Iraq Veterans Against the War Speaker

PAUL ABERNATHY of IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR

Sunday, February 24, 3:30 p.m.

McCaskey East High School Auditorium (1051 Lehigh Ave., Lancaster Directions)

Iraq Veterans Against the War was founded in 2004. Its primary strategy is to organize and amplify dissent within the military, focusing increasingly on organizing active duty soldiers. (For more information see www.ivaw.org.)

Paul Abernathy is one of IVAW’s most dynamic speakers. A graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University with a B.A. in International Studies, Paul studied Middle East politics at the University of Aleppo, Syria in the summer of 2000. He served a one-year tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Iraq (2003-2004) as a combat engineer during the invasion and in Baghdad, Al Anbar Province and Balad. Since then he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. During the course of his graduate studies, he returned to Damascus to conduct research on the effects of the Iraq War on internal Syrian identity politics. Currently Paul is a seminarian at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and a member of IVAW.

A free-will offering for IVAW will be received.
Sponsored by the Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness and McCaskey Amnesty International

Film Festival and Booze Not Bombs a Success!

Thanks to all who came out to the Peace Film Festival and Booze Not Bombs!

The Peace Film Festival – Throughout the four nights of thought provoking films the emotions and thoughts that arose from everyone that attended were inspiring and encouraging. The reactions were inspiring and reminded us that we are not alone in the struggle to end this war.

We succesfully made over $1000 that will all be donated to Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Booze Not Bombs – 150 people came out to support IVAW and to hear the great music provided by The Castros and The Cultivators. Thanks to the local businesses who provided items for the raffle.  Over $1000 was raised for the New York Chapter of IVAW is taking an active role in making Winter Soldier happen.

Through Winter Solider, March 15th in Washington DC , IVAW is revealing the reality of the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. This will be history’s largest gathering of U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Iraqi and Afghan survivors, and eyewitnesses. They will share their experiences in a public investigation of the human rights abuses that have occured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Week Long Anti-War Film Festival

Lancaster Peace Film Festival

Every evening the of Jan. 30 – Feb. 2, church youth groups in Lancaster will host films that deal with issues of war and peace. The Peace Film Festival is part of an initiative called “Lancaster Supports Iraq Veterans Against the War.” This initiative is sponsored by the Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness, the Lancaster Coalition for Peace & Justice, the Lancaster Chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, and the participating church youth groups.

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a very important organization that is perhaps better positioned than anyone to help pressure an end the war in Iraq. IVAW is crossing a critical threshold in building its capacity to organize dissent within the military. Donations will be collected at the event for IVAW, and a short presentation and discussion about the organization will follow each film. Snacks will be provided.

All showings begin at 7:00 PM.

Wednesday, Jan. 30 – Turtles Can Fly - Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster (328 West Orange St) Directions.

Thursday, Jan. 31 – Why We Fight - Lancaster Friends Meeting (110 Tulane Terrace) Directions.

Friday, Feb. 1 – The Ground Truth – Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster (538 W Chestnut St) Directions.

Saturday, Feb 2 – Sir, No Sir – East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church (434 E Chestnut Street) Directions.

Click HERE for more information!

Lancaster Supports IVAW!

Iraq Veterans Against the War is an organization of Iraq Vets committed to ending the war in Iraq.

‘Lancaster Supports IVAW’ is an initiative endorsed by a variety of organizations in Lancaster. It is dedicated to raising funds, increasing publicity, and raising public support in Lancaster, PA for the Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Email LancasterSupportsIVAW@gmail.com for questions or comments.