Today we march, tomorrow we organize and in November we vote!

April 29, 2006

Peace, justice, and democracy. These powerful words, the theme of today's march, represent the shared belief that we have a universal responsibility to guarantee fundamental human rights, seek and safeguard international peace, and project a clarion call to protect our planet. This is an historic coming together of nine initiating organizations representing veterans; military families; religious leaders; labor organizers; environmental, peace and justice, civil rights, and women's rights activists; young people; and hurricane survivors. We represent millions of leaders, activists, and concerned people. This is what democracy looks like.

In the weeks and months ahead, we will strengthen our coalition and work on common action: Actions that will lead to peace and a return to diplomacy, an end to the war in Iraq, and policy that rules out military action in Iran, committing resources to life not death, meeting social needs not feeding corporate profits. Actions that will demand justice for all -- social and economic justice for people in every nation; a hopeful future for today's young people; and equal rights and reproductive justice for women around the world. Actions that create opportunities for youth to resist the economic draft by accessing jobs and education. Actions that will encourage democracy, where people are in control of, not oppressed by, the government. Actions that will address and end the war on nature. Actions that will create a country where dissent is respected, debate is encouraged, and where every vote is valued and counted.

We know that while our nation is being torn apart and our resources squandered, bullets and bombs continue to explode in Iraq and Afghanistan and people continue to die in the name of "freedom for oil". The failure of our nation's leaders to end the war in Iraq and implement a plan to improve the lives of families living in the United States and around the world requires civic involvement. Today, this community of organizations raises our collective voices in a call for change. Our organizations know there is still hope for a better tomorrow. A tomorrow where, "we the people" will continue to work together to secure a peaceful, prosperous and hopeful future for all.

Today we march, tomorrow we organize and in November we vote!