Expecting Congress to vote next week on the authorization of force in Iraq, the Madison Area Peace Coalition is sponsoring a demonstration outside of the Madison office U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., Saturday at 10 a.m. in opposition to U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
Rae Vogeler, a member of MAPC called the war \unconstitutional"" and ""illegal."" She believes the United States can only declare war in self-defense and the war would result in the loss of ""tens of thousands Iraqi and U.S. soldiers' lives.""
""Iraq has not threatened the U.S. In fact it is our President who is threatening the life of Saddam Hussein,"" she said.
MAPC is targeting Kohl because he has not publicly stated his position to war in Iraq, according to MAPC member Barbara Smith.
""We want our leaders to come out and take a stand,"" she said. ""Right now we have no idea how Senator Kohl will vote.""
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., has stated her opposition to the war and U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., has expressed concern for U.S. military intervention, Smith said.
""We want to convince Herb Kohl that his constituents do not want a war in Iraq and he should vote in opposition to the President's war drive,"" Vogeler said.
Representatives from Kohl's office said they were not aware of the protest and no one will be in the office Saturday; however they refused to comment further.
According to Smith, MAPC asked Baldwin, Feingold and Kohl to participate in a town hall meeting allowing citizens to discuss the war on terror, but none have committed.
""We want to have input into this decision,"" she said. ""I think there are many people out there who don't want a war and haven't spoken up yet.""
The demonstration will include speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including Will Williams, a two-term Vietnam veteran and Matthew Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive magazine. MAPC will also display three puppets representing Uncle Sam, a grieving person and Mother Nature to attract attention to the protest.
Vogeler said other peace and justice organizations around the country will be holding similar demonstrations at the same time.
""We want to say that what we do makes a difference and there is a voice for peace and social justice,"" she said.
