Skip to information on Sept. 16 forum

Peace and Justice Works   Iraq Affinity Group   PO Box 42456   Portland, OR 97242   (503) 236-3065 (Office)   pjw@pjw.info   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html Calendar Items For Immediate Release August 14, 2006 PEACE RALLY: "Just Say No to the 'War on Terror': 9/11 Five Years Later" Expanded Friday rally, Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Morrison Friday, September 8, 2006, 5 PM Portland area peace groups will gather on Friday, September 8 at 5 PM in Pioneer Courthouse Square (corner of SW Yamhill and Morrison) for a rally called "Just Say No to the 'War on Terror': 9/11 Five Years Later." This year marks 5 years since the deaths of 3000 Americans on September 11, and 5 years since thousands in Portland took to the streets demanding justice, not war. The US went to war anyway, attacking and invading Afghanistan on October 7, 2001; a month later the Portland Peaceful Response Coalition began its weekly Friday rally for peace and justice which continue to this day. The September 8 rally is being cosponsored by the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, in part because the subsequent invasion and ongoing occupation of Iraq were only possible because of the political climate and misleading information given out wrongly tying Iraq to 9/11. The rally will include speakers and a march and will also address the ongoing issues which led to 9/11 and have only been made worse in many ways: the US destruction of the infrastructure and economy of Iraq; US efforts to control the world economy and the flow of Middle East oil, US support for Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza---and its past and current attacks on Lebanon, and the stripping away of civil liberties in the name of fighting "terrorism." The rally is also being used to promote a forum being organized on Saturday, Sept. 16th at 6:30 PM to address all of these issues relating to the five year anniversary of 9/11 at the First Unitarian Church. For more information contact Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or iraq@pjw.info. FORUM: "Aftermath of 9/11, Five Years Later: US Policy Past, Present and Future" Saturday, September 16, 2006, 6:30 to 9 PM First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th On Saturday, September 16, at 6:30 PM there will be a forum at the First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th, titled "Aftermath of 9/11, Five Years Later: US Policy Past, Present and Future." This event will feature two panels, examining the aftermath of 9/11 on America's foreign and domestic relations, and US foreign policy, past present and future. Topics to be touched upon include: 9/11 families who organize for peace; the US invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq; civil liberties; backlash against Arabs, Muslims and immigrants; the conflicts in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon and the US' broader global aspirations in the so-called "war on terrorism." The purpose of the educational forum is to encourage a reverse in current US global militarism toward a peaceful world. Doors will open at 6 PM for people to gather educational materials from various organizations involved in and supporting the forum. The forum will begin promptly at 6:30 with the first half focusing on " Aftermath of 9/11: America's Foreign and Domestic Ramifications." Speakers include Kelly Campbell of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, Professor Zaher Wahab from Lewis and Clark College, Dan Handelman of the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, and Kayse Jama of the Center for Intercultural Organizing. There will be a short question and answer period. The second panel will begin at roughly 7:45 PM and will be moderated by Professor Wahab; other speakers include attorney Hala Gores and Goudarz Eghdetari of the American Iranian Friendship Council. The panel will conclude with another Q&A followed by concluding remarks summarizing directions for change raised throughout the evening. The event is free and open to the public but donations are strongly encouraged. Coponsored by the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group and the First Unitarian Church with support from KBOO-90.7 FM, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Meeting of Friends (Quakers), Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, American Friends Service Committee, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, End Corporate Personhood Action Group, Laughing Horse Books Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 and others. For more information contact Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or iraq@pjw.info.

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Page posted August 20, 2006, last updated September 8