Iraqi Women Depart US; Call for a Debate TODAY!

CODEPINK Women for Peace

April 5, 2006

Dear CODEPINK Activist,

CODEPINK's Iraqi Women's Tour is coming to a close. As part of our Women Say No to
War campaign, six courageous Iraqi women traveled to the US to speak about the
realities of the war and occupation of Iraq. In the nearly four weeks that have
passed since the women arrived, they participated in events in over 75 cities in
over 20 states. They spoke to students and teachers, community organizers and
elected officials, policy makers and the general public. The press coverage has been
extensive: from the New York Times to Florida's Sun Sentinel
(http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-mayocol19mar19,0,4401646.column),
from PBS (http://foreignexchange.tv/?q=taxonomy/term/22) to CBS Evening News to
Democracy Now
(http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/03/06/1424239&mode=thread&tid=25).
Everywhere the women went, people welcomed them into their towns, homes, and hearts
with appreciation for their courage and willingness to share their stories.

Take part in the virtual Iraqi women's tour online!

See blogs and photos
(http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?list=type&type=119), articles
(http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?id=803), radio interview
(http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=17408), and a five-minute video clip
(http://wbjourdan.com/codepink.mov).

View frequently asked questions and the women's responses here
(http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?id=925).

To hear what the women are saying about their experience touring in the US, click
here (http://www.womensaynotowar.org/article.php?id=924).

With this tour, we helped bring to light the harsh realities of life in occupied
Iraq and the need to end the occupation so that Iraqis can determine their own
future. While we in the peace movement have made great headway in changing public
opinion about this war, we have a long way to go to change the debate in Congress.
In this vein, we ask our sisters and allies in the US to join a national call-in day
TODAY to tell members of Congress to vote for a debate on Iraq.

Please call your Congressional representative TODAY, this Wednesday, April 5 at
202-224-3121 or 888-355-3588. Click here to find out more about the national call-in
day and read a suggested script
(http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=type&type=132).

Together with the Iraqi women we say, La li ekt tilal! End the occupation!

In solidarity,
Aseel, Dana, Eman, Entisar, Faiza, Farida, Gael, Jodie, June, Medea, Meredith,
Nadje, Nancy, Rae, Rashad, Sureya, and Tiffany

P.S. Start planning now to join CODEPINK in DC for our 24-hour Mother's Day Vigil in
front of the White House, May 13-14. For more details and to sign up to attend this
amazing weekend, click here (http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=894). And
don't forget to write a letter to Laura Bush and sent it to us at
laurabush [at] codepinkalert.org. The best letters will be used in our upcoming book
"Letters to Laura." You can continue to support the work of the Iraqi women and help
CODEPINK bring more Iraqi women to the US by donating here
(https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/codepink/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1246&t=WSNTW2.dwt).