Get US Out Now:       Rally for Peace and Justice   Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, 12:30 p.m. West Steps, State Capitol: Denver, Colorado

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
   -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Saturday, September 24, 2005, thousands from Colorado and our neighboring states will come together in a show of force, unity, and action at 12:30 pm on the west steps of our state Capitol. (see yahoo map).

The 3 November Movement, a broad coalition of groups and individuals, is organizing a rally for peace and justice to coincide with a nationwide protest during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Our rallying cry: Get US Out Now: out of Iraq, and out of our complacency and into action.

Featured speakers include:

• Mike Miles, former Colorado US Senate candidate,
• Nita Gonzalez, Director of Escuela Tlatelolco,
• Scott Silber, organizer for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU),
• Blake Lemoine representing Not In Our Name,
• David Rovics will be providing musical interludes throughout the rally, along with the Free Range Theater.

On September 24, we will oppose the Bush policies that foment war, curtail our civil rights, and undermine democracy. George Bush rules by fear and war: war in Iraq, war on terrorism, war on immigrants. We call for the end of this culture of fear and belligerence. To foster peace, justice, and international cooperation and coexistence, we demand:

1. an investigation into the lies about the war in Iraq;
2. an end to the occupations throughout the world;
3. an immediate halt of the torture by the US and its partners in crime (through extraordinary rendition);
4. full support for economic and social justice; and
5. vigorous defense of democracy at home.

Bush’s politics of repression has taken a local toll as well. According to the Aug. 31 Denver Post, the number of poor and uninsured Coloradoans has increased. In addition, we deplore the opportunistic politics embodied by Tom Tancredo, who attacks immigrants and the Denver Public Library, and Jon Caldara, who opposes TABOR reforms that would restore support to higher education and other public services. These men do not speak for the fair-minded people of Colorado and the region.

Bush’s approval ratings are at an all-time low. Pentagon officials talk about maintaining troop levels for at least four more years. Bush’s attack on the antiwar movement is a sign of weakness; he has dug in his heels by refusing to meet with Cindy Sheehan. The diverse participants in this Denver rally demand that our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, end the profit-driven war immediately. Over $200 billion has been spent on this baseless, unprovoked war, money that should be spent on education, housing, healthcare, transportation and other essential needs. And, as we learned during Bush’s bungling of the latest crisis, these resources (including National Guard forces) could have been used to assist the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. As Cindy Sheehan has asserted, “We’re going to hold Bush accountable … we have the power to change things.”

For further information, contact: Claire Ryder 303.887.3131 claireryder@cs.com ... YAHOO MAP.