(Press release)

Waco, TX.--The Waco Friends of Peace will present a lecture and book signing by Colonel Ann Wright, Ret., Sunday October 5th 6p.m. at Poppa Rollo's Pizza, 703 N. Valley Mills Drive, Waco. Colonel Wright spent 29 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, and 16 years in the Foreign Service. On March 19, 2003, the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, she cabled a letter of resignation to Sec. of State Colin Powell, stating that without authorization of the UN Security Council, the invasion and occupation of a Muslim, Arab, oil-rich country would be a disaster.

Since then, she has been writing and speaking out for peace. She fasted for a month, picketed at Guantanamo, served as a juror on an international impeachment commission, and has been arrested numerous times for peaceful nonviolent protest of Bush's policies, particularly the war on Iraq.

Col. Wright will discuss and sign her book "Dissent: Voices of Conscience," which she co-authored with Susan Dixon. The book tells the stories of the men and women who risked careers, reputations and even freedom out of loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of law. Historian Howard Zinn wrote about the book: "If we care about keeping democracy alive, we must welcome this book."