OPEN LETTER TO UFPJ

sign at www.actionform.org/ufpjlettersignde.html

(Please sign on to the following letter by filling in the form above, and circulate the letter and link to this form widely to other progressive list serves and individuals. Below are only initial signers:)

Dear sisters and brothers in the leadership of United for Peace and Justice,

It is with deep concern, sincerity and hope that we the undersigned appeal to you to cancel the protest that you have only recently announced for March 18 in New York City, well after plans had been announced for a D.C. mobilization, thus setting up misconceptions and promoting confusion.

We urge you to support and work for a united mobilization in Washington and use the power of your outreach to endorse and support the march on the Pentagon on March 17 to mark the fourth anniversary of the war.

Surely you must know that the activists in the antiwar movement view your late announcement of a March 18 event as little more than a deliberate attempt to undermine the long scheduled mobilization to Washington and the Pentagon on Saturday, March 17; the talk already going around is:"Why isn't UFPJ supporting the March on the Pentagon? People do not see it as uniting.

The hard working rank and file activists of the antiwar movement, as well as the millions of people who have come out to antiwar demonstrations don't care which coalition calls the march, or what the political differences are between the various coalitions, or about the history of problems that the coalitions have had working together;what they want is for us to march together, especially now.

Indeed, hardworking anti-war activists have attended all rallies called by UFPJ as well as the other coalitions; therefore, demonstrating a consistent expression of unity.We should then expect nothing less from those who have taken leadership responsibility within the US anti-war movement.

The broad array of forces that comprise the resistance to the Iraq war, and new looming wars ie Iran expect the people in decision making positions to take the high road, focus the peoples' energy on common, united actions and pave the road together to strengthen our unity for peace with justice.

Would it not be an enormous step forward, indeed a step towards revitalizing the antiwar movement, if all concerned abandoned the cynical infighting and divisiveness that only serves to make the movement more fragmented, and weak? UFPJ can make that possible, by calling on its supporters to JOIN ONE LARGE AND STRONG ACTION IN WASHINGTON ON MARCH 17. Anything short of that spreads more negativity than positive unity. Dear friends, please take this appeal to heart and help unite us all on March 17, 2007.

Sincerely,

Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice

BAYAN USA

Brenda Stokely, Co-Convener New York Labor Against The War, Operation Power, TONC, MWMM, MAY 1 Coalition

Comrade Shahid, Pakistan USA Freedom Forum

Charles Barron , New York City Councilmember

Chris Silvera, Secretary Treasurer, IBT Local 808, Million Worker March Movement (MWMM), National Black Teamsters Caucus

Ellie Ommani, member, WESPAC, AIFC, NoWarWestchester, PNN

Eric Anders, Jersey City Peace Movement

Heather Cottin, LI Coalition for Immigrant Rights"

Jesse Lokahi Heiwa , Queer People Of Color Action

Larry Adams, Co-Convener New York Labor Against The War (NYCLAW)

Michael Letwin, Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War & Former Member, UFPJ National and NYC steering committees

Saladin Muhammad, Member Black Workers For Justice

Teresa Gutierrez, New York Committee to Free the Cuban Five

Troops Out Now Coalition

Vicente Alba -Panama, Activist