One more reason for DC for Democracy to vote against endorsing the September 24th rally:

“DC for Democracy is a grassroots organization located in the nation’s capital that works at the national and local levels to promote political empowerment, integrity in leadership, and transparency in government. To that end, DC for Democracy will bring new people into the political process, support progressive issues and candidates, and advocate full congressional voting rights for the District of Columbia.”
      – DC for Democracy By-Laws, Article 2

This is the mission statement of DC for Democracy. Note that the primary means to our mission is to bring new people into the political process (something we’re committed to doing in NoVA), support progressive issues (and while being against the war in Iraq is an issue that’s near and dear to progressives, it’s by no means the only progressive issue that demands attention), and advocate voting rights for D.C. (and what does the war in IRaq have to do with that?).

Just wanted to point that out: what does endorsing a protest rally have to do with our mission? As mentioned in an article I referenced earlier today (on an entirely unrelated subject): show me the proof that this is critical to the organization’s mission. Prove it!