Photos: Lobby Day to Keep the Oregon Guard in Oregon

Today, over 200 Oregonians were in Salem to lobby at the State Capitol re-affirming opposition to the war and calling for a halt to sending the Oregon National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among other issues discussed during the legislative meetings were Fair and Just Immigration Reform, restoration of driver license access to undocumented immigrants, Healthcare for ALL, stopping cuts to human needs, raising revenue through fair taxation, and advancing racial justice, civil rights and civil liberties.

The Lobby Day coincided with the Rural Organizing Project's annual Rural Caucus and attracted dozens of organizations from around the state. For more details on ROP's Rural Caucus and Strategy Session, please link here.

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Lobby Day to Keep the Oregon Guard in Oregon

On Monday, CAUSA will join dozens of community organizations to lobby at the State Capitol in Salem re-affirming our opposition to the war and calling for a halt to sending the Oregon National Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In May, 3,500 Oregon National Guard soldiers are scheduled to go to Iraq--some of them for the fourth time! Those 3,500 represent more than 40% of the entire Oregon Guard. That's the highest percentage since World War II!

We need Oregon Guard members in Oregon serving our communities and to spend tax dollars on services for Oregonians instead of war.

The lobbying effort with a rally to follow is to draw attention to HB 2556 and HR 4, legislative proposals which call for the Oregon National Guard to stay in the U.S. and serve Oregon.

Lobby Day and Rally to Keep the Oregon Guard in Oregon
Date: Monday, March 16, 2009
Time: 8 AM to Noon (Rally at 12 noon)
Location:
Oregon State Capitol
900 Court St NE
Salem‎, Oregon
map

For more information, contact Marlen Torres, mtorreskpcn@pcun.org

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Bill Introduced to Keep Oregon’s National Guard in Oregon

Last month, CAUSA joined with 52 other organizations, community leaders and concerned citizens on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol to call on Governor Kulongoski to keep Oregon’s National Guard in Oregon.

After the rally, organizers of the "Campaign to Keep Oregon's Guard in Oregon" delivered over 7000 signatures to state officials along with a demand that Oregon’s state militia not be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Oregon was one of several states that joined in the National "Bring the Guard Home! It's the Law" campaign. The campaign’s goal is to prevent the upcoming deployment of roughly 3000 Oregon Guard members to Iraq because the terms of the Congressional authorization have expired.

On Wednesday, a bill was introduced in effort to keep Oregon’s 3,500 National Guard from being deployed by the end of the year.

According to the Daily Emerald, House Bill 2556 would, “give the governor authority to withhold National Guard troops from federal deployment in situations where there is no legally valid authorization to use troops in a national conflict”.

For more on the story about HB 2556, please link to the Daily Emerald. Information about the campaign can be found at www.bringtheguardhome.org

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