DDTV Special Presentation from Arlington's Town Hall

"Town Hall Meeting to End the War in Iraq" - March 11, 2007

About 130 local citizens came to the Robbins Memorial Auditorium at the Town Hall in Arlington, Massachusetts on March 11th to give voice publicly to their opinions concernng the war in Iraq. The speak-out took place after brief opening remarks by the event organizers and sponsors and a short address by Charley Richardson of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO). DDTV was there to bring it all to you. It is currently being cablecast on Arlington cable access television and is available on DVD for purchase by emailing a request to Order@DocumentingDissent.tv.

WHAT: On Sunday, March 11th, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm a community-wide meeting was held at Arlington (MA) Town Hall to discuss steps area residents could take, individually and as groups, to help end the war in Iraq. About 130 community residents attended the speak-out sponsored by Arlington United for Justice with Peace (Arlington UJP) and co-sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, the Arlington-Teosinte Sister City Project, and the Arlington First Parish Unitarian Universalist Peace Group.

Arlington UJP is a community group and part of the United for Justice with Peace (Boston area), and United for Peace and Justice (national) coalitions that have helped organize many anti-war events, from the massive Feb. 13, 2003 demonstration in New York City, to the recent Jan. 27, 2007 march on Washington, D.C. Most recently, a rally/concert/march and peace fair on Boston Common was held on Saturday March 24th and attended by about 20,000 area residents who oppose the Iraq war and want U.S. troops to be withdrawn immediately from it.

BACKGROUND: The Bush administration insists on continuing its senseless war and Congress shows little inclination to end it. Communities across the nation are asking what they can do to bring the troops home now. In November, a Massachusetts ballot resolution that called for immediate withdrawal of all U.S troops passed in the Town of Arlington by a margin of nearly 2-1 (11,678-6,254).

This first-of-its-kind Town Hall Meeting will bring together Arlington�s anti-war majority to ask what it can do as a community to help bring the troops home. Based on observations that many previously-silent citizens are now ready to speak out, residents will be able to voice their own ideas for ending the war, and to get involved in existing campaigns to pressure Congress and in other local, state, and national actions. All Arlington residents were encouraged to attend and participate in this important community discussion. Those who had not yet become involved were especially encouraged.

The Iraq war is now in its fifth year. Every day it continues, an average of 3 US troops and more than 100 Iraqis die. The war has already cost more than 6 billion dollars and President Bush has just asked Congress for billion more. The cost to Arlington taxpayers so far is more than million. (By comparison, the 2005 Arlington tax override was for million).

�We hope that everyone who opposes the war � from longtime peace activists to people who have never attended an anti-war event before - will come to this meeting and let their voice be heard,� said Arlington resident Thea Paneth in the lead-up to the event. �This meeting is for anyone who thinks enough is enough.�

DVDs of the meeting may be ordered by emailing a request to Order@DocumentingDissent.tv.

This feature is sponsored by DocumentingDissent.TV. Send email to ArlingtonUJP@yahoo.com. Other Contact Information: Arlington United for Justice with Peace. Read more on this subject on the web.