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Money for victims' needs, not
war
No to anti-Arab racism
Defend the civil rights of Arab-Americans
and Muslims
Don't let the government take
away our civil liberties
No U.S. war drive
We extend our most heartfelt sympathies
and condolences to all those who lost loved ones on
September 11, as well as to the thousands of workers
who were in lower Manhattan that day. Like many others,
our organizations had members and friends who worked
in the World Trade Center and the area, and who lost
loved ones.
In light of the current crisis,
with its tragic consequences for so many thousands of
people, we call for a demonstration to address the immediate
danger posed by racism and the grave threat of a new
war.
There is a sharp increase in racist
attacks against the Arab American, Muslim, Afghani,
and other communities of color. Anti-Arab and anti-Muslim
racism is a poison that should be repudiated by all
people. It is more important than ever for all justice-loving
people to stand together with our sisters and brothers
who are victims of violence, scapegoating and harassment
in recent days. Much of the media has played an irresponsible
role in helping to fuel a racist hysteria.
The government is attempting to
take away our civil liberties and create a climate in
which it could be impossible for people to speak out,
through the militarization of U.S. society and a vast
expansion of police powers. This would lead to the severe
restriction of basic democratic rights for all working
and poor people.
Instead of supporting Bush's call
for war, as people in the U.S. it is vital that we reflect
on what U.S. government policy has done around the world
to devastate the lives of tens of millions of people.
At this moment the people in the U.S. need time to grieve
and to extend sympathy and condolences to all those
families who were direct victims of the horrific September
11th attack.
But we are also confronted with
the need to act. If President Bush gets his way, instead
of thousands of people being killed, the number of victims
at home and abroad could grow to the tens of thousands
and maybe more. A new war against the people in the
Middle East will only lead to an escalating of violence.
Now is the time for all people
of conscience to join together. If you believe in civil
liberties for all, if you oppose the scapegoating of
our sister and brother communities, if you oppose war,
join us on September 29th in Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Washington, D.C.
We urge all organizations and
individuals to join together at this critical time.
We demand that the government spend billions to rebuild
New York City and to compensate the victims of the September
11th attack and their families, many of whom lost not
only loved ones, but also jobs, homes and healthcare
- not for a new war. We call on all people - Black,
Latino, Asian, Arab American, Native and white - to
stand together and say no to racism. Let us work toward
a world of peace with justice.
COME TO A PLANNING MEETING:
THIS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 7PM
see the listing
on this site for more information
Nationally coordinated actions
in Washington, San Francisco and Los Angeles
Sponsors
International Action Center
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
(western region)
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
National Lawyers Guild
Coalition For World Peace
For information call (213) 487.2368
or email iacenterla@action-mail.org
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