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]

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"...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?"

 - United for Peace & Justice, www.unitedforpeace.org

 

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:

 

 

 

5:00 p.m. the Day After Bush Vetoes Congress’ Call to End the War in Iraq

 

 

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:

 

PA Action/Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, 267-240-7053,  JGaris@PaAction.org

Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818,  brandywine@juno.com

 

“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