On Wednesday, May 30, CODEPINK PITTSBURGH WOMEN FOR PEACE along with other anti war activists organized an event at newly elected congressman Jason Altmire’s town hall meeting in Shaler. In November of 2006, Republican Melissa Hart was voted out of Congressional office in the 4th for failure to address issues important to local residents, one of which was the war and occupation of Iraq - a disastrous war in which over 3,500 US troops have been killed. Voters put their faith into Jason Altmire, hopeful he would be a voice that would better reflect the will and desire of the people in his district. CODEPINK and local 4th district constituents were angry at Congressman Altmire for his recent damaging vote the week before to approve legislation that provides $100 billion additional dollars for war funding, without any demand for a withdraw date of troops.

Members of CODEPINK and the local peace and justice community stood around the parameter of the municipal room chambers holding up signs reading…BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS…OUT OF IRAQ…LIES AND MORE LIES…HOW MANY MORE MUST BE SACRIFICED, JASON HART, AND TROOPS HOME NOW. Even though anti war activists set the tone for the evening, the majority of opposition came from ordinary 4th district residents. The crowd did not share Altmire’s reasoning that “supporting the troops is providing them with more funding for the war”. “Truly supporting the troops is bringing them hom now”, someone shouted from the angry crowd.

The people of Shaler have spoken - hopefully other suburban communities will follow suit and hold republican and democratic parties accountable for letting this devastating war continue. It will not be by the efforts of a lame two party system that this disastrous war comes to an end. It will be by the consorted efforts of an independent, non partisan anti war movement. ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

Francine Porter
Coordinator, Codepink Pittsburgh Women for Peace