Dear Veto Response Rally endorsers,
We want to share some updates on
the status of the rally, logistics, and additional action steps.
First,
we have some information regarding the expected date for the veto.
Congress will give Bush the legislation on later in the day tomorrow (Tuesday,
May 1st) -- the fourth anniversary of "Mission Accomplished". It
is virtually definite that he will veto it on Wednesday
5/2. This means that the rally will almost certainly be on
Thursday. Following the veto, you will receive an an updated email to
circulate, which will include the day & date.
In terms of logistics,
we will begin the event at 5:00 p.m. on the north side of City Hall with a vigil
directed toward the rush hour traffic flowing around City Hall. We
anticipate that people will be arriving between 5:00 and 5:30 depending on how
quickly they can get there at the end of the work day. At 5:30 we will use
a podium and sound system to have a small number of speakers address the crowd
and passersby. Around 5:45 we will begin a procession down Market Street
to the Federal Building -- about 7 & 1/2 blocks -- at which point we will
maintain a vigil with several speakers. The plan is to conclude at
6:30.
There are several additional action steps that we are hoping all
endorsing groups can help implement.
The top priority is to build a very strong turn-out, so anything that can
be done to spread the word is essential. There is an emailable
announcement [below] that can be circulated to your lists -- feel free to adapt
it to incorporate anything specific to your organization.
Another priority area is media outreach. We have advisories and phone
calls going out in advance to area media outlets to alert them to the fact that
this will be taking place the day after the veto, and will send updated
advisories out after the veto occurs. Any endorsing groups that have
contacts with members of the media or the capacity to send out advisories from
the perspective of your organization are encouraged to do so. We believe
that news outlets receiving advisories from different organizations that are all
working on the same rally will pick up on the scope and significance of this
event. Because of the focus that has been given to the threatened veto for
the past few weeks, we believe that there will be a LOT of interest in a local
response which is part of a coordinated, simultaneous nationwide effort to
communicate the mass public outrage with Bush's refusal to plan for an end to
this disastrous war. Also, if you bring along 10 copies of a media
release from your organization, we will include these in press packets to be
distributed to the media in attendance.
Signs & banners are encouraged, particularly signs incorporating the
"End the War, Not War Without End" theme or veto-related messages.
Finally, as we are planning for speeches/remarks focused on Bush's veto,
any endorsing group that would like to provide a speaker is invited to do
so. The speakers will be divided between the City Hall portion of the
event and the Federal Building part, however all speakers will be given no more
than 2 minutes -- with 15 endorsing groups (so far) x 2 minutes, we will have a
very tight schedule. If you plan to provide a representative to
speak, please contact Jeff Garis at 267-240-7053 or
JGaris@PaAction.org.
As
we all work together in a coordinated and cooperative way, we can pull together
a very powerful event sending the message that Pennsylvanians will not
accept Bush's refusal to commit to ending the war, and that we want to see a
speedy end to the war, not endless war.
[Email Announcement]
*************************************************************************
"...President Bush will veto Congress' timid plan to begin to
withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. It will then be up to Congress to take the
next step. Will they act more decisively to end the war, or will they
capitulate to Bush and continue to fund the war?"
Join USAction, United for Peace & Justice, MoveOn, SEIU,
Vote Vets, U.S. Student Association, Win Without War, and many other
organizations in a Nationwide Veto Response:
* Say "No!" to Bush's Insistence For More
War *
* Don't Let Congress Buckle to Bush and The
War *
* Stand Together Demanding: “END THE WAR, NOT WAR
WITHOUT END!” *
VETO RESPONSE
RALLY
5:00 p.m. the Day
After Bush Vetoes Congress’ Call to End the War in Iraq
Join the Philadelphia Area
Response
Philadelphia City Hall, North Side
Broad
Street & JFK Blvd., Philadelphia
Rally, Reading of the names of war dead, Raise an outcry against the war,
blow the whistle on the war (bring noise-makers, drums, pots and pans,
whistles), bring your signs and banners. Procession to the Federal
Building, 6th & Market (Philadelphia office of Senator Arlen Specter).
*** Bush will receive the legislation on Tuesday, the fourth anniversary of
"Mission Accomplished". Indications are that he will most like wait until
Wednesday to veto it. If so, the Veto Response Rally will take place on
Thursday at 5:00, but nothing is definite until he acts. A final email
announcement with the exact day & date will go out immediately after the
veto. (If you would like to be added directly to the Veto Response email list,
please send an email with "Veto Info" in the subject line to
JGaris@PaAction.org). ***
For more information:
“END THE WAR, NOT WAR
WITHOUT END!”
VETO RESPONSE RALLY ENDORSING
GROUPS:
Americans Against Escalation in
Iraq
Brandywine Peace Community
Coalition for Peace Action
Delaware
County Wage Peace & Justice
Delaware Valley Veterans for
America
Drexel Students for Peace
Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia
Main Line Citizens for Impeachment
MoveOn Philadelphia Coordinating
Council
MoveOn North West Philly Coordinating Council
PA
Action
Philadelphia Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Philadelphia Regional
Anti-War Network (PRAWN)
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 31
World Can’t Wait,
Philadelphia