PDA 2006 Election Video
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Stop Funding War Video
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 Tom Hayden (peace activist), Medea Benjamin (Code Pink), and Tim Carpenter (PDA Director) discuss strategy. |
PHOENIX, AZ Following on the heels of the successful counter-inaugural Progressive Democratic Summit on January 21-23 in Washington, D.C., progressive activists from across the nation joined regional leaders in Phoenix this weekend at a Western Regional Progressive Forum where participants discussed alliance-building and strategies for building pro-peace movements at the grassroots, local, and national levels.
Tim Carpenter, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) explained, "This was part of an ongoing effort to advance PDA's inside/outside strategy, to continue to build and mobilize the peace movement both inside and outside the Democratic Party, and to keep the heat building in the streets to end the war and the occupation of Iraq."
Tom Hayden, a keynote speaker, outlined a plan for putting pressure on pro-war Democrats to challenge the President to develop an immediate and clear exit strategy for Iraq. Hayden said, "PDA will revitalize the anti-war sentiment of rank-and-file Democrats by demanding Congressional resistance to President Bush's proposal for another $80 billion in taxes for an un-winnable war. It is time to bring the costs of the war home one billion dollars each week that could go to health care or inner city jobs, for example. PDA will join forces next week in St. Louis with the nation's largest anti-war coalition, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), to build pressure in every Congressional District."
Medea Benjamin, co-founder and leader of Code Pink and Global Exchange, added, "While many of our elected officials continue to support the war in Iraq, PDA has taken the principled stand of calling for the troops to come home. We will be going out to community groups all over the country to make the connections between the cuts in public housing, food stamps, health care and other vital services, and the continuation of an immoral, illegal un-winnable war. PDA will take the lead in saying, 'Money for human needs, not for war and occupation.'"
PDA will continue to promote progressive caucuses and chapters across the country, such as the Arizona Democratic Progressive Caucus, which organized the forum this weekend with PDA.