Voices in the Wilderness has provided a non-violent, humanitarian
connection between Americans and Iraqis during the years of Economic
Sanctions. Please read below about the US Justice Department suit.

Beth





-----Original Message-----
From: info@... [mailto:info@...]
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 6:07 PM
To: B. Rivin
Subject: A Call for 20,000 Voices


Dear Friends,

The US Justice Department is suing Voices in the Wilderness. Over the
past seven years,
Voices in the Wilderness has organized over 65 delegations to Iraq.
Comprised of teachers,
veterans, social workers, artists, health care professionals, trades
people and people of faith,
these delegations brought symbolic amounts of medicine to the people of
Iraq. We are
asking for 20,000 people to raise their voices against the injustice and
hypocrisy of this
lawsuit. Read more about our call for 20,000 voices at:
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/newPages/SBsummons_call_for_voices
.html

We ask that all who have opposed the devastating effects of years of
economic sanctions
and bombings come forward and express their opinion demanding that the
Department of
Justice drop all charges and penalties brought against Voices in the
Wilderness. We pledge
to raise $20,000 in new donations and once again carry relief aid to the
Iraqi people in protest
of the continuing US sanctions on Iraq. (Yes, US sanctions are still in
place against Iraq;
check the web: http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/080203I.shtml).

On August 21st John Farrell, Kathy Kelly, Ed Kinane and Cathy Breen will
travel to Iraq. Please
submit donations for humanitarian aid before August 19th. To donate:
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/newPages/SBdonate.html

The Justice Department is choosing to launch an attack on Voices in the
Wilderness at a time
when Iraqi people and US soldiers are being routinely killed. The
occupying forces have
failed to provide security and basic humanitarian needs for the citizens
of Iraq. As a response
to Mr. Ashcroft, please sign on to our letter asking him to drop the
lawsuit against Voices in the
Wilderness: http://www.petitiononline.com/usvvitw/petition.html

Voices in the Wilderness is an unincorporated entity. We consider all
people who share our
philosophy of nonviolence and our concern for the people of Iraq to be a
part of Voices in the
Wilderness.

We invite you to:
1) Write or fax Attorney General John Ashcroft by August 18th. Please
cc Voices in the
Wilderness by e-mail (info@...) or fax (773.784.8837).
2) Donate your war tax refusal or other donation.
3) Consult our website for suggestions about nonviolent direct action
and civil disobedience
that help dramatize our challenge to the Justice Department.
4) Organize a local media event, fundraiser, or symbolic event of
solidarity with VitW.
5) Write an op-ed for your local paper.
6) Offer your time, media savvy or legal expertise.
7) Arrange a speaking event for Voices in the Wilderness (contact
laurie@...).

For complete details about how you can raise your voice, please visit:
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/newPages/SBsummons_what_you_can_do
.html

Sincerely yours,
Voices in the Wilderness