Americans Against Escalation in Iraq
Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI) is a coalition of organizations representing workers, students, academics, policy experts and activists who oppose the President's misguided war in Iraq and call for a safe and responsible redeployment of American troops. Like most of our partners, New Jersey Citizen Action has not typically focused on foreign policy in our day-to-day work.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
But in our efforts to protect New Jersey's highest priorities – including strong public education and quality affordable health care for all – we cannot ignore the very real and financial toll President Bush's morally bankrupt war has taken on our ability to invest in America's future.
The war in Iraq is unpopular, immoral, and unaffordable – both in the immeasurable cost of human lives and in its effect on our ability to craft a budget that invests in the future of all Americans.
The proper course in Iraq is not escalation and more bloodshed; it is redeployment and withdrawal. It is time to end the war and bring home our troops!
Take Action! Please download and sign on to our letter asking NJ's Congressional Delegation to support an Economic Stimulus Package that provides relief for low to moderate income families and invests in our country's infrastructure to create jobs and economic growth.
Statement of Unity
We oppose the war in Iraq and want a responsible redeployment of our troops. We urge the president to adopt this course. Understanding that it is unlikely, we ask the Congress to stop the president. We applaud leaders from either political party who pursue this course.
Each of our organizations on their own has different postures on a range of Iraq policy issues, but we endorse this unified effort mindful of the urgency of the moment.
Coalition Partners
Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org Political Action, Center for American Process, USAction, Win Without War, Vote Vets, Campaign for America's Future, and United States Students Association.
JOIN Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI) by signing the Support Statement. Details in our Media Release: Broad-Based Coalition of NJ Leaders, State Legislators, Peace Groups, Religious Organizations, Labor Unions, Veterans and Community Associations Launch New Jersey Statewide Campaign to Stop Bush's Escalation Plan in Iraq.
Media: Read the extensive press coverage of AAEI. Media Releases (March 19, 2008): "NJCA and Community Organizations Join Nationwide Day of Action Marking 5th Anniversary of Iraq War" and "NJCA and Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War Join Nationwide Day of Action Marking 5th Anniversary of Iraq War". New! Photos from our March 28, 2008 Bush Protest in Freehold, NJ.
Resources: USAction Education Fund Report: Getting U.S. Back on Track: Congress needs to reverse the upside-down priorities – from Washington to Iraq – that are shortchanging New Jersey families and communities.
Related: Visit our Invest in America's Future Campaign. New Video! See a broadcast of our Tax Day Protest (from the Home News Tribune).
For more information, visit noiraqescalation.org or contact Eve Weissman at 856-966-3091 or eve@njcitizenaction.org.
$3 Trillion Shopping Spree!!!
The occupation of Iraq will cost $3 trillion, America's most expensive conflict since WWII.
Can YOU spend that money better? Watch the video (either below or at YouTube), then go on a virtual $3 trillion shopping spree and prove it at 3trillion.org.
AAEI Summer Program Makes Major Waves in NJ
All summer long dedicated Iraq Summer Organizers and Field Staff across the country shook the foundation of congressional support for the President's Iraq strategy.
Working side-by-side with local activists and constituents in NJ's 4th and 7th Congressional Districts, the New Jersey Iraq Summer Campaign helped turn public opinion against the war in Iraq into political pressure on Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Mike Ferguson (NJ-7), members of Congress whose continued support for the misguided war has long impeded the responsible redeployment of our troops.
On behalf of NJ Citizen Action and the NJ Iraq Summer Organizers and Field Director, we wish to thank the broad-based coalition including constituents, veterans, students, workers, activists, teachers, parents, and progressives who worked tirelessly throughout the summer to make Reps. Smith and Ferguson aware of how out of touch their continued support for the Iraq war is with the views their constituents and the vast majority of Americans across the country!
NJ's Iraq Summer Campaign Culminated with Two Major Events
On Tuesday, August 28, 2007, constituents from NJ's 4th and 7th Congressional Districts participated in Take A Stand Events calling on Reps. Smith and Ferguson to TAKE A STAND against Bush's immoral war in Iraq. While both Congressmen refused to attend the events, constituents showed up in large numbers to express their deep concern with their Congressman's persistent support for a misguided war with no end in sight.
On Saturday, August 25, 2007, NJCA and the NJ Iraq Summer Campaign joined the People's March for Peace, Equality, Jobs & Justice in Newark, NJ and marched in solidarity with the Peace and Justice Coalition, over 150 organizations and more than 1,000 residents from across the state demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, as a vital first step toward ending the war on our communities and redirecting war funds to programs that address human needs. The March also called for: Environmental Justice, Human Rights, Workers' Rights, Justice for Katrina Survivors, and Government Accountability.
Check out some press coverage of the People's March:
- "Several Causes On Peace Rally Menu"
- "Marchers Rally Against Iraq War"
- "Protesters Demand End To Iraq War, Peace At Home"
- Read more about the successes of NJ’s Iraq Summer Program at NJCA in the News.
Demonstration Against Bush
On Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 over 200 voters from across the state joined NJ Citizen Action (NJCA), Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI), the NJ Democratic State Committee, the Teamsters Union, NJ Million Mom March, Coalition for Peace Action, NJ Peace Action, NJ for Democracy (DFA), Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-6), NJ State Senator Barbara Buono (D-18), Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-20), and a variety of NJ peace & justice groups, religious organizations, labor unions, veterans, and community associations to protest President Bush's visit to New Jersey.
The President visited New Jersey to headline a fundraiser for New Jersey's Republican Party at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center.
NJ voters chided President Bush for his Administration's misguided and corrupt policies, especially the war in Iraq and continuous neglect of America's critical priorities including affordable healthcare, a quality education for all, and a secure social security system.
NJ Citizen Action and our dedicated allies, partners, and fellow activists gave Bush the welcome he deserved. Any of NJ's public officials willing to accept Bush's tainted dollars while supporting his failed and corrupt policies and practices do not represent the best interest of NJ's hard-working families!
Our message to the President was clear: end the war, bring home the troops, and invest in America's future!
Actions and Events
Visit these organizations to learn more about actions and events being organized against the war on Iraq:
NJ Peace Action – www.njpeaceaction.org
Michael Moore's Letter to Bush
Read political activist and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore's March 18, 2003 letter to George W. Bush on the war and the presidency.
It begins, "So today is what you call 'the moment of truth'... I'm glad to hear that this day has finally arrived. Because, I gotta tell ya, having survived 440 days of your lying and conniving, I wasn't sure if I could take much more. So I'm glad to hear that today is Truth Day, 'cause I got a few truths I would like to share with you...'"