From my e-mail;
Dear Friends,
The US Justice Department is suing Voices in the Wilderness. Over the past seven years, Voices in the Wilderness has organized over 65 delegations to Iraq.
Comprised of teachers, veterans, social workers, artists, health care professionals, trades people and people of faith, these delegations brought symbolic amounts of medicine to the people of Iraq.
We are asking for 20,000 people to raise their voices against the injustice and hypocrisy of this lawsuit. Read more about our call for 20,000 voices here.
We ask that all who have opposed the devastating effects of years of economic sanctions and bombings come forward and express their opinion demanding that the Department of Justice drop all charges and penalties brought against Voices in the Wilderness. We pledge to raise $20,000 in new donations and once again carry relief aid to the Iraqi people in protest of the continuing US sanctions on Iraq. (Yes, US sanctions are still in place against Iraq; check the web: [LINK]
On August 21st John Farrell, Kathy Kelly, Ed Kinane and Cathy Breen will travel to Iraq. Please submit donations for humanitarian aid before August 19th. To donate: [LINK]
The Justice Department is choosing to launch an attack on Voices in the Wilderness at a time when Iraqi people and US soldiers are being routinely killed. The occupying forces have failed to provide security and basic humanitarian needs for the citizens of Iraq. As a response to Mr. Ashcroft, please sign on to our letter asking him to drop the lawsuit against Voices in the Wilderness: [LINK]
Voices in the Wilderness is an unincorporated entity. We consider all people who share our philosophy of nonviolence and our concern for the people of Iraq to be a part of Voices in the Wilderness.
We invite you to:
1) Write or fax Attorney General John Ashcroft by August 18th. Please cc Voices in the Wilderness by e-mail (info@vitw.org) or fax (773.784.8837).
2) Donate your war tax refusal or other donation.
3) Consult our website for suggestions about nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience that help dramatize our challenge to the Justice Department.
4) Organize a local media event, fundraiser, or symbolic event of solidarity with VitW.
5) Write an op-ed for your local paper.
6) Offer your time, media savvy or legal expertise.
7) Arrange a speaking event for Voices in the Wilderness (contact laurie@vitw.org).
For complete details about how you can raise your voice, please visit:
Sincerely yours,
Voices in the Wilderness