Congressman Donald Payne represented Maplewood and most of South Orange, NJ. Congressman Payne was a sterling fighter for peace and justice, who never forgot his modest roots. He supported many initiatives of South Mountain Peace Action and often took part in our activities. His passing is a great loss to America and the world that has meaning only if we rededicate ourselves to the noble causes of peace and justice that Congressman Payne believed in and worked for.
We extend our deepest condolences to the Payne family.
Click the links below to view Congressman Payne’s remarks at SMPA’s Be About Peace Day on March 24, 2007.
Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

SMPA launched the following petition at Maplewoodstock on July 9, 2011:

Petition
to President Obama, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Congressmen Payne and Pascrell
Bring Our Troops Home and Rebuild America
It is time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq, reduce nonessential military programs and redirect the resources saved to rebuild America. In this manner, we urge you to enact military spending cuts totaling $2.3 trillion over 10 years, as provided in the “People’s Budget” of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and to use the funds saved for job creation, education, the environment and deficit reduction.

To sign the petition, copy the above and paste it into an email and send to:
paul@beaboutpeace.com.

Shlomi Ben Yair and Just Vision chmn Bradley Abelow discuss “Budrus” after screening on June 25, 2011 at the Maplewood Civic Center. For more photos click here.

South Mountain Peace Action calls for the United States to adopt a timetable to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan like the withdrawal timetable in Iraq.
Proposals on how to end the war in Afghanistan:

President’s Strategic Review 12-16-10

The Afghanistan Study Group: A New Way Forward
Interview with Matthew Hoh in The Nation 12-17-10
Letter to Pres. Obama by Afghanistan Experts

Human Rights Watch Report on Women in Afghanistan

Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies Report on Women in Afghanistan

“A Citizen’s Proposal for Peace in Afghanistan,” by SMPA Chair Paul Surovell

Iraq:
United States: $812.0 billion
New Jersey: $41.0 billion
Maplewood, NJ: $152.8 million
South Orange, NJ: 127.9 million
Afghanistan:
United States: $632 billion
New Jersey: $29.0 billion
Maplewood, NJ: 108.0 million
South Orange, NJ: 90.5 million
Updated April 21, 2013
Source: National Priorities Project
Figures represent expenditures already made.
> Click for US Casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More photos on Maplewood Online
Remarks by Maplewood Mayor Vic De Luca