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 ITEM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2008 WHEELS OF JUSTICE TOUR TO VISIT PORTLAND AREA TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OCCUPATIONS OF IRAQ AND PALESTINE Events February 28 to March 2 include downtown peace vigil, two church visits (Portland, OR February 7, 2008)-- Eyewitness speakers will roll into Portland and Vancouver on a peace-painted, biodiesel bus to show and talk about the occupation of Iraq and Palestine as part of the Wheels of Justice Spring 2008 Tour. The public talks and bus open houses focus on nonviolent education, justice and human rights and will take place February 28 through March 2 at various colleges and churches in the area. The major public events will be 11 AM Friday, February 29 at Terry Schrunk Plaza (across from the Federal Building), 7 PM Saturday, March 1 at First Unitarian Church, and 11:30 AM Sunday, March 2 at Central Lutheran Church. The bus drives across the nation and the eyewitnesses share their accounts from Iraq and Palestine to challenge and educate Americans about the repercussions of war and occupation on people abroad and Americans at home. Having seen and lived with war, terror and occupation in Iraq and Palestine, the tour's featured speakers, Mazin Qumsiyeh and Mike Miles, say that justice and human rights are the only real roadmap for peace. They will offer firsthand experience irrespective of partisan politics. Qumsiyeh is Palestinian American and former Professor of Genetics Yale University School of Medicine. He is author of the widely acclaimed book "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human Rights and the Israeli-Palestinian Struggle" and appears in national media, interviews and print. Miles is a catholic worker and founder of Anathoth Community Farm, a center for the study of nonviolence, community, and sustainable living in Wisconsin. He holds a masters degree from North Park Seminary in Chicago and has been arrested numerous times while practicing active nonviolence over the past 25 year. He has spent time as a human rights observer in both Iraq and Palestine. The mobile peace center has made over a thousand stops at campuses, peace groups, and faith communities promoting non violent solutions to war and occupation. The public is invited to attend the following free speaking events and bus open houses in our region:    Friday (Feb. 29): 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Terry Schrunk Plaza, SW 3rd and Madison, Portland        Women in Black vigil 503-288-8958    Saturday (Mar. 1): 7:00 - 9:00 pm at First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland,        Public presentation 503-228-6389    Sunday (Mar. 2): 9:00-10:00 am speakers, 11:30 am-12:30 pm bus open ho use and refreshments, and        12:30-1:30 pm speakers at Central Lutheran Church, 1820 NE 21st, Portland, 503-284-2331 The Wheels of Justice bus will also be on the campuses of Clark College and Washington State University in Vancouver on Thursday (Feb. 28) and Reed College in Portland on Friday (Feb. 29). A Saturday (March 1) visit at Portland State University is also being planned. At some campuses the eyewitnesses will also be guest speakers at various classes. Nationally the tour is supported and hosted by a number of organizations including Fellowship of Reconciliation and Jews Against the Occupation. Local endorsers include Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group, Friends of Sabeel - North America, and Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land - A Ministry of Central Lutheran Church. For more information on the bus, see www.JusticeWheels.org. For local information call Women in Black at 503-288-8958 or visit the Peace and Justice Works website at http://www.pjw.info . ###

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Page posted February 13, 2008, updated February 22, 2008