War Abolition Walk

media release: Madison for a World BEYOND War joins the Peace in Ukraine Coalition to fan out across Capitol Hill and congressional home district offices on Wednesday, May 24, to deliver a petition that urges Presidents Biden, Putin and Zelensky to support peace talks and a ceasefire in Ukraine. Here in Wisconsin, Stefania Sani, Janet Parker, Jane Kavaloski and others will deliver the petition to U.S. Senators Baldwin and Johnson and U.S. Representative Pocan.  More detail about the petition below.

At the same time, the antiwar activists will also bring an open letter from the Eisenhower Media Network to the Biden administration that was published May 16 as a full-page ad in The New York Times, from a group of former military, intelligence, and civilian national security officials. The letter, titled “The U.S. Should Be a Force for Peace in the World,” calls for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to end the terrible war in Ukraine.  An interview about the open letter, with the director of Eisenhower Media Network, retired command chief master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force Dennis Fritz, is here on Democracy Now.  

Schedule of events Wednesday, May 24:  

2:30 pm - Sen Johnson's office, 5315 Wall Street, Suite 110, Madison to deliver Eisenhower Media Network's open letter from NYT and Peace in Ukraine's ceasefire petition.

3:30 pm - Rep Pocan’s office, 10 E. Doty Street, Suite 405. Picket, banner, deliver Eisenhower Media Network's open letter from NYT and Peace in Ukraine's ceasefire petition.

4:00 pm - Walk to Sen Baldwin’s office, 30 W Mifflin St, Suite 700. Picket, banner, deliver Eisenhower Media Network's open letter from NYT and Peace in Ukraine's ceasefire petition.

“Weapons makers are the only winners in war.  We need to abolish war.” - Stefania Sani, Madison for a World BEYOND War, Chapter Co-Coordinator

“This week the Biden administration announced support for attacks on Crimea, a horrifying leap closer to nuclear war.  We call on our elected officials to push for a ceasefire and peace negotiations in Ukraine now.” - Janet Parker, Madison for a World BEYOND War, Chapter Co-Coordinator 

The Peace in Ukraine coalition petition, published as a full-page ad in The Hill, a newspaper widely read by Congress, reads, “The longer the war goes on, the greater the danger of spiraling escalation which can lead to a wider war, environmental devastation and nuclear annihilation.”  Peace activists in Washington DC will share a copy of the Peace in Ukraine petition/ad with offices of the U.S. State Department and the Ukrainian and Russian embassies. 

The petition reinforces the efforts of global leaders who are involved in peace initiatives, including the presidents of China, Brazil, and South Africa; the UN Secretary General; and the Pope. It also reflects the growing U.S. public skepticism about continued U.S. support for the war. 

Madison for a World BEYOND War asks Rep Pocan, Sen Johnson and Sen Baldwin to issue public statements calling on Biden, Putin and Zelensky to support an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations without preconditions.

The petition was signed by leaders of national and international organizations, including World BEYOND War, CODEPINK, Defuse Nuclear War, Veterans for Peace, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-US, Progressive Democrats of America, RootsAction, and the Ukrainian Movement of Pacifists.

The petition was also signed by prominent authors, historians and diplomats, among them Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower; Medea Benjamin, co-author, “War in Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict;” Jeffrey Sachs, economist, global leader in sustainable development; Roger Waters, co-founder, Pink Floyd: Matthew Hoh, Eisenhower Media Network, former Marine Corps officer and State Department and Defense official; Col. Ann Wright, former State Department official; Jack Matlock, former US Ambassador to the Soviet Union; Norman Soloman, founder and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy; and Dr. Cornel West, author, “Race Matters”, Democracy Matters,” and others.