August 18, 2003
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This is important. Voices In the Widlerness is a wonderful group. Ashcroft, eat my.....
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VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS UNDER ATTACK FROM ASHCROFT
The US Justice Department has sued Voices in the Wilderness to try to collect a fine of $20,000
from VitW for bringing medicines to the people of Iraq. Over the past seven years, Voices in the
Wilderness has organized more than 65 delegations to Iraq made up of teachers, veterans, social
workers, artists, health care professionals, trades people and people of faith. Many of these delegates
carried symbolic amounts of medicine as an act of civil disobedience against the injustice of the
economic sanctions. Voices refuses to pay any fines. Instead, Voices has issued a call for
20,000 people to contact the Department of Justice. See Voices' call to action below.
1. Contact Ashcroft to protest:
Fax (202) 307-6777 Phone (202) 353-1555
Email: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
2. Sign the online petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/usvvitw/petition.html
From Voices in the Wilderness:
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, tradespeople 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@vitw.org) 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 resistance to 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@vitw.org).
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
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