Iraq war victim comes to Asheville

Salee Allawe, the little girl in yellow in the photo, was injured in a US bombing in November 2006. She has been brought to Greenville, South Carolina for medical treatment. Salee lost her brother, her best friend, and the bottom part of both of her legs in this bombing. She was playing hopscotch when it happened. Only children were killed or injured.

It is always the children who suffer the most from war.

This post is to let people know the events that the WNC Peace Coalition and First Congregational Church have planned for September 19, 2007. Salee will be joining us that day, and it also happens to be the day that the US will have been in Iraq for four and a half years. And there is no sign that the US forces will be leaving Iraq, or that the bombing (which happens daily in Iraq) will stop anytime in the next few years.

On Wednesday, September 19, 2007, Asheville will host Salee (an Iraqi girl) and her father for a potluck, presentation and vigil. Salee was hit by a US bomb in November, and she lost her brother, her best friend, and the lower parts of both her legs. She is currently in Greenville, SC for treatment and prosthetics. She was brought to Greenville via the organization NO MORE VICTIMS and the Upstate Coalition of Compassion. These events will happen on the day that marks 4 ½ years of US occupation of Iraq. Salee and her father have seen the worst that America has to offer, I hope that Asheville will show them our better side and let them know that many Americans do not support their government’s decisions. There is no charge for these events, but we will do fundraising during the events for No More Victims. Please join us in making them welcome in Asheville.

Potluck - 5:30 PM at First Congregational Church on Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Please bring utensils and plates and a vegetarian dish to share.

Presentation – 6:30 PM at First Congregational Church on Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Cole Miller, director of No More Victims will speak and hold a short program.

Vigil – 8 PM at Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville

For questions or for more information, please call the Peace Line at 828-271-0022. These events are sponsored by the WNC Peace Coalition and First Congregational Church of Asheville.

The photo above was taken by Ann of Upstate Coalition of Compassion. Thanks, Ann!