FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 17, 2008
Contact: Sacramento Coalition to End the War 916/996-9170

ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk


Rep. Doris Matsui to be given ‘peace pillow'
stuffed with names of U.S., Iraqi dead;
She's asked: ‘How can you sleep?'

SACRAMENTO – Rep. Doris Matsui will be presented a special "Peace Pillow" here Tuesday – stuffed with the names of dead U.S. troops and Iraqi, with the phrase: "How can you sleep as the war on Iraq goes on and on and on."

Anti-war advocates, including vets and mothers of U.S. troops, will gather at 10 a.m. TUESDAY at the Federal Courthouse (501 I St.), and then march upstairs to deliver the pillow to Matsui's Office.

Another pillow is being delivered to Rep. Dan Lungren's office in Sacramento.

The action is one of hundreds taking place around the world this week to commemorate five years of war on Iraq. The 6th year of war begins March 19.

According to the Sacramento Coalition to End the War, more than a million Iraqi have been killed and nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, more than 30,000 wounded and permanently disabled. And returning U.S. troops are deserting or killing themselves in record numbers. There are a reported five million Iraqi refugees or internally displaced. More than a half trillion dollars has been wasted on the war.

Seventeen arrests – including those of veterans – were reported last year at Matsui's office after she refused to sign or pledge to stop supporting war funding and back the immediate end to the war. She claims she is opposed to the war, but won't make a pledge to stop funding it in writing.

-30-