*** PLEASE CIRCULATE FORWARD FAR & WIDE *** ========  ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE  ============

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1. Hussein’s capture means no more pretexts for occupying Iraq 2. European and U.S. anti-war forces join UFPJ’s March 20 call 3. March 20 mobilizing leaflets and stickers now available

HUSSEIN’S CAPTURE MEANS NO PRETEXT FOR OCCUPYING IRAQ

The capture of Saddam Hussein changes some things and doesn’t change others.

What hasn’t changed is that Hussein, the illegitimate dictator formerly backed by Rumsfeld and the U.S. government, has been replaced by another illegitimate ruler: the U.S./British occupation. Resistance to the occupation continues. Every day we hear new reports of conflict and death. This war was sold on one lie after another. Capturing Saddam Hussein doesn\'t change that or justify it now.

But one thing has definitely changed: Bush has been deprived of his last pretext for continuing this brutal occupation of Iraq. Each day that the occupation continues it becomes clearer to more people around the world that the invasion of Iraq was motivated by the Bush administration\'s interest in seizing control of Iraq\'s oil and other industries and turning Iraq into a U.S. military outpost. If Bush wants to prove this is not the case, he should bring the troops home now.

But the only way Bush will leave Iraq anytime soon is if grassroots pressure forces him to do so. That’s why March 20, the Global Day of Action against War and Occupation on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and invasion of Iraq, is so important. Occurring in the heat of the U.S. presidential primary battles, March 20 will be a major opportunity for the world to send a powerful message to all U.S. presidential candidates: YES to peace, justice, and democracy! NO to war, racism, and occupation!

On this day millions across the globe will call for an end to Bush’s militaristic foreign policies, particularly the brutal occupation of Iraq. In the U.S. we will also take on the growing threat to our rights and funding of social services posed by the Bush administration’s empire-building agenda. In the U.S. there will be major regional protests in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and other cities to be announced shortly.

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To build March 20 actions in your community:

* Bring together a broad, multiracial base of local groups to plan March 20 activities.

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EUROPEAN AND U.S. ANTI-WAR FORCES JOIN M20

In September UFPJ began building support for global actions on March 20. After finding strong support for our proposal in Europe, UFPJ formally issued a call for a Global Day of Action on March 20. In November UFPJ and other U.S.-based peace groups spoke on behalf of March 20 at the European Social Forum (ESF), the main coordinating body of the European anti-war movement.

We are pleased to announce that the ESF has formally joined our call for international action on March 20. With the ESF on board, large demonstrations will take place on March 20 in major cities across Europe. UFPJ member groups are now building support among anti-war activists in Asia, Latin America, and Africa for March 20. We will also do so at the World Social Forum, to be held in January 2004 in Mombai, India.

Here in the U.S., UFPJ has worked hard to bring the U.S. anti-war movement together in a national March 20 Mobilizing Committee to organize the largest, united demonstrations possible. To date, the Campaign to Bring Them Home Now (made up of military families and veterans), the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, Racial Justice 911: People of Color Against the War, U.S. Labor Against the War, Not In Our Name, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and the Campus Anti-War Network have agreed to work together to build March 20. Win Without War is considering joining us. UFPJ has also invited A.N.S.W.E.R. to join this broad-based anti-war committee rather than organize separate events on this day.

UFPJ has proposed to the March 20 Mobilizing Committee that a handful of key U.S. cities—such as New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Seattle—be the sites for large-scale regional demonstrations while encouraging those too far from these cities to organize additional actions in their localities. In early January the March 20 Mobilizing Committee will finalize the main locations for action on this day.

MARCH 20 MOBILIZING LEAFLETS AND STICKERS NOW AVAILABLE

It’s important to get the word about March 20 out now. Send this email to your friends, co-workers, and organizations you support, and ask them to get involved.

Other languages, plus leaflets tailored to each of the cities where major regional demos are being planned, will be available soon.

In addition to getting the word out, here are some things you can do to build March 20 in your community:

HAVE YOUR GROUP ENDORSE MARCH 20

BEGIN PLANNING LOCAL MARCH 20 ACTIONS

Bring together a broad, multiracial base of local groups to plan March 20 actions in the cities listed above or in your community.

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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

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