Nationwide Events Commemorate 3,000th U.S. Death in Iraq

============================================
MEDIA ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
============================================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2006
CONTACT: Hany Khalil, 212-868-5545, 718-637-7351 mobile, press [at] unitedforpeace.org

NATIONWIDE EVENTS COMMEMORATE 3,000 U.S.
MILITARY DEATHS IN IRAQ
Vigils Planned in More than 200 Communities Across the U.S.

Under the banner "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar," more than 200
communities across the U.S. will hold war memorial events on the day following the
sad announcement that the 3,000th U.S. serviceperson has died. United for Peace and
Justice (UFPJ), the nation’s largest antiwar coalition, is coordinating the local
events in conjunction with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a UFPJ
affiliate.

The vigils will commemorate those lost in Iraq -- both military and civilian, both
American and Iraqi. The war memorial events will mourn the human cost of the Iraq
war, call for the troops to come home now, and support funding an Iraqi-led
reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Judith LeBlanc, Co-Chairperson of United for Peace and Justice, said “The loss of
U.S. and Iraqi lives in this immoral war and occupation is immeasurable. Not one
more Iraqi or U.S. soldier should be killed; not one more U.S. dollar should be
spent sustaining war and occupation. Instead of letting Bush increase troop levels
in Iraq, Congress should fund the speedy departure of all U.S. troops out of Iraq
and an Iraqi-led reconstruction of their country.”

LeBlanc added, “Every tragic moment demands that those who may not have acted before
do so now. Today we mourn. On January 27-29 people fed up with the war must seize
the opportunity to make their voices heard in the halls of Congress alongside United
for Peace and Justice.”

For a full list of activities the day after the 3,000th death, visit
http://www.afsc.org/3000. Coalition casualties are being tracked at
http://www.icasualties.org/oif/.

For information on the January 27th march on Washington and the January 29th
Congressional education day organized by United for Peace and Justice, visit
http://www.unitedforpeace.org.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker peace and social justice
organization and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. United for Peace and Justice
(UFPJ) is the largest U.S. peace and justice coalition with more than 1,400 member
groups under its umbrella. Since its founding in October 2002, UFPJ has spurred
hundreds of protests and rallies around the country, including the largest marches
against the Iraq war. http://www.unitedforpeace.org

# # #

============================================
MEDIA ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545