IRAQ OCCUPATION PROTESTERS PLAN FUNERAL PROCESSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Bruce Gagnon 443-9502 globalnet@mindspring.com

On Wednesday, February 21 members of the Bath-Brunswick Occupation Project Affinity Group will organize a funeral procession to the Portland office of Rep. Tom Allen. The procession will gather at Tommy’s Park on Exchange Street at 12:45 pm and then proceed to Allen’s office.

The funeral procession will call on Rep. Allen to vote against George W. Bush’s request for another $100 billion for the occupation of Iraq. The procession will mourn the loss of American, Coalition, and Iraqi lives lost. It will also mourn the loss of social services that occur because our tax dollars are consumed by this war –(health care, child care, education, housing, environmental programs, etc.)

According to affinity group member Bruce Gagnon, “Rep. Tom Allen said he is against the occupation of Iraq. He promised that things would change once Democrats controlled Congress. But Rep. Allen and the majority in Congress plan to continue to appropriate the funds to support the occupation. The best they can do is debate a non-binding resolution opposing Bush’s troop surge. That is not good enough.”

President Bush said he does not intend to bring the troops home, yet polls tell us the majority of the American people are against the occupation. The only recourse for Congress is to cut the funding.

Each month the US occupation of Iraq costs Americans $8.5 billion.

Gagnon continued, “We’ve sent letters and emails to Congress. We’ve held open forums. Some have had private conversations with our representatives; others have brought the issue to campaign debates and public meetings. Rep. Mike Michaud from Maine’s 2nd district has voted to stop funding this occupation. Why can’t Rep. Allen and our Senators do the same?”

The Bath-Brunswick Occupation Project Affinity Group is made up of people who belong to Maine Veterans for Peace, Peace Action Maine, PeaceWorks, and other local groups.

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