Shaming Rep. Pelosi into Action

The Agape affinity group and A Jewish Voice for Peace organized a rally of more than a hundred activists at the Federal Building in San Francisco on Monday, April 7, 2003, calling for Representative Nancy Pelosi to represent her constituents' opposition to the war in Iraq. From 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. several speakers asked Congresswoman Pelosi to support peace in the Middle East in the following ways:

1. Support H.R. 141, which affirms that the U.S. has the right to defend itself, but disavows the Bush Administration's doctrine of "preemption." Preemptive war poses a grave threat to international law and our national security.

2. Support those who work for peace between Israelis and Palestinians by supporting H.C.R. 111, which calls for a U.S. investigation into the death of Rachel Corrie. Rachel, a young American peace activist, was recently killed by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer while attempting to nonviolently protect a Palestinian home from demolition.

3. Conduct congressional hearings and a San Francisco town hall meeting to explore key issues related to the war on Iraq, including: the use of depleted uranium, the costs of the war; ways for the U.S. to mend relations with its allies and engage multilaterally, and the erosion of civil liberties under the guise of national security.

The program included Phil Klasky and Karen Topakian of the Agape affinity group, members of A Jewish Voice for Peace and singers and musicians who led the crowd in songs and chants. At the end of the rally, Catherine Dodd, Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Pelosi, read the Congresswoman's anti-war statements made since September 2002.

After the conclusion of the rally, a six-member delegation met with Ms. Dodd and Dan Bernal, Assistant Chief of Staff, to address the concerns listed above and to take a more vocal stand against the war. Congresswoman Pelosi's staff agreed to pass along the request for a town meeting and to follow-up on the Representative's position on the two House bills listed above.