Press Release 3-20-07

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Press Release 3-20-07: Women Sit In Waiting

KTVZ Follow Up Interview 3-21-07: http://www.ktvz.com/player1.cfm?vidID=597&show=curr

KTVZ Live Coverage of Sit In and Arrest 3-20-07: http://www.ktvz.com/player1.cfm?vidID=593&show=curr

KLCC Live Interviews with Mike Van Meter 3-20-07 and 3-21-07: http://www.newsprose.org/resume/clips/audio/mv-codepink.m3u

Scott Burgwin’s Live Interview at 5:30 on 3-20-07: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=22318

Rogue Indymedia Report from 3-20-07 http://rogueimc.org/en/2007/03/8121.shtml

Rural Organizing Project
PO Box 1350, Scappoose, OR 97056

(503) 543-8417 Fax: (503) 543-8419

office@rop.org

PRESS RELEASE—for immediate release

Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Contacts: Meg Brookover Fran Davis Kathy Paterno

Phone: 541-382-1283 (home) 541-923-7403 (home) 541-548-5131 (home)

503-812-2691 (cell) 541-350-2235 (cell) 541-420-7616 (cell)
Women Sit In Waiting for Walden’s Response on War Funding: Constituents Refuse to Leave Office Until Walden Responds

The United States is at a critical deciding point in the future of the war in Iraq. A supplemental appropriations vote for funding in Iraq is expected in Congress this week, a vote that will test the impact of the recent 2006 elections on decisions relating to the war.

Today a group of women from Central Oregon met with Congressman Walden’s Central Oregon Legislative Assistant and refused to leave until the Congressman responded to their questions about funding for the war. This bold, historic action marks the growing frustration with the war in Iraq and the difficulties constituents have met in communicating with Congressman Greg Walden.

The women represented local groups from Central Oregon—like the Rural Organizing Project and Code Pink—who have been part of a year long campaign to expose the cost of war and urge Oregon’s Congressional Delegation to stop funding for the war, bring the troops home, and fund human needs and vital services at home.

The women carried with them testimony from the 2nd Congressional District Cost of War Town Hall that was held at the Redmond Senior Center on February 17th, 2007. Over 175 people from every corner of the 20-county 2nd Congressional District packed the Town Hall for a chance to testify about the local cost of war in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District. From Redmond City Councilor Irv Nygren to Iraq War Veteran Kevin Hicks the call was clear to Walden to vote no on any further appropriations for the war in Iraq.

While Congress debated non-binding resolutions in DC, the people of Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District came together for the first-ever 2nd District Town Hall on Iraq and passed their own People’s Resolution that calls for troop withdrawal, no further money for the war, no expansion of war into Iran, and coordination around the state to ensure that their Congressional Delegation act in accordance with the Resolution.

Congressman Greg Walden was not in attendance at the Town Hall though he had been asked to set a date for several months. Requests for aides from Walden’s office to attend were similarly unmet, leaving many at the Town Hall disappointed and frustrated with the lack of responsiveness from Walden’s office. For the past three weeks, a delegation from the Town Hall has attempted to schedule a telephone conference call with Walden in DC to present the testimony and resolution from the Town Hall, but has been told that the Congressman is too busy to speak with them. The lack of response to constituents in regard to Walden’s intended vote on additional appropriations for the war prompted the women to sit in until a response from Walden was received.

Fran Davis of Crooked River Ranch, whose grandson is serving in Iraq, was one of many who urged Congressman Walden to vote against further war funding. “Our grandson is on his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq. For this latest tour, the family spent close to $1500 buying better equipment and additional clothing. His comment after the 2nd tour was, ‘Grandma, we are throwing money into a pit.’” Fran is among those asking whether their congressional representative will heed the voice of the people, the voice calling for an end to the war and for troops to come home soon.

Our 2nd Congressional District is the largest in the state and we want to know: “Where’s Walden?”

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