Bringing the Mandate for Peace to Washington - January 27

Activists representing Military Families Speak Out, CodePINK, Veterans For Peace, Instead of War and others from across Missouri and the St. Louis metro area traveled to Washington DC last week to join Saturday's march and Monday's citizen lobby to call on the new Congress to take immediate action to end the war. Thanks to all who attended and participated in these important events, as well as to those who donated funds for seats on the bus so others could attend.

Tina Richards of Military Families Speak Out is continuing the effort in DC as she spearheads a lobbying effort with members of Congress to end further funding for the war. Tina is especially critical of the Bush administration's "back-door draft" of unlimited redeployments that threatens to send thousands of young men and women back to Iraq for their third tour of combat duty, including her son, Cloy Richards, a U.S. Marine from Salem, Missouri. Tina is asking for your help with phone calls and e-mails to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

To read about the national action, click here. Here is a Flickr slideshow of photos taken in and around the DC rally. Here is a short video of the march and rally from TruthOut. To receive local action alerts by weekly email sign up here.

NPR did a feature story recorded on our Missouri peace bus as it traveled from Kansas City to Washington DC that included an interview with Tina Richards and others on the bus. Click here for the NPR page on the story or click here to download a 10-minute audio of the story (7 MB MP3 file).

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The lodging accomodations will be in a hostel at a church. There will be mattresses to sleep on---participants need to bring a sleeping bag or bedding. The church is equipped with a kitchen. There are restaurants nearby (within walking distance), and the Metro train is nearby.