Update from OFPJ on our work with the No Stolen Elections Campaign

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ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
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UPDATE FROM UFPJ ON OUR WORK WITH THE NO STOLEN ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN

UFPJ helped build the No Stolen Elections campaign from the end of September through November. The campaign built a broad coalition of national organizations and networks and a grass roots emergency response network of more than 20,000 to coordinate and evaluate information about the fairness of the presidential vote, and to help coordinate protests in the event of a stolen election.

Through a fairly extensive process of research and consultation with many voter protection groups (including People for the American Way, Rainbow/Push, Southwest Voters, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, and This Time We Are Watching), the campaign collectively concluded that the vote was not at all fair, because of a combination of unfair rules, fraud and intimidation. At the same time, it is not clear that the illegal elements of this unfairness (or straight incompetence or technical malfunction) actually decided the presidential outcome. UFPJ supports calls to investigate the vote and we are pleased to see that the GAO will pursue an investigation. We also believe that every vote must still be counted and fully support the efforts underway to make sure this happens. While there may never be proof that this election was stolen, we know there is work to be done to ensure greater safeguards are in place in future elections.

Such campaigns, investigations, lawsuits, and protests are ongoing. In the immediate future, the No Stolen Elections campaign will monitor the important issues that have emerged in the aftermath of the Nov. 2nd election. But United for Peace and Justice's
limited resources and the escalation of the war in Iraq make it impossible for us to remain as active in the No Stolen Elections campaign.

We encourage you to remain vigilant in the struggle to protect the right to vote and to guarantee that every vote is counted. We support the calls to action on these issues and we will do our best to keep our web site updated with new information and links to important resources. Below is the latest statement from the No Stolen Elections campaign and it includes information on how you can stay involved in this work.

Finally, we hope you will use the calendar on the UFPJ website to list the activities of your group, and to find out what's going on in your city or state.

in peace and solidarity,

Bob Wing and Lisa Fithian, National Co-Chairs, UFPJ
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, UFPJ

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FROM: No Stolen Elections! http://www.Nov3.US

"We have been following developments very closely and are deeply disturbed by the extensive and credible reports of fraud in the election. We call for a full review of the conduct of the election and the tallying of election results . . . . We cannot accept this result as legitimate because it does not meet international standards and because there has not been an investigation of the numerous and credible reports of fraud and abuse." U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, 11/23/2004.

Report: OBSTACLES TO DEMOCRACY:
www.Nov3.US/obstacles
Action: VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS:
http://www.Nov3.US/billofrights
Support: OHIO RECOUNT: http://www.VoteCobb.org

Dear Sisters & Brothers,

Success. Your efforts spurred fourteen members of Congress, led by Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, to request a Goverment Accountability Office (GAO) investigation of the 2004 presidential election. Earlier this week, the GAO announced that it will investigate "the security and accuracy of voting technologies, distribution and allocation of voting machines and counting of provisional ballots."

More success. Thanks to the contributions of thousands of Americans, and the leadership of the Green and Libertarian presidential nominees, David Cobb and Michael Badnarik, the pivotal state of Ohio
will begin an election recount in the next several weeks.

We hope these successes are only wetting your appetite for more democracy. As tens of thousands have taken to the streets of the Ukraine, the great powers of the East and West have intervened to back their candidates. Secretary of State Powell has
demanded an investigation of that election. We know that it is not lost on any of you that here in the United States, there are no contesting outside powers, but only the two internal forces of popular democracy and the political establishment. It is up to us.

As participants in the movement for democracy, your work continues to be vital. We urge you to prepare for the major events of the coming weeks. Please go to our newly updated website at http://www.Nov3.US, note the changes we are making there, and read the newly released report, "Obstacles to Democracy" at http://www.Nov3.US/obstacles. And please act now to demand election reform, and to support the Ohio recount:

1. VOTER BILL OF RIGHTS - Please see the new 11-point "Voter Bill of Rights" at http://www.Nov3.US/billofrights. Initially drafted in the aftermath of the stolen election of 2000, we have updated and improved the Voter Bill of Rights in response to the failures of the 2004 election. We ask you to circulate this important document. We also encourage you to approach your members of Congress to ask them to sign on to the Voter Bill of Rights. Because Monday, December 13th, is the day on which the members of the Electoral College will meet in the capitals of every state, we suggest that you organize delegations to visit congressional offices on that day.

2. SUPPORT THE RECOUNT - The Ohio recount is moving ahead, fueled by volunteer power, money, media coverage, and determination. Determination is not in short supply, and sufficient funds have been raised to cover the initial costs of the recount, but more
volunteers, money, and above all, media coverage, are needed. To contribute time and/or money, please visit http://www.votecobb.org/.

Media coverage is also key. You may have read the headlines declaring "Judge denies request for Ohio recount." You probably read further, and discovered that in fact the judge only denied the request for a timely start to the recount, and that the recount itself is still scheduled for early next month. It's essential that our fellow Americans learn that an Ohio recount is in the works, and that the presidential election is far from over. It's vital that public attention is focused on Ohio as the recount brings to light the systemic flaws which disenfranchised thousands of Ohioans, and potentially millions of Americans.

You can help shine more light on the Ohio recount by keeping the heat on the media to report it. Write more letters to the editor. Call and email newspaper, cable, web, radio, and tv outlets. Tell them that Ohio, not the Ukraine, is THE story.

3. DEFEND THE OHIO RECOUNT - Bush 2004 Ohio chairman, and erstwhile Ohio Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, has already demonstrated some resistance to conducting a full, timely, and accurate recount of the Ohio election. Other Ohio election officials have denounced the initiation of the recount process as "insulting" and "frivolous." Insulting? As of now, only they can know. Frivolous? With voting rights and 21 electoral votes in the balance, hardly.

The current recount timeline looks something like this: December 6th is the deadline for Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell to complete certification of the Ohio vote. On the next day, December 7th, the "winning" ticket must certify its slate of electors. On December 13th, the members of the Electoral College will meet in the capitals of every state to cast their votes. On January 7th, 2005, Congress must decide whether to ratify the decision of the Electoral College.

Look at those dates, and consider how long a full recount is likely to take: Five to ten days by most estimates. You are right to be concerned. And you're not alone. In the course of the next two weeks we expect thousands of Ohioans to gather in churches,
campuses, and at their state capitol to rally to the defense of their recount. We'll let you know where and when. And we may ask you to organize a protest in your own community.


Thank you.
http://www.Nov3.US
NO STOLEN ELECTIONS!
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awesome! thanks