Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace is a grassroots group of neighbors from the Merriam Park neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota, and surrounding neighborhoods in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Twin Cities suburbs, who came together in February 2003 to share information and speak out with a unified voice against the war on Iraq. We are dedicated to pursuing peaceful, non-violent alternatives in every area where conflicts arise, promoting social justice and tolerance, conserving natural resources and the environment in which we live, and protecting human rights and civil liberties in Minnesota, the United States, and the rest of the world.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Panel Presentation: The Effects of U.S. Sanctions on Iraq, Iran and North Korea

Monday, December 10, 2012

Candlelight Vigil: Seeking Two Million Friends to End the War in Afghanistan

Peace Store

Raise the Bar for Peace & Justice

Democratic leaders from all fifty states will gather in St. Paul, June 19–21, for a meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and the Democratic National Committee.

Show Democratic candidates that we expect their leadership on issues of peace and justice if they want to earn our votes in 2004! Help present the hard questions to determine where the candidates stand.

Bring signs with positive messages promoting peace and justice issues. We'll be there to support these issues to raise the bar for all Democrats, not to promote a particular candidate, so please do not single out individuals.

When and Where?

Friday, June 20, 2003

2:30–5:30 p.m.

Radisson Riverfront Hotel

11 East Kellogg Boulevard, Downtown St. Paul

Click on the images below to display a map to the Radisson Riverfront Hotel:

Click here for the Metro Area Transit System bus schedule.

More Info

Call or e-mail Anne at (651) 647-0580 or anne@mppeace.org, or Krista at (651) 641-7592 or krista@mppeace.org.

Questions for Candidates

Dear Democratic Candidate:

The members of Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace and many other Minnesota organizations believe that in recent elections, Democratic candidates have lost their chance to take office because they've neglected the concerns of their own voters. Many Democrats have felt alienated and misrepresented by your party and have looked instead to other alternatives. Democratic representatives at every level have betrayed the core values of peace, non-violence, and social and economic justice.

We now encourage you to ask yourself the hard questions listed below and let us know where you stand on these important issues. We would like the opportunity to meet with you outside the Radisson Hotel during your St. Paul, Minnesota, convention on Friday, June 20, between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. If you're in this race to turn the tides, we'll make sure you get that chance.

Sincerely,

Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace and the rest of the Minnesota progressive community

1)	What actions will you take to denounce pre-emptive war and pursue non-violent solutions?
2)	How will you reconcile the rift between the U.S. and other U.N. member nations?
3)	How will you prevent another U.S.-supported regime from misusing funds, committing human rights violations, and emerging as a new enemy with arms and training we have provided?
4)	How will you serve to mediate a peaceful, fair resolution to the Israel-Palestine crisis?
5)	What actions will you take to bring the U.S. into alignment with international laws and treaties such as the International Criminal Court, Kyoto Protocol, and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty?
6)	Can you justify the use of depleted uranium munitions and the continuing development of nuclear weapons?
7)	How will you support veterans in the face of recent V.A. benefits cuts?
8)	How will you sustain social programs within a balanced budget to prevent the disadvantaged of our country from becoming the victims of our wars abroad?
9)	How will you protect jobs at home to prevent working families from becoming the victims of unfair trade agreements and irresponsible international corporate behavior?
10)	What will you do to elevate K–12 and higher education to a critical national priority?
11)	How do you justify the use of tax dollars to kill people in other nations while denying health care for many of our own nation's people?
12)	How will you secure our freedoms established in the Bill of Rights in the face of the PATRIOT Act?
13)	How will you work within the international community to promote conservation and fair allocation of natural resources to advance both ecological and political stability, thereby reducing the pressures that lead to terrorism and war?
14)	How will you honor the Geneva Convention obligation requiring an occupying power to provide for the well-being of the occupied people while allowing the reconstruction of a free, self-governing Iraq and Afghanistan?

Press Release

Neighbors for Peace to "Raise the Bar" for Democratic Candidates

June 17, 2003

Download and Print Materials

Raise the Bar Questions and Invitation

Raise the Bar

Please e-mail us if you would like a copy of this document.

Raise the Bar Flyer - Half Sheet (2-up on 8.5 x 11)

Raise the Bar

Please e-mail us if you would like a copy of this document.