PINK Smear Ads BACKFIRE on Ric Keller!

Congressman Ric Keller (R), Orlando has recently taken to smearing CODEPINK via an attack ad on Alan Grayson who is running against him. The above mailer has been sent out by Ric Keller across Central Florida using photos from the CODEPINK Orlando blog (without our permission) including a photo of a child. How low can you go Ric? Pretty Low!...

http://www.wesh.com/politics/17680565/detail.html

Congressman Ric Keller is also running a TV and Radio Ad just in time for Halloween featuring those scary Codepink Peace People! But the WESH 2 Truth Test Put that Political Ad To the Test and flunked Keller on the truth meter. Though Greg Fox received our response about our members calling Marines, "war criminals" and how our government has forced our children into situations that have done exactly that including Fallujah and Guantanamo, he neglected to report on that fact.

Regretfully for Keller, it has backfired and memberships and requests for more information about CODEPINK Orlando's peace work have soared and have infuriated other local organizations so much that they are calling and asking how they can support our cause. So thank you Ric, for spending all that money on this glossy two sided pink brochure. We couldn't have paid to get this much great advertising for CODEPINK Orlando!

From Deidra:

These are my feelings and do not necessarily reflect those of CODEPINK or CODEPINK Orlando. "I was laughing at all this earlier in the week, thinking, we must be doing something right to garner this much attention from a Congressman. We've stood in front of his office and inside on numerous occasions to voice our concerns for his votes on sending and keeping us at war in Iraq, habeus corpus, torture and more. I even had to just chuckle when I heard the ridiculous ad on the radio just as I was trying to go to sleep one night.

Then I saw the two sided, glossy pink campaign mailer that Congressman Keller sent out this week trying to make Alan Grayson look bad because Alan attended our SWEEP the HOUSE rally in front of Keller's office. Alan also attended a book tour presentation by Col Ann Wright sponsored by CODEPINK Orlando and the First Unitarian Church of Orlando this past year.

Congressman Keller not only stole a photo from the CODEPINK Orlando blog of Alan and I, cropping it for the TV but he also stole a group photo of Col Ann Wright, Alan, and here's the lowest of lows, a little girl! He is sending these out to thousands upon thousands of households in Central Florida and he has the nerve to put a minor child's picture on there! Way LOW Ric! Way LOW!

Ric Keller does NOT care about children! Some TRICK! Wait till he sees my TREAT...

CODEPINK at the DNC

Four CODEPINKS from Florida attended the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug 25-28, 2008 including Hillary [Not Clinton] from West Palm, Lydia from Tallahassee, and Leslie from Orlando with Deidra going on to the RNC as well.

There was so much going on that some of us barely crossed paths with others.

CODEPINK Peace Platform to the DNC!

Now that the razzle dazzle of the DNC and RNC conventions are over and the Democratic and Republican National Committees have released their platforms, we realized they were missing some core points that address the true crises of our nation. Deeply concerned that both parties have led us down the path of militarism and neglected our basic needs, impoverishing our communities and endangering our security. we are sure that you also want our next administration to reverse our current military quagmires in the name of the war on terrorism; liberate us from the oil companies' polluting agenda and begin a serious offensive for conservation, efficiency and renewable energy; promote good jobs at living wages instead of pursuing cheap labor abroad; and transfer war funds to health care, clean energy and anti-poverty efforts at home and abroad.

Platform for Peace and Security

Toward this end, CODEPINK has written it's own Platform for Peace and Security (http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=4330), which captures, in clear, thorough language, our own desires for the future of our country. If you agree with this platform, please send it to DNC Chairperson Howard Dean (http://salsa/. democracyinactio n.org/o/424/t/6781/campaign. jsp?campaign_ KEY=25342) and RNC Chairperson Mike Duncan (http://salsa/. democracyinactio n.org/o/424/t/6781/campaign. jsp?campaign_ KEY=25343), to show them that they need to listen to the voice of the people. Thank you so much!

A last look at our Beautiful Convergence Space, The Mercury Cafe!

CODEPINK at the RNC

We're Back from the DNC/RNC!
Six CODEPINK Florida members traveled to the national conventions this summer. Leslie attended the Democratic National Convention in Denver along with Lydia from Tallahassee and Hillary [Not Clinton] from Boca Raton. Kathryn from UCF and Sam from Orlando attended the Republican National Convention. Deidra went to both conventions and served as CODEPINK DNC/RNC activist coordinator through out the summer helping to get over 250 women and men in the streets and bringing the peace message to the convention floors.


What does Peace look like? That's what we were there for!

The parade was one of the only things pretty in St Paul.

As we left the LoTo bar in downtown St. Paul at about midnight Thursday
(Sept. 4), a crowd of us CODEPINK women and a few men gathered in the street,
exuberant and full of victorious emotions. It was the end of a two-week journey,
our last night of spreading the peace message, brimming with lawsuits, planning
sessions, enormous peace puppets, concrete roadblocks, bloggers, banners, early
morning raids, T-shirts, tear gas, stickers and riot
cops. more: http://www.legal-ledger.com/item.cfm?recID=11083

The 'Police state' mentality reigned at RNC was published in the Capitol Report on September 11, 2008 as a post commentary to "Partying with CodePINK" by Bill Clements:

So, Thursday evening about 9:15, as John McCain was starting his acceptance
speech, my brother-in-law, Randy, and I headed into the LoTo bar in St. Paul’s
Lowertown neighborhood just off downtown, about eight blocks from the Xcel. And a bunch of crazy-seeming women were screaming and cheering and jumping up and down on their seats on one side of the oblong bar. more: http//www.politicsinminnesota.com/2008/sep/05/partying-codepink-rnc

This letter from Leslie Cagan of UFPJ [United for Peace and Justice] sent on Wednesday, Sept 3, 2008 describes the week most accurately:

The massive police presence and the uncalled-for actions by the police on the streets has not been the only problem. The police raided a convergence center and several locations where people are staying over the weekend and they have stopped and searched vehicles for no clear reason. For background on the activities of the police in St. Paul, check out Marjorie Cohn's article here.

On Tuesday afternoon, they literally pulled the plug and turned off the electricity at a permitted outdoor concert. The timing of this led to a situation where hundreds of understandably angry people ended up joining a march being led by the Poor Peoples Campaign for Economic Human Rights, a march that organizers were insisting be nonviolent. In other words, the police set up a dynamic that could have turned ugly, but the skill of the organizers kept things calm and focused.

All of this - and much more - needs to be understood in the context of the overwhelming presence of police. Police from all around the Twin Cities have been put to work, and they have also brought in police units from around Minnesota and from as far away as Philadelphia, PA. The National Guard and state troopers are in the mix, to say nothing of the Secret Service, Homeland Security and who knows who else from the federal government! We are very concerned about what this all means about the right to protest, the right to assemble, and the right to have one's dissenting voice heard. We are worried about what it means about the growing militarization of our nation and the ongoing assault on the Constitution.

We shudder to think about how the influx of new weapons and armed vehicles and everything else will be used in the neighborhoods of St. Paul and Denver: both communities each received $50 million from Homeland Security to purchase the equipment and pay for the policing during the conventions.

There are still two more days of the Republican Convention in St. Paul -- two more days of protest and possibilities of police mis-conduct, over-reaction, and excessive use of force. We urge you to call the Mayor of St. Paul right now! Let him know that people around the country know what's happening! Urge him to stand up for the Constitution and to take action to end the militarization of the downtown areas of his city! Urge him to reign in the police and help bring civility to the streets of St. Paul! Mayor Chris Coleman: 651-266-8510

And call your local media outlets to demand that they tell the real story of what's happening in St. Paul this week. Peace, Leslie Cagan, UFPJ National Coordinator

PHOTOSTREAM of CODEPINK at the RNC

More action stories at PINKTANK

WHEN DOVES CRY

Peace activists told you the Iraq War would be a disaster. Hear what they're saying now.
By Curt Guyette
The peace activists who protested the Bush administration’s march to war five years ago take no satisfaction in knowing that they were right in opposing this ill-fated Iraq war from the outset. All they want is for people to listen to them now.
And what they have to say is this: If we are ever going to get all of our troops out, it will be because of pressure that starts at the grass-roots level and works its way up to the top of the political chain – not the other way around.
When the Bush administration spewed its lies about weapons of mass destruction and fantasies about invading troops being greeted with tossed bouquets, members of the peace movement tried to warn us not to make what became a mistake of epic proportions. But America didn’t listen. The drumbeat for war was too loud, drowning out the voices of opposition. When not being ignored by mainstream media, activists were on the receiving end of ridicule from squawking chicken hawks.
Before the war, nearly 60 percent of the country supported an invasion of Iraq – an invasion supposedly made necessary by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction and the dictator’s close working relationship with Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network. It would be an invasion that would cost only about $50 million, we were told, with a majority of the troops expected to be back home within a matter of months.
History, of course, proved all of that false. Now, with 4,000 American soldiers dead and another 30,000 U.S. troops wounded in this conflict, with tens of thousands – and perhaps hundreds of thousands – of Iraqis killed and 4.5 million more displaced, there is no room for gloating by those who urged us not to invade. Instead there is only frustration that their voices were not heard.
After five long and bloody years, the doves aren’t despairing. Instead, they are determined.
“The peace movement hasn’t been marginalized,” says Leslie Cagan, co-chair of the national anti-war coalition United for Peace and Justice. “We’ve been mainstreamed.”
Public opinion has flipped since the start of the war. Recent polls show that about 60 percent of Americans think the war was a mistake. But that shift hasn’t resulted in an outpouring of protesters taking to the streets. Rather, the war seems to be slipping from the public’s consciousness.
Wendy Hamilton, director of the Detroit-based peace group Swords Into Plowshares, is perplexed by the lack of outrage: “Where’s the anger? Where’s the indignation? Why aren’t people saying we were lied to and doing something about it?”
Part of the answer is cynicism. People believe that nothing is going to change as long as Bush is in office, so what’s the point? “A lot of people, I believe, think that speaking out won’t make any difference,” Hamilton says.
Deidra Lynch, a CodePink Orlando organizer, agrees: “People feel hopeless,” she says. “They don’t understand why [the government] is not responding. They don’t feel it will accomplish anything because they’re not listening or responding.”
It doesn’t help that even after the Democrats took over Congress in 2006, the Bush administration has continued to wage war unimpeded by an opposition party too frightened of being labeled “anti-troop” to do anything about it.
The anti-war movement’s current apathy is also influenced by a feeling of disconnection between everyday life on the home front and the wars underway. During World War II, gasoline, tires and even food were rationed. In this conflict, however, instead of being asked to plant Victory gardens and buy war bonds, we’re urged to hit the stores and visit Disneyland as a show of patriotism. In Vietnam, the anti-war movement was spurred by a draft that forced young men to war, and too often to their deaths. Trying to bring about an end to the war, for those activists, was a matter of self-preservation.
Today’s wars are fought by an all-volunteer military and an army of private contractors. These battles don’t hit so close to home. People are more concerned about making sure there is food on their table, and Iraq can seem far, far away. Says Hamilton: “People have so many other kinds of concerns: Will I keep my job? Will I keep my house? Will I be able to afford college for my kids? These are the things that they are most worried about.”
A recent poll found that only about one-fourth of all Americans were aware that nearly 4,000 of their countrymen have died in Iraq. The survey results were announced with a headline that declared: “Awareness of Iraq War Fatalities Plummets.”
The key to change, activists say, is not to expect change to happen at the top. Work at the grass-roots level involving masses of people is what’s needed to alter the direction this country is taking.
It is not enough to just show up at the polls on Election Day. You have to become active and make your voice heard on an ongoing basis. Contact your representatives in Congress. Come out for protests. Circulate petitions. Donate to peace groups.
But that action doesn’t come in a vacuum. As CodePink’s Lynch says, “What really makes people get mad enough? Maybe when they have a kid or their neighbor comes back with no arms. We don’t face reality. We have to take responsibility for our government. We let it get this way.”
An earlier version of this story appeared in Detroit’s Metro Times. Additional reporting by Deanna Morey.

From: http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=12261

4,000 Vigil in Orlando

Last year on this day, we all had hoped that we would not be gathering again. After 5 years of the War in Iraq, we have now arrived at the sad milestone of 4000 American soldiers killed in Iraq. Regretfully, the time has now come to mourn and share our heartfelt sorrow at this agonizing loss to our nation and our people once again.

CODEPINK Orlando will host a vigil and rally to end the war TODAY, Monday, March 24 and invites you to join us at Lake Ivanhoe Park from 6:30-8pm. We will be placing the candles (as below) for the 4000 and may* also have a flag draped casket to lay flowers upon after we read the names of the 170 soldiers from Florida that have been killed since March 2003. Please bring flowers, candles and signs.

*f you can help transport a large cardboard casket from the Longwood area to the event, please call/email Leslie and/or Deidra. To get to the vigil: Exit I-4 at Princeton and go east to Orange Avenue. Turn right on Orange Avenue. The park is just south of Princeton on the right side. There is parking along Orange Avenue and also along the North side of the park along N. Lake Ivanhoe Blvd. The address is 57 South Ivanhoe Boulevard, Orlando if you want to mapquest it.

You are also welcome to bring any other items or props to this vigil. Some cities are doing chalkings of the bodies with the numbers of the US and Iraqi casualties on the sidewalks outside their congressional offices. Some women are dressing in black and wailing in the streets. Some are wearing black armbands with the number 4000, some will be wearing pink tape with the number 4000, some are marching and closing down intersections to draw attention to this travesty and some will be reliving the day they were informed that their loved one was dead.

Regretfully, 4,000 is just the tip of the iceberg. According to CBS, we currently have 120 veterans committing suicide every week or an average of 17 every day. One third of our soldiers have reported to being raped or had an attempted rape during their service. Over 40,000 Iraq veterans have returned home with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, loss of limbs and/or severe head trauma. Their families now bear a heavy burden and are suffering from physical and mental abuse, loss of their homes, jobs and loved ones.

Nobel Laureate Stephen Stiglitz of Columbia and Harvard University public finance Professor Laura Bilmes estimate War costs to be 3 trillion now and the service (interest) on the debt alone will amount to $900 billion. Gas, Bread, Milk and eggs have risen to all time highs in our country and the dollar is pitiful in the world markets. It is not going to get any better, any time soon. In fact, most experts are predicting even worse economic times to come.

Yet the national media has all but ignored the peace movement and entirely ignored testimonies last week of the Iraq veterans who spoke at Winter Soldier. The Washington Post only covered this event in the local section of their paper and none of the major television stations even bothered to show up to hear OUR veterans speak! Testimony by Vets at WINTER SOLDIER: http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/video We do not know accurately how many lives have been devastated in Iraq but the chaos and constant trauma has left no one untouched or unaffected. It's possible that over a million have now died and we know that millions more have been displaced and/or had their daily lives destroyed.

I hope that YOU will hear this call to action and let your voices be heard.

CHECK FOR ACTIONS IN OTHER CITIES HERE:
CODEPINK: http://codepinkalert.org/calendar.php
American Friends Service Committee : http://www.afsc.org/4000
UFPJ: http://unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php
For the latest count: http://icasualties.org/oif/

Testimony by Vets at WINTER SOLDIER http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/video

More news you should know...
Rise in homicides by US Iraq war vets -NY Times.
A survey of public records by The New York Times found at least 121 U.S. veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed a killing or were charged with one after returning home from duty, the newspaper reported on Saturday. The Times said the numbers indicated a nearly 90 percent increase in homicides involving active-duty military personnel and new veterans for the six-year period since the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSB398610 The Women's War -NY Times. One-third of a nationwide sample of female veterans seeking health care through the V.A. said they experienced rape or attempted rape during their service. Of that group, 37 percent said they were raped multiple times, and 14 percent reported they were gang-raped.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/magazine/18cover.html?pagewanted=5

Other organizations:
Veterans for Peace: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/
Iraq Veterans Against the War: http://ivaw.org/

The following are resources for veterans and current service members suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, or PTSD:

The Wounded Warrior Call-Center 1-877-487-6299 - This is a hotline for injured, wounded, or ill former and current Marines, Sailors and their family members. They offer information, resources, and advocacy for men and women suffering from either physical or psychological wounds.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) - By calling and pressing "1" you will be connected with round-the-clock access to mental health professionals who focus solely on helping veterans.

SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) www.save.org - This non-profit's mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, reduce stigma, and serve as a resource for those touched by suicide.

Vets 4 Vets, (520) 319-5500, www.vets4vets.us - Vets 4 Vets is a peer support group for recent veterans. In weekend workshops and local groups, veterans talk and listen to each other to help heal from negative wartime and military experiences. Contact them to find out about upcoming workshops.

National Veterans Foundation, www.nvf.org, 1-888-777-4443 - This non-profit, non-governmental organization gives assistance, information and resources to veterans from all military branches.

RESIST in March! ~ Washington DC

I arrived in DC last night and went immediately to Walter Reed hospital where the weekly vigil and counter-protester action was in progress. It was so great to see so many faces from my trip here last year but especially wonderful to see the young women from CODEPINK UCF chapter. They were charged up and so full of energy that it made my heart proud. Here's some photos of them yesterday afternoon at the recruiting station. They also went to the Press Corp event yesterday and were eventually kicked out for being CODEPINK dissidents. I will post more photos as I have them.

CODEPINK Peace Team including members from University of Central Florida's chapter delivered Winter Soldier Fliers and Posters to the recruiters friday afternoon- though no one came to the door to receive our gifts!

We Demand Peace & Want Our Troops out of harm's way Now!
Support Winter Soldier whatever way possible! http://www.ivaw.org/
Join CODEPINK in DC! http://www.codepinkalert.org/

CODEPINK UCF & Orlando Sweep the House

Members of CODEPINK UCF, Central Florida Movement for a Democratic Society [SDS], Orlando Progressive Alliance, UCF Campus Peace Action and CODEPINK Orlando brought brooms and wore aprons to SWEEP the House in support of the Iraq War Moratorium at Congressman Ric Keller's office on February 15 at noon and later again during 5pm rush hour.




Annie of CODEPINK UCF was interviewed by WDBO Radio.
Channel 9 also came out but ran no footage on air.


Alan Grayson [for Congress] & Deidra at Rush Hour.



Sandy got most creative on the apron!


Jay and Cindy Jury with pooch Abbey

AGENDA

Next Meeting: WED Feb 13th ~ Meet at Dandelion Communitea
6:30pm -7:00 ~ Bring a broom and wrap the handle in pink tape, Pink aprons too!
7:00-8:15 pm ~ Planning for:
15 February, Friday ~ "Progressive Sweep" Iraq Moratorium
18 February, Monday ~ President's Day
13-15 March, Thu-Sat ~ Winter Soldier Solidarity Shhhh, we're listening!
20 March, Thursday ~ 5th Year Anniversary

4,000 Event ~ Date Unknown War Count: http://icasualties.org/oif/
[3957 as of 2/9/08]

Counter-Recruitment sOmEtHiNg
Jacque Betz' Peace Ribbon Project

Please try to attend a monthly meeting or email us if you can help, offer your services, add an agenda item or just discuss things. codepinkorlando@gmail.com

Col Ann Wright in Orlando

Ann was delighted and surprised when she saw the cake that CODEPINK Orlando had made with her edible book cover!

Also attending was Alan Grayson has spent the last four years of his life representing the whistleblowers of the Iraq war, filing dozens of citizen lawsuits against crooked contractors who have cheated American troops and taxpayers. He is the prosecuting attorney in all five fraud cases currently pending against contractors in Iraq. He is running for Congress in Orlando's 8th district. http://www.graysonforcongress.com/


Joe DuRocher introduced Col Ann Wright and Lydia Vickers from Florida for Peace and CODEPINK Florida told us a little bit more about the awesome patriot. Joe presented Ann with a copy of the letter he sent to President Bush along with his Naval Aviator Wings and shoulder boards in protest of the war in Iraq. He told us that Col Ann Wright was his inspiration to do that! His letter can be seen here: http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2006/03/04_durocher_veterans-letter.htm

Toni and Chip Dockery (another Vietnam Vet) joined us for dinner before Ann's talk. Both are very active at the First Unitarian church in Orlando and members of the Social Justice committee that meets monthly on the third Tuesday.

CODEPINK UCF also joined us on Friday night.
Amazing young women!

More Photos from the rest of the Florida tour!

http://www.codepinkalert.org/florida

Retired Colonel Ann Wright here in Orlando!
DISSENT: Voices of Conscience. Government Insiders speak out against the war in Iraq.

Please join us in Orlando to celebrate the publication of Ann's new book:

Friday, Jan 25, 2008
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm ~ The First Unitarian Church of Orlando 1901 East Robinson Street Orlando, Florida 32803 codepinkorlando@gmail.com Books for signing will be available after the discussion along with coffee and dessert.

Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ~ University of Central Florida Student Union Bldg. 4000 Central Florida Blvd. Orlando, FL 32816-0003 E-mail contact: global@mail.ucf.edu Books may be purchased at the UCF student bookstore.

Complete Florida Tour Schedule
http://www.codepinkflorida.blogspot.com/

During the run-up to war in Iraq, Ann Wright resigned her State Department post in protest. She had served in the U.S. military and diplomatic corps for 29 and 16 years respectfully, and she was among dozens of government insiders and active-duty military who spoke out, resigned, leaked documents, or refused to deploy. In Dissent: Voices of Conscience, she and coauthor Susan Dixon tell the stories of these men and women, who risked careers, reputations, and even freedom out of loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law.

"When the actions of government become dangerous to the security of the nation, it takes a special courage for men and women inside the government to speak out. If we care about keeping democracy alive, we must welcome this book." —Howard Zinn"

More about Ann: http://www.globalexchange.org/getInvolved/speakers/206.html

VIDEO LINKS
Shut Down Guantanamo!
Colonel (Ret.) Ann Wright speaking at the meeting the night before the demonstration at the US Southern Command in Miami, Florida.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pV4go_QU3n8

International Human Rights Day
At a White House rally, on Dec. 10, 2007, Col. (Ret) Ann Wright sharply criticized the Bush-Cheney Gang for condoning torture around the world; and for its use of rendition (kidnapping) to send detainees to other countries that torture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXqDdg02S14

"Ann Wright is not one to be silenced." Ms. Magazine


For more information, contact 850-241-3191, or visit http://www.voicesofconscience.com/

Dissent: Voices of Conscience, by Colonel (Ret.) Ann Wright and Susan Dixon. Foreword by Daniel Ellsberg Trade Paperback Original 296 pages $17.95 ISBN 9780977333844 Published by Koa Books www.koabooks.com Distributed to the trade by SCB Distributors, www.scbdistributors.com

Action ALERT! 4pm Friday Nelson's office in Orlando!

Six years after the first prisoners arrived at the infamous prison—their orange jumpsuits now synonymous with unconscionable acts of torture—veterans, lawyers, activists, and family members of detainees are calling for the closure of Guantanamo. Join us Friday, Jan 11th for International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo. We will meet Friday at 4pm in front of Senator Nelson's office on Robinson St. We will then walk to Martinez office (1 block) and on to Keller's office (1 more block).

When: Friday 1/11/08 4:00 pm

Where: Landmark Two, 225 East Robinson Street, Ste 410 Meet in front

Why: "All prisoners deserve humane treatment and fair trials, which is not happening in Guantánamo," says retired US Army Colonel Ann Wright. "US federal courts, not military commissions, should hear the cases against those charged with terrorist acts and the infamous prison in Guantanamo should be immediately shut down."

The group will present a letter to Senator Nelson, then walk down to do the same at Senator Martinez' office and Representative Ric Keller's office. They will then walk back to Orange Ave between Central and Washington street and handout flyers, do outreach, etc. for an hour.

PLEASE WEAR ORANGE!!! Or orange and pink! If you don't have anything orange, the folks in Tampa have sent over their orange jumpsuits and t-shirts from yesterday's event for us to use this Friday as well as extra signs. Bring a friend!


To see what's going on in Miami today and this week, check out the Florida blog: http://www.codepinkflorida.blogspot.com/

Here's to an Awesome 08!

It's time to start planning our year. So much to do!
Next Meeting: WED January 9th 6:30pm
Meet at Dandelion Communitea
Agenda Items

• 10-14th 5 Days of Action in Miami! See http://www.codepinkflorida.blogspot.com/
• 11 January, Friday ~ International Day to Shut Down Guantanamo
• 21 January, Monday ~ Martin Luther King
• 25 January, Friday ~ Pub Crawl Gather at a bar or restaurant with a big screen TV and watch Bush's LAST Sorry State of the Union Address together.
• 25 January, Friday NEW! possible Col Ann Wright at UCF
• 29 January, Tuesday ~ Florida Primary
• 18 February, Monday ~ President's Day
• 8 March, Saturday ~ Nationwide CodePINK Trainings
• 13-15 March, Thu-Sat ~ Winter Soldier Solidarity Shhhh, we're listening!
• 20 March, Thursday ~ 5th Year Anniversary
  
• 4,000 Event ~ Date Unknown War Count: http://icasualties.org/oif/
• Counter-Recruitment sOmEtHiNg
• Jacque Betz' Peace Ribbon Project
• Your agenda item can go here. Let us know!

Please try to attend a monthly meeting or email us if you can help, offer your services, or just want to talk about things. codepinkorlando@gmail.com

Halloween Downtown

We had so much fun and loved the response from all!

OCT27 Press Release

Mass Mobilization in Orlando and ten other cities in US!
www.oct 27.org/Orlando

CodePINK Florida MEDIA ALERT CONTACTS:
Sheri or Deidra ~ codepinkorlando@gmail.com

*** CORPORATE MEDIA REPORTS:

Oct 27, 2007, Channel 2Anti-War Rally Takes Over Lake Eola Saturday http://www.wesh.com/politics/14438472/detail.htmlhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21501841/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOlFQdki2MU

Oct 27, 2007, Channel 9Thousands Protest War Across U.S.'Day Of Action' Held In Cities Throughout Nation
http://www.wftv.com/news/14439779/detail.html

Oct 27, 2007, Channel 13Thousands Take Anti-War Protest To The Streets Sunday
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/10/27/antiwar_protest.html

*** NEWSPAPERS:
Oct 28, 2007, Orlando SentinelRaging against war by Susan Jacobson
http://orlandosentinel/. com/community/ news/deland/ orl-warprotest28 07oct28,0, 1998620.story
Photos: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-warmarch-pg,0,246775.photogallery

Oct 28, 2007, Sarasota's Herald Tribune
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20071028/NEWS/710280631

Oct 17, 2007, Orlando Sentinel Bloghttp://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_military/2007/10/orlando-anti-wa.html

Oct 26, 2007, Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-march2607oct26,0,1049877.story

Oct 25, 2007, Orlando WeeklyThe Cost of War: Goverment spending is all about priorities
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/features/story.asp?id=11914

PRIVATE VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kp5Y1rq00
Orlando Peace march.

Senator Mike Gravel's radio interview during Peace Rally
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7702017515037979417&q=orlando+iraq&total=39&start=0&num=10&so=1&type=search&plindex=1
PHOTOS:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulius/sets/72157602747301746/

RADIO INTERVIEWS:

WMNF Tampa Begins with "Juvenile Justice Hearing.."
The interview about Oct 27th is about 3/4's of the way into the show. Hear it at: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/show/4855
Thank you Lauren, of Code Pink Sarasota & Jesse Kearns, of Veterans for Peace for representing all of the Peace groups involved!

Senator Mike Gravel & George Crossley on People Power Hour

http://www.peoplepowerhour.com/shows.html

Airing every Saturday from 2 to 3pm in Orlando, AM 1190.

Nearly 3,000 People From Key West to Georgia
Marched Against the War in Orlando

Thousands gathered Saturday for the largest peace rally in Florida ’s history at Lake Eola in Orlando, outnumbering even the Florida Democratic convention being held simultaneously at Disney World. Senator Mike Gravel, a strong anti-war candidate for President kicked things off and declared that “our leadership has lost its moorings, we lack moral fiber, we lack moral judgment”. In regards to the rally, "This is America at its finest," one protester said. "We're going to march against the Iraq war, because it's an unjust war… and it's totally wrong," another protester said.

As Channel 13’s Jackie Shutack reported on CodePINK, “These ladies in pink, paired their voices with eye catching colors to spread a simple message”, “Time to end this war”. Protesters traveled to the Orlando Anti-war rally from all over state of Florida, and from all over the country, for that matter” said Jackie. Thousands of protesters participated, “Young and old, and they all spoke the same message” which was loud and clear— End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq & take war with Iran off the table!

Speakers included life long activists like Peg McIntyre, a 97 year old Floridian who is possibly the oldest living peace activist in the country. There were also religious leaders, students, community organizers, families of military and veterans from all three wars offering their unique takes on why the US must leave Iraq immediately.

“We've seen it all bef or e throughout hist or y, the countless times we've murdered each other by the thousands and the millions over nothing..... All of these things resulted from the same pointless and idiotic logic, the same greed for wealth and power and the same disregard for the sanctity and value for human life.” said Clifton Hicks, an Iraq veteran.

A handful of counter-protesters stood on the sidewalk in the pouring rain chanting “ USA ” and “God Bless America ”. The thousands of Anti-war protesters marching by chanted, “God Bless our troops, bring them home!” drowning out the small group. Orlando police said the rally was peaceful and no arrests were made. There were over ½ million participants in the eleven cities holding marches and rallies simultaneously on October 27, including Boston, Chicago, Jonesborough, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.

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Orlando Hosts Southeast Regional March to End the War in Iraq

Who: Thousands from all over the Southeast
What: Regional rally and march to end the War in Iraq that is part of national mobilization across the country.
When: Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Rally at Lake Eola (NE corner). 3 mile march from Robinson to Paramore to Church St to Orange Ave to Central and returning to Eola Drive & Robinson. Orlando hosts a regional march to End the War in Iraq tomorrow. The event in Orlando is part of a national mobilization to end the war that is taking place in 11 cities across the country. Spearheaded by United for Peace and Justice it is expected to be the largest peace rally ever held in Florida . Americans in Orlando and across the country will take to the streets to reiterate their message, loud and clear— End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq & take war with Iran off the table! Speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, all offering their unique takes on why we must leave Iraq immediately. Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. “What’s so important about October 27 in Orlando is that it is a coming together of our regional movement,” said att De Vlieger, one of the local Orlando organizers. “As groups and individuals, we’ve held signs on street corners, spoke up in our classrooms, demanded answers at public forums, attended conferences and educated our neighbors across Florida about the U.S. led tragedy of Iraq for five years. We decided that the time has come for us to step it up and truly band together at home, as a statewide movement, to stop this war.”

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A Dedicated and Dynamic Group of Activists Plan to Host Regional Oct27 March to End the War in Iraq

Who: Enthusiastic college students, seasoned activists and concerned newcomers

What: Plan and organize a regional March to End the War in Iraq

When: Ongoing throughout the week culminating in the Oct27 March and Rally at 12:30pm

Where: Begins in NE (northeast) corner of Lake Eola Park at Robinson & Eola.

Planning is heating up as a group of Orlando activists prepare to host a regional march to end the War in Iraq. Orlando is one of 11 cities planning an event on October 27. The march is part of a National Mobilization to End the War in Iraq. Thousands from throughout the Southeast are expected to attend the Orlando March. This will make it the largest peace event ever held in Florida.

The host committee represents a coming together of a variety of activists from a number of different causes. Activists from organizations including: CodePINK Orlando, Project: Darfur, ACLU, Orlando Progressive, Veteran’s for Peace and the Farmworkers Association are all taking the lead in creating an event where people can make their statement, that they want the War in Iraq to End.

“What’s so important about October 27 in Orlando is that it is a coming together of our regional movement,” said maTT De Vlieger, one of the local Orlando organizers. “As groups and individuals, we’ve held signs on street corners, spoken up in our classrooms, demanded answers at public forums, attended conferences and educated our neighbors across Florida about the U.S. led tragedy of Iraq for five years. We decided that the time has come for us to step it up and truly band together at home, as a statewide movement, to stop this war.”

October 27 has been an incredible opportunity for young college students to channel their ideals and passion for ending the war and for more experienced activists to mentor a new generation in some of the tactics of making social change.

Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. As a US Senator he led a one man filibuster to help end the Vietnam War. He has proven to be an unequivocal opponent of the war on Iraq. Other speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, to offer their unique takes on why we much leave Iraq immediately

Anti-war sentiment has grown significantly, especially since the 2006 elections, as Congress fails to take any decisive measures against the US Occupation of Iraq.
Today, approximately 70% of Americans agree that we should bring our troops home. With each passing month, the Iraq disaster claims the lives of nearly 100 soldiers and countless Iraqis as it drains another 12 billion dollars from our budget.

The national action called for by United for Peace and Justice reflects the increasing lack of faith Americans have in the current political leadership to fulfill their pledges and to explore every option in ending the American quagmire in Iraq, such as cutting the war funding.

[This press release was emailed to media on Monday 10/22/07 at 4:00am.

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Thousands of People Expected When Orlando Joins 10 Cities Across the Country
Mobilizing to End the War in Iraq

Who: Thousands of people from across the southeast will converge in Orlando simultaneously with thousands more in 10 cities across the US

What: Massive Mobilization of faith-based, student, peace and political organizations joining together in Regional marches to STOP the War Now being spearheaded by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ)

When: Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: Lake Eola NE corner of Robinson and Eola. Three mile march from Robinson to Paramore to Church St to Orange Ave to Central and returning to Eola Drive & Robinson.

Thousands of people, from all walks of life, will take to the streets on October 27 as Orlando and 10 other cities host regional marches and rallies to end the War in Iraq and prevent new wars. The event in Orlando is expected to be the largest peace event ever held in Florida. Local organizers from a variety of groups are working together to host the October 27 march which is welcoming participants from throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.

Americans in Orlando and across the country will take to the streets to reiterate their message, loud and clear—End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq and take war with Iran off the table! The Orlando Host Committee has forged alliances with scores of diverse groups and organizations to promote the October 27 March. Speakers will include life long activists, religious leaders, students, community organizers and veterans, to offer their unique takes on why we much leave Iraq immediately

Presidential candidate Mike Gravel is one of the speakers scheduled. As a US Senator he lead a one man filibuster to help end the Vietnam War. He has proven to be an unequivocal opponent of the war on Iraq.

Anti-war sentiment has grown significantly, especially since the 2006 elections, as Congress fails to take any decisive measures against the US Occupation of Iraq.
Today, approximately 70% of Americans agree that we should bring our troops home. With each passing month, the Iraq disaster claims the lives of nearly 100 soldiers and countless Iraqis as it drains another 12 billion dollars from our budget.
The action called for by United for Peace and Justice reflects the increasing lack of faith Americans have in the current political leadership to fulfill their pledges and to explore every option in ending the American quagmire in Iraq, such as cutting the war funding.

These organizations endorsed Oct27 in Orlando.

Alachua County Green Party
Amnesty International @ VCC East

Arlington South of Naples Florida
AWAKENING/Art & Culture

Brevard NOW
Brevard Patriots For Peace

Campus Peace Action

Central Florida AFL-CIO
Central Florida Jobs Committee

Central Florida Jobs With Justice
Central Florida Movement for a Democratic Society
Central Florida Vets for Peace

Chant4Change
CodePINK Florida
CodePINK Orlando

CodePINK Sarasota
CodePINK South Florida
CodePINK SW Florida Ft Myers
CodePINK Tallahassee

CodePINK Tampa Bay

CodePINK UCF ~ University of Central Florida
CodePINK Volusia/Flagler

Democracy 4 The Palm Beaches (DFA)
Eco-Action
Environmental and Peace Education Center (EPEC)
Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice
Florida For Peace/Focus on Nelson
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Florida Peace Action Network

Florida Progressive Democrats Of America
Gainesville Area SDS

Grandparents for Peace ~ St. Augustine, FL

Green Party of Florida
Green Party of the U.S.

Green Party Peace Network

Grow Hair For Peace

Iraq Veterans Against the War (Gainesville & Orlando)

Marions for Peace, Ocala, Florida (Marion County)

Maya Books (Sanford, FL)

Miami for Peace

Military Familes Speak Out Florida (MFSO)
Movement for a Democratic Society

Nature Coast Coaliton for Peace and Justice

Operation Music

Orlando - Iraq War Moratorium

Orlando Food Not Bombs

Orlando Progressive Alliance
Orlando4Obama

Pax Christi Florida

Pax Christi Northeast Florida

PEACE NOW CITRUS COUNTY

People for Peace & Justice/St. Augustine

Polk County Citizens for Peace & Justice

Project Dafur

Redemption Song

Samm Simpson for Congress

SDS Miami/FIU

Solidarity and Peace.org

St. Augustine Catholic Worker Ministries

Students Against War

Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Central Florida

Tallahassee Network for Justice and Peace

Troops Home Now Coalition

U.S. Labor Against the War

Veterans for Peace Chapter 15, Tallahassee

Veterans for Peace Chapter 119, Tampa Bay
Veterans For Peace Chapter 032, South Florida
Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Tallahassee

* UPDATED Tuesday, 10/23/07 ~ This list is more than likely NOT up to date as more organizations are joining us daily! TO HELP: Email codepinkorlando@gmail.com

OCT27 ALERT: 25,000 in Orlando!

Contact: Deidra Lynch

codepinkorlando@gmail.com
www.oct27.org/orlando

On October 27, across the country, in eleven cities of America, mass rallies will be held and Orlando has been selected as one of those cities! We are expecting as many as 25,000 protestors and we have less than a month to organize this history making event. Now is a crucial time in history to make our presence known and our voices heard. We must keep the pressure on Congress as we are starting to see results and we need to keep up that momentum. Meetings for the event are being held on Sunday afternoons and the three or four CodePINK Orlando women who are working with the United For Peace and Justice task group are the same three or four women who help do everything else for CodePINK Orlando.

You see, CodePINK Orlando has no Coordinator, President or Director. We are a core team that consists of a few women who volunteer to coordinate an action, event or manage responsibilities like newsletters, website and media. None of us realized that we would be doing this for more than five years and to be honest with you, we are a little bit exhausted. All of us have families and other responsibilities and we have to juggle them all. Just as our troops are fatigued and frustrated, many of our CodePINK sisters here are feeling the same way. Just as our troops need our help, CodePINK Orlando needs your help.

If you really want to contribute to ending this war, please consider giving of your time and/or finances for this nation wide, once in a lifetime event. The women of CodePINK have kept you informed, given you opportunities to rally, mourn, and express your displeasure. We have met with our Congressional representatives and told them how you feel. Won’t you please give us your support for the OCT 27 rally?

HOW CAN YOU HELP???

1. CALL IN: Participate in upcoming local tele-conferences (1 hour) to plan and organize how your local CodePINK chapter will support this event. We will also keep you informed as to the plans of other groups and what they are going to be doing. RSVP: Reply to this codepinkorlando@gmail.com for an invitation that gives you the number to dial in to the tele-conference and your password.

2. REGISTER: Sign up at now at www.oct27.org/orlando to volunteer and support this march. Encourage other organizations to endorse this event.

3. VOLUNTEER: Check the list below and see if there is any thing you can do to help!

4. DONATE: Finances are needed to help pay for permits, staging, Porta-potties, printing, etc. In-Kind donations of office equipment and services are also greatly needed and appreciated. How to below*

5. ATTEND: Make plans to Attend October 27th!

6. FORWARD THIS TO: everyone you know who wants this war to stop NOW!

ARE YOU willing to?

__Contact the media or others

__Put a notice in your newsletter

__Send an posting out to your email lists

__Pass out or Business Host flyers/posters

__Make an announcement

__Bring people to the rally

__Be an organizer for your city/region

Help get Volunteers for:

__Water Distribution

__Peacekeeping

__Trash pick-up

__Set-up/Clean-up

__Communication

Donate/Provide:

__Money

__Materials

__Transportation

As always, you can contact any of us for more information or to discuss how you can help. Below is the Endorsement Form for other organizations and contact info for Matt, the Orlando Coordinator. We look forward to meeting many of you in the next few weeks and standing side by side in a block of PINK on October 27th! PLEASE PLAN to be there!

in solidarity, becky, deidra, leslie, sandy and sheri

*HOW TO DONATE AND INSURE YOUR $ GETS TO ORLANDO!
Donations of *$100 or more* are tax-deductible ONLY if your check is made payable to our 501 (c) 3 fiscal sponsor, the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute. Be sure to specify "UFPJ" and ORLANDO on the memo line. Mail it to c/o UFPJ at P.O. Box 607, Times Square Station, New York, NY 10108.

Please note: Online donations, credit card donations and donations by check that are

less than $100 are NOT tax-deductible.

More info: http://www.oct27.org/donate

UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE (UFPJ)
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL RALLY & MARCH IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
OCTOBER 27th, 2007 – Lake Eola Park – 12:30 to 4:00pm
Letter of Endorsement

Dear Community Organizations, Labor Unions, Religious Leaders, Activists, and Concerned Citizens:

The Orlando October 27th Coordinating Committee is calling on you to join together in a regional event in Orlando on October 27th, 2007 from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm at Lake Eola. On October 27th, people from all walks of life will gather in Orlando and 10 other cities around the country for massive regional demonstrations against the war. These nationally coordinated events initiated by United for Peace and Justice, are being built and mobilized by groups across the country.

The people of this country want the war to end, but Washington has failed to take decisive action. With each passing month, nearly 100 of our troops and countless more Iraqis are killed, some 12 billion of our tax dollars are spent, and the death and destruction continue. Our communities -- from New Orleans to Minneapolis -- are neglected and suffer the consequences. From Vermont to California, from Florida to Wisconsin, the people have spoken: We want this war to end, and we want it to end now!

To endorse, please register your group online at http://www.oct27.org/ AND fill out the form below and e-mail to actlikematt@gmail.com or fax to 407.386.7807.

Endorse online. Ask them to reach out to their allies in the region – be the organizer for your city/region.

Yes, __________________________________________________ endorses the national October 27th “End the War Now” event to be held in Orlando and 10 other cities.

We are willing to:

__Put a notice in our newsletter

__Send an email out to our email list

__Pass out flyers

__Make an announcement

__Bring people to the rally

__Be an organizer for our city/region

Help get Volunteers for:

__Water Distribution

__Peacekeeping

__Trash pick-up

__Set-up/Clean-up

__Communication

Donate/Provide:

__Money

__Materials

__Transportation

Please detail donation below:

___ Yes, our organization /church wants to be included in press releases. (Due to lack of space, your organization must commit to at least one volunteer activity or give resources to be included in press releases.) We will be bringing ______ people to this event.

Contact information:

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________ Email: _____________________
Address: _________________________________________________ City: ___________________ State:_________ Zip: ___________

PLEASE SEND ALL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO actlikematt@gmail.com

4th of July 2007

Instructions!

If you would like to add a story, photo or video to this blog,
please email it to codepinkorlando@gmail.com

peace all!