Call TODAY to Keep the Guard in Oregon

Submitted by katie on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 11:32am.
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KEEP THE GUARD IN OREGON
Call-In Day: Thurs, Feb 26

 

Half of Oregon’s National Guard troops are slated to deploy to Iraq this spring. Besides the personal risk they are each facing, taking the guard and all of their equipment to Iraq for over a year will leave the state dangerously unprepared for disasters, especially in this time of economic crisis with further cuts to public services and programs.

PDX Peace is a co-sponsor of the statewide campaign to pass legislation de-federalizing the Guard and keeping them home, but we need your help to push it along.

This Thursday, Feb 26 is a Call-In Day to contact State Legislators about the bills and resolutions in the House and Senate. The next step in the process is getting hearings before the House Rules Committee, so we are asking you to get on the phone to press for this.

Go to this webpage to find your Senator and Representative, or call this toll-free number: 800-332-2313 to get through to your legislators. And you don't have to wait until Thursday, call early and often! Here is the list of the legislators that have already co-sponsored.

After you call your own legislators, also call the following people:
Speaker of the House: Rep. Dave Hunt (D-40) - 503-986-1200
Chair of the House Rules Committee: Rep. Arnie Roblan (D-9) - 503-986-1409
President of the Senate: Sen. Peter Courtney (D-11) - 503-986-1600
Chair of the Senate Rules Committee: Sen. Richard Devlin - 503-986-1719

Suggested Script:

  • "Hello, my name is Concerned Citizen (if applicable, add "and I am a constituent.")
  • I am one of the 7200 people who signed a petition to keep our Oregon National Guard at home;
    or, I belong to one of the 56 organizations that supports the Keep Oregon's Guard in Oregon campaign;
    or, I am a supporter of the Campaign's goals).
  • I urge you to hold hearings on (and/or to support) HB 2556 and (HR 4 or SR 1) immediately. Our Guard should not be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan under the current federal authorizations. If there are questions about the law, that is the job of the courts to sort out. We are running out of time to pass these resolutions before the March deployment. Please take action to schedule hearings today.

For any other questions about the Keep the Guard Home Campaign, see the Campaign website.

 

Other Upcoming Events:


Statewide Rally & March to Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad
Sunday, March 15th
1:00pm
Capitol Steps, Salem
Join peace and justice activists from across the state to mark the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War and push state legislators to keep the Guard home. Rally followed by a march through downtown Salem.
$10 for a seat on the bus, email fangsandclaws@q.com with "RSVP" in the subject line by Mar 8 to reserve your seat.

Democracy Bailout Day of Action at the Capitol
Monday, March 16th
8:30am – Lobby Training, UCC Church, 700 Marion St NE, Salem
10:00am – Press Conference, Capitol Steps, Salem
Bring an infusion of democracy to our State Legislators at our coordinated lobby day. We will visit directly with our legislators in strategic teams to urge them to keep the Guard home, fund human needs, and stop the war at home on immigrants.
Pre-registration is required. Email Ron Williams, ron@oregonaction.org to register.

SAVE THE DATE
Change ≠ War
Saturday, April 4th
2:30pm
Location TBA
March & Reading: Out of Iraq – Out of Afghanistan
Money for People not War
11:00am – Saturday School: Ending Occupation from Iraq to Afghanistan to Palestine
Stay tuned to www.pdxpeace.org as details develop. To get involved or volunteer email katie@pdxpeace.org or call 503-230-9427, x2