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and other places around the country.

As we watch the carnage unfolding in Gaza, as we continue to hear about innocent people dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are painfully reminded of the necessity of citizen action, of the need to speak out against our government’s policies. We are reminded that our representatives in Congress are not following the will of the people in bringing to an end the terror of war that continues throughout the world.

Participants, wearing black clothing and white masks, will solemnly and mournfully process around the Capitol in Madison with the names of victims of the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza. The procession will begin at 1:00 pm in front of the City-County Building at 210 Martin Luther King Blvd. From Main Street we will go towards West Washington around the square, stopping at Senator Kohl’s office. We will continue around the square towards East Washington, and stop at Congresswoman Baldwin’s office. We will then drive to Senator Feingold’s office in Middleton.

At each stop, we will deliver a letter to our representative in Congress (see below) asking them to follow the will of the people. This letter has been signed by citizens from all over the state.

As the suffering of war continues throughout the world, as innocent people continue to die, we must not be silent. As Congress begins a new session we, the people must demand an end to the terror of war. We must condemn the brutal destruction of Palestine. We must demand that we get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and that we stay out of Iran, Pakistan, Syria, and Colombia.

As we hope for change with a new administration, we must continue our cry for peace and justice in the world.

This march will immediately follow the trial of three peace activists, Bonnie Block, Cassandra Dixon, and Joy First at noon in Room 203 of the City of Madison Municipal Court at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The three activists were arrested September 15, 2008 outside of the downtown Post Office while drawing chalk outlines of the war dead on the sidewalk. They were charged with obstruction of building.

This action is organized by Madison Pledge of Resistance and Madison-Rafah Sister City Project. Madison Pledge of Resistance is a member group of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, using nonviolent civil resistance, following the principles and practices of Gandhi and Martin Luther King in the struggle for peace and justice.

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Dear Senator Kohl, Senator Feingold, and Representative Baldwin,

As the 111th session of Congress begins today in Washington, we are here in your office in Madison to remind you that many innocent people are suffering and dying as a result of the policies of the U.S. government. With the war and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, with the military aid to Israel, with threats of aggression to other countries around the world we cannot remain silent. It is our right and our responsibility to speak out, to come to your offices today and remind you of the work your constituents want you to do.

Citizens are participating in the March of the Dead today in Washington, DC, Madison, WI, and other places around the country. We are carrying the names of those killed as a result of the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, the names of the people of Gaza who have been killed. Many of the people who have been killed are innocent children. Others are mothers and fathers, and grandparents.

Many of our senators and representatives now believe that the war in Iraq was a mistake based on lies. We come to you asking what you will do to end this shameful chapter of U.S. history. We come to you asking that you work on solutions with Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, and other places around the world that do not involve the slaughter of innocent people.

We are here to demand an end to the terror of war. We must remove our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. We must demand that Israel stop its attack on Gaza and we must stop military aide to Israel. We must do more to bring about a peaceful solution in Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Colombia, and other places around the world. As our representatives in Congress, we come to you.

Our world will not survive the continuing violence that our government is perpetrating around the world. The policies of our government are not making the world a safer place, but are making the world less safe. We call upon you to remember those who have suffered and died, and to do even more during this next session of Congress to work for peace and justice for all.

In peace and resistance,