Milwaukee, WI Feb 24 Day Of Action

Peace Movement Calls for Peace In Ukraine! Not Another Year of Endless War

Event – Press Conference
When – Friday, February 24 at 2 PM
Where – St. Francis of Assisi Parish Center
1937 N. Vel Phillips Avenue (4th and Brown Street), Milwaukee, WI 53212
(enter door “Capuchin Center” on west side of building by parking lot;
Bus stops on North  Avenue and Dr. MLK Jr Drive are walking distance)

www.peaceactionwi.org

Sponsors Peace Action WI, Milwaukee End the Wars Coalition* and Milwaukee’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Coalition

As we mourn a full year of war, we call for:

·        Peace talks now
·        Mutual ceasefire
·        No more US weapons for escalation and prolonged war

This event was initiated by Milwaukee’s End the Wars Coalition and builds on the Call for a Christmas Truce that was signed by over 1,000 members of the faith community nationwide.

Program

Opening and closing songs by Harvey Taylor
MC: Steve Watrous, President of United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee

Speakers  (Two minutes or less for each speaker)
Roberta Thurstin, opening prayer by peace activist from Catholic Workers community
Jim Carpenter, Acting Coordinator of Milwaukee’s End the Wars Coalition
Julie Enslow, Co-Founder of Peace Action WI
Andre Lee Ellis, local actor and community organizer, quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Steve Shea, Milwaukee County supervisor
Ryan Clancy, State Representative
Femi Akinmolanun, Poor People’s Campaign
Mark Forman, Veterans for Peace, former president of MKE VFP Chapter 102
Roger Hansen, Friends Committee on National Legislation, MKE Advocacy Team (Quakers)
Ann Batiza, national organizing committee for Assange Defense
Don Timmerman, Casa Maria Catholic Workers, Anglican Priest
Phillip Anderson, former chair of Wisconsin Libertarian Party
Steve Watrous, President of United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee**
Mark Giese, Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice
Art Heitzer, co-founder of WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba**
Diana Valencia, Racine activist in “Wisconsin Building Unity” campaign

Our Message

We demand that our government call for peace talks NOW, a mutual ceasefire and a freeze on weapons shipments that escalate and prolong the war. We cannot control the actions of the Russian or Ukrainian governments, but we can influence our own government if we organize and mobilize to contact our Members of Congress.

This war is a disaster for the people of Ukraine and Russia, and a terrible threat to us all, increasing the danger of more death and destruction, economic hardship, hunger, climate degradation, a protracted war or worse – a nuclear confrontation between the two most heavily armed nuclear nations in the world, the United States and Russia.

We need a negotiated settlement. We need diplomacy. We need the White House and Congress to come to their senses and stop fueling this proxy war between the US and Russia with billions of dollars in weapons.

We strongly support the continuation of humanitarian aid and the acceptance of refugees.  We applaud the brave individuals in Ukraine and Russia who use non-violent tactics to oppose this war and all wars.

Our domestic needs are urgent. We need food for the hungry, healthcare and housing for all, fully funded public education and a green transition to lessen the climate crisis. Every dollar we spend on weapons, ammunition, missiles and military training is a dollar stolen from our communities at home.

We are asking the public to join us as we call for an end to the war in Ukraine. We are asking everyone to contact their Members of Congress, urging them to ask President Biden to start peace negotiations NOW. Diplomacy, not escalation.

Call your Representative and Senators using the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

*Organizations participating in Milwaukee’s End the Wars Coalition include: Peace Action WI, Assange Defense MKE, Veterans for Peace, United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee, Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quaker based), WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Green Party, Latin American Solidarity Committee, End Wars and Occupations Issue Team of Progressive Democrats of America, Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice

 ** Speaking as an individual, not as a representative of an organization