October 14, 2004
Why Did My Son Die?
A Military Mom Demands an Answer
Policy Experts and Popular Performers Join Lila Lipscomb on a Mother's Tour of Duty Around the Nation to Inspire Americans to Question the Iraq War
OCTOBER 11, 2004
"Mr. Bush is under no obligation to answer Mr. Moore's charges, but he will have to answer to Mrs. Lipscomb."-- The New York Times, June 23, 2004.
WASHINGTON - October 11 - "How do you think it feels for a grieving mother to hear Charles Duelfer, the top CIA weapons inspector for Iraq, state last week that Iraq destroyed its weapons of mass destruction years ago and had no ability to produce more, under sanctions? How do you think it feels to hear White House officials now admit that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11? I want to know: did Michael die for a lie?" asked Lila Lipscomb, the military mother from Flint, Michigan, who is featured in Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" reading from the last letter her son, Michael, sent home from Iraq before he died.
Heartbroken and angry, Mrs. Lipscomb has embarked on a Tour of Duty around America, imploring audiences to question why we invaded Iraq and why our troops are still there. Lipscomb is being joined by popular performers, leading activists and policy experts at a nationwide series of public educational events.
Lipscomb spoke before hundreds yesterday in San Francisco along with Fernando Suarez del Solar, whose son, a Marine, was also killed in Iraq. Folk music legend Joan Baez and former CIA analyst Melvin Goodman will join Lipscomb in Cleveland, OH October 19th. Lipscomb and whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg (invited) will speak at the New York Society of Ethical Culture Concert Hall in New York City October 29th.
Also lending their support for the Tour, with appearances pending confirmation, are Martin Sheen, Rickie Lee Jones, former ambassador to Iraq Edward Peck, Woody Harrelson, former assistant secretary of defense Lawrence Korb, Tim Robbins, former State Department intelligence director Greg Thielmann, comedians Greg Proops, Jimmy Tingle, and Rick Overton, and documentary director Robert Greenwald, among others.
Lipscomb is asking the questions over one thousand American mothers are asking about family members who returned in coffins, and thousands more mothers are asking about the more than 7,500 wounded American servicemen and women.
"My son completed his tour of duty by sacrificing his life for his country," said Lipscomb. "I now have a duty to wake up this country to stop the war, stop the killing. Maybe, if by speaking out I can prevent other American and Iraqi sons and daughters from dying, I can find some meaning in my son's death."
Tour of Duty is being sponsored by Win Without War, the nation's largest anti-war coalition; Black Voices for Peace; the Fourth Freedom Forum; Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization; Physicians for Social Responsibility; and Women's Actions for New Directions.
Tour of Duty is an educational, strictly nonpartisan project which takes no position on the outcome of the presidential or any other political race. This project aims to enlighten the public on foreign policy and security issues, and motivate people to vote. More information at www.ustourofduty.org.
Lila Lipscomb is available for interviews. Please contact Jeff Norman 310-842-8794 or 310-621-4659 cell.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
US Tour of Duty: Americans Speak Out
Karina Holyoak Wood, National Organizer 401-276-0377 kwood@igc.org
Jeff Norman 310-842-8794 or 310-621-4659 cell
TOUR OF DUTY SCHEDULE (confirmed dates)
OAKLAND, CA
Sunday October 10, 6 PM
First Congregational Church of Oakland
2501 Harrison St. (at 27th St.), Oakland, CA
Screening of "FAHRENHEIT 9/11" (newly released version)
Plus speakers:
LILA LIPSCOMB
MEDEA BENJAMIN, co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK
FERNANDO SUAREZ DEL SOLAR
LOS ANGELES, CA
Saturday October 16, 8PM
Venice United Methodist Church
1020 Victoria Ave. at Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA. 90291.
Speaker: LILA LIPSCOMB
LOS ANGELES, CA
Sunday October 17, 7 PM
Hollywood United Methodist Church
6817 Franklin Ave at Highland, Los Angeles 90028.
Speakers: LILA LIPSCOMB
Special screening of "The Ground Truth, the Human Cost of War" (30 minutes) the new documentary by Patricia Foulkod featuring soliders stories returning from the Iraq war.
CLEVELAND, OH
Tuesday October 19, 8 PM
Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland State University
Musical performance by JOAN BAEZ
Plus speakers: LILA LIPSCOMB, MEL GOODMAN, former CIA analyst, Comedian RICK OVERTON
PHILADELPHIA,PA
Sunday October 24, 7pm
The Point
880 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Speakers: LILA LIPSCOMB; DANIEL ELLSBERG (Invited)
www.atthepoint.com
NEW YORK
Friday October 29, 8 PM
New York Society of Ethical Culture Concert Hall
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY 10023
Speakers: LILA LIPSCOMB; DANIEL ELLSBERG (Invited)
ST. LOUIS, MO
Sunday October 31, 3 PM
University City Public Library
Speakers: LILA LIPSCOMB, DAMU SMITH, co-founder, Black Voices for Peace