PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

audio / mp3 / pittsburgh: 30 day water fast against the war begins
by vincent / blast furnace radio Wednesday, Sep. 05, 2007 at 11:44 AM

audio location: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=24550

For Immediate Release:
September 4, 2007
Pittsburgh Organizing Group Kicks-Off Month-Long End War Fast
POG to go ahead with month of action despite denial of permit

PITTSBURGH—At 6:00 pm on September 4, members of the Pittsburgh Organizing Group (POG) will start a month-long fast against war and military recruitment at the doors of the Armed Forces Career Center at 3712 Forbes Avenue in Oakland to demand the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and an end to military recruitment in Pittsburgh. Throughout the month, POG members and supporters plan to remain camped out in front of the recruitment station to put a spotlight on this symbol of militarism in Pittsburgh. In addition to the fast and encampment, there will be a series of rallies, marches, vigils, teach-ins and pickets throughout the month (for a full schedule of events, visit http://www.organizepittsburgh.org/fast).

POG has decided to go forward with the End War Fast, despite being denied a permit by the city of Pittsburgh. On August 21 POG members were given a verbal assurance by a representative from the Mayor's office that the permit would be granted. But on August 29, just six days before the start of the month long action, POG received a letter from Stephanie Spaulding, the Assistance City Solicitor, notifying the group that the permit had only been granted for the first 24 hours of the 624 hour protest. Spaulding also notified POG that the entire protest would be caged inside a fence and the placement of any chairs, signs, tarps or banners would result in the immediate revocation of the permit.

The Pittsburgh Organizing Group will be holding a press conference to announce plans to move forward with the Fast in the face of likely police repression. That press conference is scheduled for 6:00pm on Wednesday, September 5 in front of the Armed Forces Career Center in Oakland.

POG members see the denial of a permit as an attack on their anti-war, anti-recruitment message. "It is clear to me that the only reason Mayor Ravenstahl's administration is refusing to grant us this permit is they are threatened by our message. Would the city deny a permit to a 'support our troops' vigil?" asked POG member De'Anna Caligiuri.

Ryan Williams, a member of the Pittsburgh Organizing Group pointed to a long tradition of campouts and long-term picketing: "The use of 24 hour picketing, complete with chairs, banners, and signs has always been standard operating procedure at protest actions-particularly union picket lines-here in Allegheny County and in communities across the country."

POG members remain committed to the initial goals of the End War Fast. "I originally planned to start this Fast to contribute to the movement working for the end to the war and an end to military recruitment. In the face of this repression, I think those goals are as important as ever," said Mike Butler, a POG member who will be starting his month-long fast on Tuesday, September 04.

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Patrick Young 607.857.0128

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