Whether she is sponsoring bills, holding forums, or speaking on the floor of the House, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey has been a true leader in examining the human, financial, and global standing costs of the continuing occupation of Iraq and promoting alternative solutions to this war and to conflict in general.  For such courage and strength we present Congresswoman Woolsey with the William Sloane Coffin award for Democracy in Action. (April 12, 2007)

A Message from Lynn Woolsey:

I applaud the work of Peace Action West, and am honored to receive the William Sloane Coffin Jr. Award for Democracy in Action. It is because of your efforts that the anti-war movement has come so far.

The Democrats were elected last November because, as recent polls consistently show, the American people want us, are actually expecting us and are demanding of us that we, the Congress, bring our troops home as soon as possible. They do not trust the President to do the right thing. They want us to hold him accountable. The public didn't elect Democrats to bring our troops home in 2008. They elected us to be bold, to bring our troops home now.

The Iraq policy of the last 4 years has proven ruinous and misguided at every turn, by any objective measure. As a matter of humanitarian obligation and political accountability, it's time to change course. Americans are crying out for leadership, for their representatives to hear their frustrations about Iraq and to move decisively in response.

Let me make myself very clear. I will not stop, I will not rest and I will not back down in my fight until every last American soldier is home safely with their families. Peace Action will help me and other Members of Congress make principled stands for peace and justice.