Kelly Dougherty, Cofounder of Iraq Veterans Against the War, said: "During the year I spent in Iraq and over a month spent along the Gulf Coast, I've seen first-hand the results of the Bush administration's policies. One of the most shocking things for me was to witness greater destruction in our own country than in war-torn Iraq. The similarities were sickening, displaced families, poverty, destruction of entire neighborhoods, and the militarization of the cities, to name a few. Every day I witness the leaders in Washington lie to the public and propagate fear, while their actions show that they don't care about the soldiers and veterans, the Iraqi people, or our own citizens along the Gulf Coast. Camp Democracy will be a place where concerned people of the United States demand accountability from the White House and continue on the path of reclaiming our democracy. We need to bring the troops home, bring the hurricane survivors home, and care for our communities."

Bob Fertik, President of Democrats.com and ImpeachPAC, said: "Last week George Bush declared Iraq had 'nothing' to do with 9/11. So why are young Americans still fighting and dying in Iraq three and a half years later? One year ago, Cindy Sheehan went to Bush's home in Crawford and launched a powerful grassroots movement to end the Iraq War. Now Cindy is bringing this movement to the home of the Republican power elite in Washington, D.C., to let them know the American people are determined to end their criminal war. Every poll shows a solid majority of Americans believe the Iraq War was a mistake. Led by Cindy Sheehan, a broad alliance of veterans, military families, and progressive activists will rouse the nation's conscience and end the Iraq War."

Glen Ford, co-founder and executive editor of BlackCommentator.com, who will speak at Camp Democracy, said: "The Katrina disaster reveals the Bush regime's depraved indifference to the lives and fortunes of African Americans in particular, and the U.S. citizenry in general. The Pirate class now in power at this late stage of capitalism is singularly focused on waging war-for-profit, at home and abroad. Its only function and purpose is self-aggrandizement."

Nick Mottern, Director of Consumers for Peace.org, who will speak at Camp Democracy, said: "Camp Democracy offers a wonderful opportunity for us to come together at an extremely dangerous time to learn from each other and to organize for more concentrated action to get the United States out of Iraq."

Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute, who will also speak at Camp Democracy, said: "As of July 2006, New Orleans, the three parishes, and the three counties in Mississippi had lost a total of 375,000 residents because of destruction from Hurricane Katrina. At least 250,000 of them have established homes elsewhere. They no longer want to face the personal trauma and financial risks associated with rising seas and more destructive storms. These evacuees are now climate refugees. History judges political leaders by whether or not they respond to the great issues of their time. For today's leaders, that issue is how to move the global economy onto an environmentally sound path."

Dave Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky, authors of "The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office," who will speak at Camp Democracy, devote one chapter to the charge of criminal negligence on the part of the president. While examples of President Bush's gross incompetence could fill a book themselves, they argue that in several instances, this incompetence has been so staggering that they rise to the level of an impeachable crime. Former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman, who was on the House Judiciary Committee that considered Nixon's impeachment, and who will also speak at Camp Democracy, argues that the failure to provide armor to US troops in Iraq, and to plan for the occupation of that country were two such cases. Lindorff and Olshansky add two more: the non-response to the Katrina tragedy, and the blatant unwillingness to do anything to respond to the looming disaster of global warming -- and the indeed active obstruction of efforts by states and other nations to take action.

Garett Reppenhagen, Iraq Veteran Against the War, said: "After my service as a Sniper in the Iraq War, I have a new appreciation for a true democracy that has leaders that represent the majority's views and stand for the opinions of the citizens of their nation. At this point in time we have an administration that fails to stand by its people. As the desires of our nation turn toward removing our military from a disastrous occupation in Iraq, our 'Decider' chooses to ignore popular request and 'Stay the Course'. Our patriotism and bravery can only be abused so far. America has become wise to the empty jargon. It is time we demand that our government acts responsibly and in the interest of its citizens. Bring the troops home now."

Lee Siu Hin, national coordinator of the National Immigrant Solidarity Network, and steering committee member of United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ), who will speak at Camp Democracy, said: "It is critical for the antiwar and immigrants rights movements to coordinate and support each other's struggle -- activists and organizers have a particular responsibility to point out the links between Katrina's impact, immigrant rights, civil liberties, labor rights and the U.S. war in Iraq because right-wing anti-immigrant forces have successfully created a 'common sense' message of links: September 11 = counterterrorism = anti-immigrants = invade/occupy Iraq/Afghanistan = tax cut = faith-based initiatives."

Sunny Miller, Executive Director of Traprock Peace Center, said: "Our government is using illegal uranium ammunition that bites back. Uranium bites back in the war zones and all around this country. Illegal and immoral wars breed violence that is bound to bite back too. Aggressive U.S. wars put all of the U.S. into a war zone! Mr. Bush may have armed guards and jets at his side and feel immune. We do not. We've got cars, telephones, bikes, buses and the tools of peace at our side and we're preparing use them for Camp Democracy AND the Declaration of Peace this September."

PDA Executive Director Tim Carpenter said: "PDA is proud to participate in Camp Democracy. At this time, our country is ripe for dialogue and debate on the direction we're heading. Camp Democracy is an opportunity for the grassroots to come together to organize and strategize around the critical issues we’re currently facing — getting out of Iraq, combating corruption and refocusing the nation's resources on domestic problems, among others."

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

It includes the following:

Locations: Sept 9-11, Mall between 3rd St. and 7th St.; Sept. 5-8, and 12-21st: between Mall, Constitution Ave, 14th St, 15th St.

September 5
Opening Day with Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out. Includes: Vigil symbols march around the Capitol (Tombstones, Crosses and Boots); Key Voices Focus on the war and occupation of Iraq: Representatives from IVAW, MFSO, GSFP, VFP, including Cindy Sheehan, Michael Berg, Missy Comley Beattie; Military Resistance to the war: LT Watada, Panel of Military Resisters, possible service member announcing resistance and or turning themselves in; panel discussion with Cindy Sheehan; Antonia Juhasz, author of "The Bush Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time"; Gael Murphy, Co-Founder of Code Pink; and Raed Jarrar, Iraq Project Director, Global Exchange; and concert featuring Anne Feeney and Emma’s Revolution.

September 6
Organizing the Progressive Agenda, with second half of day sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America. Includes events with Congressional Representatives and PDA Board Members Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee, co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus; Maxine Waters, chair of the Out of Iraq Caucus; and PDA Executive Director Tim Carpenter, discussions with Ron Zucker, Legislative Director of 2020 Vision, and Geov Parrish, longtime local and national political activist; an event with Rev. Lennox Yearwood, who will have just returned from New Orleans, and panel discussions of single-payer health care and Iraq. Also, Congressman Jim McDermott will speak at Camp Dmeocracy, possibly on this day.

September 7
Immigrants' Rights Day, Sponsored by National Immigrant Solidarity Network
Includes panels, parades, performances, debates, and a vigil. Also: film producer Robert Greenwald will speak.

September 8
Labor Speaks Out Day
With Leila McDowell, Communications Director with United Food & Commercial Workers’ national campaign to organize Smithfield workers; Buffy Wicks, Political Director, Wake Up Wal-Mart!; Bob Muehlenkamp, National Co-Convenor of U.S. Labor Against the War; Stewart Acuff, Director of Organizing, AFL-CIO; Kenneth Moffett, Labor Arbitrator-Mediator; Patrick Young, Strategic Campaign Dept. of United Steelworkers; Marla Benoist, Project Director, Info-Mission; Zein El-Amine, Mark Lance, and Noura Erakat with End the Occupation; and a concert of labor and peace musician, and screening of "MEETING FACE TO FACE."

September 9
Festival of workshops, trainings, entertainment, funded by Democracy Rising.
Includes: Ray McGovern, Karen Kwiatowski, Antonia Juhasz, Steven Zunes, Simin Royanian, Diane Perlman, Dick Bell, Swami Beyondananda, Bruce Gagnon, Brendan Smith, Jeremy Brecher, Bill Moyer, Glen Ford, Rob Kall, Mike Stark, Stirling Newberry, and many more.

September 10
Festival of workshops, trainings, entertainment.
Includes: Ann Wright, Joel Bleifuss, Harvey Wasserman, Antonia Juhasz, Nancy Talanian, Linda Schade, Rahul Mahajan, Raed Jarrar, Simin Royanian, Dave Lippman, John Kim, Brendan Smith, Jeremy Brecher, Barbara O’Brien, Adam Roufberg, and many more.

September 11
Festival of workshops, trainings, entertainment.
Gandhi Day of Nonviolence, funded by The Best War Ever.
Includes: Arun Gandhi, Larry Johnson, Sheldon Rampton, Gene Bolles, Diane Wilson, Lester Brown, Kevin Zeese, Gareth Porter, Ellen Ratner, and many more.

September 12
Evening presentation by Mark Karlin, Editor and Publisher of Buzzflash.

September 13
Verdict Day, Sponsored by the Bush Crimes Commission and World Can't Wait. Press Conference, followed by march to the White House and the Justice Department to deliver the verdict. Ann Wright, Ray McGovern, and others will participate.

September 14
TBA
Talk by Danny Schechter, producer of "WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception" and screening of his film.

September 15
Electoral Reform Day sponsored by Focus on Democracy
Speakers include former Senator Mike Gravel.

September 16
Peace Day sponsored by Traprock Peace Center and Consumers for Peace.

September 17
Accountability Day and Impeachment Encampment sponsored by Democrats.com.
Includes: David Green; John Nichols, author of "The Genius of Impeachment"; Marcus Raskin, member of the special staff of the National Security Council in President Kennedy’s Administration, and author of "Liberalism," and co-editor of "In Democracy's Shadow"; Elizabeth de la Vega, former federal prosecutor; Dave Lindorff, author of "The Case for Impeachment"; David Swanson, cofounder of AfterDowningStreet.org; Elizabeth Holtzman, former congresswoman and co-author of "The Impeachment of George W. Bush"; Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst; Jennifer Van Bergen, author and professor; Geoff King, President of Constitution Summer; Michael Avery, president of the National Lawyers Guild; David Waldman, Dan DeWalt, Steve Cobble, and many more.

September 18
Lobbying Training Day for Congressman McGovern's End the War in Iraq Act
Lobbying training led by United for Peace and Justice and Peace Action.

September 19
Lobbying Day on Capitol Hill for Congressman Jim McGovern's End the War in Iraq Act /
Take on the Media Day at Camp Democracy with Jeff Cohen and Scott Ritter

September 20
Women for Peace Day sponsored by CODE PINK and the National Organization for Women, including history workshop led by Howard Zinn. Ending ot the Troops Home FAST.