Begin forwarded message: > From: Jose Vasquez <[log in to unmask]> > Date: January 11, 2008 7:14:32 PM EST > To: Jose Vasquez <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: IVAW-NYC: Calling all authors, artists, filmmakers, > photographers, etc!!! > > Dear friends, > > Over the last couple of years I have met many of you through media > requests, speaking events, and social gatherings. IVAW is currently > working on an exciting campaign called Winter Soldier: Iraq and > Afghanistan. Below, I've pasted a brief description and link to our > statement of support on the website. IVAW.ORG/WINTERSOLDIER > > What I'd like to do is convene a meeting of as many authors, > artists, filmmakers, photographers, and others to discuss how folks > with skills can get involved locally to support Winter Soldier. > What I'm particularly interested in is perhaps forming a collective > of talented people who will be our longterm allies for this and > future projects. As you all know, having an effective multimedia > strategy is crucial for getting our stories out there. > > So, I want to bring us together on Wed, January 16th at 7p. We will > meet at the War Resisters League office located at 339 Lafayette > Street (buzzer #1) NY NY 10012. You take the 6 train to Bleeker or > the BDFV to B'way/Lafayette. If you want to get involved or if you > know people who fit the bill, please RSVP to me. > > Peace, > > -- > Jose Vasquez > [log in to unmask] > [log in to unmask] > IVAW-NYC 212-228-0450 x104 > Mobile 917-587-3334 > > As the fifth anniversary of the U.S. occupation of Iraq > nears, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is preparing to launch an > event that will change the way the American public thinks about this > war. Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan will feature testimony from > U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Iraqi and > Afghan civilians, who will tell the hard truth about what is really > happening, day in and day out, in Iraq and Afghanistan. > > Winter Soldier will convene on the weekend of March 15 in Washington, > D.C. and several local veterans will be standing up to share their > experiences. It will be the largest gathering of veterans who > served in Iraq > and Afghanistan. While many Americans feel that the situation in > Iraq and > Afghanistan is improving, these veterans will reveal the unpleasant > realities > of the ongoing U.S. military occupation that many don't know about. > > "It's our responsibility to tell the truth, and it's the duty of the > American people to listen," said Kelly Dougherty, executive director > of IVAW and a former sergeant in the Colorado Army National Guard, who > served in Iraq as a military police officer. "It's not going to be > easy to hear what we have to say. It's not going to be easy for us to > tell it. But we believe that the only way this war is going to end is > if the American people truly understand what we have done in their > name." > > The event has been named Winter Soldier, to honor a similar gathering > 30 years ago of veterans of the Vietnam War. Winter soldiers, > according to founding father Thomas Paine, are the people who stand up > for the soul of their country, even in its darkest hours. > > Thousands of concerned citizens have already pledged their support for > Winter Soldier by signing the statement, We Support the Troops Who > Oppose the War. The full statement can be read at > http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldierstatementofsupport. > > Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004 to give those who > have served in the military since September 11, 2001 a way to come > together and speak out against an unjust, illegal and unwinnable war. > Today, IVAW has over 700 members in 49 states, Washington, D.C. and > Canada and on military bases overseas. > > FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT IVAW.ORG/WINTERSOLDIER