U.S. Antiwar Organization Denounces Bush’s Annapolis Conference
The Troops Out Now Coalition, a national antiwar organization, released the following statement in response to the Annapolis meting planned for November 27:
Call Off Bush’s phony Annapolis ‘peace meeting’
A Call for Protest
FOR JUSTICE & PEACE, U.S. OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST
Across the Country–Protest on November 27
We call on the anti-war movement to organize and demonstrate on November 27, during President George W. Bush’s phony “peace meeting” at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md or whenever this meeting is held.
It is a monumental insult to the people of the Middle East and all justice-minded people that war criminal Bush would dare to convene a “peace meeting” while Washington continues to bring occupation, genocide and devastation to Iraq and Afghanistan, destabilization to Palestine and Lebanon, and constant threats to Iran and Syria in its quest for oil and colonial empire. This phony meeting should be called off. The fraud is so transparent that Bush’s plan for a grand “Middle East peace conference” has shrunken to a one day meeting.
As an anti-war movement, we must ask ourselves: Can we allow the war criminals, who time after time have callously ignored the anti-war majority in the U.S. and globally, to get away with this outrageous farce?
Some may be confused about the purpose of the Annapolis meeting, so let’s speak plain truth: It isn’t really about peace and justice for the Palestine–it’s about deception, occupation and war. It’s about isolating popular forces and countries that reject U.S. rule. It’s about attempting to force new concessions on the Palestinian people, while attempting to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and other Arab governments with Israel. All while Tel Aviv continues its all-out assault on the Palestinian people. And it’s about preparing for a new war.
At this moment, Palestinians in Gaza are being deprived of food, fuel, medicines and other basic necessities by an economic embargo imposed by Israel and backed by the U.S. Meanwhile, more Israeli settlements, roads, walls and checkpoints are being set up in the West Bank each day. Palestinian, Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. have also been subjected to a war of racist repression and need our support
Beyond pretending to be a “peace broker,” Bush hopes that the Annapolis meeting will:
Divide and weaken the just struggle of the Palestinian people;
Prop up the unstable Israeli occupation regime;
Legitimize and strengthen the illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. plans for colonization of the whole Middle East;
Help prepare for aggression and war against Iran.
Representatives of the Israeli apartheid regime will be in Annapolis, along with some Palestinian and other Arab forces that are under severe pressure from Washington or are willingly in its orbit. Those who refuse to tow the line have not been invited or chosen to boycott the meeting.
We must not be silent when the war criminals in the White House and Pentagon are talking peace – while waging war and planning new wars. This is the time for anti-war forces to take a strong stand!
END THE WAR NOW
* Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan NOW
* Stop preparations for war under the guise of “peace,” from Iran to Syria, Palestine and Lebanon
* Free Palestine – Support the Right to Return and self-determination
* End the blockade of Gaza
* Occupation is a crime, from Iraq to Palestine
Initiated by: Troops Out Now Coalition
(Endorsers List in formation)
Arab American Union Members Council
Al-Awda – Palestine Right To Return Coalition, NY & Omaha
American Iranian Friendship Committee
Artists and Activists United for Peace
All India Anti-imperialist Forum
Asia-Pacific Action
All Peoples Congress
Ahmad Kawash, Palestine American Congress, Executive Board, Boston
Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor of Pan-African News Wire
Angeles Maestro, former MP, Spain, Corriente Roja
Amr El-Bayoumi, Alexandria Association of Human Rights Activists (Egypt)
Alexander Moumbaris, Les dossiers du BIP (Editions Démocrite)
Bisphop Filipe C. Teixeira, OFSJC, Northeast Diocese of St. Francis of Assisi, CCA
Bernadette Ellorin – BAYAN USA*
Brenda Stokely – NYC Labor Against the War*
BRussell’s Tribunal
Campaign for Healthcare Not Warfare
Campaign to Free Ahmad Sa’adat
Chuck Turner – Boston City Councilor
Elena Everett, GPAX*, North Carolina Green Party*
F.I.S.T.-Fight Imperialism Stand Together
Frantz Mendes, President, United Steelworkers Local 8751 Boston School Bus Union*
Haiti Support Network
Harlem Tenants Council
International Action Center
Jersey City Peace Movement
Kamau Franklin, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement*
Lenora Foerstel, Women for Mutual Security
Lynne Stewart
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Oakland Chapter
Millions for Mumia
New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti
NJ Solidarity – Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
NY Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum
Pam Africa, Internat’l Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Peoples Video Network
Stevan Kirschbaum, Grievance Committee Chair, United Steelworkers Local 8751 Boston School Bus Union*
Steve Gillis, Vice President, United Steelworkers Local 8751 Boston School Bus Union*
Queers for Peace & Justice
Stop War On Iran Campaign
Womens’ Fightback Network
