Today we come together to say no to the loss of innocent lives in a war that is totally unnecessary. And we are here to say yes to peace. George Bush has woken a sleeping giant in our country.

Barbara Lee, democratic California congresswoman, gained international attention as the only member of congress to vote against the post-9/11 resolution giving president Bush unbridled power to use military force against anyone suspected of having committed the acts, or intending to do so in the future. She is a leader in promoting policies that foster international peace, security, and human rights, and is at the forefront in promoting legislation to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and promote treatment. She consistently advocates for the most vulnerable, especially women and children.

The bumper stickers reflect deep respect and gratitude: "Barbara Lee Speaks For Me". Lee was the only member of congress to speak on September 14, 2001, and to vote against the president's decision to use military force to retaliate for the September 11 attack. "September 11 changed the world," she told her colleagues. "Our deepest fears now haunt us. Yet I am convinced that military action will not prevent further acts of international terrorism against the United States." Barbara's lone vote is consistent with her years of service in the US congress and in the California state legislature, where her actions reflect a brave and deep commitment to humanistic values. She has been a leader in promoting policies that foster international peace, security, and human rights, sponsoring legislation against the doctrine of preemptive war, cosponsoring legislation to create a cabinet-level department of peace, and leading congress' bipartisan effort to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Barbara has been a leader in protecting free speech by opposing media consolidation. She has introduced legislation to make communities safer by providing after-school programs in public housing and to protect tenants from arbitrary evictions. Barbara has led the fight against predatory lending by banks and to create the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, and has sponsored legislation to protect AIDS orphans. She is one of most active legislators trying to end homelessness. Barbara was born in El Paso, Texas. She entered college as a single-mother, first graduated from Mills College, then received her master of social work from UC Berkeley. She served in the California state assembly from 1990 to 1996, in the California state senate from 1996 to 1998, and served as chief of staff in the office of her predecessor, congressman Ron Dellums.

House International Relations Committee Congressional Progressive Caucus Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)