4,000 US Dead- Join in Vigil


Last year on this day, we all had hoped that we would not be gathering again. Regretfully, the time has now come to mourn as we call you to gather with us to share our heartfelt sorrow at this agonizing loss to our nation and our people.

To honor the 4,000 killed in Iraq, CODEPINK chapters are encouraged to host a memorial vigil and/or rally to end the war within 24 hours after the death of the 4000th soldier. Will you organize or join a vigil?

List your CODEPINK vigil here!
Search for vigils in your area here at American Friends Service Committee  OR
United For Peace and Justice
For the latest count:  http://icasualties.org/oif/ and the list of casualties by STATE

4,000 is just the tip of the iceberg.  According to CBS, we currently have 120 veterans committing suicide every week or an average of 17 every day.  One third of our female soldiers have reported to being raped or had an attempted rape during their service.  Over 40,000 Iraq veterans have returned home with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, loss of limbs and/or severe head trauma.  Their families now bear a heavy burden and are suffering from physical and mental abuse, loss of their homes, jobs and loved ones.  

Nobel Laureate Stephen Stiglitz of Columbia and Harvard University public finance Professor Laura Bilmes estimate War costs to be 3 trillion now and the service (interest) on the debt alone will amount to $900 billion. Gas, Bread, Milk and eggs have risen to all time highs in our country and the dollar is pitiful in the world markets.  It is not going to get any better, any time soon.  In fact, most experts are predicting even worse economic times to come.

Yet the national media has all but ignored the peace movement and entirely ignored testimonies last week of the Iraq veterans who spoke at Winter Soldier.  The Washington Post only covered this event in the local section of their paper and none of the major television stations even bothered to show up to hear OUR veterans speak!  Testimony by Vets at WINTER SOLDIER:  http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/video

We do not know accurately how many lives have been devastated in Iraq but the chaos and constant trauma has left no one untouched or unaffected.

Tips for organizing your vigil or bringing a visual to a local event:

Two things to keep in mind for planning these events. First, list your 4,000 vigil or action with ALL of the national peace groups (see below) to insure getting the word out to as many as possible.  Remember to forward your alerts to ALL of your local organizations and churches working for peace in your local areas.

Second, frame your shot for the media and give them a good visual to show the public. A powerful image speaks a thousand words. In Orlando, we will be reading the names of the 170 soldiers from Florida that have died since March 2003 while standing in front of candles placed as in the photo above to read 4,000.  This year we will also have a coffin with an American Flag draped over it for participants to place flowers or photos on when we are done reading the names.

Some cities are doing chalkings of the bodies with the numbers of the US and Iraqi casualties on the sidewalks outside their congressional offices.  Some women are dressing in black and wailing in the streets. Some are wearing black armbands with the number 4000, some will be wearing pink tape with the number 4000, some are marching and closing down intersections to draw attention to this travesty and some will be reliving the day they were informed that their loved one was dead.

More news you should know...