prairie fire organizing committee

Statement on September 11th

SEPTEMBER 11TH WAS A TRAGEDY
WE OPPOSE U.S. MILITARISM
NO MORE TRAGEDIES!

The terrorist attacks on September 11th have caused profound suffering to us all. Thousands of people died and lives have been damaged and destroyed. We have listened with deep sorrow to the stories of those who lost their loved ones. This is a human tragedy. We don't want our government to bring this kind of tragedy and suffering to the people of Afghanistan, Iraq or anywhere in the world. The U.S. government's military attacks will not lessen the pain and suffering; nor will a military response makes us less vulnerable to future attacks.

Inflicting terror and warfare on people only serves to drive a deeper wedge between us and the rest of the world. Let us take this opportunity to build bridges of understanding between ourselves and the rest of the world. We need to understand what the U.S. government has done to create such strong anti-U.S. feelings.

Right now, the U.S. government is militarily and economically involved in many nations around the world. The U.S. government has given Israel over $3 billion in economic and military aid and supplies the planes and bombs that attack and kill the Palestinian people. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. has continued to bomb Iraq. U.S. imposed sanctions have caused the death of more that 500,000 Iraqi children under five according to UNICEF. Despite overwhelming opposition, the U.S. military bombs Vieques, Puerto Rico and Mae Hyang Ri, South Korea and occupies Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. military is present in Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Mexico, Curacao, Aruba and El Salvador. The military's presence has caused death, destruction and terror. The U.S. ignores the wishes of people in other countries and acts for its own benefit. This is why many people around the world see the U.S. as an arrogant superpower that will not listen to people's demands.

ARABS AND MUSLIMS ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES

We are very concerned that fear and anger after the September 11th attack have led to racist attacks against Arabs and Muslims here in the U.S. Totally without justification, people in this country have attacked and killed Arabs and Muslims - and people who look Arab or Muslim. Large groups, mainly white men, have demonstrated at and attacked mosques. In a recent poll, 49% of the respondents said they would support special identification for Arabs and Muslims. This is similar to apartheid South Africa's passbook laws or the yellow stars the Nazis forced Jews to wear. The U.S. government is attempting to pass repressive legislation that would legally permit the government to surveil and detain anyone the government says they suspect of "terrorist" activity. We need to stand up and say no to racist attacks here in the U.S. We need to defend civil rights.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Put up signs that say No War, No Retaliation or similar sentiments that oppose war.
2. Join us to distribute this leaflet.
3. Help plan and participate in anti-war demonstrations.
4. Contact your representatives and say no to war and no to repressive legislation.
5. Join us to mass leaflet Chicago to oppose U.S. militarism.
6. Help us plan and participate in a car caravan to visit Chicago
neighborhoods with signs on cars and mass leafletting to oppose the war.
7. Join our just forming "Women, Gender and War" campaign.
8. Help us with a power point presentation on the impact of war.
9. Come with us to a mosque to celebrate Ramadan on Friday November 23rd and Friday November 30th.
10. CALL 773-278-6706 for more info

For more information contact: Prairie Fire Organizing Committee 773-278-6706 www.prairie-fire.org

Download this statement (with color photos) as a one page flyer (208 kb).

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