Press

Following is a press release from the Win Without War Coalition:

Win Without War

11 Dupont Circle, N.W. Ninth Floor Washington, D.C. 20036

For Immediate Release

For: Wednesday February 19, 2003

Contact: In Washington: Trevor FitzGibbon, Fenton Communications (202) 246-5303

In Los Angeles: Michelle Mulkey, Fenton Communications (415) 987 - 7377

"Online Campaign Headquarters" Unveiled

WIN WITHOUT WAR ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Wednesday, February 26

Celebrities and Coalition Leaders Call on Opponents of Iraq War to Overwhelm the White House and U.S. Senate By Phoning, Faxing and E-mailing

NEW TV AD FEATURING MARTIN SHEEN CALLS ON PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE

"Last weekend we marched in the streets, next week we're taking it to the suites of official Washington," said former Congressman Tom Andrews, National Director of Win Without War. "Political leaders need to know we are serious, we are organized and we are growing in strength," he said. "On February 26th, we will let our fingers do the marching and demand that our voices be heard."

Martin Sheen, who plays President Jeb Bartlet on the NBC hit series, The West Wing, is featured in a Win Without War TV ad released at the news conference. He called on Americans from every state to participate in the Virtual March on Washington: "Our message to Washington will be clear: 'Don't invade Iraq!' We can contain Saddam Hussein without killing innocent people, diverting us from the war on terrorism and putting us all at risk."

"Our leaders in Washington are out of step with millions of Americans," said Janeane Garofalo at the LA news conference. "This is clearly a time when we must join together and lead Washington back to its senses," she said. "The Virtual March on Washington is an opportunity to do just that."

"The National Council of Churches is calling February 26th 'A Day of Prayer and Faxing,'" said Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Director of the Washington DC office of the National Council of Churches. "We are urging all of our member denominations and congregations to join the march. They can do so without even leaving their homes," she said.

Organizers of the Virtual March on Washington hope to overwhelm the White House and every member of the US Senate with calls, faxes and e-mails on February 26th. An "Online Headquarters" was unveiled at the news conference: a web site, hosted by Win Without War affiliate MoveOn.org. Virtual March participants are being asked to register for the march on the MoveOn Web site. They will be asked to pledge to call and fax their two US Senators and the White House at particular times during the day.

"We hope to keep the phones and fax lines busy with marchers from 9:00 in the morning through 5:00 in the afternoon," said Terry O'Neill, Vice President for membership of the National Organization of Women, another Win Without War affiliate. "Senators can expect a call a minute," she said, "and I hope they listen."

The Virtual March was announced at press conferences in Washington, DC and Hollywood, CA that featured Artists United to Win Without War members Martin Sheen, Anjelica Huston, Janeane Garafolo, James Cromwell, Mike Farrell, members of the cast of "The West Wing" and Win Without War coalition leaders. The action follows close on the heels of last week's record setting worldwide antiwar protests. Win Without War is America's largest, mainstream coalition of organizations opposed to pre-emptive war with Iraq.

The press conference was sponsored by Win Without War, the nation's mainstream coalition of organizations opposed to war with Iraq. Members include:

American Friends Service Committee

Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities

Campaign for UN Reform

Council for a Livable World

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Fourth Freedom Forum

Global Exchange

Greenpeace

Leadership Conference of Women Religious

MoveOn

NAACP

National Council of Churches

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

National Organization for Women (NOW)

NETWORK - A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby

Oxfam America

Pax Christi USA

Peace Action

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Rainbow/Push Coalition

Sierra Club

Sojourners

Soulforce

The Tikkun Community

TrueMajority

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society

Us Foundation

Veterans for Common Sense

Women's Action for New Directions

Working Assets

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.