IOW Request for Entrance to the VP Debate

The St. Louis Instead of War Coalition requests that the four St. Louis Citizens listed below be granted entrance into the Debate this evening at Washington University. As the descriptions below indicate, each of these people’s lives has been profoundly impacted by U.S. policies that divert resources away from the needs of our people to wars and military occupations.

We are gathering at 5 PM in Northmoor Park (the only public space adjacent to the debate site) to hear the stories of these four citizens and will accompany them as they attempt to enter the debate. We request your assistance in facilitating their entrance into the debate hall and advising the moderator that they have important questions to raise.

Thank you
Bill Ramsey
Administrative Coordinator, IOW
314-374-7446

Janice Jones was unable to continue her work because of a disability. She and her husband (a school teacher) fell behind on their mortgage payments. Their home is presently in the process of foreclosure. Where is their “bailout?”

Melanie Shoust is in stage-IV cancer. Her medical expenses are covered by Medicaid and Medicare, but the lack of preventative care meant that her cancer progressed much further before it was diagnosed. Who will rescue her?

Donna Jones is a Member of the elected Board of Education of the St. Louis City Public Schools. She is a parent of St. Louis Public School students and has served as a parent liaison and conducted inspections for lead in the homes of families with children in the St. Louis Public Schools. Where did the money go?

Dr. John Johnson is the father of Pfc LaVena Johnson, a graduate of Hazelwood Senior High School and U.S. Army soldier who was raped and murdered while serving in Iraq. Dr Johnson has led the effort to seek an investigation of his daughter death. Where is transparency and accountability?

www.insteadofwar.org