The cities for peace movement started back in January of 2006. With overwhelming votes for withdrawal from Iraq in Helena and Missoula yesterday - almost two years later - we’ve managed to increase to four the number of major cities in Montana that have illustrated their unequivocal opposition to the war in Iraq and their support for bringing our soldiers home.
With the votes last night, we’ve elevated our discontent with this war to a level of public awareness that cannot be ignored by our congressional delegation. It’s up to us to be sure they don’t. Please call Denny, Jon, and Max today to make the simple request of a response to yesterday’s votes (contact information below).
What is particularly exciting about yesterday’s votes is the scale of the victories. The referendum in Helena passed by 61.8% and in Missoula by 64.1%, with record voter turnout in Helena. This percentage for Helena, rivals that by which Jon Tester was elected a year ago, and we are all very aware of the monumental organizing that put those numbers up for Tester. We all put our shoulders behind this referendum and ran a bang-up campaign - all of us.
Tester’s office has already contacted the campaign to ask for further conversation and word is spreading fast that EVEN the “heartland” is fed up with the war in Iraq. Today, we are the subject of an online editorial by the NY Times editorial staff! Here’s the link - it’s the second editorial on the page:
NY Times: http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/?hp
Meanwhile, in Montana, stories have run so far in the IR, Billings Gazette,
Bozeman Chronicle, and Missoulian . . .
Helena IR:
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/11/07/helena/a05110707_02.txt
Missoulian:
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/07/news/local/news03.txt
Billings Gazette:
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/11/07/news/state/21-resolution.txt
Bozeman Chronicle:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MT_ELN_CITY_ELECTIONS_MTOL-?SITE=MTBOZ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
And the movement grows. Already, those Montana cities that haven’t yet mounted a campaign are more confident of their prospects after last night’s pair of victories. A committee in Bozeman, led by Iraq veteran Casey Elder, plans to present a resolution to the Bozeman City Council by Nov. 19th.
William Crain, Vice-Chair of the Progressive Democrats of Montana, has sent news from Billings that Peggy Gaghen has won election for city-commission and will be the go-to person for a renewed effort for city-level anti-war action in Billings.
I look forward to gathering together soon - after a well-deserved break - to reflect on our achievements and help the Helena Peace Seekers [www.helenapeaceseekers.org ; helenapeaceseekers@yahoo.com ] and Montana Peace Seekers Network [ www.montanapeaceseekers.org ] envision the next steps for the Montana movement to bring our troops home.
