Event Description:

"Five Years Too Many" events in Butte and Helena Wednesday

Visits to offices of U.S. Congressmen in Butte and statewide events in Helena are planned Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The public is invited to join in delivering prepared statements to the congressmen countering their justifications and dogged support for funding the U. S. occupation.

Sponsors, Montana Peace Seekers Network and, locally, TAPS - Taking action for Peaceful Solutions, the Montana Tech Peace Seekers Club, and Sacred Ground, are tying in with "Five Years Too Many" demonstrations in Washington DC and cities across the nation.

A dozen representatives of Montanans Support our Troops and Withdrawal from Iraq, MSTWI, met privately with Senator Baucus on January 7 and with Senator Tester on January 17. They requested that the senators vote to de-fund the occupation and begin withdrawal of combat troops. They also asked the senators to recognize publicly that five Montana cities, including Butte last June, had approved Iraq withdrawal resolutions or popular votes with significant majorities. Statewide polls have also shown a majority preference for an orderly withdrawal.

Here's the line up:
March 19 - Wednesday
11:30 to Noon - Butte: Gather with signs and songs in front of the offices of Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester at 125 West Granite Street. Statements will be delivered to each office

12:15 pm - Silent prayer vigil at the Butte Silver Bow Community Peace Park, NW corner of Broadway and Washington Streets (across from the Arts Chateau). Participants will walk from the courthouse area two blocks to the park. Everyone is invited to place a "rock of resistance" or a "stone of compassion" into the peace cairn with hope and prayer for an end to the Iraq occupation.

Carpooling to Helena is available; call 723-3851.
2 pm in Helena - With a “please change your tune” theme, citizens will gather outside the office of Senator Baucus in the Great Northern complex (30 W. 14th St.). They will deliver both formal and personal statements to Senator Baucus’ staff (30 W. 14th St.). Then the group will proceed to Congressman Rehberg’s office (950 N. Montana Avenue) at 3 pm, and on to Senator Tester’s office 208 N. Montana Avenue) at 4 pm.

5 pm in Helena - a public rally and press conference will follow at the corner of Broadway and Sixth on the NW corner of the state capitol grounds.
Mary Kay Craig of the local TAPS groups said, "this time we are asking our congressmen publicly to stop voting to fund the occupation of Iraq when the majority of their constituents have stated clearly through November votes, council resolutions, and statewide polls that they want the troops withdrawn."

As the occupation enters its sixth year, approximately 130,000 service personnel and a similar number of support contractors are in Iraq. The Defense Department recognizes 3,988 deaths of US soldiers since the “shock and awe” campaign began on March 19, 2003. Montanans have suffered 22 of the dead and 215 of the wounded.
Deborah Hayden of Helena, mother of a crippled Iraq veteran, said, “This is a good opportunity for ordinary citizens to get involved in urging our congressional delegation to take a stand against funding the ongoing violence. It has been, and continues to be, far too expensive in lives lost and broken and resources squandered, resources and lives desperately needed at home.”

Other Helena events include

- 1 pm to 10 pm "Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War" at the Myrna Loy Center, 14 N. Ewing, is a display of soldier's boots developed by the American Friends Service Committee.

- 6 pm - Silent prayer gatherings: Locatins will be announced at the 5 pm rally.
- 8 pm "Winter Soldier" film at the Myrna Loy.
For more information call 723-3851 or email ButteTAPS@Bresnan.net.

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Event Type: March 19th Actions

Max Attendees: 0 (Currently 0 Registered)

Location:
125 W. Granite St.

Directions:
Outside offices of Senators Baucus and Burns

Poster size copies of this camouflage cake painting by Missoula MT artist Kristi Haeger were hand-delivered to the offices of Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Representative Dennis Rehberg on March 19th. Mounted copies of the poster were used as sig