[pjw] EVENT: "US Hands Off Syria's Oil" Friday, September 25, 5 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Iraq Affinity Group supporters:
Below is the announcement for this Friday's rally focusing on the now 
6-year-old US war on Syria (actual anniversary coming up Wed.). The news 
release also contains the information about the subsequent actions we have 
planned on October 2 and 6. Please share widely!

And as noted below, if you think you will be coming to any of these 
events, if you can RSVP that will help us get an idea if we're coming 
close to the Oregon limit of 25 people per event.

The information on all 3 events is posted at
http://pjw.info/IAGrallies09_10_20.html along with a link to the flyer. We 
are working on a fact sheet to hand out/distribute as well.

Thanks!!!
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:22:02
From: Peace and Justice Works <pjw at pjw.info>
To: News Media <newsmedia at pjw.info>
Subject: EVENT: "US Hands Off Syria's Oil" Friday, September 25, 5 PM

NEWS ITEM / CALENDAR LISTING

For immediate release         September 21, 2020

             "US Hands Off Syria's Oil" Friday, September 25, 5 PM
                     Weekly Rally/March for Peace and Justice
                 Pioneer Courthouse Square / SW Yamhill & Broadway
        first of three limited attendance rallies for peace Sept-Oct 2020

Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group (IAG) is hosting the first of three 
planned limited-attendance rallies for peace demanding an end to the US' 
ongoing foreign wars. On Friday, September 25 at 5 PM, the theme of the the 
weekly rally for Peace and Justice held at the SW corner of Pioneer Courthouse 
Square (SW Yamhill and Broadway), will be "US Hands Off Syria's Oil."

September 23 marks 6 years since the US launched bombing attacks in Syria, 
ostensibly against the Islamic State. After President Trump claimed he would 
withdraw US troops on the ground, he re-stationed them to "protect Syria's oil 
fields." Neither Syria nor the UN has authorized the US presence.

Peace and Justice Works has been connecting the issues of international war and 
local police brutality since 1992, and will make the connections at Friday's 
rally once again.

The three special events are planned under the theme "US Out of Syria and 
Afghanistan!" The other two events, the Friday rally on October 2 and a joint 
event with "Stand For Peace" on Tuesday, October 6, focus on Afghanistan. The 
October 6 event takes place at the east end of the Burnside Bridge (at Martin 
Luther King Jr. Blvd) from 4:30 to 6 PM to mark 19 years of the Afghan war and 
call for US troops to come home.

Details for the October 2 and 6 events are below; participants at all events 
are asked to wear masks and remain socially distanced, and to RSVP if possible 
to ensure the gatherings are no larger than 25 people.

Peace and Justice Works has been coordinating the now nearly
19-year-long weekly rally for Peace and Justice each Friday since late
March after Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, which began the
rallies in November 2001, ended their formal sponsorship. For more
information or to get involved contact the Peace and Justice Works Iraq
Affinity Group at (503) 236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info. A flyer for these
events can be found at < http://www.pjw.info/IAGrallies09_10_20.pdf>.

------

      Friday, October 2, 2020:
      "Get US Troops Out of Afghanistan"

      October 7 marks 19 years since the US invasion of Afghanistan in
      response to attacks by Al Qaeda, a non-state actor, on 9/11/2001.
      President Trump has negotiated with the Taliban, which currently is
      working with the Afghan government on a peace plan. America has no
      right to remain in the country, which is rich in natural resources but
      unable to stabilize due to over 30 years of international interference.
      (Pioneer Courthouse Square, 5 PM)

      Tuesday, October 6, 2020:
      "19 Years in Afghanistan: End the War!"
      On the eve of the 19th anniversary of the US war in Afghanistan, this
      special extended weekly "Stand for Peace" (usually 4:30-5:30) will
      emphasize to commuters, pedestrians and all Portlanders that it's far
      past time to end the US occupation. The war has led to multiple times
      more deaths than occurred on 9/11, and unnecessary military escapades by
      the US including attacks on Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya,and (though no
      US attacks have been reported since 2018) Pakistan. (East end of
      Burnside Bridge, 4:30 PM)