[pjw] EVENT Updates: Fri 9/21 March/rally: "4 Years in Syria, 17 Years in Afghanistan: Bring All the Troops Home Now!"

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello people who support peace and justice:

Below is the updated announcement for the Sept. 21 PPRC Friday Rally, 
which it's been pointed out marks not just 4 years of the US in Syria and 
almost 17 years in Afghanistan, but is also International Day of Peace 
and a shameful anniversary in the Philippines.

We have two new cosponsors on the updated flyer which can be found here:
  http://www.pjw.info/PPRCrally092118.pdf
Please share widely!

As noted in the announcement, we will be passing out flyers to promote 
Kathy Kelly's talk on the 27th at this event.

Peace,
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

News item

For immediate release   September 17, 2018

        4 Years in Syria, 17 Years in Afghanistan:
              BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
     PPRC weekly Rally/March for Peace and Justice
           Friday, September 21, 2018 5:00 PM
    Pioneer Courthouse Square SW Yamhill & Broadway

Join the Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group as it cosponsors the 
Friday, September 21 weekly rally and march for peace at 5:00 PM at 
Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Broadway. The event is titled "4 
Years in Syria, 17 Years in Afghanistan: Bring All the Troops Home Now!"

September 23 marks 4 years since the US launched its first bombing attacks 
in Syria, ostensibly against the Islamic State, but truly as a covert 
means to fight the Syrian government. The US has troops on the ground and 
makeshift airbases in a sovereign nation without their consent or a UN 
mandate.

October 7 will mark 17 years since the US invaded Afghanistan in response 
to attacks by Al Qaeda, a non-state actor, on 9/11/2001. While President 
Obama withdrew most of the troops, President Trump sent in 1000s more. 
Fighting rages on, fueled in part by what is seen as an ongoing US 
occupation.

In addition to the proximity to the date the US entered the war in Syria, 
9/21 is also known at the United Nations since 1981 as the International 
Day of Peace.

Moreover, 9/21 is the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos' 1972 declaration of 
martial law in the Philippines. Currently, the Human Rights situation in 
the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte is looking worse than during the 
Marcos regime. None of this would be possible without generous 
contributions from the US in the form of military aid, weapons, and 
training.

Peace and Justice Works' Iraq Affinity Group is cosponsoring the PPRC 
Friday Rally to raise these issues and connect them to the ongoing wars in 
Yemen (where a US bomb dropped by Saudi Arabia killed dozens of 
schoolchildren in August) and Iraq. The rally will also promote the 
upcoming Sept. 27 speaking engagement of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Kathy 
Kelly.

<http://www.pjw.info/KKelly2018event.html>

It is far beyond time to bring all the troops home now!

The Iraq Affinity Group is cosponsoring the weekly PPRC Friday Rally for 
Peace and Justice, ongoing since November 2001. Other cosponsors include 
International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-Pacific NW 
Chapter and International League for People's Struggle-Portland.

For more information contact Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group 
at (503) 236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info .