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Tuesday, February 2, 4 to 6 pm
(Appointments at 4 pm, rally until 6 pm)
In the State of the Union, President Obama said he wants to freeze domestic spending for three years while military spending continues to rise. This is the opposite of what America needs!
Our states, cities, communities, and families are in the grip of a jobless recession. Unemployment, at 9% for whites, stands at 12.9% for Latinos and 16.2% for African-Americans. Some communities that are composed mostly of people of color report joblessness above 50%. State budget deficits may total $187 billion this year, forcing states to cut jobs and public services exactly when our communities need them most.
Meanwhile, defense spending is rising at rates not seen since the Korean War -- including the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. (See "An Undisciplined Defense," Project on Defense Alternatives, http://www.comw.org/pda/fulltext/1001PDABR20exsum.pdf) In fact, the Obama Administration is planning to spend 5% more on war from 2010 to 2017 than the Bush Administration did from 2002 to 2009.
The St. Louis Instead of War Coalition is participating with Voices for Creative Non Violence in the Peaceable Assembly Campaign which seeks an end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan and an end to the U.S. support of the continued occupation of the Palestine territories.
Why Feb 2nd? By law, President Obama is required to submit his budget for Fiscal Year 2011 to Congress by February 2 (though Congress could extend the deadline). This budget will almost certainly include additional funds to wage wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan and to continue U.S. military operations in Iraq.
Please come make your voices heard and tell your congressional leaders that they MUST fund our communities and NOT the war!
Tuesday, February 2, 4 to 6 pm
(Appointments at 4 pm, rally until 6 pm)
Pick your location:
Congressman Russ Carnahan's office, Manchester & Brentwood
Congressman Lacy Clay's office, Euclid & Delmar
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