Downtown Church Protests
War In Iraq; Organizes Vigil

A ministry team from First Congregational Church in Long Beach has taken its message to the streets.

But this evangelism has a very specific message — Stop The War in Iraq. Last Friday, the group organized a candlelight vigil and street-side protest against the war.

The public demonstration follows a series of meetings with congressional representatives, according to Edric Guise, chair of the ministry team. Only U.S. Rep Linda Sànchez (D-Calif.) has responded positively, saying that, although she doesn’t sign pledges, she is an advocate for peace.

Guise said both U.S. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-Calif.) and Rep Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) have refused to sign the group’s “Declaration of Peace Pledge.”

“The office of Rep. Jane Harman has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for a meeting,” Guise wrote. “Only Democratic candidate Jim Brandt, who is running against Rep. Rohrabacher for the District 46 seat, has responded to the team’s appeal and signed the pledge.”

First Congregational’s Stop-the-War Ministry team is one of hundreds across the country seeking congressional support for its Declaration of Peace, Guise said. The pledge asks members of Congress to cosponsor legislation to end the war and to stabilize and rebuild the Middle East. The entire declaration is available on the Internet at www.declarationofpeace.org.

Nonviolent protest and civil disobedience also are part of the effort to end the war, Guise said. More actions in Long Beach are expected.

For more information, call 434-1446 or e-mail FCCPeace@aol.com.

—Harry Saltzgaver

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