[pjw] NEWS/CALENDAR ITEM: Rolling "Tower of Peace" at Fri Sept 9 Rally marking 15 years since 9/11

[Peace and Justice Works]

(Note: this information can be found and will be updated at 
<http://www.pjw.info/911_15yl.html>, please follow the links to see the 
mobile tower of peace!.)

Peace and Justice Works
   Iraq Affinity Group
   PO Box 42456
   Portland, OR   97242
   (503) 236-3065  (Office)
   iraq at pjw.info
   http://www.pjw.info/Iraq.html

EVENT: 15 Years Since 9/11: "Casualties of Endless Wars" Fri 9/9 5 PM

"Casualties of Endless Wars: Lives, Compassion, The Economy, Privacy and the 
Environment"
Rally/march marking 15 years since 9/11
*Friday, September 9*
5:00 PM
Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Broadway

As the 15th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the Peace and Justice Works Iraq 
Affinity Group plans to cosponsor the Friday September 9 Portland Peaceful 
Response Coalition (PPRC) rally for peace and justice. As with every Friday 
since November 2001, this event will be at 5:00 PM at Pioneer Courthouse Square 
at SW Yamhill and Broadway.

In the decade and a half since September 11, 2001, the US has engaged in 
military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, 
Syria and elsewhere. Xenophobia and Islamophobia are on the rise. No money is 
available for jobs, health care or other human needs while the Pentagon's 
budget is untouchable. Civil liberties are violated by government spying and 
unlawful detentions such as in Guantanamo. And the US military continues to be 
the world's #1 user of fossil fuels, contributing needlessly to climate change.

PJW plans to bring its famous 12-foot-tall "Tower of Peace" to the Square in a 
new, mobile form for this special occasion. (See attached image or go to 
<http://www.pjw.info/mobiletower3.jpg>).

Flyer available at <http://www.pjw.info/911_15yl_flyer.pdf>.

In addition to PJW and PPRC, the following groups have endorsed this event: 
Recruiter Watch PDX, Little Light of Mine Friends Worship Group, Occupy 
Portland Elder Caucus, Women's International League for Peace and 
Freedom-Portland (WILPF), Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights 
(AUPHR), Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland (JVP-PDX), Occupation-Free Portland 
(OFP), and others. For more information contact Peace and Justice Works at 
503-236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info.

PJW is also planning to cosponsor two other Friday rallies in the weeks after 
9/11:

*Friday, September 23:*
"2 Years of US War on Syria"

After the people rose up against a US invasion of Syria in 2013, American 
warplanes (and drones) began bombing that country to attack members of the 
Islamic State, with the US and its allies overtly and covertly trying to 
undermine Syria's existing government. Tensions with Russia over US policy have 
led to a de facto new Cold War.

-----

*Friday, October 7:*
"The Afghan Invasion 15 Years Later"

Even though the government of Afghanistan had nothing directly to do with 9/11, 
the US began bombing the impoverished nation less than a month afterward. The 
war has never ended, with ongoing US military operations including airstrikes 
and drone raids, and a promised withdrawal of troops that has been scaled back 
and cancelled.