CALL TO ACTION:

Date: November 22-November 27, 2005
Place: Crawford, Texas (Physical location TBA)

Events:
11/22: Civil Disobedience
11/23: Meal
11/24: Memorial Dedication
11/25: March/Rally
11/26: Interfaith Service



Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather to give thanks and celebrate the year’s achievements.

In this spirit, the family of Camp Casey and the Crawford Peace Movement will reunite in Crawford, Texas this Thanksgiving to celebrate our work,
remember those who are no longer with us, and share our stories, our lives, and the wealth of our community.

The past year has seen many tragic milestones in the war on Iraq.

Despite the President’s assertion that major combat ended last year,
military operations have continued, and resulted in the destruction of the city of Falluja,
2,038 American deaths, 200,000 Iraqi deaths, 199 coalition deaths,
and 15,353 American soldiers wounded.

But this year has also been a year of victories for our movement ( figures as of 11/04/05).

This past August, our community united in Crawford to demand that
the President explain the “noble cause” for which he claims our troops have died.

Then, on September 24, we massed over 200,000 people in Washington D.C.
to send a clear message that we do not consent to wars of conquest in our name
and demand that the troops be brought home NOW!

Since Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana, claiming over 1,000 American lives,
the Crawford coalition has been providing material assistance to the people of New Orleans
while the government struggles under the weight of its own bureaucracy.
After we left Crawford at the end of August, McLennan County designated
the county bar ditches “no speech zones” by making it
illegal to camp, park or eat in them.
This is a violation of our constitutional rights to free speech and free assembly.

On Tuesday,
November 22,
some of us will challenge this ordinance by gathering in the Camp Casey ditch
to let George Bush know that he cannot
continue to turn a deaf ear to our grievances.

In solidarity with people who continue to suffer
as a result of the President’s failed war in Iraq,
we will forgo the standard excessive American Thanksgiving feast for a simple Iraqi meal.
We will send a convoy to New Orleans to donate the makings of a traditional feast
to those who continue to struggle to rebuild their lives.

Friday, we will dedicate the new Memorial Garden at the Crawford Peace House.

Saturday, we will engage in a demonstration
(march/rally/caravan, details to be announced) and

disband on Sunday to return to our local communities to
continue our campaign to end the war and bring our troops home.

We are requesting each organization to collect donations of food or funds
from their membership and supporters,
as well as post information about this event !>
on their websites.

We must keep the war at the forefront of public consciousness this holiday season.

One more death is too many; tomorrow is too late.

Let us come together in community to renew our commitment to end the suffering NOW!

The Crawford Peace House will secure access to Tonkawa Falls State Park for camping, if needed.
Shuttles will also be needed.

Contact the Crawford Peace House at 254-486-0099 for more information.


Please RSVP to the Crawford Peace House to let them know
if you plan to attend the Thanksgiving event,
so that we can prepare for the correct number of people.

When you call, please let the Peace House know if you are willing to volunteer.
We will need the same kinds of volunteers that we did
during the summer encampment and

we know that you will all rise to this effort.

Thanks so much.

We look forward to seeing you again.

Stay tuned to: http://crawfordpeace.nfshost.com/ for blogs
to arise on rideshares and further news.