Denver, Colorado - Colorado civil rights and labor leaders, state legislators, veterans, and parents of service members held a State Capitol press conference today to launch a new statewide push to oppose President's Bush's plan to escalate the war in Iraq.
The new state effort, connected to the national Americans Against Escalation in Iraq coalition, criticized Senator Wayne Allard for blocking Senate debate on Iraq troop escalation and Colorado Representatives who opposed a bipartisan supported resolution against escalation that was voted on in the U.S. House.
State Representative John Kefalas of Fort Collins said: "As the father of a son who is an active duty Army soldier returning to war and as a state representative entrusted to do the people's work, I call on our Congressional delegation to act with conviction to bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq and oppose further troop escalation. I honor the courage and sacrifices of our troops and stand with all Coloradans who say enough violence; it is time for peaceful means to achieve our goals of democracy and freedom."
Bill Vandenberg, Co-Director of the Colorado Progressive Coalition, a non-partisan membership group organizing the news event, said: "The Bush-McCain escalation effort isn't a new strategy, it's simply Stay the Course on steroids. Shame on you, Senator Allard, for blocking debate in the U.S. Senate and showing how far out of the American mainstream you are. Senator Allard may be leaving office in 2008 but Coloradans have a right to expect him not to retire on the job before that."
The leaders discussed their concern for U.S. troops and the President's plan to escalate the war in Iraq by inserting as many as 48,000 additional American troops - front line and support soldiers - into the middle of this violent civil war.
Rosemary Harris, President of the Colorado Springs NAACP, the state's largest NAACP chapter, said: "I live in southeast Colorado Springs in a community where many of my neighbors are active duty. One of the toughest things for all of us here is looking at the photos of the human casualties; those who are losing their lives everyday in this war. We never know when it will be the neighbor from up the street, the kid who used to shovel the walk, the one who used to walk the dog."
Orville Bryant, a Desert Storm Veteran and Service Employees International Union Local 105 Executive Board Member, said: "Having served in Desert Storm, I know how important it is that our country’s leaders show good judgment when committing our military to action. President Bush’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq is not the good judgment that our brave troops deserve."
The press conference also featured Senator Ken Gordon of Denver, co-sponsor with Senator Ron Tupa of a pending State Senate Resolution opposing troop escalation.
Following the news conference, the groups committed to partnering with Americans Against Escalation in Iraq to push against troop escalation and spotlight the votes of Colorado politicians voting out of the mainstream against the overwhelming majority of Coloradans opposed to troop escalation.
As of February 20, 2007, U.S. military deaths reached 3,150, including 41 Coloradans and at least 186 soldiers stationed at Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs. At least 56,880 Iraqi civilians have been reported killed.
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