Mobilizing for action to create peace with justice
Welcome to PeaceAction Montgomery of Maryland!

Imagine a world in which
          conflict is resolved through nonviolent means, and
                    justice, equity and compassion describe human relations.


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Resources on Afghanistan
A list of books, reports and films--find out about the forgotten war

Where Do Your Taxes Go?
See what you are paying for!

Counter Terror with Justice: End Torture, Close Guantanamo
Jan. 11, U.S. Supreme Court. Report from PeaceAction member here.

Parents, Veterans Protest Military Recruitment
Our protest of military recruiters targeting our kids, at Churchill High School

Our fabulous Mid-Summer Peace Concert

The Occupation Project in Sen. Mikulski's Office
We implore our senator to become a voice for peace

Winning Essays of the Fred B, Benjamin Peace Writing Contest
Middle schoolers compete for prizes in Maryland

We Declare Peace!
A protest of the war, at the heart of power.


Ó Diane Green Lent


Join us.  Together we can make peace.
Important Articles

The Iraq War Will Cost Us $3 Trillion, and Much More
Nobel prize laureate estimates the true cost of the war

The Million Year War
An excellent summary and analysis of the likelihood of a U.S. exit any time soon

Iraqis on "Success" and "Progress" in Their Country
See the Iraqi view of the positive spin put on the occupation by the Bush administration

The First Sixth-Anniversary-of-the-War Article
Where we'll be one year from now

The Only Lesson We Learn is That We Never Learn
A perspective from Britain on Iraq

This is the War that Started with Lies and Continues with Lie After Lie After Lie
Why don't we hold someone accountable?

The Myth of the Surge
Journalist Nir Rosen reports what's really going on in the streets of Iraq

Bombs Away Over Iraq
Very interesting analysis of the air war in Iraq--be sure to read it!

More Bombing Creates New Enemies
And more on the villages bombed in January: how many of us even knew about this?

False Pretenses
A new study identifies 935 specific false statements about Iraq made by Bush and top officials prior to the war

Going Bankrupt
This incredibly important article clearly describes how militarism has bankrupted the country. Read it and cry, for what could have been.

New Generation of Homeless Veterans
Iraq vets are increasingly likely to become homeless--a sad and terrible story

In Voiding Suit, Appellate Court Says Torture is To Be Expected
The court also ruled that former detainees aren't "persons"--unbelievable!

The Vote for Endless War
A cogent analysis of what happened in Congress in 2007

The Human Cost of War: The Iraqi Refugee Crisis
Testimony before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus

Outsourcing Torture
A beautifully-written discussion of the implications of torture

Billions Over Baghdad
One of the more astonishing pieces we've read all year! Read it and rage

The Next Quagmire
An interesting and provocative article by Chris Hedges

History Will Not Absolve Us
Leaked Red Cross Report Sets Up Bush Team for International War Crimes Trial

Iraq's Endless False Hopes
The neocon's new "turning point"

The Great Iraq Swindle
How Bush allowed an army of for-profit contractors to invade the U.S. treasury

A Culture of Atrocity
A beautifully written, heart-rending essay on war. Please read!

"Accidents" of War: The Time Has Come for an Honest Discussion of Air Power
A cogent analysis of aerial bombing in Afghanistan and Iraq

It Only Takes 41 Senate Votes to End the War
Republicans show the way

Iraq: The World's Fastest Growing Refugee Crisis
It's a crisis the U.S. created--but what are we doing about it?

The Way Out of War
A blueprint for ending the war

War is Not a Solution for Terrorism
A little recent history










First Person Accounts

After Pat's Birthday
Pat Tillman's brother comments on the state of the Union

Why We Fight: A Mother's Guide to Civil Disobedience
A mother of a soldier describes her first arrest in opposition to the war

The View from Guantanamo
A former prisoner talks about the importance of adherence to the Geneva Conventions

Recounting a Fallen Marine's Last Days
A father's story helps us remember why we oppose this war

The Courage to Face the Consequences
Ray McGovern writes about peace and peace-making

Do This for Peace this Week:

Contact County Council President Mike Knapp and ask that he allow the Peace Resolution to be considered by the County Council. Click here.

Help us keep the Maryland National Guard in Maryland! Click here.

Order a peace license plate. Info here.



Online donation system by ClickandPledge
Donate Now!  Help Montgomery County continue to work for peace in the world.
Our Annual Report 
Read about what we did together in 2007!  Click here.
We have been awarded a grant from the A.J. Muste Foundation to develop high school peace clubs in Montgomery County. Read more here.
Short Videos

Iraq Veterans Against the War
Watch video clips from the moving Winter Soldier hearings and other IVAW members

One Day of the Iraq War
A short, thought-provoking video

Veterans for Peace March Against War
Veterans arrested on Veterans' Day: A wonderful video!

What if the Military Had Disclaimers Like Pharma Ads
A very funny short video--don't miss this

From Bill Moyers' Journal
Please watch this moving tribute to 3 U.S. soldiers

Die-In: Speaking Truth to Power at U.S. Capitol
A video of our protest on Sept. 20


Maryland Leads the Way in
Counter-Recruitment

A new Maryland law requires that the emergency information card--a card that all parents must fill out every year--include an opt-out notification for military recruitment. Maryland is the first state in the nation to enact this kind of legislation, and parents are getting the new cards for the first time this school year. Read more here.
County Executive Isiah Leggett speaks at Town Hall Meeting on Iraq
County Council Member Valerie Ervin, author of Montgomery County Peace Resolution
Montgomery County Town Hall Panelists
Town Hall Meeting Links Budget Woes to Iraq War
Montgomery County Council to Consider Peace Resolution


Four County Council members have expressed support for a resolution to end the occupation of Iraq.  At a Town Hall meeting held September 22, at which County Executive Isiah Leggett moderated, the resolution was presented to the public.  Speakers discussed the economic impact of  the occupation and related county budget difficulties.

A coalition of community groups has petitioned the Council to support such a resolution. Pat Salomon, one of the leaders of the coalition and co-coordinator of PeaceAction Montgomery, said, "Part of local government's job is to represent constituents before higher levels of government. Council members are the closest governmental representatives to the people, and thus the concerns they voice to both state and federal officials have special resonance. This is why we want them to pass the resolution."

Bob Cooke, of Pax Christi, commented "The cost of the occupation is having an adverse, though largely ignored, impact on Montgomery County's budget. The resolution will help draw attention to the costs and, we hope, increase the power of citizen's demands to end the occupation, leaving no soldiers, contractors or bases behind."

Read more here.


ACLU Requests Police Files on Behalf of PeaceAction Montgomery in Spying Investigation

The American Civil Liberties Union filed Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests on behalf of PeaceAction Montgomery and 31 other advocacy groups on September 30. The MPIA requests are being filed with the Maryland State Police, the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Office, and every local police department in places where demonstrations were held by the groups. Four individuals from PeaceAction Montgomery are also clients of the ACLU in this attempt to ascertain the extent of police surveillance of nonviolent, peaceful groups. For more information, click here.