[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14431-14432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         WOMEN LEADERS FOR PEACE: CODEPINK ``TROOPS HOME FAST''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to enter into the Record a press 
release and letter to Members of Congress from Troops Home Fast, a new 
initiative of the peace organization CODEPINK whose members are holding 
a hunger strike to highlight their call to bring U.S. troops home from 
Iraq. I pay tribute to the members of CODEPINK who are participating in 
the Troops Home Fast and praise their creative efforts to assist our 
troops in Iraq and those wounded at Walter Reed Hospital by many 
campaigns protesting the continuing occupation of Iraq. One of their 
peace actions is a Friday night vigil at Walter Reed Hospital to 
protest the war and thus prevent further casualties. Today I especially 
want to bring attention to their latest campaign taking place here in 
the District of Columbia, around the country and around the world--the 
Troops Home Fast.
  While many Americans were celebrating Independence Day with barbeques 
and fireworks, CODEPINK was launching this new campaign--a fast--
calling for independence from war. Among the Washington Fasters are 
Cindy Sheehan, legendary comedian/civil rights activists Dick Gregory, 
activist/environmentalist Diane Wilson, former Army colonel Ann Wright, 
Iraq war veterans, Vietnam veterans, and whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. 
They are joined by almost 3,500 others from other countries. 
Celebrities and other well-known public figures have committed to join 
including actors Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Danny Glover, musicians 
Graham Nash and Willie Nelson, and more. The group is supported by Gold 
Star Families for Peace and endorsed by other organizations.
  The Fast ceremony began at Gandhi's Statue at Massachusetts Avenue 
and Q St., NW in Washington DC with a brief Rally and a March to 
Lafayette Park in front of the White House. The fasters in DC which 
included co-founders of CODEPINK Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, Gael 
Murphy and Cindy Sheehan were present as were other fasters including 
comedian and social activist Dick Gregory who has fasted for many 
causes.
  On July 10, 2006, I received a letter sent tall members of Congress 
from Troops Home Fast calling themselves a ``group of concerned 
citizens who are conducting an open-ended fast in front of the White 
House calling for our troops to come home from Iraq. . .'' and asking 
for each member's help in this cause.
  Troops Home Fast asks for the following: Legislation to set a time 
line for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq and bring he 
troops home. In the opinion of the Troops Home Fast Congress is moving 
``far too slowly.''
  Troops Home Fast believes as I do and as Congressman Murtha has 
repeatedly stated that the American people are way ahead of Congress. 
The polls show that a solid majority of the American people now want a 
time table and a quick end to our involvement in Iraq. They want 
American troops home.
  According to a recent poll, 87 percent of Iraqis want their 
government to set a timetable for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Iraq's 
president, vice resident and national security advisor have all called 
for such a timeline. General Casey, the commander of American troops in 
Iraq has established a time table. It is only the President and his 
supporters in Congress who will not follow the will of the American 
people ho elected them, or the will of the Iraqi people who have spoken 
and whose democratic government has spoken for them who continue to 
refuse to hear anything but their own slog: ``Stay the Course'' or ``We 
will never give up until we have achieved victory'' or the least 
excusable ``we will stay and achieve victory so that our men and women 
who have died in Iraq will not have died in vain.''
  I honor those who are fasting as Gandhi did to bring about the change 
they believe is essential to preserve the character of this nation and 
to save the lives of Americans and Iraqis. I wish them great strength 
and pray with them for peace in Iraq.
                                                  July 11, 2006.  
       Dear Representative, We are a group of concerned citizens 
     who are conducting an open-ended fast in front of the White 
     House calling for our troops to come home from Iraq, and we 
     are asking for your support via the attached form.
       The fast, called Troops Home Fast, was initiated by 
     CODEPINK and Gold Star Families for Peace, and endorsed by 
     dozens of organizations. It began on July 4, 2006, and more 
     than 3,500 people in the U.S. and around the world are 
     participating, with hundreds more joining every day. 
     (Additional information about the fast is available at the 
     website www.troopshomefast.org.)
       You have the power to enact legislation to achieve the goal 
     of this fast: set a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. 
     military forces from Iraq and bring the troops home. We 
     deeply appreciate the efforts of members of the House and the 
     Senate who have already been working to end this war.
       But Congress is moving far too slowly. Every day, more 
     American soldiers die, more Iraqis die, and more federal 
     funds are squandered which could be used to alleviate a whole 
     host of problems here in the United States.
       We all know that a solid majority of the American people 
     now want to bring our military involvement in Iraq to a quick 
     conclusion and bring our troops home. Iraqis are even more 
     adamant about ending the war quickly. A remarkable 87 percent 
     of Iraqis want their government to set a timetable for U.S. 
     withdrawal. Iraq's president, vice president and national 
     security advisor have all called for such a timeline.
       Americans who want to end this war have gone through all 
     the traditional methods of petitioning the President and you, 
     our members of Congress, to urge you to act. We have marched, 
     done vigils, written letters, lobbied our representatives, 
     and formed broad-based coalitions in an effort to bring this 
     war to end. Yet the war goes on without end.
       That's why we're here now in front of the White House, 
     fasting. Fasting is a time-honored way to move people to 
     action, from Gandhi's nonviolent liberation of India to Mitch 
     Snyder's fasts for the homeless right here in Washington D.C.
       We hope you will support our efforts and work with us to 
     bring our troops home--FAST. Attached is a form to record 
     your support. We thank you in advance.
           Sincerely,

                                    Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evan

                                                  and Gael Murphy,
                                    On behalf of Troops Home Fast.

                                                     Press Release
                                                   July 4, 2006.  
       Cindy Sheehan, Diane Wilson, Dick Gregory, Iraq veterans 
     and Iraqi citizens gather in front of the White House on July 
     4th, their first day without food.
       After eating their final meal in front of the White House 
     yesterday, participants in the ``Troops Home Fast''--a 
     historic hunger fast organized by CODEPINK: Women for Peace 
     and Gold Star Families for Peace--will spend their first day 
     without food on the Fourth of July. They will gather at the 
     White House at 10 a.m. and plan to hold a spiritual ceremony, 
     send a message of peace to the Independence Day parade, and 
     remain outside the White House with their message to bring 
     the troops home from Iraq now.
       Among the Washington fasters are Cindy Sheehan, legendary 
     comedian/civil rights activist Dick Gregory, environmentalist 
     Diane Wilson, former army colonel Ann Wright, Iraq war 
     veterans, Iraqis and Pentagon whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg. 
     They are joined by almost 3,000 others from around the United 
     States and 18 other countries. Celebrities and other well-
     known public figures have committed to join the fast, 
     including Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn and Danny Glover, 
     musicians Graham Nash and Willie Nelson, writer Alice Walker, 
     and more.
       ``While others are enjoying their barbecues and fireworks 
     today, we will be going hungry for the most noble cause of 
     all: peace,'' said Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan, who began 
     an open-ended fast today. ``We are the true American patriots 
     today. Our founding fathers cautioned future generations 
     against

[[Page 14432]]

     engaging in wars of aggression for empire and economic gain, 
     lest we lose our national soul. And the war in Iraq is 
     exactly the kind of war our Nation's leaders once cautioned 
     against.''
       The hunger strike will continue throughout the summer. 
     ``This fast has obviously touched a chord with the public,'' 
     said CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin. ``We thought there 
     might be 3 or 4 of us fasting, and it is more like 3,000. 
     Every day hundreds of new people are signing up for the fast. 
     Some communities are doing rolling fasts, each person taking 
     a day. This is sparking a new level of commitment to get out 
     of Iraq.''
       For more information, please see www.troopshomefast.org or 
     meet the fasters in front of the White House at 10-11 a.m. or 
     5-7 p.m.
       Support War Resisters! For the first time in the Iraq war, 
     an officer in the U.S. Military, Lt. Ehren Watada, has 
     publicly refused orders and will be brought to court-martial 
     this summer. Click here for ways to show your solidarity and 
     here to read a letter from Carolyn, Ehren's mom, and find out 
     more about his case. You can also support Army Specialist 
     Suzanne Swift, who suffered sexual harassment at the hands of 
     her commanding officers and refused to return to Iraq. Click 
     here for more info.
       Declaration of Peace! We urge you to sign The Declaration 
     of Peace, a pledge to take action against the war during 
     September 21-28 if a peace plan is not established by that 
     time. Declaration signers will take part in nonviolent 
     action, marches, rallies, demonstrations, interfaith 
     services, candlelight vigils and other creative ways to 
     declare peace at the US Capitol and in cities across the US. 
     Click here to sign the Declaration and learn more.
       Mothers Declare Peace on Mother's Day! CODEPINK's 24-hour 
     Mother's Day peace vigil was an amazing soulful, painful and 
     joyful gathering. Cindy Sheehan, Susan Sarandon, Patch Adams, 
     Dick Gregory, and Iraqi and Iranian mothers joined with 
     mothers and others from all over the country to create a 
     magical pink presence at the White House. Click here to see 
     the media coverage & video, read our blogs and see the most 
     beautiful photos imaginable! And click here to see reports 
     from solidarity events that happened around the country.
       CODEPINK Takes Out Ads in Iraqi papers! On Monday, May 15, 
     CODEPINK placed ads in 8 Iraqi newspapers calling for 
     Americans and Iraqis to work together, in a non-violent 
     fashion, to end the occupation and bloodshed in Iraq. People 
     in 99 cities generously funded this ad campaign. The Iraqi 
     response has been tremendous, with hundreds of Iraqis calling 
     the newspapers saying how excited they are to see this ad and 
     how it gives them great hope. Click here to see the ad. Click 
     here to see the Arabic website Esteklal (which means 
     independence). To see the press release about this ad, click 
     here.
       Stop Nuclear War With Iran! We weren't able to stop the 
     last war, but we must stop the next one . . . NOW! The United 
     Nations, which is mandated to uphold international law, must 
     speak out against the Bush Administration's plans. Let's send 
     a collective letter to Secretary General Kofi Annan imploring 
     him to denounce this threat and call for a diplomatic 
     solution. Click here to sign on and/or send your own, and 
     pass it to friends and family around the world. Let's let the 
     Bush administration and Kofi Annan know that the world is 
     demanding an end to this madness!
       Support Iraqi Women: The US invasion of Iraq has moved Iraq 
     from a secular to a more religious--and violent--society 
     where women's rights are being curtailed. Read our report 
     Iraqi Women Under Siege and recent articles about women in 
     Iraq. Click here to see the blogs, photos and media articles 
     of the Iraqi Women's Tour to the US. Donate to our efforts to 
     support Iraqi women.
       Women--& Male Allies--Say NO To War! Sign here to join 
     women and men from around the world who are coming together 
     to SAY NO TO WAR. We are creating a massive movement crossing 
     generations, races, ethnicities, religions, and borders to 
     pressure our governments, the United Nations, the Arab 
     League, and other international leaders to negotiate a 
     political settlement to the war in Iraq.
       Bring Our Guard Home Now! With over 70 000 National Guard 
     troops deployed to Iraq, our homefront has been left 
     vulnerable in the face of natural disasters like Hurricane 
     Katrina. In response, CODEPINK is working with a coalition of 
     peace groups to seek the immediate withdrawal of all National 
     Guard troops from Iraq. At least twelve states are 
     petitioning their governors to bring home our Guard! Click 
     here to find out how you can join this effort and start a 
     working group in your state!
       Hurricane Katrina CODEPINK is now in New Orleans, working 
     with the Common Ground Collective, the People's Institute for 
     Survival & Beyond, various grassroots organizations and local 
     neighborhood groups. We are part of an active movement to 
     rebuild and revision the city, standing in solidarity with 
     residents to strengthen their communities and take their 
     cities back! We invite you to come down to participate in 
     this massive and historic effort to rebuild this beautiful 
     city from the bottom up and the inside out. Click here for 
     more info, join our upcoming work brigade this summer and 
     read Dana Balicki's blogs from New Orleans!

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