Sit-in for Impeachment in Office of Chairman John Conyers

Nationwide~ CODEPINK: Women for Peace is stepping up a new campaign for Impeachment hearings for Vice President Cheney, as part of a coalition of national groups calling on Congress to start House Judiciary Committee hearings to investigate possible "high crimes and misdemeanors" which could lead to the impeachment of Vice President Cheney. They launched their sit-in yesterday and are continuing throughout this week with other community leaders such as: Faye Williams, Andy Shallal (invited) business owner and founder of Iraqi Voices for Peace, Reverend Hagler, David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org, a representative from National Organization of Women, Reverend Ben Cox, one of the Freedom Riders of the Civil Rights era and local Iraq War veterans. The gathering of community leaders will happen in the House Judiciary Committee Office on Thursday, April 3^rd at 10am (Rayburn 2138).

CODEPINK started the campaign "Hungry for Justice? Impeach him FAST!" two months ago, on Rosa Parks Birthday, and to date over 484 people across the country have signed on to the fast in solidarity on the organization's website (www.codepinkalert.org/).

Other groups, including After Downing Street, We the People National Coalition for Impeachment, and Impeach for Peace are also gathering supporters for impeachment.  Fast organizers Leslie Angeline and Ellen Taylor have met with Chairman John Conyers, who remains noncommittal about starting impeachment hearings, but encouraged them to keep the conversation going. Wednesday, April 2^nd, CODEPINK is inviting citizens to come to the House Judiciary Committee Office to continue the national conversation for Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney. 

"My father was one of the original Freedom Riders in 1961.  I grew up hearing the incredible stories of people putting their bodies on the line for justice.  I want to remind the Congressman of this time when the government told the people to "be patient" and the country said "NO!" said Leslie Angeline of CODEPINK, who started the fast.

"Chairman Conyers may not yet be convinced, but perhaps he'll recognize that the process itself has value beyond the outcome - that it could start a tidal wave of hope and change that could sweep the country, like the Watergate hearings" added Ellen Taylor of CODEPINK.