Peace Activists to Occupy Office of Democratic Lawmakers Thursday!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Contact: Natalie Wormeli 530-756-1900 or 916-996-9170

ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk

Critics ‘target' Democratic lawmakers Thursday,
claim they reneged on promise to vote for resolution
calling for return of state National Guard from Iraq

SACRAMENTO – Democratic Party lawmakers here who failed to support, as
promised, legislation calling for the return of the state National Guard
from Iraq will be targeted for protests in their Capitol offices Thursday
by war critics and the families of troops stationed in Iraq. Protestors are
expected to "occupy" the offices.

A news briefing will be held THURSDAY, 9:45 a.m., on the West Steps of the
Capitol, where peace advocates from Sacramento and the Bay Area will gather
before going to, and occupying, the offices of the lawmakers.

At issue is Assembly Joint Resolution 36 (Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley), which
failed in the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs earlier this month on
a 3-3 vote. It asked the Governor to call on the President and Congress to
"initiate the return" of the National Guard "to the state."

Not only did Assembly Speaker Nunez refused to put the bill up before any
committee for nearly a year, three Democrats failed to vote on the measure,
including Joseph Canciamillia (11th Dist, Martinez), Jenny Oropeza (55th
Dist, Carson) and Ed Chavez (57th District, Industry). Chavez ran from the
room to avoid voting.

According to CodePink, Hawaii and Montana have passed similar resolutions and
at least 14 cities and four large counties throughout California have also
passed resolutions calling for state National Guard troops to be brought
home from Iraq.

"California has had more soldiers killed in Iraq than any other state. We
oppose the war, we oppose the back-door draft that's taking a huge toll on
National Guard and Reservist families, and we want our legislators and our
governor to take a stand on behalf of these troops and for all
Californians," said Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK.

Endorsers of the California campaign include Gold Star Families for Peace,
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, Raging Grannies, Physicians
for Social Responsibility, Next Generation, Grandmothers for Peace,
California Peace Action, Coalition for World Peace, Veterans for Peace,
Green Party, American Friends Service Committee, CODEPINK, and many others.