Click here to see John Dear’s powerful account of this witness

Read six moving reflections by Mary Jane Parrine, Kathy Kelly, Khristine Hopkins, Vicki Andrews, Joan Nicholson, and Sr. Carol Gilbert, OP and Sr. Ardeth Platte, OP

See photos from Pax Christi

See Christian Peace Witness for Iraq website

Peace Witness Held to Mark First 100 Days of Administration

While President Obama held a nationally televised press conference to mark the 100th day of his administration, hundreds of Christians gathered outside the White House as they pressed the president, in a respectful but determine way, for a quicker end to the war in Iraq and a formal apology for the US invasion and six year occupation.

On April 29, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, a coalition of more than 20 faith-based peace groups, sposored a public act of repentance for the war and asked the president to join them in beginning the work of reconciliation and rebuilding in Iraq.

“We are grateful for the president’s early moves to end the war in Iraq and his boldness and clarity in telling the world that torture is never acceptable,” said CPWI spokesperson Rick Ufford-Chase, director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. “Now we call on President Obama to set a firm and quick timeline for removing all U.S. military bases and troops from Iraq. Healthy relationships are impossible if the Middle East fears we seek military and economic dominance in the region.”

Earlier this year, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq sent a letter to President Obama asking the administration to:

• Apologize to the people of Iraq on behalf of our nation.
• Help Iraqis rebuild their country and resettle five million refugees.
• Set a timeline to remove all U.S. military bases and troops from Iraq.

“Healing cannot begin without making it clear we are sorry for the suffering we caused for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis,” said Ufford-Chase. “We must pursue the future well-being of Iraqis with the same vigor we applied to war against them,” he continued.

The April 29 event began with a worship service featuring Elizabeth McAlister, Tony Campolo, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. (a member of Pace e Bene’s board), and torture survivor Sr. Dianna Ortiz. This was followed by a prayerful procession to the White House where bread was shared, a letter of support from Archbishop Desmond Tutu was read by Fr. John Dear, and Nobel Prize nominee Kathy Kelly called the group to action.

Then twenty people prayed for peace on the White House sidewalk and were arrested engaging in nonviolent civil disobedience.  Thirteen were released that night after being offered an opportunity to “post and forefeit” $100.00.  Nine declined to post and forfeit and were held overnight.  They were released late Thursday afternoon, April 30, after arraignment in DC Superior Court. Each pled not guilty. Of the nine, six were sentenced to one day of community service (to be served in the District of Columbia), while three are proceeding to trial in DC Superior Court, currently scheduled for June 29, 2009.

Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service was a sponsor of this event.  In addition to Rev. Yearwood, Pace e Bene was repreented by Fr. Louie Vitale and Ken Butigan.

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