Citizens Petition Rep. Delahunt to Vote No on War Funding, Four Arrested
March 27, 2008, Hyannis, MA
Mike Risch, Sarah Thacher, Paul Rifkin, and Diane Turco in front of the Barnstable County Court House after arraignment for "bearing witness for peace".
On March 19, 25 to 50 citizens stood in the cold rain outside of Congressman Delahunt's office for a reading of names of U.S. soldiers and Iraqi children who have died in Iraq and to ask for a response to a petition to end war funding. (Text of petition below.) In July '07, Rep. Delahunt had signed a pledge along with Rep. Lynn Woolsey and others to vote only for funding "to carry out a safe and orderly redeployment of our troops." However, Rep. Delahunt's vote in November '07 for the $50 billion in supplemental funding was contrary to this pledge. No response to the petition was forthcoming.
Sarah Thacher, Paul Rifkin, Mike Tork, Mike Risch, and Diane Turco attempted to negotiate with Rep. Delahunt on the position to not vote for funding to extend the war. With the help of his staff member Michael Higgins, they negotiated with chief of staff Mark Forest, until 9:30 p.m. Not receiving a direct response to the petition, they stayed the night in the congressional office, sleeping on the floor. The next morning, they spoke directly with Rep. Delahunt. He was unable to make a commitment.
The group remained to bear witness for peace and respectfully asked for his reconsideration. At 3:30, another call came in from Rep. Delahunt. Hopeful that he had reconsidered his position, they were disappointed to learn that the call was actually to ask them to leave. Rep. Delahunt suggestion to the peace advocates: “In the best American tradition, why don't you take your protest out on the street?” Their response: “In the best American tradition, we will bear witness to peace right here in this office. The funding for the war needs to end now and we call upon you to vote not to extend war funding.” Police were called in and the
four were arrested.
The group will continue to lobby Rep. Delahunt to pledge no funding to extend the war. Please call his office at 1-508-771-0666 or DC 1-202-225-3111 daily. Or, email Rep. Delahunt at
William.delahunt@mail.house.gov. Iraq is not a war to win but an invasion and occupation to end now.
Healthcare NOT Warfare!
Letter to Rep. Delahunt from CCPJ:
Dear Rep. Delahunt,
March 19 marks the beginning of the 6th sixth year of war and occupation of Iraq. Soon, the 4,000th American soldier will have died along with over a million Iraqis. Over 4.5 million Iraqi citizens have been displaced and are now refugees. These are events of tragic proportion that did not need to be.
Back home, with $12 billion a month being spent in Iraq, the war continues on our own citizens and our dear children who are without health care, jobs, housing, and education while the perpetrators and profiteers of war line their coffers with our tax dollars, ripping off the American people. Barnstable County citizens alone have contributed over $418 million. Eighty percent of the American people want this war to end now. Congress needs to vote to end the funding and use those resources to provide for human needs. A majority of the American people do not consent to the violent actions of our government and call upon Congress to use diplomatic means to resolve conflict. We strive for a world of justice and peace for all. That is the true American way.
While we recognize and greatly appreciate your support of the Out of Iraq Caucus and Progressive Caucus letter to Rep. Pelosi calling for funding only for the safe and orderly withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, we are concerned with your Yea' vote for H.R. 4156 which, while establishing a timeline for withdrawal, also included funding for the war. The Democrats have been in control of the House and yet, the war continues to be funded without any stipulations. As your constituents, we do not consent to this war in our name and call upon you to support the following statement as our elected representative:
We citizens of the 10th Congressional district petition you, Representative Delahunt, to publicly commit to voting No on any bill that funds the occupation of Iraq and to vote No on any procedural votes to bring such funding up for a vote. End funding for war to fund human needs.
I pledge to vote NO on any bill and to vote NO on bringing to the floor for a vote any bill that includes any funding to extend the occupation of Iraq. This pledge does not prevent me from voting for funding for a withdrawal, although such funding is clearly not needed by the Pentagon. It does not prevent me from voting for funding for veterans' services or for the reconstruction of Iraq by Iraqis, or for the relief for hurricane victims, or for anything else. But I will only vote for items I approve of if they are in bills that do not contain a single dollar for the continuation of the occupation of Iraq.
Do you support this people's pledge?
In doing so, you have our deepest gratitude and support.
On March 19, there will be a reading of the names of those Americans and Iraqis who have died, and we invite you or a staff member to join us from 3:30-5:00 PM outside your office. At that time, we also request a response from you to our above petition.
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