As the 4th anniversary of the U.S. war on Iraq approaches this March, individuals and groups from across the area are joining together to convene a metro-wide organizing meeting. Our goal? To build a collaborative platform to plan actions and events on the upcoming anniversary of the U.S. invasion and ongoing occupation.

Saturday, January 6, 12 noon to 3 pm
Location: the new conference room of the 8th Day Center for Justice
205 W. Monroe Street, 5th floor, downtown Chicago

Why organize? Because the costs of the war are unbearable: Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, and thousands more maimed. 3,000 Americans dead, and over 20,000 injured. More billions spent to invade and occupy Iraq than on the entire Vietnam War. Support from both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party leadership -- including Chicago congressman Rahm Emanuel -- to INCREASE funding for George Bush's war by $160 billion. Ongoing legislative assaults on civil liberties and core constitutional rights. Hundreds of billions of tax dollars used to bankroll sweetheart contracts with companies like Bechtel and Halliburton -- instead of people's programs like education and access to health care.

Some groups plan to bring forward specific proposals at this meeting. For example, CCAWR, which initiated this call, is planning a march on Michigan Avenue on the evening of Tuesday, March 20th and has begun following up on logistical issues. Other groups have discussed planning pickets, rallies, feeder marches and other special events over the weekend or in the week prior to the run-up to the 3/20 anniversary.

Help build a unified, collaborative plan of action for anti-war forces in the metro area on the 4th anniversary of the war. Join us on Saturday, January 6.

8th Day Center for Justice
ANSWER Chicago
Bridgeport Neighbors for Peace
CAMY Comite Anti-militarizacion
CAWI: Chicagoans Against War & Injustice
CCAWR: Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism
CCOMY: Chicagoland Coalition Opposed to the Militarization of Youth
Chicago Area CodePINK
Chicago Cinqueras Sister City El Salvador
Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights
Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5
Chicago Food Not Bombs
Chicago Jobs with Justice
Chicago Labor Against the War
Chicago National Organization for Women (NOW)
Chicago Socialist Party
Christian Council on Urban Affairs
Communist Party Illinois
DeKalb Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice
Evanston Neighbors for Peace
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
Gay Liberation Network
Good News Community Church
Good News Community Kitchen
Chairman Fred Hampton, Jr., Prisoners of Conscience Committee
International Socialist Organization
International Solidarity Movement-Chicago
Labor Beat/Labor Express
La Voz de los de Abajo
National Boriqua Human Rights Network
Neighbors for Peace
Nicaragua Solidarity Committee
Akua Njeri, December 4th Committee
Northbrook Peace Committee
North Shore Citizens for Peace and Justice (NSAWC)
North Suburban Peace Initiative (NSPI)
Not in My Name - Jewish Voices for Peace
Palestine Solidarity Group - Chicago
Peace Pledge Chicago
Poor People's Millenium Movement
Stop CAT Coalition
Students for Social Justice - UIC
Beauty Turner
Veterans for Peace/Chicago
Voices for Creative Nonviolence

For more information, email CCAWR (at) aol.com or call 773-209-1187.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of security arrangements for our host space, people should arrive no earlier than 11:30 AM and no later than 12:15 PM. If you must arrive later than 12:15 PM, you'll need to call another attendee to be admitted to the building.