[pjw] EVENT: Why is Oregon's National Guard Headed to Syria 10 Years into the US War? Fri 9/27/24 5:00 PM

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hey Iraq Affinity Group supporters
Below is an announcement for the specially themed Friday rally we will 
hold four weeks from today, on September 27, marking 10 years of the US 
war on Syria. (!!!).

As you can see the theme includes the Oregon National Guard deployment. I 
am not sure the best way to incorporate the letter to Governor Kotek into 
the announcement, but FYI here is the link to the most recent version of 
that letter, which now has 17 organizations signed up (or, arguably, 20).

https://www.pjw.info/guardhomeletter2024.html

I also need to add some links to that letter on the website but... one 
thing at a time, right?

ANYWAY, this is now a public announcement, feel free to forward and see if 
your group would like to cosponsor or endorse it. Download flyers and post 
them if you can, or if you need us to provide copies let me know.

Find the announcement online at

https://pjw.info/syria10yl.html

and the flyer at

https://pjw.info/syria10yl_flyer.pdf

Thanks
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group


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

                Why is Oregon's National Guard Headed to Syria
                           10 Years into the US War?
                      Friday, September 27, 2024 5:00 PM
               at the Weekly Friday Rally for Peace and Justice
              Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Yamhill and Broadway
                 please mask up and stay distanced for safety

    An event on Friday, September 27 will mark 10 years since the US began
    bombing Syria on September 22, 2014, and will raise questions about why
    members of Oregon's National Guard are being deployed into this
    undeclared war zone. There is no specific congressional, United Nations
    or Syrian authorization for US troops to be stationed in that country.
    Titled "Why is Oregon's National Guard Headed to Syria 10 Years into
    the US War?", the event is a specially themed Friday Rally for Peace
    and Justice to be held at 5 PM at Pioneer Courthouse Square at the
    corner of SW Yamhill and Broadway. The rally has occurred every week
    since November 2001, so nearly 1200 weeks and 23 years.

    The US bombed Syria in 2014 as it expanded its war against the Islamic
    State in Iraq. It has since set up as many as a dozen bases including
    one called "Mission Support Site Conoco," showing that America's
    presence is really about access to oil, not freedom or democracy.

    The deployment of 230 Oregon Guard members to Iraq and Syria began in
    mid-August 2024 with the troops heading to Oklahoma for training before
    they land in those two countries. Like Syria, where there are currently
    about 900 US troops, the 2500 troops in Iraq are not specifically
    authorized by any act of Congress.

    The Friday Rally for Peace and Justice began on a weekly basis shortly
    after the invasion of Afghanistan. Portland Peaceful Response Coalition
    began to gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square at 5 PM every Friday and
    hosted until March, 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit. PJW's Iraq
    Affinity Group has hosted since that time. The event is coordinated by
    Peace and Justice Works Iraq Affinity Group. For more information, or
    if your group would like to cosponsor or endorse this event, contact
    Peace and Justice Works at 503-236-3065 or iraq at pjw.info.