Advocates for establishment of a U.S. Department of Peace will gather in Bradenton Saturday – as part of a nationwide effort in conjunction with Mother’s Day weekend. Department of Peace advocates will hold a “Give Peace a Piece of the Pie” rally on the steps of the Manatee County Commission office at 10 o’clock Saturday morning. Former Democratic presidential candidate, Representative Dennis Kucinich - first introduced legislation to establish a Department of Peace in 2003. Event coordinator - Arlene Sweeting – says Representative Kucinich will reintroduce the legislation in September…

“And so we’re getting out early and trying to drum up support for that. And after the rally they’ll go up to Representative Katherine Harris’ office and present her with some pies along with information about how the federal government currently spends on defense, and how small a piece of the pie we’re asking for for the Department of Peace.”

The proposed Department of Peace would get 2-percent of the current U.S. defense budget...or about $8 billion. The Department would focus on non-military peaceful conflict resolution, promoting justice and democratic principles, and expanding human rights…both at home and abroad. The Department’s not a new idea – George Washington introduced a similar bill to Congress in 1793.