Troops Out Now Coalition blog

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ANTI-WAR MARCHES OF NEW TYPE: Washington, D.C.: Protest hits FEMA, ICE

2007-10-05T09:34:00.001-07:00

By LeiLani Dowell

Published Oct 4, 2007 2:28 AM

Two months of anti-war activity culminated at the end of September in dynamic encampments to stop war at home and abroad and militant, anti-imperialist and anti-racist demonstrations in both Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

D.C. march steps off from Encampment.

photo: Deirdre Griswold

Here in Washington, during the Sept. 22-29 Encampment to Stop the War at Home and Abroad, more and more participants arrived and staked their tents in front of the Capitol building as the Sept. 29 mass march approached. A real sense of unity could be felt among the many activists from varied struggles who share a common enemy.

A FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) trailer brought by Katrina survivors direct from New Orleans joined the Iraq Veterans Against the War bus, which had been parked in front of the Encampment since Sept. 22. The tent city was treated to a delicious meal of shrimp, crawfish and sausage cooked by the Common Ground Collective organizers who, after traveling more than 17 hours to get to the Capitol from New Orleans, spent the next day cooking the meal.

Encampment participants, mostly women from Code Pink, disrupted a Senate Appropriations Hearing on Sep26 in which Secretary of Defense Robert Gates requested an additional $42 billion in funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gates’s appeal brings the 2008 request for war funds—above and beyond the even larger Pentagon budget—to a record high of almost $190 billion.

Members of the cast of “SiCKO”—Michael Moore’s movie exposing the exploitative for-profit health care system—arrived on Sept. 28 to augment the demand for “Health care, not warfare.”

Other events in the last three days of the Encampment included a meeting on the struggle of survivors for justice in the wake of Hurricane/Rita, and immigrant rights; a delegation that called on the acting Attorney General to free the Cuban Five; a health care vigil; a militant youth action with several targets; and a concert to demand an end to martial law in the Philippines. Rock the Rulers, the week-long concert series of the Encampment, brought cultural inspiration and resistance every night.

Mass march ties issues together

WW photo: Gary Wilson

A preliminary report issued by the Troops Out Now Coalition states: “The march on Saturday, Sept. 29 was a departure in tone and make-up from many past anti-war demonstrations. It was a serious and highly successful effort to involve more community-based organizations and issues and to link the struggle against the war with the struggles against racism, oppression and economic injustice at home.”

A multinational crowd of some 10,000 to 15,000 included contingents from organized labor; lesbian, gay, bi and trans activists; Katrina survivors; International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; the Peoples Organization for Progress; Iraq Veterans Against the War; the Green Party of the U.S., BAYAN USA; and more.

The march route included stops to protest at the offices of FEMA, where Katrina survivors accused the agency of neglect; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where protestors shouted “Melt ICE” and “Stop the raids;” the Department of Social Services; and the Department of Education, where Code Pink, chanting “Books not bombs,” covered up part of the “No child left behind” slogan to read “Every child left behind.”

Speakers and performers at the rally all drew clear links between the war in Iraq and the war at home, including a labor delegation with Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March Movement, Charles Jenkins and Larry Adams of the New York City Labor Against the War, and members of District Council 37; political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, via a recorded greeting from death row; Malik Rahim, Common Ground Collective; Medea Benjamin, Code Pink; Bernadette Ellorin and Christine Hilo, BAYAN USA; Larry Hamm, People’s Organization for Progress; and David Swanson, After Downing Street.

Also speaking were Ardeshir Ommani of the Stop the War On Iran Campaign and American Iranian Friendship Committee; Ignacio Meneses, National Network on Cuba; Walter Sinche, May 1st Immigrant Rights Coalition; Rosita Romero, Dominican Women’s Development Center; Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus; Adam Kokesh, Iraq Veterans Against the War; Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army veteran and 16-year diplomat who resigned in opposition to the Iraq war; Victor Toro, Chilean leader of MIR being threatened with deportation; Debra Sweet of World Can’t Wait; and Teresita Jacinto Oliva of Mexicanos Sin Fronteras.

Continuing the short, punchy talks were Jared Ball, and Sara “Echo” Steiner, Green Party members; Charlotte Kates of Al-Awda New York, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition; Pam Africa, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; political prisoner Leonard Peltier, via a statement; Sonia Umanzon of the FMLN (Faribundo Martí National Liberation Front); Katrina survivors Ivey Parker and Christine Gavin-Lathan; Mohammad Awdallah, U.S. Popular Palestine Conference Network; Ricardo Prado of the Colombian political party Democratic Pole; Tyneisha Bowens of FIST—Fight Imperialism, Stand Together; Larry Holmes, Teresa Gutierrez and Sara Flounders for TONC and the International Action Center; Omowale Clay, December 12 Movement and Friends of Zimbabwe; and Milton St. Germaine, New England Human Rights Organization for Haiti.

Independent media part of movement

While the capitalist media practically boycotted the marches on Sept. 29 and provided limited coverage of the Encampments, independent media was there in force to convey the event’s message to the world. In Your Face radio broadcast daily interviews from the Encampment throughout the week. Pacifica’s KPFK radio was the media sponsor for the Los Angeles march and Encampment.

An enthusiastic report on the march in Washington, D.C., can be heard on the local Indymedia affiliate (dc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/141002/). The commentator states: “On the 29th of September, the campaign against the war in occupied Iraq once again took to the streets ... demanding an end not only to the war in occupied Iraq, but the global war on the poor, as fought in New Orleans, fought in Jena, fought on the Mexican border. This was a surprisingly militant march that tied the different aspects of George Bush’s crimes together.

“Apparently Troops Out Now understands that this is not just about Iraq; the same regime that wages war on the people of Iraq is also the regime that sponsors gentrification in our cities and the wholesale incarceration of African-American youth, the vicious fascist crackdown on Latin@ immigrants, and so many other evils. ... All this noise can certainly be heard in Central Cell Block where prisoners are being held.”

The report quoted Larry Adams, who expressed “solidarity with the historic Iraqi resistance, who are on the frontlines of the fight against our common enemy, which is U.S. imperialism.”

Describing the youth action that took place at the end of the rally—which blocked the streets in front of the Capitol until 10 p.m. that night—the reporter concluded: “You can think of the long occupation of Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues as target practice for things that are surely going to come as people get more and more pissed off about this war that is one war from occupied Iraq, to occupied New Orleans, from occupied Palestine to Jena, to the neighborhoods right here in occupied Washington. ... George Bush says ‘Bring it on’; well that’s exactly what we’re gonna do!”

How the Troops Out Now rally rocked!

2007-10-05T09:32:00.001-07:00

By U-Savior
and
Nana Soul

Published Oct 4, 2007 2:00 AM

Pam Parker at D.C. Sept. 29 rally. " border="0">

Larry Holmes, Dani Gale, Nana Soul and
Pam Parker at D.C. Sept. 29 rally.

WW photo: Liz Green

If polls showed the average person saying that the traditional protest—complete with marches, placards, chants and permits—no longer has a potent effect on an apathetic government and that bureaucrats simply bide their time until the rabid moon bats that have descended upon their provinces return to the trailer parks, projects, flooded wards and mortar-ravaged ghettos that they came from, most activists would be hard pressed to prove them wrong.

But on Sept. 22, something magical began to happen.

The Troops Out Now Coalition began a weeklong Encampment in front of the reflecting pool at the Capitol building. In contrast to the one it held last March, the Encampment would be infused with music. Unlike every other demonstration that took place this year, culture would not simply be a careless afterthought, but rather would provide the fuel needed to draw thousands of people to the demonstration.

Each day, activists spread through the neighborhood, engaging the community, and each night the Encampment grounds sprouted more tents and music filled the hearts of everyone who heard it.

From punk rock to poetry to hip hop, the Troops Out Now Coalition rocked the rulers—hence the name of the weeklong concert, reminiscent of Woodstock minus the psychedelic mushrooms (in most cases).

On Sept. 29, a rally featuring dozens of speakers from across the world addressed several issues, including the right to return for Palestinians and Katrina survivors alike, freedom for political prisoners, the need for health care, housing, better education, an end to the war in Iraq and a halt of plans of impending conquest in Iran, women’s rights, police brutality and more.

Punctuated by live music performances, the gathering alternated between lulling people and firing them up. By 2 p.m. thousands were ready to march on Washington. But the people didn’t walk alone. Thanks to a sound truck that cranked out not only chants and slogans, but anti war anthems like “War” by Edwin Starr and “I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown, marchers couldn’t help but dance their way down the route.

What resulted was a parade with fire, an energetic display of dissent and culture that had people who observed it hanging from their windows waving and cheering and passing cars blaring horns in solidarity. In the front holding the lead banner were elders, youth, whites, Blacks, Latin@s, women and men. On the sidelines women went shirtless, hefting signs that said “Breasts Not Bombs!” When the throng snaked its way around a construction site, labor activists immediately began to flier and converse with the workers. And when those in front made a turn and caught sight of the tail end of the march, complete with a bus proclaiming “Iraq Veterans Against the War,” they were sent into a triumphant frenzy. The sound was deafening, empowering and mighty.

But none of this would compare to the moment when the march reached an underpass close to Third Street and Constitution Avenue. Taking advantage of the natural echo, the protestors began to bellow, letting loose all the rage and frustration against the inept and corrupt U.S. government. They mourned dead soldiers, Iraqi civilians and victims of police brutality and FEMA. They celebrated their own courage and the love with which they championed the people’s rights.

Something spread through the crowd then, something that can never be explained. Whatever it was, it was beautiful and it called for action. And so, hundreds of youth tore away from the procession and commandeered a stretch of road and blocked city traffic claiming it in the name of Freedom for several hours. The more experienced activists responded by making sure they had food, water and legal representation.

Those who attended witnessed an important piece of history, where the gaps between the old and young were bridged, where all colors spoke in the same voice, danced to the same rhythms and carried the same banner.

Black Power! Revolution, then peace!

Power to the people!

The writers are artists and activists with Black Waxx Recordings.

2007-09-28T17:01:00.001-07:00

March Route

March out on Maryland Avenue
Left on 3rd St.
Go to Department of Health and Human Services
Right on Independence Avenue
Left on 4th St.
Go to Department of Education
Right on C Street
Right on Maryland
Right on Independence
Left on 3rd St.
Left on Massachusetts
Right on I Street
Stop at ICE
Right on 4th St.
Left on Massachusetts
Right on 3rd St.

We All Live in Jena ; National Call to Action

2007-09-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

We All Live in Jena ; National Call to Action

Monday, October 1st, 2007 at Noon, Central Time.

Artist/ Activist Mos Def along with M1, Talib Kweli, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Change the Game, National Hip Hop Political Convention, Hip Hop Association, and student leaders from 50 campuses call for a National Student Walk-Out to rally and show support for the Jena 6, who are being denied their human rights by the Louisiana criminal justice system.

The Case of the Jena 6

Last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus, white students responded by hanging nooses from the tree. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen." Racial tension continued to mount in Jena , and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against black students. But when a white student--who had been a vocal supporter of the student's who hung the nooses, taunted a black student, called several black students "nigger"--sustained minor injuries from a school fight, six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Last month, the first young man to be tried, Mychal Bell, was convicted. He faced up to 22 years in prison for a school fight until the Black people began to organize and his conviction was thrown out because he was tried as an adult. However the DA and the Judge still refuse to set a reasonable bail or to drop the charges in this case and Mychal is still in jail!!

Mos Def is asking students worldwide to assist in the fight against racial injustice and show solidarity for these young people, who have been treated unequally by the law. The prosecution of these young men symbolizes a terrible miscarriage of justice, by punishing students who opposed segregation in their schools and disregarding the threatening acts of others who advocate it.

As students and activists we say enough is enough! What is happening in Jena is happening all over this country. From Sean Bell to Mychal Bell, the criminal justice system is killing and incarcerating us. We will not be silent!

Demands Judge J.P. Mauffray and District Attorney Reed Walters have engaged in a string of egregious actions, the most recent of which was the denial of bail for Bell on Friday. We call for:

1. All charges against the Jena 6 be dropped

2. The immediate release of Mychal Bell

3. The United States Department of Justice to convene an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the arrests and prosecutions of the Jena 6;

4. Judge Mauffray to be recused from presiding over Bell 's juvenile court hearings or other proceedings;

5. The Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate Reed Walters for unethical and possibly illegal conduct;

6. The Louisiana Judiciary Commission investigate Judge Mauffray for unethical conduct; and

7. The Jena School District superintendent to be removed from office.

Other endorsers include: Common, Immortal Technique, NyOil, Cynthia McKinney

For more info contact info@mxgm.org
To add your school to the list assata@pitt.edu or spjlewis@hotmail.com

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SUPPORTING GI RESISTERS

2007-09-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SUPPORTING GI RESISTERS
by Gerry Condon, Soldier Say No / Project Safe Haven

Clinton, Obama and Edwards Would Leave Troops in Iraq (video)
http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/democrats-see-difficulty-with-iraq/20070926233209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

GI Resisters Speak Out (video)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/092807J.shtml

1) Sometimes I am impatient, with myself and the antiwar movement of which I am a part. When will we get real about supporting GI resisters? I’m not just talking about the odd Conscientious Objector or AWOL soldier. I’m talking about building a support movement for GI resistance. I’m talking about reaching out to the troops and telling them they should not fight in an illegal, immoral war. I’m talking about challenging deeply embedded societal concepts concerning patriotism, fulfilling ones’ military “duty,” and being bound by the military “contract.”

2) I’ve been to meetings where counter-recruitment activists and war resister advocates have announced that their son or daughter will be deployed the following week to Iraq. And I ask myself: why are they not standing in their way, why are they allowing their children to be sent off to a war that they know is wrong? And I have talked to parents who se children have been killed in Iraq who say they didn’t agree with their children’s decision to enlist in the military but that they had tried to respect their right to make that decision, to respect that they were now adults (barely). Now they deeply regret that decision.

3) Sometimes I think we are running out of time to really build the kind of resistance movement, civilian and GI, that will be needed to end the Iraq War. But then I read that Hillary Clinton, the probable next president, will not promise to have the troops out of Iraq by the end of her first term. Neither will Barak Obama. Neither will John Edwards. (See the video clip above). Why? Because the president of the United States must be the executive director of U.S. imperialism. The Democrats want that Iraqi oil as much as the Republicans. Both parties are controlled by the uber-rich ruling class. Both parties believe that it is the U.S. destiny to dominate the world’s resources, markets and people. They debate strategy and tactics only.

4) Well, the Congress finally united this week to do something concerning the Iraq War. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly condemned the anti-war ad of MoveOn.org that dared to challenge the credibility of General Petraeus, the latest shill for Bush’s failed war. The Senate vote was 72-25 and the House vote was 341-79. These are the kind of numbers that should be ending to the war and impeaching President Bush and his entire war cabinet. But that ain’t going to happen.

5) It would appear, then, that the antiwar movement has been focusing its precious energies in the wrong direction. Four years of focusing on the U.S. Congress has achieved no meaningful results. There is no democracy in Washington, DC. Arguably, those who have been doing counter-recruitment work have had more impact, although that is hard to measure. The Iraq War has been the greatest counter-recruiter of all. African Americans, in particular, are enlisting in historically low numbers.

6) David Zeiger did the world a great service when he made the film, Sir, No Sir! This film uncovered a profound historical truth that is hard for many people to comprehend: Widespread resistance within the military was the final nail in the coffin of the Vietnam War. Rap groups. Coffee houses. Black Power meetings. GI newspapers. “Search and avoid” missions. Massive desertions. Sabotage. Refusal to fight. Refusal to fly. Refusal to train. “Fragging” of gung ho officers and NCOs. Withholding of intelligence data. Deserter and draft resister exile bases in Europe and Canada. Campaigns to unionize and democratize the military.

7) These acts of GI rebellion and organizing were organic, both spontaneous and planned. The antiwar movement cannot will them into being. They also took place within the context of a political awakening in the U.S., the rise of anti-imperialist, socialist and Black Consciousness movements, and a “cultural revolution” of youth. In other words, they took place within a revolutionary climate. Perhaps that is what we are lacking now, more than anything.

8) GI resistance organizing must come from the GIs themselves. However, it is somewhat unique in requiring lots of “outside” help from civilians. Some of this work must necessarily be clandestine, but much of it can be done in the open.

9) One can assume that any effective efforts at reaching out to GI’s or supporting their organizing will bring serious attention from various police and intelligence agencies. GI organizers will most likely be infiltrated by government agents, as will their civilian supporters. The government spies will be there to provide intelligence, to provoke disputes, to incite violence, to isolate and entrap leaders, and, in general, to attempt to undermine the resistance.

10) To my knowledge, not a single civilian was prosecuted during the Vietnam War for “aiding and abetting” AWOL GI’s or for stirring up resistance within the military. Why this is the case, I do not know. Perhaps government and military leaders did not want to bring attention to the GI resistance. There are certainly laws on the books they could use. In the age of Homeland Security, anything is possible. But until the government begins to aggressively pursue those who are supporting GI resisters, we should consider this activity to be relatively low risk.

11) There is a taboo in the antiwar movement against actually calling on the troops to resist. Only Iraq Veterans Against the War have begun to cross that line (see video above). What is behind this taboo? I believe there are a number of factors. One is fear of the perceived legal jeopardy. As I addressed above, this is somewhat of a myth. Nobody has been prosecuted for encouraging GI’s to resist, not during the Vietnam War and not since.

12) Another part of the taboo against calling on the troops to resist is that many antiwar organizations, especially the larger and more established, are organized as nonprofit organizations (501c3) for purposes of receiving tax-deductible organizations. They fear they might lose their nonprofit status if they advocate actions the government would consider illegal. To my knowledge, this has not happened. But nonprofits’ boards of directors tend to be pretty conservative about such matters. Many of them also wrongfully believe that their nonprofit status will be jeopardized if they engage in any advocacy or support legislative proposals.

13) Then there are the moral and ethical concerns. Some activists say that civilians don’t have the right to tell GI’s what they should be doing. Others say we should not put the moral burden for ending the war upon the soldiers. These concerns are worth exploring.

14) To me, the most compelling concern is this: If we encourage GI’s to resist, are we going to be there for them when they do? If they are court-martialed, will we bring legal and political support? If they go to jail, will we remember them? If they go AWOL, will we help them? Can we provide them with housing and money? Can we help them get to a safe haven outside the U.S.? Can we provide them with sanctuary within the U.S.? These are the very capacities that some of us are working to develop.

15) Underlying many of these concerns, I believe, is a very profound question: If we ask GI’s to take the risks involved with resisting within the military, or going AWOL, are we willing to share those risks? Not everybody is in a position to do so. And relatively few people are committed enough to risk the potential disruption of their lives, up to and including political persecution and possible imprisonment. In other words, if we aren’t ready to put our lives on the line, how can we ask these young soldiers to do so?

16) Well, some of us are willing to put our lives on the line. But this is more easily said than done. Most activists have families, jobs, careers and recreational activities that are important to them. They may be struggling financially or with health concerns. It is hard enough to attend meetings or to go to demonstrations. Even relatively tame civil disobedience actions will give many people pause. This is understandable, but should it mean that we do not call on GI’s to resist?

17) I do believe it is important for those of us who encourage GI resistance, directly or indirectly, to be prepared to come to the aid of those who heed our call. On the other hand, I do not believe that GI’s face any greater risk from resisting the war than they do from being part of the war. GI resisters do not generally risk their lives, their limbs, brain damage, PTSD, their ability to love their families, etc. But all of these horrible things are epidemic among those who go to war.

18) What does a GI actually risk by resisting? A lot. Persecution by military superiors. Disapproval and rejection by fellow GI’s. Disapproval and rejection by some family members. Self doubt and loss of self-esteem. Jail time. The stigma of a less-than-honorable discharge. The inability to support their family. Jeopardy to educational and career goals.

19) And AWOL soldiers risk the trauma of prolonged separation from their families (but the war does that too). Those who leave the country may not be able to return without facing prosecution. And they face an uncertain future in their new country. There is plenty of stress and trauma, for sure. But how does that compare to the risks and trauma and moral consequences of going to war? GI’s who refuse, in one way or another, to go to war, are actually decreasing the risks to themselves – physically, psychologically and morally.

20) I believe it is time for the antiwar movement to relocate to the gates of every military base in this country, and abroad. Democracy has failed in Washington. Seventy percent of the U.S. people want the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. But the Congress says no way. And the presidential candidates of both parties say no way. In this election cycle, the antiwar movement should not spend one ounce of its energy backing any candidate who is not credibly committed to ending the war and giving Iraq back to the Iraqis.

21) Instead of wasting our energy on the politicians, we in the antiwar movement should take democracy into our own hands. The slogan “Troops Out Now” should be directed at the troops themselves. We should encourage and assist our citizen soldiers to vote with their feet. As Bertold Brecht famously suggested, the war machine cannot function if the troops won’t fight. Even the drones and the robots require humans to direct and repair them.

22) This is somewhat of a revolutionary proposal. But it now appears that nothing short of a revolutionary movement will bring an end to the Iraq War. Nothing less than a revolutionary movement will prevent the next war. And nothing less than a revolutionary movement will finally put an end to the global warring that is a central component of U.S. imperialism.

23) I’m not saying we need to build a revolutionary party or prepare ourselves for armed revolution. But we need to think like revolutionaries and act like revolutionaries. We need to shed the illusion that we can end the cycle of U.S. war mongering though polite discourse with our congresswoman. We have to internalize the fact that we are, in fact, at war with our own government and system. We have to be willing to take risks. And we have to be willing to ask others to take risks, especially when it is in their own interests.

24) When we ask GI’s to take the risk of resisting, we will not be putting an unethical burden upon them. We will probably be saving their lives. And, yes, we must be there for them too. We must share the risks. Maybe we’ll be saving our lives too.

25) This is the context I see for supporting “war resisters.” Our goal should be to empower the soldiers to play their historical role in the worldwide movement to end to U.S. militarism. Not everyone to agree with this perspective. Activists from many different perspectives can still provide war resisters with valuable support, be it counseling on their legal options, money, housing, transportation, political support, or helping them make their voices heard.

26) It is one thing to oppose a war, it is another to actually resist it. Even many peace activists oppose actions that might violate the law. They consider it reckless to call for GI resistance, or even to tell GI’s they can go to Canada. What’s up with that? It’s time to change the paradigm.

27) Another thing that is holding us back is that hardly anybody really knows how to do this work. Few people have any relevant experience. And the mostly middle class and over-40 peace movement does not know how to talk to the poor and working class youth of today’s “volunteer” military. But it’s high time we started learning. By trial and error. For those of us in the Northwest, what better laboratory than Fort Lewis, one of the largest Army bases providing troops to the Iraq War. The local papers announce the deaths of Washington state GI’s almost daily. Where are we?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Gerry Condon

Soldier Say No / Project Safe Haven
SoldierSayNo@yahoo.com, projectsafehaven@hotmail.com
www.SoldierSayNo.blogspot.com

(206) 499-1220

Anti-war protestors bring music to Capitol

2007-09-28T08:19:00.001-07:00

from The Daily Colonial:

Posted Thursday, September 27 2007 11:48:58 pm

By Morgan Davis
The Daily Colonial

Music with a message hit Washington this week as anti-war activists hosted a concert series to raise awareness for their cause.

"Rock the Rulers" is part of a week-long encampment next to the Capitol's West Side reflecting pool hosted by the Troops Out Now Coalition, a New York City-based grassroots movement, along with Artists and Activists United for Peace.

The movement will hit its peak Saturday, with a march beginning at noon at the Capitol. This is the second encampment this year for Troops Out Now, who teamed up with other organizations to reach a broader range of supporters through music and entertainment.

"We want to make the connection between the war abroad and the war at home," said Troops Out Now Media Liaison LeilLani Dowell. "We realize that culture is a very important part of this too."

Dowell and other organizers and volunteers spent the week putting up tents, booths, and a small stage to vie for attention while debates for war funding rage in Capitol Hill.

"They could force the issue," said Dowell, referring to the Democrats elected to Congress last November. "We are trying to hold them accountable."

The event attracted a wide variety of visitors. Topics of interest brought up at tables and during the entertainment include support for Katrina survivors, Code Pink (a movement of women against war in Iraq), immigrant workers' rights, money for health care, and education.

Each night, from 8 p.m. until midnight, musicians from around the country performed on stage, expressing frustrations and hopes for peace. Though many performers are scheduled for specific slots throughout the week, organizers encourage anyone to come and share their art and passions on stage.

Carol Ann Moccio ’10 is one of the people attracted to the encampment by the prospect of joining music with the anti-war movement. A self-proclaimed Beatles fan and peace activist, Moccio said she found out about "Rock the Rulers" after seeing the movie "Across the Universe" with friends. The Beatles-inspired musical featured the struggle of young Americans during the Vietnam War as they attempted to give peace a chance.

"I was like 'Wow, I want to continue that'," said Moccio. "Hopefully our generation can be as motivated as theirs."

Moccio said looking up "D.C. peace marches" on the Internet led her to the "Rock the Rulers" Web site.

Dowell said she thinks the currently college-aged generation and older ones are fed up with war and are responding to the music.

"We've seen a lot more people come through than the last time," she said. "It's time to heighten the struggle as much as possible."

Moccio said that she thinks that the appeal of music is going to help more students identify with the cause.

"Music is something that is special for everyone," she said, noting that many students may not be incredibly passionate about the anti-war movement, but will find the music a great incentive to become involved.

Michelle Dar of Portland, Ore., biked across the country with her partner and three daughters to participate in the protests. They were part of the "bike for peace" that ended in Washington with participants getting involved in actions for peace.

"We refuse to be silent," Dar said. "We'll put our bodies and our families out there."

Dar says that she and her family have been enjoying the nightly music outside the Capitol. Her daughter Tala danced and sang along to the Black Eyed Pea's "Where is the Love?" on stage Tuesday night. Dar finds the enthusiasm of those at the encampment empowering.

"It's tremendously inspiring, and reminds us why we are here," Dar said. "It gives us the courage to do more. The people have had enough. The people are rising up."

Encampment targets FEMA, ICE & Congress

2007-09-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

By LeiLani Dowell
Washington, D.C.

Published Sep 27, 2007 12:26 AM

Anti-war activists, veterans, military families and community organizers from across the U.S.—from as far away as Oregon, Florida and Maine—arrived here beginning Sept. 22 for the Encampment to Stop the War at Home and Abroad, a tent city positioned in front of the Capitol building organized by the Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC).

WW photos: LeiLani Dowell

The Encampment will culminate in a march on Sept. 29 with multiple targets: Congress for its complicity in funding the war; the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its continued racist neglect of the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices for the anti-worker raids and detentions against immigrants.

On Sept. 22, a large banner was erected that reads, “Congress, the whole world is watching: CUT OFF WAR FUNDS.” The Encampment is timed to coincide with the expiration of the current round of funding for the war and the ongoing debates in Congress. The appropriations passed in the last session of Congress are due to expire on Oct. 1.

Parked in front of the Encampment is the tour bus of Iraq Veterans Against the War, which features large signs reading, “Don’t attack Iran” and “Impeach Bush.” Along with TONC, Code Pink—Women for Peace, the Green Party and others have pitched their tents. More tents will be pitched as Katrina survivors, youth and students, Cuba solidarity and immigrants rights activists arrive in the coming days.

Press conference announces Encampment

Organizers held a press conference Sept. 24 to announce the Encampment and the mass march on Sept. 29. TONC spokesperson Larry Holmes opened, saying, “The Democrats say they want to cut war funding but they can’t get past a veto. But they could simply make sure the funding question doesn’t get to the floor.”

Rev. Lennox Yearwood spoke about unity in the struggle: “I’m so pleased to see support here for the struggle in Jena; I was pleased to hear, in Jena, people talking about how the bombs in Baghdad are affecting people in the United States. ... Our struggles will continue, but we will win.” Yearwood was recently beaten by D.C. police at an anti-war press conference.

Adam Kokesh, co-chair of the board of directors of Iraq Veterans Against the War, described his organization’s demands, including immediate withdrawal of all forces from Iraq—”and we mean Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Blackwater, Halliburton”—and full payment of reparations to the people of Iraq.

Nana Soul of Artists and Activists United for Peace described the weeklong concert being held as part of the Encampment. “The movement needs cultural inspiration, talent and creativity. We know that [Iraq] isn’t the first time that the United States has invaded a sovereign nation. ... We have a chance to translate the [U.S. government’s] actions.”

Representing the Green Party, Vietnam War veteran Rick Clemens stressed: “This war is about imperialism, about the exploitation of labor power and markets of other peoples. There is no thing as ending the war without ending the economic system that perpetuates war—capitalism.”

WW photo: Dustin Langley

Toby Blomé of Code Pink described the encampments their group has undertaken at Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s house, after months of her refusing to meet with them to discuss war funding. They plan on visiting her office regularly during the Encampment and will be fasting throughout the week; the group hosted an organizing meeting on Sept. 24 at the Encampment.

Vernon Hoffman, who biked 4,500 miles with his family from Portland, Ore., to join the Encampment, said he’d “rather bike for peace than kill for oil.”

Lastly, a young war resister described how he enlisted in the military in 2005 because of limited career opportunities in his rural hometown. However, he says, “I happened to join at the same time as Hurricane Katrina, and I saw on TV the bodies floating in the streets. It really hit home to me. I got out of training 25 weeks later and nothing had changed. Despite all the rhetoric about homeland security and national security, this government’s priorities are not for the people.”

Hub of anti-war activity

The Encampment has become a veritable hub of anti-war activity in the D.C. Metro area. At daily morning and evening meetings, activists converge to plan their outreach strategies to build for the mass march on Sept. 29.

From the Encampment, teams have fanned throughout the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., areas putting up posters, handing out leaflets, riding in sound cars and talking to students on campuses and workers on the streets. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

In addition, passersby to the Encampment, including many tourists, have been appreciative of its work. An activist reported that one such person showed his identification card—as an employee of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. He assured the activist that many people in the Green Zone in Iraq are in agreement with the sentiments of the Encampment.

‘Get out of Iraq! Stay out of Iran!’

Responding to the venomous attacks against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his visit to New York for a UN General Assembly meeting, Encampment activists piled into the IVAW bus on Sept. 26 and rode to the White House, where they held a picket line to demand, “Get out of Iraq! Stay out of Iran!” Recalling the demonization of former Iraqi President Sassam Hussein, activists denounced the attacks on Ahmadinejad as an attempt to prepare the U.S. population for an expansion of the war to Iran.

Upcoming events include a discussion on the war at home in Washington, D.C.—where libraries are closing, thousands of units of affordable housing have been lost, and residents can’t vote—hosted by the Green Party; an event entitled “Justice for the Jena 6, Katrina/Rita survivors and immigrant workers: Fighting racism is building solidarity”; a vigil with the cast of the movie “SiCKO” for those who have died due to inadequate health care; a youth and student day of action; and events to free the Cuban 5 and to demand an end to political repression in the Philippines.

For more information, visit www.troopsoutnow.org.

E-mail: ldowell@workers.org

SEPT 29: NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

2007-09-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

SEPT 29: NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Gather at reflecting pool on west side of Capitol at 11 a.m for rally
March will step off between 1 and 2 pm, and will pass by the Department of Health and Human Resources, FEMA headquarters and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency headquarters before returning to the Capitol for an ending rally. The purpose of this route is to draw attention to the resources that should be invested in health care instead of being spent on war; the ongoing injustices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina; and the campaign against immigrants.
Volunteers needed at 8:30 am.

Nearest METRO stop: Federal Center SW (on Blue line and Orange line)
Bus dropoff: west side of 3rd Street between Constitution and Independence (which is at the site of the Encampment to Stop the War)
Bus pickup: same location.
Buses should make their own parking arrangements at Union Station garage, 40 Massachusetts Ave NE (3 blocks from the rally and march site). Union Station information: 202-371-9441.

Encampment participants disrupt Senate hearing on war funding

2007-09-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

Today, Sept. 26, Code Pink and the Troops Out Now Coalition disrupted the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Byrd on war funding.

Holding signs and wearing signs against war and Congressional complicity on war funding, a large group of 30 to 50 people left chanting "Troops out! Stop war! Stop war funding!" An activist from Code Pink was arrested.

The forces involved in the disruption are part of the weeklong Encampment in front of the Capitol reflection pool, that will culminate in a mass march on Sat., Sept. 29. The Encampment and march are demanding an end to war funding and immediate withdrawal of all troops. Events at the Encampment have focused on the impacts of the war at home and abroad.

NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE! FREE THE JENA 6! Eyewitness reports, Jena, LA., Sept. 20

2007-09-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

By Gloria Rubac

A militant, dignified and powerful sea of mostly African Americans filled almost every street in the small rural town of Jena, La., today to let the world know that Jim Crow injustice is not going to be tolerated any longer.

With chants of “Enough is enough--Free the Jena Six” and “No justice, no peace, no racist police!” throngs of people protested in front of the LaSalle Parish Courthouse, on the lawn of the Jena High School, in a large city park and on many city streets.

They came from all over the United States, mostly from every single Southern state, by train, plane, bus, motorcycle and car, to support the Jena Six.

Dozens of historically Black colleges and universities had delegations, including Texas Southern University, Prairie View A & M University, Paul Quinn College, Dillard University, Spelman College, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, North Carolina Central University and Southern University.

Of the buses from Houston and surrounding areas, two were from Prairie View, three were from Texas Southern, and three had working people, students, youth and elders. Hundreds from Dallas caravanned with their churches, universities or groups of friends.

Many in Jena had never marched before but came with their school. Many others were working people who had taken a day off; a large number of them had participated in the 1960s civil rights marches and protests.

Some groups of families and elders sat in portable, lightweight chairs in groups of 10 to 25, talking about the Jena Six, eating homemade picnic lunches, and reminiscing about the struggles that brought about the victories of the civil rights movement. They eagerly accepted literature and signed petitions.

A large delegation from North Carolina Central University Law School sat together in maroon law school shirts, taking in all the activities with wide eyes. One young woman commented, “I thought this only happened in history books. And here I am!”

A middle-class Black family sat together in lawn chairs with a big sign that read “No justice, no peace—OKC” and had a large peace sign in the middle. When asked if the “OKC” meant Oklahoma City, they proudly said that they had driven all night from there to be a part of history and take a stand in support of the Jena Six.

Working Black ranchers from rural Florida attended. They said to tell everyone that Black ranchers were represented in Jena and emphasized that they not only owned their ranches but also worked them every day.

Folks from all over Louisiana attended, from big cities like Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lake Charles to small towns like Broussard, New Iberia, Bunkie, Wilson, Houma, Crowley and Opelousous.

Traditional civil rights organizations were well represented. Large groups carried NAACP signs from many cities. The SCLC also had hundreds of signs.

There were also members of the New Black Panther Party, the Millions More Movement, the National Black United Front, and many other activist and militant organizations.

People on top of a large white RV owned by Robert Clark of Monroe, La. spoke to the crowds all morning. A man recited Martin Luther King’s speech on Vietnam as well as his “I Have a Dream” speech from the 1963 march on Washington.

Supporters donated bail money all day for Mychal Bell, one of the Jena Six. Over $18,000 was collected in donations of $5, $10, $20 and $100. The crowd on that block cheered every time someone put a bill in the box. Clark gave their names and home city. When it was announced that over $18,000 had been raised and that they would try to bail out Mychal Bell that afternoon, the crowd went wild.

Because every street in Jena has only two small lanes, and because the courthouse rally had an inadequate sound system for such a huge crowd, each block began its own impromptu rallies, street meetings, drumming, second line dancing, picnics, reunions, conga lines and marches.

The mood of the crowd was very serious, militant and determined. Many conveyed the feeling that they knew the whole world was watching Jena and so they were careful to maintain discipline while being excited, angry and focused. Participants picked up every scrap of paper and every empty water bottle off lawns and streets.

Taking photos and videos was the order of the day. At the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement table, several people asked that the banner be held straighter as they snapped the shutter so folks at home could see who was there in Jena.

Two men from Mobile, Ala., held a big white banner. They asked people to sign it so they could send it to the Jena Six families. It read, “Free the Jena Six—Mobile, Alabama.” Hundreds of people signed with their names and hometowns.

At least a dozen different Jena Six tee shirts were being sold. Many organizations had come wearing their own originally designed shirts. Others sold shirts on the street. Some tee shirts depicted the virulent racism in Jena, by showing nooses or "The White Tree,” and some had quotes by noted civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. Over 90 percent of the crowd wore black, as requested by organizers.

Some sympathetic whites in Jena waved to the buses while sitting in their yards. One elderly man gave two thumbs up to the crowd and told them,” Thanks for coming!"

Despite the 90-degree heat and not a cloud in the sky, people were focused and unity was the theme. Everyone agreed that each state has its own Jena, that it isn’t just Louisiana. And all left with a determination to continue the fight, not only for the Jena Six but for justice, when they get back to their homes.

Gloria Rubac is from Houston where she is an organizer with the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement.

====================================================================

EYEWITNESS REPORT, Jena, LA., Sept. 20

By Dianne Mathiowetz

There is probably no way to determine the exact number of people who filled the streets of Jena, La., for more than 12 hours today.

It was both a work and a school day in this small town in rural Louisiana, far from any major population center and accessible mainly by a two-lane road. Yet, from dawn until dusk, the scene in downtown Jena was one of an ever-flowing crowd of people wearing black tee shirts--people of all ages but of one mind: to demand justice now for six African-American teen-agers whose prosecution for a schoolyard fight with a white classmate illuminates the racial disparities endemic to the U.S. justice system.

It is clear to all that many, many thousands gathered in Jena. Was it 100,000, as some say? For sure, tens of thousands came representing hundreds of thousands; came demanding justice for the millions of African-American people throughout the country who suffer daily from racial discrimination, national oppression and racist profiling.

When millions of immigrants demonstrated on May 1, one year ago, to demand dignity and human rights, the corporate media, as usual, was oblivious to the massive mobilizations taking place in communities of color. Jena is no exception.

Arrogant in their ability to define what is news and smugly confident that people have been rendered incapable of acting in their own interests, the major television networks and newspapers scrambled to catch up with these historic actions.

A vital element is the role of the radio talk show hosts whose programs aired the issues concerning the community.

Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner and other nationally syndicated radio personalities played a major role in alerting Black communities across the country to the situation that was unfolding in Jena.

Many youth, especially on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities, became educated about the case through the Internet. Blogs aroused students to mount demonstrations and rallies and teach-ins on their campuses as schools came into session this fall. The Color Of Change activists harnessed this technology to blast the case all over cyberspace.

The support of Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Nation of Islam, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other national organizations and famous personalities were important in bringing the case to light and persisting, despite the lack of interest by the corporate media.

The grass-roots character of many of the organizers showed everywhere. Those who chartered and filled hundreds of buses were first-time demonstrators from colleges and universities; union members from Detroit's auto plants and Teamsters from Atlanta; church women, Black business people; parents; and neighborhood activists mostly from towns and cities across the South but also from the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest and West Coast.

Carloads of families and friends drove for hours, bringing children so they could be part of “making history."

Grey-haired seniors who had experienced the terror of Klan night-riders and lynchings during the 1960s; residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast who have survived criminal neglect and injury by the government during Katrina and Rita; mothers and fathers who can never escape worrying about whether their children will be victims of police brutality, all melded together in the courthouse square, in parks where parallel rallies were taking place, and along the streets in front of shuttered businesses.

The slogans on two of the most common signs explain why the protest defied all expectations: "Enough is enough" and "We are the Jena 6."

Distrust of the justice system, the presence of inequality every day decades after the passage of civil rights legislation, the ever-looming possible loss of employment, housing, healthcare and education, and the weight of endless war and occupation caused an eruption from below.

It was a remarkable day, not just in Jena but everywhere else that people rallied and marched in solidarity, wore black to work or school, and talked about organizing to make a change.

Dianne Mathiowetz is a leader of the Atlanta chapter of the International Action Center.

Press Conference announces Encampment and Mass March

2007-09-25T10:20:00.001-07:00

A press conference was held Sept. 24 to announce the Encampment and the mass march on Sept. 29. Larry Holmes of the Troops Out Now Coalition opened the conference, saying, "The Democrats say they want to cut war funding but they can't get past a veto. We know this isn't true. They could simply make sure the funding question doesn't get to the floor. Meanwhile, Bush is prepared to veto $30 to $35 billion for health care for children."

Holmes also discussed the serious threat of a new war on Iran: "Iranian President Ahmadinejad is being demonized in the media, and we're not naive. We know that they are preparing the population for an expansion of the war in Iraq to war in Iran. But the biggest terrorists are in the world sit in the White House."

Rev. Lennox Yearwood spoke about unity in the people's struggle against multiple wars: "I'm so pleased to see support here at the Encampment for the struggle in Jena; I was pleased to hear, in Jena, people talking about how the bombs in Baghdad are affecting people in the United States. ... If it calls for getting arrested, getting in the way, then we'll get arrested and get in the way. Our struggles will continue, but we will win." Yearwood was recently beaten by D.C. police at an anti-war press conference.

Adam Kokesh, Co-Chair of the board of directors for Iraq Veterans Against the War described his organization's demands, including immediate withdrawal of all forces from Iraq, "and when we say all forces, we mean Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Blackwater, Halliburton"; and full payment of reparations to the people of Iraq.

Nana Soul of Artists and Activists United for Peace, a TONC member organization, described the weeklong concert that is being held as part of the Encampment. "The movement needs cultural inspiration, talent and creativity. Iraq may be the issue today, but we know that this isn't the first time that the United States has invaded a sovereign nation. They use tools at home like not funding health care and education. We have a chance to translate these actions."

Rick Clemens, Ann Wilcox and Joyce Robinson-Paul represented the Green Party. Clemens, a Vietnam War veteran, stressed: "This war is about imperialism, about the exploitation of labor power and markets of other peoples. There is no thing as ending the war without ending the economic system that perpetuates war--capitalism." Wilcox discussed the effects of the war at home in Washington, D.C., where neighborhood libraries are being closed and thousands of affordable housing units have been lost.

Toby Blomé of Code Pink Women for Peace described the two encampments their group has undertaken at Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's house, after she refused to meet with them to discuss war funding for three months. They plan on going to her office regularly during the Encampment and will be fasting for the week as "another way to show commitment to ending the occupation and bringing the troops home."

Vernon Hoffman, who biked 4,500 miles with his family from Portland, Oregon to join the Encampment, said he'd "rather bike for peace than kill for oil." He described how throughout the country, people took opened up their homes for the family and their anti-war message.

Lastly, a young war resister described how he enlisted in the military in 2005 because of limited career opportunities in his hometown. However, he says, "I happened to join at the same time as Hurricane Katrina, and I saw on TV the bodies floating in the streets. It really hit home to me. I got out of training 25 weeks later and nothing had changed. Despite all the rhetoric about homeland security and national security, this government's priorities are not for the people."

Other actions at the Encampment today included an event on Pelosi hosted by Code Pink, and an outreach sound truck caravan through the streets of D.C. to mobilize for the march on the 29th.

9/25 3PM - EMERGENCY NO WAR ON IRAN DEMO AT WHITE HOUSE

2007-09-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

Join us at the White House in an emergency protest, Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. to demand:

NO WAR ON IRAN!

As Iran's president prepares to speak to the UN General Assembly, a tsunami of pro-war propaganda is being aimed against yet another oil-rich country in the Middle East.

The Troops Out Now Coalition, which is currently staging an Encampment at the Capitol to tell Congress to stop funding the war against Iraq and instead fund people's needs at home, will be marching to the White House to tell Bush:

Get out of Iraq and stay out of Iran!

TONC calls on progressive organizations and the anti-war movement to join it and stand against the racist demonization of Iran. The Bush administration is trying to divert attention from its crimes in Iraq, where an immense humanitarian crisis rages because of the war and continued occupation.

The world's No. 1 terrorist lives in the White House!

Gather at 2 p.m. at the TONC Encampment near 3rd St. on the west side of the Capitol, by the Reflecting Pool.

Join us at the Lafayette Park side of the White House for a
3 p.m. protest. Don't let the oil billionaires start yet another war!

Press Conference 9/24 3PM

2007-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE WAR

7 days of Resistance & Protest

In front of the Capitol
3rd & Constitution

** Press Conference 9/24 3PM **

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
LeiLani Dowell 1-917-701-7593
Dustin Langley 1-646-354-8056
Frank Neisser 1-617-792-8136
http://troopsoutnow.org

When: Monday, September 24, 3:00 p.m.

Where: Anti-war Encampment on the West Side of the Capitol Reflection Pool,
near 3rd Street on the Capitol Mall

THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS HAVE THE POWER TO CUT OFF WAR FUNDING--THE MOVEMENT MUST MAKE THEM DO IT

MARCH ON WASHINGTON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
STOP THE WAR BY CUTTING OFF WAR FUNDING

The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) will be holding a press conference on Monday, Sept. 24 at 3 pm at the site of a weeklong anti-war Encampment, on the Capitol mall at the west side of the reflection pool.

Participants in Monday's press conference will include:

• Adam Kokesh, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and other Iraq veterans
• Members of the Hoffman family, which traveled 4,500 miles by bicycle from Portland, Oregon to attend the Encampment
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus
• Nana Soul, Artists and Activists United for Peace
• Rev. Graylan Scott Hagler, Plymouth Congregational Church, DC
• Anne Wright, career Army veteran and former State Dept. official
• Larry Holmes, Vietnam War GI resister and spokesperson for TONC
• Representatives from Code Pink, the Green Party, the student movement, labor and the community.

This week, Congress begins preparation for voting on President Bush and the Pentagon's request for $200 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Saturday, Sept. 29, thousands will gather at the anti-war Encampment to march and demand that not one more dollar be approved for war.

TONC spokesperson Larry Holmes said: "The Democrats in Congress don't need enough votes to override a presidential veto in order to cut off all war funding. All the leadership of Congress has to do is simply keep any vote on war funding from coming to the floor, or even getting out of the Senate or House Appropriations committees."

Participants at the press conference will discuss plans for the Sept. 29 march and the five days of action at the Encampment before the big march.

-30-

NYC Outreach Meeting and Updates

2007-09-24T08:44:00.001-07:00

NYC Outreach Meeting and Updates

There will be a volunteers outreach meeting this week on Wednesday at 7PM. Some of us will already be in Washington at the Encampment. We still need to try to do last minute leafleting at rush hour. When we were out leafleting at Times Square on Saturday afternoon, we met some people who decided to go to March. One man who is an EMS worker came back to tell us that he had called in to his work to get the day off and it was granted.

We will also need many volunteers for many tasks at the demonstration on September 29th. If you are able to take on a task, please come to the table with the "Volunteer sign-in" sign.

Remember to purchase your bus tickets if you haven't already. .

For more information, call 212.633.6646

Leafletting at FIT

2007-09-23T17:58:00.001-07:00

Well, I've been posting leaflets on the bulletin boards at the Fashion Institute of Technology here in Manhattan, where I take a Spanish class. They stay up a day or two until removed. This week I hear it paid off, and someone from the school called the office and will leaflet with one of the regulars tomorrow.

John C

Outreach

2007-09-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

photo from www.joemygod.blogspot.com

Yesterday I ran into these folks in the Times Square subway station as they were handing out flyers for next's week's anti-war March On Washington. The events, according to the Troops Out Now site:
A weeklong encampment directly in front of Congress. A giant billboard and round-the-clock political challenge to Congress to STOP funding the war . Actions every day and resistance music and culture every evening. We are open to many displays and actions. Just contact us with your ideas.

Every day - music, spoken word, creative acts of resistance and protest. People from around the country will start arriving on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. The Encampment will expand to major actions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, culminating in a mass march on Saturday, September 29.
-reposted from joemygod.blogspot.com

Family bicycles 4500 miles to join Encampment to Stop the War

2007-09-22T12:53:00.001-07:00

Vernon Hoffman, Michelle Darr, Tala, Willow and Grace bicycled all the way from Portland,

for more information see www.catalystsofhope.org Oregon to join the Encampment to Stop the War. They will be with us all week and will participate in the national march on September 29.

Momentum for encampment and September 29 growing in DC-MD-VA area

2007-09-19T19:25:00.001-07:00

Activity and excitement for the week long encampment against the war at home and abroad and the mass September 29th march is growing here in the MD-DC-VA area as the encampment and march draw closer. Posters and stickers are appearing all over the DC area letting people know about the activities. Local schools and universities are being leafletted and postered, and the response is enthusiastic. The students are excited to hear about the continuous rock the rulers concert that will be happening at the encampment, and the student actions on the 28th and the 29th. There is a great response to the idea that actions and contingents will focus on how the war in Iraq is also a war at home -- that the cast of SiCKO will particpate saying the money for the war needs to go toward health care; that there will be activities focusing on Katrina, saying money should go to enabling the victims of Katrina and Rita to return to their homes, not for killing people in Iraq and Afghanistan. Outreach will be continuing every day this week and on during the week of the encampment itself. Crews will participate in the demonstration that will happen here in DC tomorrow (Thursday the 20th) in solidarity with the Jenna 6, and also at universities and around the city. Your help is needed. If you can help out with outreach in the DC-MD-VA area, log on to the tonc site and fill in the volunteer form or the "contact us" comments form and let us know!

Frank-- DC TONC

Camp out on Congress’s doorstep to say "No funds for racist occupation!"

2007-09-19T09:33:00.001-07:00

Camp out on Congress's doorstep to say

No funds for racist occupation!

By LeiLani Dowell

Published Sep 16, 2007 11:23 PM
www.workers.org

An exciting lineup of events has been announced to directly confront Congress and its complicity in the wars at home and abroad. As Congress meets to vote on spending billions more on the war in Iraq, people from across the country will be participating in a week-long encampment at its doorstep.

An article in the Sept. 6 New York Times shows exactly why actions directly challenging Congress are so important. Entitled "Democrats Newly Willing to Compromise on Iraq," the article details the Democrats' newest double-cross of the anti-war voters who supported them in November 2006.

Rather than call for a spring deadline for the withdrawal of all troops—which in itself is unsatisfactory to a large part of the U.S. population who want all the troops removed immediately—a new proposal authored by Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed would, according to the Times, "order the administration to begin pulling at least some combat troops out of Iraq, probably by the end of the year." The article states that these senators believe that the compromises will somehow allow them to "keep pressure on President Bush."

Apparently the Democrats envision the continuation of the war, which will require troops to go back to Iraq after they have come home. A proposal that is being revisited by Democratic senators would require that troops can be returned to Iraq only after they have spent an equal amount of time in the United States.

Convergence of grassroots forces

Meanwhile, the multinational, anti-imperialist Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) says in a recent statement: "As Congress debates Bush's new funding request, we must be there to let them know that ... [w]e cannot wait for more phony deadlines—we need to set a deadline and demand that the troops be brought home now."

TONC activists throughout the country have been busy mobilizing and planning for the Sept. 22-29 Encampment to Stop the War at Home and Abroad. Activities include the construction of a giant billboard, on the first day of the encampment, demanding "Congress: stop funding the war—fund peoples' needs."

Sept. 27 is being billed as "Stop the War at Home Day," in which Katrina survivors from New Orleans and their allies will protest the racism and neglect of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and immigrant rights activists will denounce the raids and detentions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Youth and students have called for a day of action on Sept. 28. A statement explaining the action states: "Youth and students, from the U.S. to Iraq, are underattack. Military recruiters prey on our communities and our campuses, trying to get us and our friends to kill and be killed in a criminal war. Money that should be being spent to make education affordable for everyone and provide scholarships is instead being spent to continue the four-and-a-half year old occupation of Iraq.

"Police harass us for simply being young, for being a person of color, or for being lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer. Bush's top war adviser, Army Lt.Gen. Douglas Lute, says that 'it makes sense to certainly consider' reinstating the draft. It's time to raise our voices and our fists and fight back."

The cast of "SiCKO"—Michael Moore's movie exposing the depravity of the for-profit health care system—will be present at the encampment, holding a vigil on Sept. 28 for all the victims of that industry, and organizing a "Healthcare, Not Warfare" contingent in the mass march the following day.

Other actions planned include events against U.S. intervention in Latin America, against a new war in Iran, and in solidarity with Cuba and the Cuban 5.

In Los Angeles, a parallel encampment will be taking place, with two tent cities in different areas of the sprawling city. Events there include a 15-mile march between the two tent cities, a protest in support of the Palestinian struggle, a teach-in on the war and labor solidarity, and more. (Workers World, Sept. 9)

Cultural resistance

The encampment will also reflect the important and vital role that culture plays in movements of resistance to capitalist oppression and imperialist rule.

"Rock the Rulers," an evening concert series of culture and resistance, will be held each night of the encampment, featuring hip hop, soul, r&b, funk, visual arts, theater and spoken word from artists throughout the country, including Nana Soul, Spirit Child, Pam Parker, Public Disturbance, Days of Rage, Bojah and the Insurrection, World War III Arts Collective, Not Now Right Now, Enemy Combatant, The Foundation, Nemiss, Hasan Salaam, Kahlil Khan, Phase One, Head-Roc, Rahula Today, Rebel Diaz, Soul Cannon, Strike Anywhere, Songs for Peace, Children United for Peace and more.

On Sept. 28, BAYAN USA, the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, and TONC will host an outdoor concert billed "Never Again." A flyer for the event states: "Join Filipino-American artists' call for withdrawal of U.S. military aid for Philippine death squads and an end to the undeclared martial law under the Arroyo government. This concert is dedicated to all victims of Philippine martial law past and present."

All these events will culminate with a mass march on Sept. 29 to stop the war at home and abroad, demanding an end to all occupations—from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti and the Philippines—an end to racist police terror, freedom for all political prisoners and money for social services, not war.

For more information on all these activities, visit www.troopsoutnow.org.

E-mail: ldowell@workers.org

September 20: Protest Racism in Jena - Free the Jena 6!

2007-09-16T16:59:00.001-07:00

September 20: Protest Racism in Jena - Free the Jena 6!

Bus from Charlotte, NC, click here.

Background: Last fall, when two Black high school students sat under the "white" tree on their campus, white students responded by hanging nooses from the tree. When Black students protested the light punishment for the students who hung the nooses, District Attorney Reed Walters came to the school and told the students he could "take [their] lives away with a stroke of [his] pen."

Racial tension continued to mount in Jena, and the District Attorney did nothing in response to several egregious cases of violence and threats against black students. But when a white student--who had been a vocal supporter of the students who hung the nooses--taunted a black student, allegedly called several black students "nigger", and was beaten up by black students, six black students were charged with second-degree attempted murder. Last month, the first young man to be tried, Mychal Bell, was convicted. Later this month, he will be sentenced to up to 22 years in prison for a school fight.

The Call to Action:

On September 20th, Mychal Bell--the first of the Jena 6 to be convicted--is scheduled for sentencing. If the District Attorney has his way, Mychal will face 22 years in prison. It's a horrifying moment for Mychal, his parents, and the rest of the Jena 6 families. It's also a perfect time for those who can to come to Jena, in person, and stand with them. We know it's a serious time and financial commitment, but we wanted to give you the opportunity to join the hundreds of people who have already emailed us to say that they will come. If you can join us, please click on the link below to RSVP:

http://colorofchange.org/jena/rsvp.html

Our presence in Jena--in large numbers--will help focus media attention on the situation in Jena, escalate pressure on Louisiana public officials, and most importantly, show the families of the Jena 6, especially Mychal Bell and his parents, that we will stand with them in the face of this injustice.

On July 31st, with only a few days to prepare, 300 people from across the country rallied at the Jena Courthouse. We delivered a petition signed by 43,000 ColorOfChange.org members to the District Attorney demanding that he drop the charges against the Jena 6. It was a powerful day that made it clear that the Jena 6 and their families won't have to fight on their own. Since then, more than 100,000 people have taken action and contacted the Governor, media attention to the case has grown, and we have an even bigger opportunity to make a profound impact.

As we plan for this event, we want to get a sense of how many people can commit to coming to Jena. Below are some details about getting there, so you can figure out if you'll be able to join us.

Details

If you're flying to Louisiana, the closest airports to Jena are Alexandria (45 minute drive) and Monroe (1.5 hour drive). You can also fly to Lafayette (2.25 hour drive), Shreveport (2.75 hour drive), Baton Rouge (3 hour drive), New Orleans ( 4.25 hour drive), or Houston (about a 5 hour drive). The closest hotels are in Pineville and Alexandria. As they fill up, we'd recommend staying at hotels near the airports above.

If travelling from out of town, you'll want to get to Louisiana the night before, as things will start early in the morning, probably by 8am or 9am. Organizers will meet you when you arrive at a central location in Jena and get you situated for the day. We will be providing maps, organizers' cell phone numbers, and other information closer to the day-of; you will be able to reach someone in case you have any problems, need directions, or have questions along the way.

RSVP

Once you're confident you can come, please RSVP at the following:

http://colorofchange.org/jena/rsvp.html

If you have questions, you can send them to jena@colorofchange.org.

If you can't come, don't worry. We'll be sending emails soon with more ways to take action between now and the 20th. Whatever your participation, we thank you for your ongoing commitment to justice for the Jena 6. It continues to be our privilege to be part of such a powerful community of support for these young men.

Thanks and Peace,

-- James Rucker
Executive Director, www.ColorOfChange.org

Schedule for Encampment to Stop the War: Sept 22-29

2007-09-16T12:40:00.001-07:00

Schedule for Encampment to Stop the War: Sept 22-29

Below is a preliminary schedule of events for the Encampment to Stop the War, beginning on Saturday, September 22:

ACTIONS ALL WEEK

People from around the country will start arriving on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23. The Encampment will expand to major actions on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, culminating in a mass march on Saturday, September 29.

Saturday, 9/22 & Sunday 9/23
Help erect scaffolding for a giant billboard demanding: 'Congress: Stop Funding the War - Fund Peoples' Needs.' Music and work at the site on tents, canopies, and displays. Crews will be doing outreach throughout neighborhoods in the DC/Baltimore area with sound cars and leafleting brigades.

Monday, 9/24 & Tuesday, 9/25
Actions demanding:
- Impeachment of Bush & Cheney for War Crimes
- Stop War on Iran - action and a strategy meeting on Emergency Network to focus on the growing threat of a U.S. attack on Iran

Wednesday, 9/26 - Turn up the heat
Actions TBA in the halls and offices of Congress to confront their political complicity in the war - Funding the war is a war crime.

Thursday, 9/27 - Stop the War at Home Day
- Katrina survivors from New Orleans & Immigrant Rights activists from around the country organizing actions challenging FEMA & ICE. Events at the Encampment focusing on funding people's needs, not war.

Friday, 9/28 - Youth actions challenge military recruiters, war funding & police repression. 'Money for Education, NOT War.'

- Join Evening Vigil with SiCKO cast members at the Lincoln Memorial to remember those who died because they were denied health care.

- A concert of hip-hop and spoken word at the Encampment with BAYAN Philippine Alliance to oppose U.S. military in the Philippines.

Other actions & meetings TBA. Set up, banner & sign making, outreach & organizing all day.

2007-09-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

Legal Support Needed

The Troops Out Now coalition has requested legal support from the
progressive legal community for their encampment & march in Washington DC from
Sept 22-29 . We especially need legal observers for the Sept 29th march.

If you are available to be in DC anytime during the or be on-call, or have additional questions, please contact Imani Henry imani@troopsoutnow.org with your availability and contact information. There is a need for on-call attorneys the entire week, but especially on the 29th.

CALL FOR HOUSING

Housing is desperately needed for encampment participants. City policy prevents participants from actually sleeping on the campsite. Therefore, we need to find free and cheap housing in/around DC for the period of the encampment, in order to make participation in the encampment as broad as possible.

If you can share any space (bed, floorspace, sofa/bed) in your apartment, house, organization or other space, please email housing@troopsoutnow.org. If you are unable to email, please call (917) 279-9720.

Please try to include at least the following information in your email:

* Your Name & Email
* Your phone (& best times to call)
* Your location
* How many people you can house, and what dates
(We mainly need housing starting 9/21, but may need some housing earlier for key organizers)

Other helpful information:

* Nearest Metro line/station
* Sleeping conditions
("i.e. 1 queen bed plus floorspace for 3 sleeping bags")
* Other considerations
(i.e. "I have cats/dogs", "It is a 4th-floor walk-up", "Not near any public transportation", etc.)

Drivers/Cars Needed

Attention drivers with vehicles:

If you live in and/or are familiar with the DC-metro area, your help is greatly needed. We will need experienced drivers during then week, to help transport people to/from motels, food from restaurants, equipment, and various other events. If you have availability during the encampment, to help out with this task please contact us at logistics@troopsoutnow.org with the following information:

* Your name and email
* Your phone(s) and best times to call
* Your Availability to drive from 9/21 to 9/30
* Your vehicle type / how many it seats
* Storage space in vehicle.

Other helpful information:

* Your location / distance from Downtown DC

Even if you do not have much time available, but can make your vehicle available, we would greatly appreciate it, as that would greatly reduce rental costs.

Call for Medical Workers for S29 and the Encampment

As part of the preparations for the encampment and the march and rally, we are asking for volunteer health care workers who are doctors, nurses, first aiders and medics to assist at the first aide tent at the encampment and at the demonstration on Saturday.

We will have a bus at the back of the march that will pick up people who are unable to walk the march route. This vichicle will have water and first aide equipment. There will be an orientation the morning of the march.

If you are able to help out please call the International Action Center at 212-633-6646 and ask for or leave a message for Sharon Eolis. You may also email sharone@wwpublish.com.

Sharon
Eolis RN/FNP

LA Troops Out Now on KPFA

2007-09-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Namibia Donadio, youth organizer for Troops Out Now and FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together), discussed the struggle for encampment permits at the LA Federal Buildings and the September 29 demonstration to Stop the War - at home AND in Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere. Donadio stressed that the encampment and march will go on as planned! Also interviewed was Fernando Suarez whose son was killed in Iraq. Suarez also spoke at the TONC press conference at the Veterans' Cemetery. Listen to the interview on Enfoque Latino con Ruben Tapia at

www.kpfk.org (archives - Sept. 15 program).

“For Katrina/Rita survivors — Where the struggle stands today for the right to return"

2007-09-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sept. 27

Program begins at 2 p.m. in big tent

Special showing: "Welcome to New Orleans" one hour documentary on the
racist military occupation of New Orleans

Speakers include:

--Malik Rahim, Exec. Dir., Common Ground Collective, New Orleans

--Brenda Stokely, New York Solidarity Coalition for Katrina/Rita Survivors

--Representative from Alliance for Guest Workers

--Discussion to follow

Los Angeles Encampment Schedule

2007-09-14T02:57:00.001-07:00

Troops Out Now Los Angeles just had a very successful
press conference yesterday with Helga Aguayo, anti-war
activist and wife of Agustin Aguayo; Agustin Aguayo, Army
Medic and conscientious objector; Ron Kovic, author Born
on the Fourth of July; Fernando Suarez del Solar, father
of Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, U.S. soldier killed in Iraq;
Carlos Montes, Latinos Against the War, TONC; Jane Bright
mother of U.S. soldier killed in Iraq; Andy Griggs, United
States Labor Against the War; Javier Rodriguez, March 25
Coalition for Immigrant Rights, TONC; Sally and Peter
Dudar, Arlington West film producers.

The Encampment to Stop the War and the march on September
29th are not to be missed. This will be a united show of
force from the anti-war, labor, social justice and
immigrant rights movements. Take a look at the schedule we
have lined up for the week from September 22nd to the 29th
at the Tent City Encampment so far in Los Angeles:

SAT. SEPT 22
Themes: Labor and War on Workers/ End U.S. Militarism &
Occupation/ Human Needs Not War

Tent City-Set up 10 a.m.

Kick-off march and rally to nearby site.

AFSC will set up shoes and boots representing Iraqi
civilians and CA soldiers killed.

Noon POTLUCK

1-2p.m
Philippines Mini-Rally

Palestine Teach-in

2 p.m. El Salvador Teach-in

3 p.m. US Labor Against the War Iraq Moratorium Workshop

7 p.m. Movie Screening: Face to Face- Iraqi workers

7: 30 p.m. Screening: Iraq For Sale

SUN SEPT. 23

Themes: War on Youth & Youth Fightback/ Role of Protest/
Immigrant Rights & Globalization

11 a.m. Unconventional Activism Teach-in w/ Dr. Caroline
Heldman, Katrina activist with Common Ground/ UCLA
professor

POTLUCK LUNCH

2:30-3:30 p.m. Ron Kovic- Vietnam & Iraq: Tactics on Civil
Disobedience & Creative non-violence,
Revisiting 1974 Westwood Federal Bldg Encampment. & Hunger
Strike

4 p.m. FIST (Fight Imperialism Stand Together) Forum &
music- youth & students

*7 p.m. Journal of Ascetics Theater

MON SEPT. 24

Themes: Int'l Solidarity/ Racism, Repression & Prison
Industrial Complex /Women, Gender & LGBT Oppression

Katrina Workshop

Cuba & Venezuela Teach-in

*LGBT Marriage Rights Workshop

4-5 p.m. SDS-UCLA contingent marches to encampment & join
forces to march to Occidental Petroleum

TU SEPT 25

10 a.m. Break Camp & Begin March to Downtown Federal
Building Occupation:

* Protest at Israeli Consulate on the way
* Protest at El Salvador Consulate on the way
* Set up Camp at Downtown Federal Bldg.

WED. SEPT 26

Themes: Int'l Solidarity/ Racism, Repression & Prison
Industrial Complex /Women, Gender & LGBT Oppression

-Cuba & Venezuela Wkshp

-David Bacon photo exhibit on Iraqi workers

*Jena 6 Teach-in

*Police Brutality Wkshp

-Colombia Teach-In

*8 p.m Screening: The Fire This Time- LA Uprising

TH SEPT27

Themes- Labor and War on Workers/ Immigrant Rights &
Globalization

3 p.m. US Labor Against the War- Iraq Oil Law Workshop

7.p.m. Short Version: "Meeting Face to Face" on Iraqi
workers

7:30p.m. Garment Workers will show "Made in LA" on local
sweatshops

F SEPT 28

Themes: War on Youth & Youth Fightback/ End U.S.
Militarism & Occupation/Human Needs, Not War

-City Council Protest 9-11 a.m. March to LA Times Protest

5-6p.m. Philippines Mini-Rally

-7p.m. El Salvador Wkshp

-8p.m. Eyewitness Palestine- Photo Presentation Teach in

*9 p.m. Journal of Ascetics Theater

SAT SEPT 29

Noon- Mass March & Rally at Olympic & Broadway to Bring
the Troops Home NOW!!

www.troopsoutnowla.org

LA Encampment/S29 Press Conference

2007-09-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Jane Bright, Gold Star Mother, supports LA encampment and Sept. 29 March
in Los Angeles.
Beyond the fence, rows of tombstones were visible in the veterans' cemetery.

2007-09-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

Remember Sabra & Shatila

Published Sep 12, 2007 11:12 PM

A quarter century ago, acknowledged Israeli war criminal Ariel Sharon, commander of Israeli occupation forces occupying southern Lebanon, allowed Lebanese fascists to massacre up to 3,000 Palestinian civilians of all ages in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

Tel Aviv had carried out an invasion of Lebanon in June of 1982 with the complete backing of the Ronald Reagan government of the U.S. It continued its war of aggression against Palestinians and Lebanese with the backing of U.S. imperialism and the powerful interests of finance capital that drive it to seek domination of the oil-rich and strategic Middle East.

During the summer of 1982, the Israeli military mercilessly bombed Beirut, killing more than 20,000 people, mostly civilians. In September 1982, a ceasefire agreement was forced upon the Lebanese and Palestinians resisting the assault, which resulted in moving most Palestinian fighting forces out of Lebanon.

Israeli forces surrounded the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in Lebanon. Under Sharon’s orders, the Israeli forces backed up the entrance of Lebanese fascist forces on that Sept. 15. These forces carried out the mass slaughter—mass lynchings really—of the Palestinian civilians in the camp. The killers were Lebanese fascists; their physical support came from the Israelis; their bullets were made in the USA.

The attack on Sabra and Shatila was meant to instill terror. Yet the struggle of the Palestinian people continues today, as does the brutal repression by the nuclear-armed Israeli state.

Today, anti-war activism has focused a spotlight on the phony “debate” among Democrats and Republicans on Congressional Hill over a vague plan to gradually reduce troop deployment in Iraq. But both sides of the aisle on Congressional Hill have funded that brutal war as well as the occupation in Palestine.

Billions in financial and military support, without which Tel Aviv’s occupation of Palestine could not last a day, have been quietly rubberstamped by Democrats and Republicans—no matter which party of big business occupied the Oval Office.

The struggle of the Palestinian people deserves the support of the entire anti-war movement, which can raise—in one loud, clear voice—support for the right of Palestinian self-determination, sovereignty and right of return to their historic homeland.

The Palestinian people have fought for these rights for more than half a century, and now, as they commemorate Sabra and Shatila, they continue that struggle today. Long live Palestine.

No more phony deadlines!

2007-09-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

No more phony deadlines!
Not another day. Not another dollar.
Bring the troops home now!

Congress: Don't use the report from Petraeus to betray us!

Today, Sept. 10, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, gave his much-anticipated assessment of the results of the "surge." The recommendations General Petraeus made were no surprise. As expected, he said that that U.S. troop levels need to remain at high levels until next summer.

This report by General Petraeus, who has consistently supported and echoed the failed policies of the Bush administration, is just the latest ploy to continue the occupation by creating phony deadlines that provide political cover for members of Congress--from both parties--to continue voting to fund the war.

Last November, after voters in the U.S. gave Congress a clear mandate to bring the troops home and end the criminal occupation, the Bush administration and its allies in Congress repeatedly said, "Wait for the Baker-Hamilton report."

After the report was published, rather than bring the troops home the Bush administration deployed more troops to Iraq in a "surge" supported by both parties in Congress.

Then, in March, as anti-war sentiment continued to grow, the response from Bush and Congress was: "Wait until September for the report by General Petraeus."

Now that report has been made and Petraeus is proposing a new vague deadline: next summer, when he says that it may be possible to reduce troop levels.

We should recognize that these deadlines and reports are political theater, designed to dampen anti-war mobilizing. Even the way the "debate" is framed is a lie. The administration and its generals are saying that the surge is meant to stem the violence; critics in Congress are saying that it has failed. But the surge IS violence, at an unprecedented level. It is the U.S. occupation that has brought this daily blood-letting to Iraq, along with the total disruption of daily life.

Every day that the war continues, more Iraqi people and U.S. soldiers are killed.

Every day that the war continues, the Pentagon spends another $720 million on war in Iraq--money that is robbed from working people here, who need healthcare, education and affordable housing, not war and occupation.

While Congress pretends to debate whether or not the surge is working, it is important to note that the invasion of Iraq was a crime from the very beginning, and that “success” means the subjugation of the people of Iraq, along with Wall Street’s control of their vast petroleum reserves.

We must demand that the troops be brought home now. Not another day. Not another dollar. No more phony deadlines.

We call upon activists to support the many acts of protest and resistance planned for this month. We should escalate the protests as they have escalated the war.

The protests started with anti-war chants as Petraeus was speaking.

Then, on Sept. 15, a march in Washington organized by the ANSWER coalition will demand an end to the war and the impeachment of Bush.

On Oct. 1, current funding for the war expires. This spring, the Democratic leaders in Congress betrayed their mandate and voted to continue to fund the war against the people of Iraq. As Congress debates Bush's new funding request, we must be there to let them know that we're not going to let them betray us again.

During the week of Sept. 22-29, activists from across the U.S. are organizing an Encampment to Stop the War, directly in front of the Capitol. The Encampment, sponsored by the Troops Out Now Coalition, will include daily acts of protest and resistance, building for a massive March from the Capitol to the White House on Sept. 29.

We cannot wait for more phony deadlines--we need to set a deadline and demand that the troops be brought home now. Here's how you can help:

1) Help get the word out - download leaflets: http://troopsoutnow.org/downloads.html

2) Donate to help with organizing expenses: http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

3) Become a local organizer:
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

4) Link to us - graphic buttons available at:
http://troopsoutnow.org/buttons.html

Troops Out Now Coalition
55 W. 17th St. #5C
NY NY 10011
www.TroopsOutNow.org
212.633-6646

Sept 28th and 29th Youth and Student Actions

2007-09-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

Sept 28th and 29th Youth and Student Actions

As part of the national effort to build towards September being a truly ‘Anti-War Month’ we are building a united set of actions that involve youth and students.

From September 22 to 29, activists working on a number of different struggles from around the country will be coming together in Washington, D.C. and setting up an encampment in front of Congress to raise the stakes in the anti-war movement during a week of direct actions against the war.

We want to make Friday, September 28, a Youth and Student Day of Action in which autonomous, student- and youth-led direct actions originate from this space.

Then, we will all be marching together in a youth and student contingent in the September 29th anti-war demos in Washington and LA.

In order to be able to have conversations about what types of actions will happen on the 28th in a way that is both democratic and safe (ie-not on the internet), organizers will be convening consultas in the coming weeks in different regions of the country for folks to come together and plan. We will hopefully have all the dates of the consultas sorted out within the next week and will post that information here. If you as an individual or your campus organization would like to hold a consulta or endorse the youth day of action, please let us know.

Chapters of anti-war youth and student groups from all over the nation including various SDS, CAN, FIST and Campus Greens chapters have already begun to organize around these actions. Please add your name to the endorsement list by emailing youthantiwarweek@gmail.com

Please keep checking back here in the coming days and weeks as we will continue to update this page with more information.

Say NO to War Funding -

2007-09-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Say NO to War Funding -
Demand Money for Health Care, Jobs, & Education
NOT War and Occupation - SEPT 22-29

Join the cast of “SICKO” for a vigil on Friday evening to honor the life of Tracey Pierce and to demand justice for him and all of the many other victims of the profit first, people last – healthcare system. (See box below.)

AND MARCH WITH THE CAST OF “SICKO” ON SEPTEMBER 29TH to demand Healthcare, Not Warfare. People from all over the country who are sick of seeing billions of dollars wasted on war and occupation and who feel that people’s needs must come first will be forming a giant contingent to demand healthcare for all at the Sept. 29th march to stop the war in Washington D.C.

They will be joining trade union and community activists who are tired of seeing layoffs, mortgage foreclosures and cuts; students and youth who are questioning the injustice of the war; veterans and active duty GI’s who are courageously speaking out against the war; Katrina/Rita survivors who are still fighting for their long over due rights; immigrant workers who are facing unfair deportations; and the tens of thousands of other people who simply want to bring the troops home now.

IT IS URGENT TO ACT NOW because funding for the war and occupation of Iraq will expire on Oct 1st. At this time Congress will be considering the largest increase ever to fund the war. They will be voting on an additional $50 billion on top of the $147 billion already allocated to continue the war.

We cannot be silent! One fourth of the Iraq war budget alone could pay for health care for close to 47 million uninsured people. Join the Encampment across from Congress, in front of the Capitol from Sept 22 to 29 to demand that NO WAR FUNDING; attend the Friday evening vigil; and MARCH ON SATURDAY.

If you cannot come to Washington, you can still help. Please donate (http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml) whatever you can to help others join the march. Every single dollar helps to make our voices stronger. Your donations can help pay for buses, flyers, picket signs, mailings and all of the necessary costs. Everyone can be a part of this effort.

For more information see: www.TroopsOutNow.org/HealthCareNotWarfare.html

Outreach volunteers needed

2007-09-07T13:13:00.000-07:00

Now that the summer’s over, we need to ramp up the mobilizing for the September 29th March on Washington and the Encampment.

We only have 15 days left until the Encampment begins. To help with the mobilizing for the demonstration there are weekly volunteer meetings on Wednesday nights at 7PM at the Solidarity Center at 55 West 17th Street, 5C in Manhattan. We have been leafletting and postering on Saturdays and throughout the week. Our next important outreach day is Saturday, September 8th at 11AM at the office. If you are not able to come in on Saturday, please come by to pick up leaflets, stickers, and posters to get up in your community. The office is open from 1- 8 PM Monday through Friday and 11AM until 5 PM on Saturday.

Troops Out Now Coalition
55 W. 17th St. #5C
NY NY 10011
212.633.6646
www.troopsoutnow.org

Join the cast of SiCKO

2007-09-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Join the cast of SiCKO

Julie Pierce & Tracey Jr., Donna & Larry Smith, Adrian Campbell, Dawnelle Keys, Rev Andy Bales, Dr. Linda Peeno, who courageously shared their lives, vision and pain in Michael Moore’s film “SICKO” will be taking a stand. They will be coming to Washington D.C. to protest the war on September 28 and marching for Healthcare, Not war on Sept. 29th. Take a stand too and come to Washington D.C.

Calling for Activist video trainees and volunteers!

2007-09-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Calling for Activist video trainees and volunteers!
Work with Peoples Video Network!
Peoples Video Network

Train to use cameras, large and small! Edit!
Use DVD technology! Stream and distribute your work!

First Workshop Series coordinated with Sept 22-29 Anti-War Encampment
and demonstrations in Washington DC: http://www.troopsoutnow.org

Series of workshops in video documentation, camera, editing and distribution. Work with Peoples Video network in hands-on classes and field-work in video activism. Mentoring with seasoned video activists. Final presentation to an appreciative audience. Opportunity to learn distribution to wider audiences.
Our goal is to encourage you to take this course from beginning to end and to participate in Peoples Video Network on an ongoing basis.

Camera:
Workshop 1: Learning the Canon XL1 series. Focus, lighting, sound, care of equipment. Work with a team
Workshop 2: handling a small camera in action situations. Care of equipment and safeguarding footage. Coordination with field editors, camera crew
Workshop 3: Interview technique. Lighting, sound, conducting interviews.

Field-Work:
Field-work will go on throughout training and provide the raw material for viewing, editing and discussion. Document the encampment Sept 22-29 in Washington DC. Learn to shoot at demonstrations and in other action situations. Shooting formal events. Working with the sound crew.
Interview technique. Opportunity for independent work as well as mentoring and
feedback sessions.

Workshop 4: Viewing the raw footage. Group comments and feedback in a supportive environment.

Editing:
Workshop 5: Basics of Final Cut Pro. Beginning the editing process; using raw footage from field-work and also from archival material.
Workshop 6: More basics of Final Cut Pro

Distribution:
Workshop 7: Finishing a project and exporting it. Streaming, printing,
dvd making
Workshop 8: More concepts of distribution. Discussion of festivals,
internet, grants

Final Workshop Presentation

Each video activist will present a sample of work to be shown at a commencement recital event with invited guests.

Sign up for PVN WORKSHOPS: pvn@action-mail.org or call (212) 340-1286. Leave your name, phone number and e-mail and the best time to reach you.

To learn more about Peoples Video Network go to www.peoplesvideo.org or www.peoplesvideo.tv

FREE PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON !

2007-09-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

FREE PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON !

Sign the online petition and send emails to Dutch, Filipino, U.N. and U.S. officials and members of the media!

Joma Sison Questions & Answers Fact Sheet

What you can do to demand the release of beloved Philippine leader falsely arrested and in detention

On August 28, 2007 Professor Jose Maria Sison, a Filipino political refugee living in exile for 20 years in Utrecht, Netherlands, was lured by Dutch police under false pretenses, arrested and unjustly detained. As the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Professor Sison has been an instrumental force in pursuing peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the Philippine underground movement. Sison was a political prisoner under the Marcos dictatorship and has since been exiled and suffers continuous harassment and persecution by the Philippine Government.

At the age of 68, Professor Sison is one of the most influential figures in Philippine politics, highly regarded by millions of Filipino workers, peasants, women, students, national minorities, and other segments of Philippine society seeking national sovereignty and genuine democracy for their homeland.

Internationally, he is a renowned writer and poet and a highly respected anti-imperialist intellectual providing incisive analysis on the crisis of the world capitalist system. He is currently the chairperson of the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS), an alliance of over 100 peoples organizations from over 20 countries in the world advancing national independence, democracy and social liberation.

At the same time as his arrest, the Dutch police, in Gestapo-like fashion, raided the homes and seized the property of 7 other NDF personnel, This bolsters our belief that Prof. Sison is not the only target of the attacks. The entire NDFP Peace Panel based in the Netherlands are also being subjected to harassment and repression.

According to Netherlands authorities, Sison is being charged with incitement to murder in the Philippines. Dutch prosecutors allege that he ordered the killings of Filipinos Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara. This is only the latest in the long list of politically-motivated false charges being levied against Sison. Recently, the Philippine Supreme Court dismissed the rebellion charges against Sison and 50 other personalities including progressive members of the Philippine Congress and leaders of the mass movement. The court ruled that the pieces of alleged evidence used in the rebellion cases, including the Kintanar and Tabara deaths, can no longer be used in other legal proceedings against Sison and his co-accused.

The attacks on Sison are part of the continuing political repression being implemented by the US-backed Arroyo regime. In the past, this has included extrajudicial kilings, abductions and the filing of false charges against activists and critics of the Arroyo regime.

As Sison is one of the sharpest critics of US imperialism and Philippine President Arroyo's puppetry to the Bush regime, the Bush-Arroyo clique have worked hand and hand to criminalize him, even going as far as placing him on the U.S. list of Foreign Terrorists. Just last month, the Court of First Instance of the European Court of Justice nullified the Council of the European Union’s inclusion of Sison on their "Terrorist List" and they found no basis or due process for the original listing.

The solitary confinement and treatment of Sison, not allowing visitors such as his wife, children, or his doctor to see him, while in detention violates provisions of the United Nations High Comission on the Rights of Refugees. Sison is a recognized political refugee in the Netherlands.

We again call on all truth and freedom seeking people to help defend Professor Sison's rights and demand that the Netherlands authorities release him at once.

from Protest to Resistance...

2007-08-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

from Protest to Resistance...
Cut Off ALL War Funding!
Fund People's Needs -
NOT War!

It's time to turn up the heat! Funding for the criminal war in Iraq will expire on October 1. The month of September will see the next big struggle over war funding, but this time the antiwar movement needs to be there to demand the immediate cut off of all war funding.

We have all seen that the Democratic leadership in Congress, despite being elected with a clear mandate to end the war, has completely capitulated to the Bush Administration. We cannot wait for politicians to end the war.

In addition to the enormous cost in human lives - more than 600,000 Iraqis and nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers - the attempt to occupy and colonize Iraq has already cost more than $1 trillion. Every day, the Pentagon spends another $720 million.

This is money that is stolen from working people who need funding for human needs.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported last week that:

• 36.5 million people in the U.S. lived below the official poverty line in 2006.

• 47 million people in the U.S. were without health insurance in 2006, up from 44.8 million in 2005.

• The number of uninsured children increased from 8 million (10.9 percent) in 2005 to 8.7 million (11.7 percent) in 2006.

Meanwhile, infrastructure is crumbling. Schools are understaffed and falling apart. Affordable housing is disappearing. And almost nothing has been done to rebuild the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

Let's bring the occupation to Washington and demand money for human needs, not war! On September 29, tens of thousands of activists, community organizers, youth and students, veterans, military families, and health care activists will march on the White House to Demand: Cut off ALL War Funding! Fund People's Needs, NOT War!

Buses, vans, and car caravans are coming from more than 75 organizing centers, with more than 100 buses already scheduled, and more being added every day. Organizing a mobilization of this scale is enormously expensive -- please consider making a donation online at http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml.

Also, during the week of September 22-29, antiwar activists will erect an Encampment on the Lawn directly across from the Capitol. The site of the Encampment is a square of land directly in front of the Capitol, where we will maintain a determined, visible 24-hour antiwar presence as a direct challenge to the politicians - both Republican and Democrat - who voted for the war and vote to continue to fund the war.

Organizing a week-long enccampment and a national march is an enormous organizational challenge, and we need your help. Please consider helping with the costs by making an online donation at http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml.

Activists, military families, veterans, trade unionists, and community organizers from activists from across the U.S. are planning to erect a tent city, in Washington, DC, which will be a center of organizing, resistance, and action for the week. At the same time, activists will also be converging in Los Angeles for a West Coast week-long antiwar Encampment and March (see http://www.iacenterla.org for more information and to get involved.)

If you want the social justice issues you are fighting for to be seen and heard around the world and by the national media, then bring your displays, art, graphics and signs to the week long encampment.

Many local and national organizations are planning to have their own tents for the Encampment. There will be actions, protests, and speak outs organized by health care activists, military family members, immigrant rights organizers, and more.

Each day will have a variety of different activities, focused on the impeachment of Bush and Cheney for war crimes, student and youth action, political prisoners, Katrina, stopping a war against Iran, and more. Each night will feature "Culture and Resistance," including spoken word artists, musicians, poets, and more.

Many of the working people that Michael Moore featured in SICKO are planning a special candle-light vigil for all those who have died for lack of health care.

Youth are meeting and planning resistance actions in the Congressional office buildings and streets of DC.

At the end of the week, activists at the Encampment will join tens of thousands of people from across the country for the massive March on Washington on September 29.

Organizing a week-long encampment and a national demonstration is a major challenge, and we need your help with the enormous expenses. Please consider making a donation online at http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml.

We need your input planning giant displays, literature and organizing tents, skill sharing sessions, and acts of creative protest and resistance. Please contact us to share your ideas and to volunteer to help organize for the encampment.

Over the next few days, we will be posting a calendar of events for the Encampment. If your group would like to organize a tent, protest action, teach-in, etc. please contact us.

We are developing a list of inexpensive housing in the area and will be posting it soon -- activists who are able to join us all week, should also line up housing in the area. We can be a presence on site around the clock but we can not actually sleep at night or cook on-site.

If you are in the Washington DC - Maryland - Virginia area, we need your help with housing, food, transportation and help on set-up. Please contact us online or by phone at 212-633-6646.

September 29: March on Washington

2007-07-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

SEPT 29: Mass March on the White House

SEPT 22- 29: Encampment in front of Congress - Cut off the War funds - Build a People Peace Congress

Hundreds of Endorsers - More than 40 Organizing Centers - It's time to Shut Down Washington!

Stop the War at Home & Abroad!
Bring ALL the Troops Home Now!
Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes!

Congress will not end the war
Marches alone will not end the war
It's time to shut down Washington DC -
No more business as usual!

Endorsers include:* Rep. Cynthia McKinney; Medea Benjamin, CoFounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace; Fernando Suarez del Solar, founder of Proyecto Guerrero Azteca por la Paz; Bishop Filipe C Teixeira, OFSJC; Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General; Brenda Stokely of the NYC Solidarity Committee For Katrina / Rita Evacuees; Liz Arnone, Co-Chair, NJ Green Party; Mohammad Basirul Haq Sinha, Chief Coordinator, We The People United Bangladesh; Abayomi Azikiwe, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice; Jack Balkwill, Chair, Liberty Underground of Virginia; Barney Richards, National President, New Zealand Peace Council; Teresa Dawson, Coordinator, MFSO Central Ohio; Joan Gibbs, Jericho Movement; Efia Nwangaza, Founder/director, Afrikan Amerikan Institute for Policy Studies & Planning; Jose Luis Diaz, President, Casas las Americas; Leslie Feinberg, author and activist; Teresa Gutierrez of the NY May 1 Coalition for Immigrant Rights; LeiLani Dowell, FIST (Fight Imperialism - Stand Together); Berna Ellorin, BAYAN USA; Ben Carroll, UNC SDS; and hundreds more. for an updated list, see TroopsOutNow.org
*organizations listed for ID purposes only

Read the call | Endorse | Volunteer

Encampment to Stop the War blog

Encampment to Stop the War MySpace

Donate to help with organizing expenses

Since mid-April, when the Troops Out Now Coalition issued a proposal for a week of action in Washington DC in September, activists from across the U.S. and worldwide have contacted us to support the proposal and to volunteer to help with this major mobilization.

More than a hundred activists, from as far away as Los Angeles, Sacramento, and New Orleans, packed the Troops Out Now New York office on June 16 to begin planning for this week of resistance. Momentum is building as more activists realize that it is time to move from protest to resistance:

**We now have hundreds of endorsers and more than 40 organizing centers.

**Activists, community groups, and grassroots organizers are planning to set up tents at the Encampment to highlight issues they are working on.

**Youth activists are working to build a national student strike during the week of the Encampment.

**Regional coordinators are working on organizing transportation to the Encampment and March.

**A committee has been set up to coordinate music and art at the Encampment (see TroopsOutNow.org/resistanceandculture.html for more information)

We still have a lot of work ahead of us in the next few months. This is a peoples' movement, and we are counting on you to help:

1- Volunteer - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

2- Endorse the call ( http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml) - and then forward it to your list serves, MySpace contacts, etc.

3- If you are a musician, poet, or spoken word artist, contact us about performing at the Encampment. ( TroopsOutNow.org/resistanceandculture.html )

4- Form a local organizing center - http://troopsoutnow.org/cmnt.shtml

5- Donate to help with organizing expenses - http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

Troops Out Now Coalition
55 W. 17th St. #5C
NY NY 10011
www.TroopsOutNow.org
212.633-6646

Impeach Bush and Cheney for War Crimes

2007-07-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

from PeopleJudgeBush.org:

Articles of Impeachment
of
President George W. Bush
and
Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld,and Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. - - ARTICLE II, SECTION 4 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez have committed violations and subversions of the Constitution of the United States of America in an attempt to carry out with impunity crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes and deprivations of the civil rights of the people of the United States and other nations, by assuming powers of an imperial executive unaccountable to law and usurping powers of the Congress, the Judiciary and those reserved to the people of the United States, by the following acts:

1) Seizing power to wage wars of aggression in defiance of the U.S. Constitution, the U.N. Charter and the rule of law; carrying out a massive assault on and occupation of Iraq, a country that was not threatening the United States, resulting in the death and maiming of tens of thousands of Iraqis, and hundreds of U.S. G.I.s.

2) Lying to the people of the U.S., to Congress, and to the U.N., providing false and deceptive rationales for war.

3) Authorizing, ordering and condoning direct attacks on civilians, civilian facilities and locations where civilian casualties were unavoidable.

4) Threatening the independence and sovereignty of Iraq by belligerently changing its government by force and assaulting Iraq in a war of aggression.

5) Authorizing, ordering and condoning assassinations, summary executions, kidnappings, secret and other illegal detentions of individuals, torture and physical and psychological coercion of prisoners to obtain false statements concerning acts and intentions of governments and individuals and violating within the United States, and by authorizing U.S. forces and agents elsewhere, the rights of individuals under the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

6) Making, ordering and condoning false statements and propaganda about the conduct of foreign governments and individuals and acts by U.S. government personnel; manipulating the media and foreign governments with false information; concealing information vital to public discussion and informed judgment concerning acts, intentions and possession, or efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction in order to falsely create a climate of fear and destroy opposition to U.S. wars of aggression and first strike attacks.

7) Violations and subversions of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, both a part of the "Supreme Law of the land" under Article VI, paragraph 2, of the Constitution, in an attempt to commit with impunity crimes against peace and humanity and war crimes in wars and threats of aggression against Afghanistan, Iraq and others and usurping powers of the United Nations and the peoples of its nations by bribery, coercion and other corrupt acts and by rejecting treaties, committing treaty violations, and frustrating compliance with treaties in order to destroy any means by which international law and institutions can prevent, affect, or adjudicate the exercise of U.S. military and economic power against the international community.

8) Acting to strip United States citizens of their constitutional and human rights, ordering indefinite detention of citizens, without access to counsel, without charge, and without opportunity to appear before a civil judicial officer to challenge the detention, based solely on the discretionary designation by the Executive of a citizen as an "enemy combatant."

9) Ordering indefinite detention of non-citizens in the United States and elsewhere, and without charge, at the discretionary designation of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Defense.

10) Ordering and authorizing the Attorney General to override judicial orders of release of detainees under INS jurisdiction, even where the judicial officer after full hearing determines a detainee is wrongfully held by the government.

11) Authorizing secret military tribunals and summary execution of persons who are not citizens who are designated solely at the discretion of the Executive who acts as indicting official, prosecutor and as the only avenue of appellate relief.

12) Refusing to provide public disclosure of the identities and locations of persons who have been arrested, detained and imprisoned by the U.S. government in the United States, including in response to Congressional inquiry.

13) Use of secret arrests of persons within the United States and elsewhere and denial of the right to public trials.

14) Authorizing the monitoring of confidential attorney-client privileged communications by the government, even in the absence of a court order and even where an incarcerated person has not been charged with a crime.

15) Ordering and authorizing the seizure of assets of persons in the United States, prior to hearing or trial, for lawful or innocent association with any entity that at the discretionary designation of the Executive has been deemed "terrorist."

16) Institutionalization of racial and religious profiling and authorization of domestic spying by federal law enforcement on persons based on their engagement in noncriminal religious and political activity.

17) Refusal to provide information and records necessary and appropriate for the constitutional right of legislative oversight of executive functions.

18) Rejecting treaties protective of peace and human rights and abrogation of the obligations of the United States under, and withdrawal from, international treaties and obligations without consent of the legislative branch, and including termination of the ABM treaty between the United States and Russia, and rescission of the authorizing signature from the Treaty of Rome which served as the basis for the International Criminal Court.

Sign the petition at:

PeopleJudgeBush.org

July4: Unity with Mumia Abu-Jamal and all resisters!

2007-07-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

The following call below comes from International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Join the Troops Out Now Coalition in Philadelphia, Wednesday, July 4.

JULY 4
UNITY WITH MUMIA ABU-JAMAL AND ALL RESISTERS! SOLIDARITY FOR ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS ON JULY 4TH!

ICFFMAJ stands shoulder to shoulder with all freedom fighters: Leonard Peltier, the Cuban 5, the SF8, the MOVE 9; those in defense of Venezuela, Cuba, Palestine; Earth First!; Animal Liberation Front; the Zapatistas; and all those unnamed but known and celebrated. We support the important work of Jericho, recognizing and fighting for all political prisoners, and the International Action Center, uniting global battles worldwide, and all other organizations working for justice.

ICFFMAJ believes in freedom. Freedom for Mumia, and freedom for ALL LIFE! Our job is to reflect Mumia's wishes as we struggle for his release, and as his writings consistently demonstrate, Mumia sees our common enemy, and sees that the fight is universal, uniting us all.

Mumia's case is in its final hour. We can't wait passively for the courts to pass down its decision on his last appeal. We need to keep fighting, keep moving, and demanding his release! But we have to do it together. Mumia's fight is not isolated, it does not live in a bubble. Mumia's struggle, and his ultimate release, is completely and totally connected to all these battles we who believe in freedom wage. Mumia will not come home without the love and support of all those engaged in revolution.

On July 4 ICFFMAJ will be on the streets in Philly, as we have each July 4 since Mumia's sentence was first declared. We need you all there. But don't just come for Mumia. Come with banners for the Cuban 5, come with posters for Leonard Peltier, come with information on the battles for the Puerto Rican Independentistas, come with flags for Venezuela,
Cuba, Palestine, and other occupied territories in resistance, come with fists clenched in support of Cindy Sheehan and against this terroristic war, come with tee-shirts recognizing your incarcerated cousin, sibling, spouse, COME in UNITY, SOLIDARITY, against this rotten system!

When: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at 11 a.m.

Where: 6th and Market Streets, Philadelphia

What: DEMONSTRATE FOR FREEDOM!

If you can't be in Philly, please hold an event in solidarity. July 4th is supposed to recognize U.S. freedom. We all know what a lie that is. Tell someone else about it! Whether you're in Atlanta, Seattle, or Hong Kong, hold a concert, show a film, have a teach-in, and tell us about it! No matter where we are, if we're struggling for freedom, we're unified.

The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!

PLEASE CONTACT:
International Concerned Family Friends of MAJ
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180
E-mail - icffmaj@aol.com
Web - www.freemumia.com < http://www.freemumia.com/ >
AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES!

Transportation to Philadelphia:

1) Train: Take New Jersey Transit to Trenton (schedules available at http://www.njtransit.com/sf/sf_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=TrainSchedulesTo ) then change to SEPTA train to Philadelphia ( http://www.septa.org/service/rr_schedules.html )

2) Buses:
Apex Bus - https://www.apexbus.com/p2p.aspx
GoTo Bus - http://gotobus.com/philadelphia/
New Century - https://www.apexbus.com/p2p.aspx
Today's Bus - http://www.todaysbus.com/

National Antiwar Strategy Meeting: Activists call for unified struggle to stop the war

2007-06-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Report from the June 16 National Antiwar Strategy Meeting:

M ore than 100 anti-war organizers, including many students and youths, labor, community and immigrant organizers, veterans and GI organizers gathered June 16 at the Solidarity Center in New York City for the standing-room only National Antiwar Strategy and Planning Meeting. They came from as far away as California, Cleveland, North Carolina, New Orleans and Boston to discuss the need to move from protest to resistance and build a grassroots movement to stop the war.

September: The next big confrontation over the war

The meeting focused largely on a proposal from the Troops Out Now Coalition for an Encampment to Stop the War and a Mass March in Washington during the week of September 22-29. According to the Washington calendar, this will be the next big political confrontation on the war. This is when the House and Senate debate war funding for 2008. And it is when General David Petraeus reports to Congress on the status of Bush's troops " surge."

Many applauded this proposal as the necessary next step to take the struggle against the war to a new level of resistance. The encampment has the potential to ensure that another war vote does not go unchallenged. The proposal opens an opportunity for an independent intervention representing the people, who are overwhelmingly against the war.

Many ideas were raised for the week-long encampment, including a proposal for a Peoples' Peace Congress to challenge the corporate war Congress in Washington. At such a gathering, different groups could argue for better uses for the funds now earmarked for war. By demanding funds for health care, education and job creation, for example, they could directly confront the “war Congress” meeting at the Capitol.

Youth activists reported on their work to build a national student strike during the week of the Encampment. Activists volunteered to begin working on logistics, housing, transportation, and the many other tasks involved in bringing an encampment to Washington. Others are working to bring musicians, artists, and poets to DC for the Encampment and March. Activists and organizations have volunteered to set up tents at the Encampment that focus on particular issues.

Only the people will stop the war
The Democratic Party bait & switch

Many took note of how the Democrats had betrayed their clear electoral mandate to end the war.

It was clear to all that despite being elected to bring the troops home and end the criminal occupation, the Democrats in Congress have completely capitulated to Bush on the issue of continuing to fund the war. Even a determined congressional minority of Democrats could block the funding for the war—if they had really decided to end the war. They could disrupt and filibuster. They could call on people from around the country to surround Congress. Instead, while posing as the “anti-war” majority party, the Democrats have completely capitulated to Bush and the Pentagon.

Building an independent movement is more important than ever, as pressure grows to abandon struggle on the streets and surrender the antiwar movement to the Democratic Party, a party that now completely shares in complicity for the criminal war and occupation in Iraq. Participants noted that Wall Street and their mouthpieces always want to divert the mass movement into safe channels—into lobbying and voting and trusting in the bought-and-paid-for politicians. The challenge is to develop clear demands that move the struggle into the streets.

Back to the streets:
Unite to shut down the war

Many present noted that the lack of unity in the antiwar movement is a crisis that must be frankly addressed. Some noted that during the last struggle over war funding in March, the movement had a real opportunity to intervene if it acted decisively. Instead, organizations and coalitions called competing events in different venues, deliberately timed to undermine participation in other actions. This sort of cynical maneuvering for organizational advantage weakens the movement, demoralizes activists, and only plays into the hands of Bush and the warmongers in Washington.

TONC organizers and others stressed that the September struggle over the war funding is a crucial fight that can be a real opportunity to galvanize the struggle against the war, particularly if the movement can unite. There was a broad consensus on the need to reach out to ALL national antiwar coalitions, as well as the many local grassroots organizations, to build a united demonstration that will be as large and as strong as possible. TONC organizers emphasized that they welcome and encourage discussion and suggestions for modifying and improving the proposal for the actions in September.

Many participants also emphasized the importance of uniting the struggle against the war abroad with the struggle against the war at home. Those at the meeting encompassing these struggles included Teresa Gutierrez, a leading organizer of the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March Movement, Larry Hales of the Colorado United Communities Against Police Brutality, along with many trade union activists.

Regarding the content of the anti-war call, there was overwhelming sentiment that it should be for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, with many expressing solidarity with the resistance movements in those countries and in Palestine and Lebanon. The TONC organizers took note of the U.S. threats against Iran and are raising slogans against U.S. aggression against Iran, too.

Together we can and must change the political agenda

The struggle to stop the war has made tremendous gains. The vast majority of the people are now opposed to the occupation. G.I. opposition is growing as soldiers increasingly oppose being sent to fight and die in this horrific war, in which they have no interest. The politicians in Washington are clearly on the defensive, as their dreams of Empire in the Middle East crumble, their lies about the war are exposed, and as the vast majority of people here and worldwide oppose their heinous war.

But we must do more! The war in Iraq is not a “failed policy;” it is a horrendous crime against the Iraqi people. It must be stopped! Everyday the occupation brings more death and destruction to the Iraqi people. It brings more deaths and serious injuries to U.S. youth who are trapped in this war, and return home to find inadequate medical care and benefits.

It will take an independent movement to stop the war, a movement that takes an independent road geared to mobilizing people in this country to challenge all of the war makers in Washington, that strongly demands the withdrawal of all U.S. troops NOW and calls for ending ALL war funding immediately.

This is a crucial time. What is needed now is an unprecedented outpouring of resistance. We must demonstrate to the politicians in Washington that we will not allow business as usual to continue.

The Troops Out Now Coalition encourages all of the antiwar coalitions on the local and national level to engage each other and where communication has broken down, to open new lines of communication so that our combined efforts will make us stronger.

Let us join forces with the movements struggling for:

* No War against Iran
* End all occupations now - from Iraq to Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan
* Impeach Bush & Cheney for War Crimes
* No to U.S. intervention – Hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the Sudan
* Stop the raids against immigrant workers -- Full rights for undocumented workers
* Justice for Katrina survivors – End racist police terror
* Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners
* Money for health care, jobs and education, not endless war

Together let's unite to demand:
* Immediate withdrawal of all troops
* Cut off ALL war funding

Tell the Denver City Council: ‘WE DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION’

2007-06-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

TELL THE DENVER CITY COUNCIL:

‘WE DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION’

The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) is outraged at the Denver City Council’s June 11th decision not to hear arguments for a proclamation to assure that protesters’ First Amendment rights would be protected during the Democratic National Convention in Denver in late August 2008.

The Re-create 68 Alliance, along with Council person Kathleen MacKenzie, submitted the proclamation to ensure that there be no reaction from local police, in conjunction with various state and federal agencies, against the thousands of activists who will converge on the city, so that they can do so without threat or perceived threat of harm.

The violence that has occurred in the past has been initiated by police agencies against protesters. History is testament to the necessity of having an official acknowledgment from the city that rights guaranteed by the Constitution be protected.

TONC supports everything called for in the proclamation, which partly reads: (a) there is reasonable and prompt action on permit applications for public demonstrations, marches and rallies; (b) use of force, including the use of horses, pepper spray or other aggressive means to police public demonstrations, is restricted except to the minimal extent required by legitimate law-enforcement purposes; (c) demonstrations may occur in close proximity to and within sight and sound of the Convention delegates, consistent with reasonable security concerns; (d) restricted use of four-sided enclosures or barricades to confine the movement of people at public demonstrations except in limited circumstances based on legitimate and reasonable security concerns, and in such circumstances ensure that such enclosures have sufficient openings to allow people to exit, return and move freely around the demonstration site.

We are against any protest pens or protesters being forced into any enclosures and, along with R-68, call for unfettered access to the entire city, right up to the front entrance of the Pepsi Center, the site of the DNC. In addition, we are against any plans to forcibly remove the homeless from the streets in order to “sanitize” the city of Denver, and there should be no restriction of movement of any person, be they citizens of Denver or protesters.

Lastly, we support the organizers and condemn any and all threats made against them and attempts to violence-bait them for the important work that they are doing to provide a platform for thousands of people who see the complicity of the Democratic Party in the continuing wars waged abroad and the constant war waged against people of color, workers and the poor in this country.

We call on all activists and supporters of TONC to contact the Denver City Council people mentioned below and demand they reconsider hearing the proclamation and that it be passed. Also, we demand that council person Charlie Brown be reprimanded for stating that the organizers of R-68 are “cruising for a bruising.”

We also want to thank Kathleen MacKenzie for her correct stance. Let the other city council members know that activists around the country are watching and that their decision sets a dangerous precedent, preparing the stage for police reaction and therefore violence against protesters.

Contact the following:

Kathleen MacKenzie, District 7
720-865-8900
Kathleen.Mackenzie@ ci.denver. co.us

Rick Garcia, District 1
303-458-4792
rick.garcia@ ci.d enver. co.us

Jeanne Faatz, District 2
303-763-8562
Jeanne.faatz@ ci.denver. co.us

Peggy Lehman, District 4
303-504-5781
peggy.lehmann@ ci.denver. co.us

Marcia Johnson, District 5
303-355-4615
Marcia.johnson@ ci.denver. co.us

Charlie Brown, District 6
303-871-0601
Charlie.brown@ ci.denver. co.us

Judy Montero, District 9
303-458-8960
judyh.montero@ ci.denver. co.us

Jeanne Robb, District 10
303-377-1807
Jeanne.robb@ ci.denver. co.us

Michael Hancock, District 11
303-331-3872
Michael.hancock@ ci.denver. co.us

Carol Boigon, At Large
720-865-8100
carol.boigon@ ci.denver. co.us

Doug Linkhart
720-865-8000
doug.linkhart@ ci.denver. co.us

Defend Cindy Sheehan

2007-06-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Statement from the Troops Out Now Coalition

Cindy Sheehan made public two letters this weekend. The first letter announced her resignation from the Democratic Party over the agreement by the Democratically-controlled Congress to unconditionally fund the criminal and colonial war in Iraq that killed her son Casey and hundreds of thousands of others, mostly Iraqis.

In the second letter, coming a day after the first, Sheehan announced that she would no longer be active in the peace movement. The reason for her first letter is self-evident. Why did she feel compelled to write the second one?

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Sheehan has been the target of endless threats and attacks by pro-war groups, right-wing talk radio, and the corporate media. But they haven’t been the only attackers. As Sheehan has stepped up her criticism of the Congressional Democrats' complicity in the war, she has come under attack, some as venomous and personal as any right-wing Republican attack, by some who insist that the antiwar movement must be limited to protesting against Bush and the Republicans. Some of the same forces, who are closely tied to the Democrats, were happy to use Sheehan as long as she limited her criticism to Bush, but then viciously turned on her after she announced her resignation from the Democratic Party over the war.

Cindy Sheehan has come to the conclusion that she has been pushed out of the antiwar movement and it’s not hard to understand why she feels this way. She feels pushed out by the betrayal of the Democrats on the war funding. She feels pushed out by the isolation and hostility not only from the “right,” but also from many in the orbit of the Democratic Party that Sheehan had once considered allies. She feels pushed out be the failure of the various coalitions in the antiwar movement to put aside egos and narrow agendas in the interest of forging an independent and militant mass movement powerful enough to shut the war down.

Some good can come from this, if the antiwar movement takes this as a turning point. Many of us made a struggle to demand that Congress cut off all war funding and end the war a priority this spring. Some of us did this, not based on any expectation that Congress would actually end Bush’s war, but to clearly expose the Democratic Party and to demonstrate that they are as much of a pro-war party as the Republicans. If the antiwar movement can absorb this reality, as painful as it is, than it will be all the much harder for the movement to be pulled off the streets and made an appendage of the Democratic Party.

The movement owes a debt to Cindy Sheehan for striking a blow against those who plan to mislead the antiwar movement and tie it to the pro-war Democratic Party.

The rank and file of the antiwar movement stands in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan, not with those who are beholden to the Democratic Party. It takes courage for a mother, catapulted into the world spotlight after camping out in Crawford Texas two summers ago to protest the death of her son in Iraq, to stand up to and openly break with powerful politicians who would be all too willing to provide her a platform with all the perks if she simply toed the line.

It is our hope that after Cindy Sheehan had taken the time to re-unite with her family, and do whatever she feels necessary to repair the toll that all of this has taken on her family and herself, that she will once again be a leading voice against war, against empire, and for justice at home and abroad.

The Troops Out Now Coalition

STAND in SOLIDARITY with the Bolivarian Revolution!

2007-06-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

STAND in SOLIDARITY with the Bolivarian Revolution!

Tell the Bush Administration: HANDS OFF Venezuela!

Demonstration in Solidarity with Venezuela
at the
Venezuelan Consulate
51st between Madison & 5th Ave.

WEDNESDAY
JUNE 20
4:00 - 6:30P.M.
A hostile campaign against the Venezuelan government under the name of "Free Expression" has been opened up by the opposition forces in Venezuela and its allies abroad, particularly in the United States after the announcement that the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) would not be renewed once it expired on May 27, 2007.

The Venezuelan government's decision is a legal and legitimate one based on their constitution which guarantees and regulates the access and use of airwaves for the benefit of the general public. RCTV broke these laws and consequently lost its license. It has not been silenced, for it can continue broadcasting by cable, satellite and Internet!

RCTV has consistently worked against the interests of the majority of Venezuelan people. Its programming has been sexist, racist and pejorative. Most importantly, it actively participated in the 2002 coup against President Chavez.

After he was reinstated to office by millions of Venezuelans, RCTV prohibited its reporters to broadcast ANY of this information, therefore denying its audience vital information about their democratically elected government. According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, that action in the USA "would not have lasted more than a few minutes with the FCC". RCTV was not closed then and had been broadcasting until this past May 27!
Join us on Wednesday, June 20 to stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and to demand an end to the Bush Administration's destabilization campaign against Venezuela.

Called by the Troops Out Now Coalition
for more information, call 212-633-6646

Endorsers: Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, Cuba Solidarity NY, Women's Fightback Network, New York Committee to Free the Five; the International Action Center

Don't let the Democrats veto the antiwar movement

2007-05-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

END THE WAR NOW

CUT-OFF ALL WAR FUNDING

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW

Warning: Don't let the Democratic Party leadership and the '08 Presidential Election veto the antiwar movement.

President Bush's veto of the Democratic Party's bill containing a non-binding timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq displayed once again the Administration's absolute contempt for the will of the people, who are now overwhelmingly in favor of ending the occupation.

But more ominous than Bush's inevitable veto of the war funding bill is the prospect of the leadership of the Democratic Party "vetoing" and derailing the anti-war movement by pretending to be against the war while continuing to support it with billions of dollars of more war funding.

The Democratic Party was elected to control of the House and Senate with a mandate to end the war. As pressure grew from the antiwar movement for the Democrats to cut off the funding and withdraw the troops immediately, they turned to a desperate act of political theater in a an attempt to change the subject, attaching their support for continued funding for the war to a non-binding timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

The Democratic Party bill, even if not vetoed, would not have required the withdrawal of a single soldier from Iraq. The bill allowed Bush to exempt entire categories of troops at his discretion, including: troops “training the Iraqi military;” troops engaged in “special operations"; and troops “protecting diplomatic enclaves” including the U.S. Embassy and the Green Zone. This means that Bush could maintain current troop levels in Iraq and still be in compliance with the Democrats' bill.

Furthermore, even if Bush agreed to observe withdrawal dates that the Democrats suggested, it would mean that this criminal, colonial war would go on for at least another year and a half. Another year of Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers dying; Another year of Abu-Ghraib style torture. Another year of a criminal occupation.

Actually the truth of this "antiwar" charade is even worse. Everybody knew all the time that Congress would put on an antiwar show, and after Bush vetoed the bill containing non-binding withdrawal timetables, they would then give Bush the war funding. Leading Democrats announced months ago that they had absolutely no intention of cutting off the funding for the war.

By pretending to fight Bush on the war, Congress is hoping to neutralize the growing movement demanding the immediate end to this criminal war and occupation. Democrats in Congress hope that by hiding behind non-binding resolutions, imaginary timetables, and other acts of political theater they will send the message to those of us who have marched and organized to end the war that we don't need to march and mobilize anymore, because the real struggle against the war is now in Congress.

Part of this message is that, instead of taking to the streets to demand that Congress cut of all war funds and bring the troops home now, we should instead come in off the streets and sign up to support whoever the Democratic Party's presidential candidate is in 2008. We must never again allow the antiwar movement to be co-opted, misled, and demobilized in the name of Presidential politics or the agenda of either major political Party.

Let's make sure to stay in the streets, continue to demand that Congress cut of all war funding, stay focused on the demand for immediate withdrawal of all troops, and stay independent of both the Democrats and the Republicans who share responsibility for the war.

Only the people will stop this criminal war. Tomorrow, antiwar groups across the U.S. have called for demonstrations against Bush's veto. We urge you to take part in these demonstrations and demand that the troops be brought home now -- no phony timetables, no more political theater, no waiting for after the 2008 Presidential elections -- now!

In New York City:
Times Sq. Wednesday 5:00 pm
World Can't Wait is calling on everyone to gather in front of Times Square's military recruiting center--43rd and Broadway--at 5pm WEDNESDAY to demand an immediate end to the Iraq war and impeachment of the Bush Regime for war crimes.

Sign up for Troops Out Now updates - http://troopsoutnow.org/updatesform.shtml
Donate - http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml
Contact Us - http://troopsoutnow.org/cmnt.shtml

Protest Bush's veto - Don't let the Democrats veto the antiwar movement

2007-05-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Sign up for Troops Out Now updates - http://troopsoutnow.org/updatesform.shtml
Donate - http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml
Contact Us - http://troopsoutnow.org/cmnt.shtml

All Out for Mumia Abu-Jamal! Join Danny Glover, Cynthia McKinney and many others in Philadelphia!

2007-05-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

All Out for Mumia Abu-Jamal! Join Danny Glover, Cynthia McKinney and many others in Philadelphia!

Thurs • May 17
9:00 a.m.
in front of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
6th and Market Streets

“The goal is for our client to be free. Nevertheless, he remains in great danger. If all is lost, he will be executed.
Your interest in this struggle for human rights and against the death penalty is appreciated.”
—Robert R. Bryan
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal

NYC Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, International Action Center and FIST-Fight Imperialism, Stand Together youth group will be organizing buses to Philadelphia.

Buses will be leaving from 33rd St. and 8th Ave. at 5:30am and in front of 55 W. 17th St. at 6a.m. For bus tickets, call 212-633-6646. Go to www.millions4mumia.org to download May 17 literature.

Here are some facts:

* The oral argument in the case of death row, political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal, is scheduled on May 17, 9:30 am, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Ceremonial Courtroom, 1st Floor, U.S. Courthouse, 6th and Market Streets. The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., and the National Lawyers Guild, which have filed amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs, are also participating.

* This case concerns Mr. Abu-Jamal’s right to a fair trial, the struggle against the death penalty, and the political repression of an outspoken journalist. Racism and politics are threads that have run through this case since his 1981 arrest. The complex issues under consideration, which are of great constitutional significance, include:

* Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied the right to due process of law and a fair trial under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments because of the prosecutor’s “appeal-after- appeal” argument which encouraged the jury to disregard the presumption of innocence and reasonable doubt, and err on the side of guilt.

* Whether the prosecution’s use of peremptory challenges to exclude African Americans from sitting on the jury violated Mr. Abu-Jamal’s rights to due process and equal protection of the law under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, and contravened Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986).

* Whether the jury instructions and verdict form that resulted in the death penalty deprived Mr. Abu-Jamal of rights guaranteed by the Eight and Fourteenth Amendments to due process of law, equal protection of the law, and not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment, and violated Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367 (1988), since the judge precluded the jurors from considering any mitigating evidence unless they all agreed on the existence of a particular circumstance.

* Whether Mr. Abu-Jamal was denied due process and equal protection of the law under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments during post-conviction hearings as the result of the bias and racism of Judge Albert F. Sabo, which included the comment that he was “going to help ‘em fry the ni - - er”.

Mumia has always fought for people’s rights! A united, broad movement can save Mumia from a legal lynching! Free Mumia, Leonard Peltier, the Cuban 5, the MOVE 9 & all political prisoners!

All Out for May 1!

2007-04-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

Dear sisters and brothers,

The struggle for immigrant workers’ rights needs your active participation and solidarity. Remember May 1, 2006? Millions of immigrant workers from coast to coast walked off their jobs and rallied in just about every major city to demand full rights for undocumented workers.

The same thing is planned for May 1, or “May Day” 2007. Many of you who are reading this appeal probably have a good idea of why it’s important for you as anti-war activists to be involved in the movement for immigrant workers’ rights. Even so it’s worth reviewing just a little.

To begin with, while we march against the war in Iraq, it’s absolutely critical that we march against the war on the people right here at home. The level of institutional racism on the part of the capitalist system and government that resulted in massive death and continued suffering in New Orleans is part of a “war at home.” So are the police murders of 23-year -old Sean Bell in New York City and 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta several months ago.

When it comes to the government anti-immigrant raids that go on daily, calling it a war is no metaphor. No other word could describe it more accurately. Thousands of immigrant workers have been arrested over the past year alone. On the morning of March 6, an army of hundreds of heavily armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI agents raided a leather factory in New Bedford, Mass., arresting and terrorizing 350 workers, many of them women whose children were suddenly left stranded. It’s time that we UNITE and show by our actions that we are as angry about these raids as we are about the war in Iraq. When we do that, we are truly connecting the struggles against the war abroad and the war at home.

The main weapon that the government and the capitalist media are using to try to deter more people of all nationalities and races from demanding an end to these raids is anti-immigrant racism. When immigrants rally for their rights, and you look out at many of the big immigrant rights rallies and see a tremendous sea of people—including, however, very few people who are either white, or whom you usually might see at a big anti-war march—that’s a sign that the divide and conquer with racism strategy is being used.

On May Day 2007, it is up to us to make sure that the anti-war movement shows up to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder, with immigrant workers against these terrorist raids.

Another point is that it’s so important that immigrant workers have chosen May Day as the day to boycott work and rally for their rights across the country. May Day is the day the workers in every part of the world rally and march to show their solidarity with the struggle of all workers everywhere. Even though May Day was born in the working class struggles of the 19th century right here in the U.S., up until recently May Day has not been widely observed in this country. But all of that’s changing, in large part because immigrant workers are bringing May Day back to the U.S., along with its message of worldwide working-class unity and militancy and anti-racist, anti-imperialist and anti-war solidarity.

The anti-war movement must get behind May Day 2007 and build for it with the same passion and energy that we put into anti-war marches. If we do that, we will not only be solidarizing ourselves with immigrant workers, we will be helping to revive worldwide working-class solidarity in the country where it is most needed.

Anti-war movement—all out for May Day ’07!

Signed by,

LeiLani Dowell, Fight Imperialism-Stand Together (FIST)

Teresa Gutierrez, May 1 Coalition, New York City

Larry Holmes, Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC)

John Parker, March 25 Coalition, Los Angeles

Los Angeles
Tuesday, May 1
12:00 pm - March at the beginning
of Olympic & Broadway

National May 1st Movement for
Worker & Immigrant Rights
c/o United Teachers Los Angeles
3303 Wilshire Blvd. 10th floor
Los Angeles CA 90010
323.702.6397
Download flyers in Español and English

New York City
Tuesday May 1
4:00 pm - Rally & March
Union Square Park, 14 St. & Broadway
Marching to Federal Plaza/ Foley Square
(Site of the African Burial Ground)

NYC May 1 Coalition
55 W 17th St.
New York, NY 10011
646.291.2778 • www.may1.info
Download flyers in Español and English

National May 1st Movement for Worker & Immigrant Rights
5274 West Pico Blvd. #203
Los Angeles CA 90019

(213) 995-0694 (voicemail)

http://www.maydaymovement.blogspot.com

May 1 - Support the Struggle for Immigrant Workers' Rights

2007-04-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles
Tuesday, May 1
12:00 pm - March at the beginning
of Olympic & Broadway

National May 1st Movement for
Worker & Immigrant Rights
c/o United Teachers Los Angeles
3303 Wilshire Blvd. 10th floor
Los Angeles CA 90010
323.702.6397
Download flyers in Español and English

New York City
Tuesday May 1
4:00 pm - Rally & March
Union Square Park, 14 St. & Broadway
Marching to Federal Plaza/ Foley Square
(Site of the African Burial Ground)

NYC May 1 Coalition
55 W 17th St.
New York, NY 10011
646.291.2778 • www.may1.info
Download flyers in Español and English

U.S. Bases Out Now!

2007-03-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Join the international campaign to say
U.S. Bases Out Now!

Tell Bush & Congress: NO U.S. Military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland!
We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

Sign the Petition!

text of petition included below

Join the international campaign against the construction of new U.S. military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. In recent polls a clear majority of the population of those countries is opposed to U.S. bases there. By an overwhelming majority, people are demanding the right to decide on this dangerous escalation in a national referendum.

Already, tens of thousands have signed names to petitions and participated in rallies and demonstrations demanding "No to the Bases." More than 40 organizations are part of the No to the Bases Campaign formed last July in the Czech Republic.

Sign the Petition
Donate (indicate "for Bases Out Now Project" in the comments field on the donation form)
BasesOutNow.org for more information
Citizens Initiative - No to Bases

NO! to U.S. Bases
Petition Text :

cc: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, members of the media

President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary Gates, and Congressional leaders:

NO U.S. Bases in the Czech Republic and Poland!
We need funds for Human Needs, not War and Occupation!

The Pentagon is planning to build U.S. missile bases and radar stations in the Czech Republic and Poland. A majority of the population in both countries is opposed to this dangerous military escalation. I stand in solidarity with them in opposing this reckless warlike move.

In both countries there is an effort to ram through the decision to allow the U.S. bases despite thousands of petitions, mass calls for a national referendum and wide protests. Millions of people are concerned about the opening of a new cold war and a new arms race.

President Bush has just submitted the largest military budget in history. U.S. military spending surpasses $1 million a minute – every day of the year. Desperately needed social programs for health, education, housing and the environment are being cut, to pay for a brutal war in Iraq, new bases and new threats of endless war.

I support the right of the people of the Czech Republic and Poland to oppose U.S. bases on their soil.

I support their just and democratic demand for a national referendum on this issue.

We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

Sincerely,
(Your signature will be appended here based on the contact information you enter in the form above)

Join the campaign - sign the petition -- No to U.S. bases in the Czech Republic and Poland! We need funds for peoples needs, not for war and occupation.

see BasesOutNow.org for more information

Bases Out Now! Campaign
Sponsored by:
BasesOutNow.org
Solidarity Center - 5C
55 West 17th St
New York, NY 10011
For further information call: (212) 633-6646

Democratic Party Leaders Plan To Betray Anti-War Movement

2007-03-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

***Weather forecast for next week – 60’s
For the latest Encampment updates - check the Encampment blog

ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT

Democratic Party Leaders Plan To Betray Anti-War Movement
Phony “Withdrawal” Plan is Just a Cover for Funding Bush’s War

DON’T LET THEM
GET AWAY WITH IT!

Antiwar
Encampment in
Front of Congress Starts on Monday >>>

DON’T BE FOOLED, the “withdrawal from Iraq” plan that Democratic Party leaders in Congress have just announced is nothing more than a cover for them to approve Bush’s request for $100 billion to fund the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan-- in other words, to continue the war.

CUT OFF THE WAR FUNDS - END THE WAR NOW – BRING THE TROOPS HOME

Democratic Party leaders propose to begin withdrawing troops in a year to 18 months. Over the last 18 months, more than 1,200 U.S. soldiers have been killed, and about 7 times that many wounded and maimed. Do the math: a year or 18 more months of war is a death sentence for untold numbers of soldiers and an even greater number of Iraqis.

CUT OFF THE WAR FUNDS – END THE WAR NOW – BRING THE TROOPS HOME

The “withdrawal time tables” along with the “ goals and conditions” that Democratic leaders are proposing are not fundamentally different than the ones that Bush proposed in his “State of the Union” address. The real stink bomb hidden in this new “withdrawal” legislation is that Bush and his generals have the authority to “waive” any part of these so-called timetables and conditions, any time he wants to. The fact is that these new proposals amount to nothing more than political posturing by Democratic leaders in order to get some of the antiwar heat off of them while they continue to fund the war. This plan is not a plan to end the war--it is just another non-binding resolution. Representative Jerry Nadler had it right when he said “All of this is just and excuse funding another year of war”.

CUT OFF THE WAR FUNDS – END THE WAR NOW – BRING THE TROOPS HOME

Democratic Party leaders can end the war right now if the exercise their power to simply cut off all funding for the war. If they don’t do that, then it’s not just Bush’s war, or just the Republican Party’s war, it’s the Democratic Party’s war as well and now is the time to demand that they put up or shut up.

CUT OFF THE WAR FUNDS – END THE WAR NOW – BRING THE TROOPS HOME

On Monday, antiwar activists from around the country will began camping in front of the Capital building at 3rd St. right on the Washington DC National Mall. We will be there with tents, banners, placards, signs, noisemakers, etc. demanding that Congress stop the BS and simply cut off the war funding, end the war now and bring the troops home. We need you to join us. We need you to march on the Pentagon on March 17. Moreover, if there was ever a time to be in the streets, blocking traffic, occupying bridges, organizing walk-outs from coast to coast to stop this criminal war THIS IS THE TIME!

The Encampment to Stop the War will start in just a few days - Monday, March 12 - and there is an enormous amount of work to be done in a short period of time. We have an opportunity in the next few days to have a major impact, if we work together--here's how you can help:

Let us know if you are coming to the Encampment. Use the Volunteer form at http://troopsoutnow.org/march12volunteer.shtml.

Volunteer at the Encampment - we will need hundreds of volunteers during the week of the Encampment let us know how you can help (logistics, security, medical, greeter, etc) - http://troopsoutnow.org/march12volunteer.shtml

Donate to to help with the enormous costs of the Encampment - http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml. If you are not able to come to the encampment, help send a youth activist to the Encampment to the week- donate for transportation and housing costs here.

Across the US - the People Demand "No More Money for War"

2007-02-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

By Monica Moorehead

New York

The struggle from below to force Congress to vote NO on any additional funding for the racist occupation of and war on Iraq got a tremendous shot in the arm this past week with numerous anti-war protests organized across the U.S. From the West Coast to the East Coast, thousands of people and especially students took to the streets to demand, “Cut off war funding now and bring the troops home.”

The Feb. 15-17 protests sent a clear message that there is growing mass awareness that Congress cannot be counted on as a whole to stop the Bush administration’s objective of staying in Iraq for an indefinite amount of time--even after the Nov. 7 elections, which became an anti-war mandate from registered voters.

The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) initiated a national call for the Feb. 17 demonstrations. TONC is also urging all progressive movements and activists, of all political persuasions, to unite and come to Washington, D.C., for the march on the Pentagon called by ANSWER for March 17. TONC is also urging activists to occupy Washington, D.C., while the debate on the war funding takes place.

A TONC leaflet passed out in New York and elsewhere on Feb. 17 reads in part: “President Bush won’t stop the war. ... Congress won’t stop the war. ... It’s time to ... occupy Washington. ... Across the U.S., activists and organizers are planning buses, car caravans, vans and peace trains to Washington--not just to march, but to stay, because it’s time to go from mere protest to resistance. We need a massive mobilization on the streets of Washington as Congress votes on war funding. We hope to set up an encampment in D.C. beginning the week of March 12.”

TONC demands include an immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal from Iraq; an end to colonial occupation and imperialist aggression from Africa to Asia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Haiti, the Philippines and Puerto Rico; no new wars against Iran, Syria or North Korea; hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Lebanon; solidarity with immigrant workers and Katrina survivors; stop the war at home--stop racist police terror--stop ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] raids; military recruiters out of our schools and communities and no draft--education, not war.”

Chapel Hill, N.C.

On Feb. 16, while Rep. David Price (4th District-N.C.) was on the floor of the House debating a meaningless nonbinding resolution, six youth were sitting in on the floor of his office, demanding that the funds for the war on Iraq be cut off and that the people’s needs start being met. The six youth, members of U. of N.C.-Chapel Hill SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and Raleigh FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together), were subsequently arrested for the action.

The demonstration, organized in coordination with the Troops Out Now Coalition’s “Cut Off ALL War Funds Day,” garnered support from youth and students, community members and veterans, as several dozen demonstrated outside while the sit-in was taking place. During the demonstration, youth unfurled a banner from the roof of the building which read “Closed for Business.”

The six youth inside the office presented Price’s aides with three principal demands: that Price speak with them and pledge to vote against the upcoming supplemental funding bill and all war funding; that Price use his influence to compel other representatives to vote against war funding and that he oppose all aggression against Iran, whether through sanctions or overt military action. When the aides in the office refused to get Price on the phone, the youth decided to sit-in at the office until their demands were met.

Alisan Fathalizadeh, a 20-year-old student who was taken from the office by the Chapel Hill police as she was reading the group’s statement, explained what spurred her to participate in this action: “We’ve tried our best to work within the system, but when the system is flawed, little can realistically be accomplished. ... As an Iranian-American, this war is personal. It is directly aimed at people just like me and with the way things are progressing, it will target my family directly. I feel so helpless and distant being here, that taking action against the issue is the very least that I can do to show support for all of my family in Iran.”

This action demonstrates a larger tactical change taking place within the anti-war movement, moving from symbolic protest to resistance.

The six youth were charged with first-degree trespass and released on an unsecured bond. They plan to pack the courthouse with supporters at their first court appearance March 26.

California students shut down highway

An estimated 3,000 students from the U. of California-Santa Barbara marched against the Iraq war on Feb. 15. Hundreds of them shut down Highway 217 in a sit-down protest near the school. Students chanted, “Whose streets? Our streets!” and carried signs such as “Make levees, not war!”

According to an eyewitness account posted on dailykos.com, “A crowd of 2,000-3,000 students blocked the bike tunnel. After about an hour of speeches, including one by a U.S. Marine who initially supported but has now turned against the war, the organizers decided we should go walk across campus to give the people who didn’t ditch a chance to change their minds and join us ... on the middle of our campus, in the middle of the day, disrupting everything, loud, angry, and passionate. I’ve been to protests before, but I’ve never felt so empowered as I did today.

“... We then paused and regrouped and considered our options before deciding to walk down the freeway. I must have driven down that freeway a thousand times, but here I was walking on the double yellow lines! In the middle of the day! I watched as cars made u-turns up ahead to avoid being enveloped by the crowd, still around a thousand strong.

“We walked down for about half a mile before we were halted by a hastily assembled police line in front of a Caltrans roadblock redirecting traffic. ... Students were giving speeches about why we oppose the war and why we need to withdraw and the parallels between Iraq and Vietnam and why we need to stay out of Iran and Peace Out University ... and the U.C.’s links to nuclear weapons labs like Los Alamos and other topics.”

Video excerpts of this protest are posted at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU7Av-PKqhU.

New York State

Hundreds of activists braved the cold for a march and rally that began at Times Square in New York City on Feb. 17. Thousands of passersby also stopped to hear the passionate speeches of activists demanding that the troops be brought home now from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere and that the hundreds of billions of dollars being spent for war go instead to fund health care, housing, education and all human needs.

There was a lot of general enthusiasm expressed for going to D.C. the week before the march on the Pentagon, in order to put pressure on Congress to vote NO against putting one more penny towards funding the criminal war in Iraq. Following the Times Square rally, the protestors marched to the offices of Sen. Hillary Clinton, a 2008 presidential candidate, who voted for the Iraq War in 2002.

Speakers included Berna Ellorin, BAYAN-USA; Mary Lou, Al-Awda, Palestine Right of Return Coalition; Mary Klopart, Grannies for Peace; Ellie Ommani, American-Iranian Friendship Committee; Comrade Shahid, Pakistani USA Freedom Forum; Mia Cruz, FIST; Fallou Gueye, Union of African Workers-Senegalese; Jesse Heiwa, Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five; WayQuay, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee; Jonathan Brown, World Can’t Wait; TONC representatives Larry Holmes, Brenda Stokely, Sara Flounders, Sharon Black and Dustin Langley.

Other speakers included Councilperson Charles Barron, who recently introduced a local resolution against the war funding, Chris Silvera, chair of the Teamsters National Black Caucus and representatives from Millions for Mumia and Fanmi Lavalas.

At Columbia University in West Harlem, 300 to 400 students rallied against the Iraq War on Feb. 15. The event was sponsored by a coalition of student groups. Following the rally the students marched around the perimeter of the campus "to take their message to the community" chanting “What the hell is Congress for--cut the war funds--stop the war" and "Not another nickel, not another dime for Bush’s war crimes.”

The International Action Center, along with anti-war students, held a picket line in downtown Buffalo on Feb. 16 despite below-zero, blizzard conditions.

Detroit

The cost of the war and the urgently felt need to cut off funding to end it now was not a matter of statistics at the "Not One More Penny for War" Town Hall Meeting at Central United Methodist Church on Feb. 17. Hundreds of hungry Detroiters line up daily to eat a meal in that very room while over $9 billion was looted from Michigan taxpayers alone to fund the war. Andrea Hackett, whose daughter served two tours of duty in Iraq, called the war genocidal, both for the Iraqi people and here.

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan African News Wire and co-founder of the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI), moderated the speak-out.

Azikiwe said: "We're calling for a total cut off of funding for the war in Iraq. It is obvious the war is a failure. We think the funds that are being used--that are being wasted--every day in Iraq to carry out this war that the U.S. government knows it cannot win should be used to fund human needs right here in the City of Detroit, right here in the state of Michigan, right here in the United States. It has to stop and the only way it is going to stop is that the masses of people have to get involved."

Detroit City Councilmember JoAnn Watson said not one damn dime should be spent on the war, "That's why we don't have money for health care, for education."

Debbie Johnson from the Detroit Action Network for Reproductive Rights said the billions for the war are taking food from tables and resulting in cuts in Medicaid and Medicare that tens of millions rely on.

State Sen. Martha Scott called for an end to the war in Iraq and the war against the people of her district who do not have the fundamental services necessary to live in dignity. Scott said: "The $2.9 trillion federal budget will cut Medicaid, home heating assistance, HIV/AIDS and mental health funding and eradicate homelessness assistance. It will eliminate before- and after-school programs."

Rep. John Conyers called for educational programs that let everyone go to school without cost. He agreed that suffering in Michigan is caused by the war; that $2 trillion in direct and indirect costs and climbing are going to endless war. This is the only war where taxes for the wealthy decreased. He said, "Close down the war!"

Maureen Taylor, chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, stressed that water service is shut off to 45,000 Detroit residences each year. Children in households without water are put in foster care because not having water is called neglect. The state or county government has taken title to 40,000 abandoned houses. There are 14,000 to 15,000 homeless people in this area.

Michael Merriweather, a Stop the War Slate Candidate on the 2006 Green Party ticket and member of SDS and MECAWI, suggested that possibilities not be limited to returning to the way things were in the past, but to look to the future and make the kind of life and world we want and need and take this in our own hands.

Ignacio Meneses from Latinos Unidos de Michigan introduced María Sánchez, whose spouse was deported in 2003--separating her family, severely destabilizing her life and that of her three children and forcing her onto public assistance. Meneses called on everyone to help stop the raids and deportations on May Day by not going to work or school, not shopping and not selling.

Jeff Montgomery from the Triangle Foundation, Michigan's statewide civil rights, advocacy and anti-violence organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, expressed the full solidarity of the organization's leadership. He said if there is any emergency funding, it should be for Detroit and Flint, for the poor and homeless.

David Sole, president of UAW Local 2334, likened conditions in Michigan to an economic Katrina. He explained the Michigan governor has emergency powers to declare an economic disaster and stop utility shutoffs, foreclosures, evictions and plant closings. This emergency measure was used during the 1930s by Gov. Frank Murphy and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and is still on the books. Sole called on everyone to become an organizer.

Two representatives from the Windsor Peace Coalition in Canada brought the message that they are holding a March 17 demonstration at the Canadian entrance to the Detroit Windsor Tunnel. Like Detroit, Windsor, dependant on the auto industry, has lost thousands of jobs.

Sandra Hines is a leader in the fight against police brutality and to save her neighborhood school, Courtis Elementary, one of the 51 schools tagged for closing due to Detroit public school budget deficits. Hines stressed that action was needed now. She said, "This is a war on the people here, not just Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq."

The message of the heightening struggle to end the war was reported in the Detroit Free Press on Sunday and on Channel 2 TV.

Cleveland

Despite cold and snow, Cleveland TONC held a lively demonstration across from the West Side Market, a popular indoor/outdoor food market--symbolizing the food that many are forced to go without in this, the most impoverished city in the U.S. The demonstration was joined by the Northeast Ohio Antiwar Coalition, Cleveland Lucasville Five Defense Committee, Cleveland Nonviolence Network and the Baldwin-Wallace College chapter of FIST.

Philadelphia

A group of activists from SEIU, Vietnam Veterans for Peace, community organizations and the International Action Center gathered Feb. 17 in Center City for a speak-out against the war. It was an open mike session where passersby could talk freely about their opposition to the war.

A young African-American man who holds a low wage job with no benefits in a fast food chain criticized Bush for waging war in Iraq while ignoring the victims of Katrina.

A middle-aged owner of a vending cart stated that "A lot of people get killed for nothing. ... We have to stop the war by working together." Nick, a high school student, spoke about recruiters going after the youth, particularly poor kids.

Julia López, director of Centro Pedro Clavel, a service-oriented agency in the Latin@ community, remarked,” Our youth are living without resources, being brainwashed through the media. They are not getting the facts to make an informed decision, instead are being indoctrinated by the media, sent to kill and die. There is no budget for education but suddenly billions of dollars appear to fight a war and kill innocent people."

A young African-American man, referring to Bush, said, "When is he going to have enough, man, how many bodies have to be laid down before he gets the message?"

Tili Ayala, a young mother of two, stated, "You have to speak out or else the government will speak out for you. We have to be the voice."

Massachusetts

In Springfield, an economically distressed city largely run by a control board established by former Gov. Mitt Romney, the message of "money for jobs, not war" was the central theme of a noon news conference held at the Federal Building. All local media outlets, print, TV and radio covered the news conference. A multi-national group of area activists picketed the Federal building.

Among those who spoke were Democratic state representative and chair of the Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus, Benjamin Swan, who personally endorsed the Troops Out Now Coalition's national "No More $$ For War" campaign.

Representatives of Arise for Social Justice, a Springfield poor people's rights organization, and Out Now, a Western Mass. lesbian/gay/bi/trans youth organization, also urged opposition to continued funding for the war.

The Rev. Louis Alvarenga of Actión Latino, a Springfield-based immigrant rights organization, stated, "Many of the soldiers dying in Iraq are Latin@. The immigrant community is suffering from this war by losing our young men and women in Iraq and by the money being taken away from healthcare, housing and jobs in our communities here at home. We're here to stop this war."

Greg Speeter of the Northampton-based National Priorities Project provided a sobering assessment of the war's financial impact on Springfield and surrounding communities. The Priorities Project provides information about the effects of military spending on the national budget and on cities across the country. (www.nationalpriorities.org)

Nick Camerota of the Western Mass. IAC/Troops Out Now Organizing Committee urged people to support the online petition drive to stop war funding and called attention to U.S. threats of war against Iran.

In Boston a squad of volunteers for TONC distributed 1,000 flyers at a busy downtown intersection. The Boston City Council had just a few days earlier passed a resolution condemning the Iraq War which also urged people to go to Washington on March 17 to protest the war. The resolution was introduced by Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner and passed 8-3.

Georgia

Kennesaw State University students led a successful street vigil/rally on busy Barrett Parkway in Cobb County Feb. 17, with students and supporters receiving much positive response from drivers--many hundreds of encouraging shouts and horn honks.

The Columbus Peace and Justice Coalition held their opening event Feb. 17 in Columbus--a Peace in the Park rally. They attracted 30-40 people, made new contacts and got media coverage.

“I think the time has come for the fence-sitters and the people who have otherwise just sort of stood on the sidelines to get out and have their voices heard as well,” stated Brett Johnson. (WRBL News, Feb. 18)

The group is organizing a caravan to leave Columbus on March 16 to attend the March on the Pentagon March 17. For more information, contact the Columbus Peace and Justice Coalition at cpjc.ga @ gmail.com.

Sharon Black, Ben Carroll, Catherine Donaghy, Ellie Dorritte, Martha Grevatt, Cheryl LaBash, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Dianne Mathiowetz, Bob McCubbin and Gerry Scoppettuolo contributed to this article.

End the Occupation of Haiti

2007-02-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

The International Action Center encourages all activists to support this important demonstration, called by the New York chapter of the Lavalas Family party, the Haiti Support Network (HSN), and the Haitian Coalition to Support the Struggle of the Haitian People (KAKOLA):

Wednesday
Feb 7
2 pm
Ralph Bunche Park
corner of 43rd Street and First Ave

Haitians Will Demonstrate at UN Headquarters on Feb. 7
Against the UN Occupation of Haiti

On Wednesday, February 7 from 2 p.m to 7 p.m., Haitians and their supporters will rally in Ralph Bunche Park across First Avenue from United Nations headquarters in Manhattan to demand an end to the UN military occupation of Haiti, the release of all political prisoners in Haitian jails, and the return to Haiti of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide from exile in South Africa.

The demonstration will take place on the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986. The protest will also coincide with the UN Security Council’s deliberations on whether to continue the UN Mission to Stabilize Haiti or MINUSTAH, whose mandate expires on February 15, 2007.

The action is being called and organized by a coalition of Haitian organizations that includes the New York chapter of the Lavalas Family party, the Haiti Support Network (HSN), and the Haitian Coalition to Support the Struggle of the Haitian People (KAKOLA).

Hundreds of political prisoners arrested during the 2004-2006 coup d’état in Haiti remain behind bars, most without any charges against them. Meanwhile, the government of President René Préval and Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis has made no statements nor taken any measures that would indicate its desire to facilitate Aristide’s return to Haiti, which Washington and Paris oppose. Aristide and his wife Mildred were kidnaped from their home in Port-au-Prince by U.S. Special Forces on February 29, 2004 and flown into exile in Africa. Canadian, French and U.S. troops then militarily occupied Haiti until June 1, 2004 when the MINUSTAH took over.

“The Haitian people elected Préval on February 7, 2006 to end the occupation, free the political prisoners and return President Aristide,” said the HSN’s Berthony Dupont. “ Instead, one year later, we see the policies and realities of the coup d’état regime are still in place. The Préval government and U.N. cannot continue to thumb their nose at the will of the Haitian people.”

Demonstrations with demands similar to that in New York will be held on or around February 7 in about 35 other cities in 15 countries, including Haiti. A broad array of human rights and political organizations in Haiti and internationally has endorsed a call for coordinated actions on February 7th, which they have dubbed the International Day of Solidarity with the People of Haiti.

Ralph Bunche Park is located at the corner of 43rd Street and First Avenue.

ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE WAR

2007-02-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

A CALL TO AN
ENCAMPMENT TO
STOP THE WAR
Washington DC – STARTING MONDAY MARCH 12

Congress is about to vote to continue the war
We must not let them get away with it!

NEW! Daily Updates on the Encampment to Stop the War available at http://encampmenttostopthewar.blogspot.com

During the week of March 12, Congress will begin voting on President Bush’s request for $245 billion more to finance war and occupation. Let there be no mistake, this vote is no mere routine matter. It has nothing to do with “supporting the troops.” It is a vote to continue the war. In fact, the upcoming war funding vote will be every bit as important as the vote by the 109th Congress to authorize the war in October 2002.

Congress must understand that the people will not accept any excuses for its vote to continue the war by approving funding for it. The people are not fooled by symbolic, non-binding resolutions that only oppose the “surge.” It is a betrayal of the people for Congress to fool around with proposals to merely limit scope of the war by placing restrictions on the funding, or to “re-authorize” a more limited war.

Last November the people voted to change the leadership of Congress so that it could do what the President is unwilling to do -- to end the war now. As Sen. Russ Feingold said recently at a Senate Hearing on Congress’s war powers, “Congress has the power to stop the war if it wants to." Now the people have given you the mandate to do that.

If Congress votes to continue funding the war it will be voting to kill more U.S. soldiers, it will be voting to order U.S. soldiers to kill more Iraqis, it will be voting to continue the war. If Congress votes for more war funding, then no one can claim that this is solely the President’s war, or the Republican Party’s war; it will be Congress’s war.

It is not excuse for any member of Congress to say that they oppose the war, but that their voting for more war funding to support the troops. The real support that the troops and their families need is for you to act decisively, cut off the war funding and bring everyone home alive.

There is only one Congressional vote that the people, the solders, the families of solders, the Iraqi people, and the people of the world want to read about, and that’s a vote against any more war funding. Such a vote is in effect a vote to end the war and bring all the troops home now. Join us at the Encampment to Stop the War beginning Monday March 12 on the Mall in Washington DC to pressure Congress to end the war now.

Endorsers: DC Anti-War Network, Code Pink, After Downing Street, Axis of Logic, Brenda Stokely, co-convener, New York City Labor Against the War*; Teresa Guttierez, May 1 Immigrant Rights Coalition*; Rebecca Rotzler, co-chair Green Party USA, Deputy Mayor of New Palz NY; Sharon Black, Million Worker March; Florida Military Families Speak Out; LeiLani Dowell, FIST - Fight Imperialism Stand Together; Joseph Parko, founding member, Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition*, Atlanta, GA; Elliot Markson, Veterans For Peace*, Brooklyn, NY; Mona Parsons, Military Families Speak Out*, Mount Vernon, OH; Julie Levine, Steering Committee, Topanga Peace Alliance*, CA; Manik Mukherjee, AIAIF, All India Anti-imperialist Forum, Calcutta, India; The Most Rev. Filipe Teixeira, Ofsjc, Diocesan Bishop, Catholic Church Of The Americas*, Brockton, MA; and thousands more.

DonSee growing list of endorsers at : www.TroopsOutNow.org/CutOffWarFundingEndorsers.html

March on Clinton and Schumer's Office

2007-02-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Bush says "Stay the Course"...
The Democrats can't even pass a non-binding resolution opposing the surge...
The People must stop the war

February 17
CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDS DAY
Rally at 1 pm in Times Sq.
(Broadway btw. 41st & 42nd)
2 pm March to Senator Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer's Office

New York City - Boston - Detroit - Philadelphia -Los Angeles - Raleigh - Atlanta - Across the U.S.

February 17 is "No More $$ for War Day." In dozens of cities across the country, tens of thousands will take to the streets to demand that Congress cut off all war funding now. Local organizers are planning marches, pickets, rallies, sit-ins, and other forms of protest and resistance.

In New York City, we will rally on Feb. 17 in Times Square at 1 pm and then march to the offices of Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer, two Senators who not only voted for the war, but continue to support the war.

Help get the word out!

What we do over the next few days is crucial. The Troops Out Now Coalition is organizing outreach teams to go to schools, community centers, subways, parks, and throughout the five boroughs to get out thousands of leaflets, posters, and stickers.

We need your help. Now, more than ever, it is clear that politicians --of either major party - will not end the war. We must do it by mobilizing a massive grassroots movement of opposition and resistance.

Join us all week for outreach teams starting at 12 Noon
Meet at the Solidarity Center, 55 W. 17th St. 5th Floor 5C
Phone (212) 633-6646
Be a part of a team to distribute fliers, posters and put up stickers.

Work sessions - Thursday 12 noon to 8 pm and Friday 12 noon to 6 pm
Meet again at Solidarity Center at the Solidarity Center, 55 W. 17th St. 5th Floor 5C.

Also please come into the office to take fliers, posters and stickers to your community, school, or union.

Join us the campaign to demand that Congress cut off all war Funding. Here's how you can participate:

Sign the Open Letter to Congress - http://www.votenowarfunding.org/votenowarfunding.shtml- this will go to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Charles Schumer, and other leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Join us all this week for outreach and work sessions - National No More $$ for War Day. Activists across the country are planning pickets, rallies, sit-ins, and other forms of creative resistance and direct action.

Donate - http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml- Help us with the enormous costs of organizing in cities across the U.S.

VoteNoWarFunding.org

2007-01-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

VoteNoWarFunding.org

February 17
CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDS DAY

New York City - Boston - Detroit - Philadelphia -Los Angeles - Raleigh - Atlanta - Across the U.S.

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW -
Demand that Congress Cut Off ALL War Funding

Soon, Congress will vote on Bush's request for more than $100 billion in additional funding for the criminal occupation of Iraq. Congress has the power to stop the war by cutting off war funding. They cannot hide behind "non-binding resolutions" and hearings--they must stop the war. They cannot hide behind the claim that they are "supporting the troops" -- voting to fund the war is voting to continue the war, which means more soldiers and Iraqi people will die.

On February 17 in cities and towns across the U.S., activists will make it clear to Congress that we will not allow another dollar to be spent on the war.

Not one more day.

Not one more dollar.

No more deaths.

No hiding behind "non-binding" resolutions and timetables.

Bring ALL the Troops Home Now!

Join us the campaign to demand that Congress cut off all war Funding. Here's how you can participate:

Sign the Open Letter to Congress - (see text below) this will go to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Charles Schumer, and other leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Organize or Participate in local actions on February 17 - National No More $$ for War Day. Activists across the country are planning pickets, rallies, sit-ins, and other forms of creative resistance and direct action.

Donate - Help us with the enormous costs of organizing in cities across the U.S.

An Open Letter to all 535 members of Congress

Dear Members of Congress,

END THE WAR NOW
YOU HAVE THE POWER
VOTE NO! TO MORE WAR FUNDING

On February 17, “VOTE NO WAR FUNDS DAY,” we will be rallying around the country to let you know that this time, we’ll be watching how you vote on this critical issue.

Last November the people voted to change the leadership of Congress so that it could do what the President is unwilling to do-- to end the war now. As Sen. Russ Feingold said recently at a Senate Hearing on Congressional war powers, “Congress has the power to stop the war if it wants to." Now the people have given you the mandate to do that.

Soon you will be asked to vote your approval of more funds to pay for the war. A few of you have already indicated that you will not approve another dollar for war. All of you must to do the same. The next war funding vote will be every bit as important as the vote by the 109th Congress to authorize the war in October 2002.

If you vote no to more war funding the troops will come home, lives will be saved and this nightmare will come to an end. If you approve more funds for war, then more U.S. soldiers will die, more soldiers will be maimed for life, and the war will go on and on. If you approve more war funds, then no one can claim that this is solely the President’s war, or only one political party’s war; it will be Congress’s war.

It’s not enough to vote for symbolic, non-binding resolutions that only oppose the escalation of the war. It’s not enough to cross-examine and criticize generals and the President’s cabinet secretaries in Congressional hearings. It will not suffice to say that you oppose the war, but that you’re voting for more war funding to support the troops. The real support that the troops and their families need is for you to act decisively, cut off the war funding and bring everyone home alive.

Activists from across the country have designated Sat., Feb. 17, “VOTE NO WAR FUNDS DAY.” On that day, thousands of peace-loving people will rally and march in their communities to tell Congress that when it comes time to vote on more funds for war, the people will be watching and waiting.

Many of those participating in the Feb. 17 protests across the country will bring with them some of the bills that they can’t afford to pay. People will be bringing their medical, utility, food, and rent bills; their student loan debts; and their credit card bills, because more and more people are being forced to use credit cards to pay for basic necessities. The reason for bringing all of these bills to the protest is to remind Congress, as it considers its vote on the new war funding request, of the growing ranks of the poor that desperately need the money that has been wasted on this war to help them in their daily struggle to survive.

Sign the Open Letter to Congress

Troops Out Now Coalition Response to the State of the Union Address

2007-01-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

January 23, 2007

A s the U.S. occupation of Iraq grinds on and the numbers of dead and wounded mount, President George W. Bush and Democratic Party leaders, the supposed opposition, continue to reject the growing demand to bring the troops home now. In Bush's State of the Union address to Congress last night, George W. Bush continued to stick to his “stay the course” position and claimed he has a “plan for victory” despite clear evidence that the attempt to colonize Iraq has been defeated.

Bush made a desperate attempt to restore confidence in his failed adventure in Iraq, outlining a "new strategy" that is really just a repeat of the same lines he has been using since he declared "mission accomplished" almost four years ago. The so-called "surge" of 21,000 troops will not succeed in crushing the resistance of the Iraqi people; it will only bring more death and destruction. He did not mention the more than 600,000 Iraqi people that have died as a result of the U.S. invasion and occupation. Nor did he address the fact that every reason he gave to justify the war has now been exposed as a deliberate lie.

Despite his talk of “a democratic Iraq," the ghastly torture chambers of Abu Ghraib, the continued bombing of Iraqi homes, the use of depleted uranium, phosphorous, napalm, and other illegal weapons of mass destruction, all reveal the brutal nature of the war against the people of Iraq. This war is not and never was about bringing democracy to Iraq--it has always been about seizing control of the country's oil reserves.

What Bush also failed to mention is that even as the attempt to colonize Iraq is clearly failing, the Bush administration is moving towards another reckless adventure—war on Iran. Bush has deployed two second aircraft carrier groups—with destroyers, cruisers, submarines, cruise missiles and combat aircraft—to the Gulf, while sources report that the Pentagon is already identifying targets for U.S. air strikes.

Health care

Bush attempted to deflect attention from the catastrophe in Iraq by offering a tax deduction for workers who purchase health insurance or use employer-supported plans. His plan would allow standard deductions for health insurance — $7,500 for individuals, $15,000 for families — while subjecting employer-paid health insurance to income taxes.

Bush's plan would do nothing to help the estimated 47 million people in the US without health insurance. Rep. Pete Stark, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee's health subcommittee, has said that Bush's proposal to tax existing health benefits is so ludicrous that it is unlikely to be seriously considered by Congress. He said, "The president's so-called health care proposal won't help the uninsured, most of who have limited incomes and are already in low tax brackets. But it will hurt middle-income Americans, whose employers will shift even more cost and risk to their employees.''

Most of the uninsured don't have coverage because they cannot afford to pay the premiums. Making those premiums tax-deductible will not make healthcare more affordable for most workers. Many others cannot get coverage because of

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pre-existing conditions, which Bush's plan does nothing to address.

The net result of Bush's plan would be a decline in the number of workers having access to health coverage. Paul Fromstein, director of the health research and education programs at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, said the Bush proposal would ``mean the end of employment-based coverage as we know it because it gives employers an incentive to drop coverage. If employees can go out and get private coverage with the same tax breaks as they'd get through employer-sponsored coverage, more companies will simply give them the money and let them find their own coverage because they view [health coverage] as a headache."

We must continue to demand health coverage for all. The $300 billion that the Bush Administration has spent on war on occupation could easily provide complete health coverage for all uninsured children in the U.S.

The War at Home:
Police Brutality and Police State Tactics

As he has done since repeatedly since the attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush used the threat of "terrorism" to drum up support for his policies of endless war and repression. He said, “For all of us in this room, there is no higher responsibility than to protect the people of this country from danger." But he did not address the fact that many communities face threats of violence every day--not from "terrorists," but from the police. The police who gunned down Sean Bell the night before his wedding, firing 50 shots at an unarmed man, and the police who killed 92-year old Kathryn Johnson in her home in Atlanta, the ICE raids that haul away families in the middle of the night, and the police who commit acts of racist brutality in communities across the country, are a daily threat to the lives and safety of communities of color, immigrant communities, and the LGBT communities. Antiwar and progressive organizations must stand in solidarity with communities that are under daily attack from police terror.

Bush has used the words "freedom" and "democracy" repeatedly as justification for his policies of endless war, but an examination of his actions here and world-wide demonstrates that he has no interest in either. He has authorized the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency to spy on and infiltrate meetings of progressive organizations that oppose his policies. Under the PATRIOT Act, FBI agents search library records, book store sales, and other personal records and conduct widespread surveillance without any probable cause. He has ordered intelligence agencies to kidnap people off of the streets and drag them from their homes, fly them to other countries, and torture them in a secret global network of detention camps. Under his mantra of "freedom and democracy" lies a full-scale war on civil liberties and civil rights.

Katrina

The President made no mention of one of the biggest failures of his Administration, the ongoing catastrophe that followed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But the whole world remembers watching the scenes of horror and despair on the streets of New Orleans, as people died, abandoned by every level of government because they were poor and Black. While everyone watched newscasts of people dying of thirst, as FEMA did nothing to help, Bush praised the FEMA director, saying, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

We must continue to support the right of Katrina survivors to return to their homes and to determine how the region will be rebuilt. They, not Bush's millionaire friends, have a right to control the money for rebuilding the area.

Energy policy

Every year, in an attempt to grab headlines on the following day, Bush has introduced a new initiative that never lasts longer than his address. A few years ago, he promised $15 billion for AIDS treatment in Africa--money that never materialized. Throughout his presidency--at every State of the Union address, Bush has talked about energy independence, but the funding for research and development never materializes. In last years address, he promised to take on the US "addiction to oil," but his 2007 budget actually proposed to spend less on energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy resources in inflation-adjusted dollars than was appropriated in 2001. In 2005, he cut the funding for alternate energy by 50%.

As soon as Bush took office, he proposed cutting the Department of Energy's renewable fuels and energy efficiency budget by as much as 40 percent. Meanwhile, Vice President Cheney was in secret meetings with executives from Enron, Exxon, Conoco, Shell Oil and other energy companies, where they studied petroleum maps of Iraq and developed the national energy policy of the Administration. We can only conclude that when Bush talks about looking for "alternative fuel sources," he actually means looking for another oil-rich country to invade.

For some, this policy has been enormously successful--oil companies are reporting record profits. But for others, like the people of Iraq or the soldiers and military families who are paying the ultimate price, Bush's policies have been an unmitigated disaster. We can be sure that, despite his talk about "alternative fuels," his primary and central goal is to ensure maximum profits for the oil companies.

No Opposition from the Democrats

Bush's criminal war against Iraq has brought justified resistance throughout Iraq and outrage across the globe. Everywhere he travels, he is met with massive protest in the streets.

President Bush's poll numbers are in a freefall. A new CBS News poll has the President's approval rating at a career low of 28 percent-- 14 points below where he was at before he delivered his State of the Union speech a year ago. In November, he had a 34 percent approval rating. In December, it was 31 percent. In early January, it was 30 percent.

Less than 3 months ago, voters in the U.S. made their opposition to the war very clear as they handed the Republican Party a resounding defeat at the polls. President Bush's announcement of a "surge" in the occupation was met with more than 500 protests across the U.S.

Despite this clear and overwhelming opposition to the ongoing occupation, the Democratic response to the State of the Union offered no real opposition to the Bush Agenda. Senator James Webb did not call to bring the troops home--in fact, he waited until he was half way through his speech before even mentioning Iraq. When he did get around to it, he merely indicated that the U.S. needs a "new direction."

It was clear from his remarks that his difference with the Bush Administration is only tactical. The Democratic Party criticism of the war in Iraq is not based on the fact that the war is a criminal act that has resulted in the death of more than 600,000 Iraqis, but on the fact that Bush has been unable to successfully crush the resistance and establish a stable puppet state. The Democrats in Congress marched in lockstep with the Administration when they thought the war to seize Iraq's oil would be over in weeks.

Senator Webb claimed that the President "took us into this war recklessly." But the President could not and did not act alone. He could not have launched the war in Iraq without the eager complicity of the Democrats in Congress, a complicity that continues to this day, as Democrats continue to assert that they do not plan to carry out the mandate that brought them into office -- the demand to end the war now and bring all the troops home now.

It is clear that politicians in Washington are not going to end the war. The people themselves must take action to force them to bring the troops home now.

If we want to end the war, to have health care, education, and housing for all, to fight racism, to defend the rights of women, immigrants, and the LGBT communities, then we have to build a mass movement in the streets, and we have to stay in the streets. We can never again allow the antiwar movement to be misled into serving the interests of corporate politicians.

We must build a movement that will do what the war parties will never do --link the struggles of working people here with the struggles against war and occupation everywhere, including not only Iraq, but Palestine, Haiti, Afghanistan, Nepal, the Philippines, and everywhere people are struggling to for freedom and self-determination..

March 17, 2007 will mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The Troops Out Now Coalition is working with the Answer Coalition and other national coalitions to organize a massive march on the Pentagon on the fourth anniversary of the illegal invasion of Iraq. This time, we are going to Washington prepared to stay until we force Congress to cut off all war spending--it is time to move from protest to resistance.

Together we must grasp the opportunity to help transform the turning tide against the war into a human tidal wave of antiwar resistance in the streets. Nothing should stand in the war of building a massive, united movement to converge on Washington and end the war. Our sisters and brothers in United for Peace and Justice had initially called for a national march on the fourth anniversary of the war, but have now changed to calling for "local actions." In the interest of unity and strength we call on them to unite with the call for to converge on Washington DC on March 17. The crisis and opportunities ahead of us demand unity, and we will continue to do all we can to work for that unity.

Six hundred thousand Iraqis are dead. More than 3,000 U.S. soldiers are dead and tens of thousands have been wounded. This is not time to talk about timetables and "non-binding resolutions" or to get distracted by 2008 Presidential politics— it's time to take direct action to stop the war. We call on everyone to descend on Washington this weekend – January 27, followed by local actions on February 17 at Congressional offices. Then, on March 27, come to Washington, prepared to stay until we stop the war.

Immediate, Unconditional, & Complete Withdrawal from Iraq--Out Now!
End Colonial Occupation & Imperialist Aggression from Africa to Asia, from Iraq to Palestine, to Afghanistan, to Haiti, to the Philippines, to Puerto Rico
No New Wars Against Iran, Syria, North Korea
Hands Off Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, & Lebanon
Solidarity with Immigrant Workers and Katrina Survivors
Stop the War at Home -- Stop Racist Police Terror -- Stop ICE raids
Military Recruiters Out of Our Schools and Communities -- No Draft -- Education, Not War

How You Can Help:

Endorse the call for unity for March 17 - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/mar17endorse.html
Volunteer - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/mar17volunteer.html
Become an Organizing Center - http://troopsoutnow.org/mar17orgcentsignup.html
Donate - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/donate.html

Lebanon: from destruction to resistance

2007-01-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

Please join New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine for...

LEBANON: FROM DESTRUCTION TO RESISTANCE

Saturday, January 13, 2007
3:00 PM
Old Bergen Church
1 Highland Ave. at the corner of Highland and Bergen
Jersey City, NJ

(minutes from Journal Square - take the PATH to Journal Square, and walk down Bergen Ave. to the church)

In the past year, the people of Lebanon weathered a brutal Israeli invasion that saw over a thousand Lebanese killed, massive destruction to Lebanon's civilian infrastructure, including airports, roads and bridges, the dropping of over a million cluster bombs on Lebanon, and a wholesale attack on the Lebanese people; a complement to the ongoing Zionist war on the Arab people of Palestine.

Since the people of Lebanon, and their resistance forces, repelled the invasion, the people's movement in Lebanon has only grown stronger, despite the massive destruction. Surging from their resistance, millions of Lebanese have taken to the streets of Beirut, filling the squares and staying in downtown Beirut, struggling to achieve their demands.

See a powerful film documenting the human cost of the war on Lebanon, and hear from an activist who recently returned from Lebanon, where he attended the massive demonstrations in Beirut...

Film Showing: "SAMIDOUN" ("Steadfastness") - a multi-media journey through the 34 day war in Lebanon and its aftermath, by Ana Nogueira and Andrew Stern - Samidoun is a multimedia presentation of the recent war in Lebanon and its aftermath, produced by award-winning independent reporters Ana Nogueira and Andrew Stern. Interweaving still photography, audio and video, Samidoun is a uniquely intimate look at the human cost of this conflict that took the lives of over 1200 people, wounded thousands more, and displaced over one million.

Speaker: BILL DOARES, a New York-based activist with the International Action Center and Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, who recently returned from a month in Lebanon with a delegation that attended a major international solidarity conference in Beirut, toured the towns of South Lebanon deeply impacted by the war on Lebanon, and attended the major demonstrations in Beirut, speaking with participants, organizers and leaders.

Please join us for this informative and powerful event!

Sponsored by : New Jersey Solidarity- Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
For more information:
http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org
Email: info@newjerseysolidarity.org
Phone: 973-954-2521

No Surge - Troops Out Now

2007-01-08T12:45:00.000-08:00

In response to Bush's call for a surge,
A United Surge of the Antiwar Movement
on the Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday January 15
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Times Square Recruiting Center
43rd & Broadway

Troops Out Now!
Not one more penny for the war!
Fund jobs, education, and health care for all!
Not one more death!
End the colonial occupation now!
No new wars in Iran, Somalia, or North Korea!

“The security we profess to seek in foreign adventures we will lose in our decaying cities. The bombs in Viet Nam explode at home: they destroy the hope s and possibilities for a decent America...Poverty, urban problems and social progress generally are ignored when the guns of war become a national obsession.” - Martin Luther King, Feb. 1967

As the death toll of U.S. troops passes 3,000 and the number of Iraqi casualties exceeds 600,000, and more than $300 billion have been spent on the war, Bush and Congress want to send 20,000 more troops and spend another $100 billion. This money was stolen from the people who need housing, healthcare, jobs at a living wage, and education.

It is clear that the President and Congress have no intention of ending the war --the people must take action to bring the troops home now.

Join us in Times Square on the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. to say Bring the Troops Home Now!

Volunteer to help

Donate to help with organizing expenses

Read the call for March 17 - Washington DC

Endorse the call for March 17

Troops Out Now Coalition
55 W. 17th St. 5th Fl.
NY NY 10011
212.633.6646
www.TroopsOutNow.org

Free the Lucasville 5

2007-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Free the Lucasville 5

In 1995 five innocent men were sent to death row in connection with the prison
uprising in Lucasville, Ohio in 1993.

• Siddique Abdullah Hasan • George Skatzes • Jason Robb • Namir Abdul Mateen, and • Bomani Hondo Shakur (Keith Lamar) were convicted of capital murder in relation to the deaths of a guard and nine inmates.

Four of the five were actually involved in negotiating a resolution of grievances and ending the uprising. The fifth, Bomani Shakur, was one who simply refused to talk.

None of the Five had any involvement in these killings or the decision to carry them out. Other inmates had their sentences reduced in exchange for perjured testimony, which
some of them have now recanted.

When the African-American and specifically the Muslim defendants were on trial,
the prosecution appealed to racism and anti-Islamic prejudice.

They have been in solitary confinement for 13 long years
and their appeals are running out.

YOU CAN REVERSE
THIS TERRIBLE INJUSTICE

Demonstrate Jan. 14

2-4 pm outside the Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.

OSP is a supermax prison located at 878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd.,
Youngstown, OH.

Four of the Lucasville Five are held
in OSP as well as most of Ohio’s
189 other death row prisoners.

Transportation is being organized
from Cleveland. For bus reservations or more info, call (216) 481-6671
or email pfcenter@sbcglobal.net.

Tell Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio to overturn the convictions of all prisoners with charges related to the Lucasville rebellion.

TELL HIM TO HALT
THE EXECUTIONS
IN OHIO

Write to Gov. Ted Strickland
77 High Street, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
FAX (614) 728-4819 or
call him at (614) 728-4900.

>From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
1963 letter from Birmingham Jail:

“For more than two centuries our forebears labored in this country without wages; they made cotton king; they built the homes of their masters while suffering gross injustice and shameful humiliation- and yet out of a bottomless vitality they continued to thrive and develop.

If the inexpressible cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.”

January 27 - Washington DC Get your bus tickets today!

2007-01-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

January 27 - Washington DC
Get your bus tickets today!

As the death toll in Iraq continues to rise -- more than 3,000 U.S. soldiers and more than 600,000 Iraqis -- President Bush has made it clear that he has no intention of bringing the troops home. In fact, he wants to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq and is threatening war against Iran and Syria while U.S. gunships are shooting down Somali people in the streets.

It is equally clear that Congress, despite their clear mandate to bring the troops home, plans to vote for another $130 billion dollars in war spending this spring. The only way we will stop the war is if we stay in the streets. Get on an IAC bus to Washington for January 27!

Join the IAC contingent in the January 27 March on Washington, organized by United for Peace and Justice and hundreds of other national and local groups. We will march to demand the Immediate, Complete, Unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq---no timetables, no surge, not another penny for war and occupation. Bring the Troops Home Now -- Money for Jobs, Healthcare, and Education, Not War!

Tickets are $35 leaving from 55 W. 17th St., at 6:00 a.m.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. You can purchase tickets from the Solidarity Center, located at 55 W. 17th St., 5th floor, from 12-8 Mon.-Fri., and 12-5 on Saturday.

** If you are not able to go, please consider donating to cover the costs of transportation for other activists. You can donate online at http://iacenter.org/iacdonate.shtml.

Call 212-633-6646 for information.

In response to Bush's call for a surge

2007-01-04T14:17:00.000-08:00

“The security we profess to seek in foreign adventures we will lose in our decaying cities. The bombs in Viet Nam explode at home: they destroy the hope s and possibilities for a decent America...Poverty, urban problems and social progress generally are ignored when the guns of war become a national obsession.” - Martin Luther King, Feb. 1967

Volunteer to help

Donate to help with organizing expenses

Read the call for March 17 - Washington DC

Endorse the call for March 17

IAC on Saddam Hussein Execution - Statement and Call to Action

2006-12-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

The International Action Center (IAC) condemns the Trial and Death Sentence For Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein; Join us to Protest U.S. Colonial Injustice, War Crimes, and Crimes of Occupation

Emergency Demonstration:

In New York:
Saturday, December 30
2:00 pm
Times Square Recruiting Station
43rd St. & Broadway
call 212.633.6646 for more information

In Detroit, Michigan:
McNamara Federal Building
Saturday, December 30
4:30 PM
called by Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI)

** The International Action Center urges activists to organize local actions in response to the execution of Saddam Hussein and the continuing occupation of Iraq. Check the IAC website (www.iacenter.org) for updates on protests and other activities.

The International Action Center (IAC) hold the U.S. government responsible for the decision of the “Iraqi High Tribunal" to carry out the death sentence against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and considers this execution part of the Bush administration’s plan to once again escalate the war. The timing of the execution was clearly intended to pre-empt news that the death toll of U.S. service people has hit 3,000 while that of Iraqis is in the hundreds of thousands. Such an execution will be another war crime against the Iraqi people.

As we have made clear in prior statements and articles, the IAC does not consider the capture, trial and judgment of the Iraqi president to be legal under international, U.S. or Iraqi law.* This punishment has nothing to do with the alleged crimes of the Iraqi leader nor is it part of an historical judgment of his role. It is the act of a conquering power against a nation that is occupied against the will not only of its 2003 legal government but also against the will of the vast majority of its people.

No authoritative human rights body, including those who were and are opponents and severely hostile to President Saddam Hussein such as the Human Rights Watch, considers his trial fair or the sentence just (see Dec. 27, 2006 statement).

Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, a founder of the IAC, who was part of the defense team for Saddam Hussein, told the media after hearing of the plan to execute that "SaddamHussein and his co-defendants are in the custody of the U.S. military in Iraq. They will be turned over to Iraq only on the order of or with the approval of President Bush. His pending decision will have long term consequences for the peace and stability of Iraq, and for the rule of law as a means to peace."

The Bush administration is preparing to announce its “new strategy” toward Iraq. This follows the November mid-term elections, which were an anti-war statement by the U.S. electorate. It follows the publication of the Iraq Study Group’s report, which was a recognition that the U.S. occupation of Iraq had collapsed and that disaster was near.

The execution of Saddam Hussein is a clear sign that the Bush administration is looking not to negotiate a way for the U.S. to leave Iraq, but is instead sending a signal that it will continue the war and escalate it despite the impending disaster. This conclusion is all the more obvious, as it accompanies the news out of Iraq that U.S. and puppet Iraqi troops are attacking, arresting and killing members and leaders of the Mahdi Army, led by Moqtada al-Sadr.

We in the IAC say no to the execution of Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants, no to the escalation of the Iraq war that will mean more deaths for Iraqis and for U.S. troops and for an intensified mobilization to stop the occupation of Iraq. We applaud the decision of the MECAWI organization in Michigan to call a protest outside of the McNamara Federal Building at 4:30 PM on the day the lynching of Saddam Hussein is set to be carried out.

*The following are URLS for prior statements on the trial and impending execution of Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi leaders:

Illegal and unfair trials of President Saddam Hussein and others by the Iraqi Special Tribunal...
RAMSEY CLARK
October 10, 2006 Memorandum with Exhibits for Each...
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/Iraq/hussein-2-102006.htm - 25KB - 14 Oct 2006

Verdict of the U.S. Occupation Court
Verdict of the U.S. Occupation Court - International Action Center Statement - November 06-06
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/Iraq/hussein_verdict-11-2006.htm - 9KB - 08 Nov 2006

Demonize to Colonize
Demonize to Colonize by Ramsey Clark "In the determination of any criminal charge ... everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by...
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/Iraq/rc-demonize2004.htm - 19KB - 28 Nov 2005

Ramsey Clark: Why I'm Willing to Defend Hussein
Why I'm Willing to Defend Hussein by Ramsey Clark Published on Monday, January 24, 2005 by the Los Angeles Times Late last month, I traveled...
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/Iraq/rc_whydefend-sh012405.htm - 13KB - 28 Nov 2005

The Trial of Saddam Hussein / Anti-war Movement Must Reject Colonial 'Justice'
The Trial of Saddam Hussein / Anti-war Movement Must Reject Colonial 'Justice' Le procès de Saddam, justice coloniale By Sara Flounders,...
URL: http://www.iacenter.org/Iraq/iraq_shtrial2005.htm - 34KB - 28 Jan 2006

URGENTE Colombia Español & English PLEASE FORWARD AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE!!

2006-12-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

While we celebrate these holidays with our loved ones, the families of trade unionists and social activists in Colombia are trying to just keep alive themselves and their hopes for a peaceful and just country. Please take a few minutes to read the statement below sent by the Coca Cola union SINALTRAINAL and respond with the model letter to save lives in that beleaguered country. After all, it is our responsibility for those of us who live in the USA , since it is the United States that funds and keeps the war in Colombia .

Thank you and forward to a New Year of struggle,

Berta Joubert-Ceci
International Action Center

Estimad@s amig@s,

Mientras celebramos estos días de fiesta junto a nuestros seres queridos, las familias de sindicalistas y activistas sociales en Colombia están apenas tratando de resguardar sus vidas y las esperanzas de una Colombia con paz y justicia. Por favor, saquen unos minutitos para leer el mensaje enviado por SINALTRAINAl, la unión de emplead@s de la Coca Cola y respondan con la carta modelo, la cual pueden variar según su criterio para así poder salvar vidas en ese sufrido país. Después de todo, es nuestra responsabilidad, para quienes vivimos en los EEUUA, al ser este país el principal promotor de la guerra en Colombia.

Gracias, y adelante con un Nuevo Año 2007 de luchas,

Berta Joubert-Ceci
Centro de Acción Internacional

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

SOCIAL LEADERS, STUDENTS, TRADE UNIONISTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS THREATENED IN BARRANQUILLA

On 14 December 2006, in the city of Barranquilla , a communiqué was left at the residence of Euripides Yance, a Coca-Cola worker and member of the National Committee of SINALTRAINAL . The communiqué is entitled BLACK EAGLES [AGUILAS NEGRAS] and threatens various student, social and trade union leaders, giving them a week to leave the city. Amongst them are members and leaders of SINALTRAINAL and workers at Coca-Cola EURIPIDES YA NC E, LIMBERTO CARRANZA, and CAMPO QUINTERO.

This death threat occurred just days after Colombia ’s Vice-President Francisco Santos made a public declaration referring to what he called campaigns to discredit Coca Cola, Nestlé and other private corporations and contended that they are pushed by “sectors of the extreme left, radicals infiltrated into trade union sectors that are generating absolutely absurd campaigns against the corporations”.

These threats have occurred at the time that we are negotiating our demands with the Coca-Cola bottling plans in the Santanders [the region in which Barranquilla is situated].

We demand national government protection for the life of trade unionists, social leaders, students, defenders of human rights; an investigation into the facts to [bring to justice] the intellectual and material authors.

Against Impunity SINALTRAINAL Demands Justice.

LUIS JAVIER CORREA SUAREZ

President

SINALTRAINAL

INTERNATIONAL EMERGE NC Y: Recommended actions

SEND YOUR E-MAILS TO / Enviar mensajes a:

Presidente de la República de Colombia:

Dr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez E-mail:auribe@presidencia.gov.co; dh@presidencia.gov.co

Vicepresidente de la Republica de Colombia

Francisco Santos Fax: 00 57 1 337 1351 E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co

Programa Derechos Humanos Presidencia de la Republica E-mail: ppdh@presidencia.gov.co

In the USA :

Sr. Luis Alberto Moreno

Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia

2118 Leroy Place NW Washington , D.C. 20008

Teléfono: +1 (202) 387 8338

Fax: +1 (202) 232 8643

E-mail: emwas@colombiaemb.org

Write, phone, FAX or e-mail today!

Español:

AMENAZADOS DIRIGENTES SOCIALES, ESTUDIANTES, SINDICALISTAS Y

DEFE NS ORES DE DERECHOS HUMANOS EN BARRANQUILLA

El día 14 de Diciembre de 2006, en la ciudad de Barranquilla, en la casa de habitación de Euripides Yance trabajador de Coca cola e integrante de la Junta Directiva Nacional de SINALTRAINAL fue dejado un comunicado titulado AGUILAS NEGRAS donde amenazan y dan plazo de una semana para que salgan de la ciudad varios dirigentes estudiantiles, sociales y sindicalistas, entre ellos, varios integrantes y dirigentes de SINALTRAINAL y trabajadores de Coca cola EURIPIDES YA NC E, LIMBERTO CARRANZA, CAMPO QUINTERO.

Esta amenaza se presenta días después que el Vicepresidente de la Republica de Colombia Francisco Santos hiciera pública su declaración refiriéndose a las llamadas campañas de desprestigio contra Coca Cola, Nestlé y otras empresas privadas y afirmo que estos actos están siendo impulsados por “sectores de extrema izquierda, radicales infiltrados en sectores sindicales, que están generando campañas absolutamente absurdas contra las empresas”

Estas amenazas se presentar también en momentos en que estamos negociando pliego de peticiones con las embotelladoras de Coca Cola en los Santanderes.

Exigimos del gobierno nacional protección para la vida de los sindicalistas, dirigentes sociales, estudiantes, defensores de derechos humanos e investigar los hechos y dar con los responsables materiales e intelectuales.

Contra la Impunidad SINALTRAINAL Clama Justicia.

LUIS JAVIER CORREA SUAREZ

Presidente

Sample letter

I am very concerned about the dangerous statement given to Caracol News by the Vice President of the Republic of Colombia Francisco Santos on Tuesday December 12. Referring to what he called "campaigns to discredit Coca Cola, Nestlé and other private corporations", he contended that these acts are pushed by “sectors of the extreme left, radicals infiltrated into trade union sectors that are generating absolutely absurd campaigns against the corporations”.

Knowing how dangerous Colombia is for trade unionists, a fact well known around the world, I am dismayed that the vice president of a country, whose obligation is to uphold the law, makes this reckless comment that obviously stigmatizes the union SINALTRAINAL , endangering the lives of its members.

Sure enough, two days later, on December 14th, according to an urgent statement by the union "in the city of Barranquilla, a communiqué was left at the residence of Euripides Yance, a Coca-Cola worker and member of the National Committee of SINALTRAINAL . The communiqué is entitled BLACK EAGLES [AGUILAS NEGRAS] and threatens various student, social and trade union leaders, giving them a week to leave the city. Amongst them are members and leaders of SINALTRAINAL and workers at Coca-Cola EURIPIDES YA NC E, LIMBERTO CARRANZA, and CAMPO QUINTERO."

I respectfully request that the Colombian government does everything to safeguard the lives of trade unionists, social leaders, students and human rights advocates and investigate these actions in order to bring justice by punishing the intellectual and material authors.

I also ask the Vice President Francisco Santos to withdraw the declaration that stigmatized SINALTRAINAL . I hold the Vice President responsible should any harm falls on the trade unionists or any other social activist.

Respectfully,

_____________

Carta modelo

Me preocupa grandemente la peligrosa declaración del vicepresidente de la república de Colombia Francisco Santos dada a Caracol Noticias el martes 12 de diciembre. Refiriéndose a lo que él llamó “campañas de desprestigio contra la Coca-Cola, Nestlé y otras empresas privadas ", afirmó que estos actos están siendo impulsados por “sectores de extrema izquierda, radicales infiltrados en sectores sindicales, que están generando campañas absolutamente absurdas contra las empresas”

Sabiendo lo peligroso que es Colombia para los sindicalistas, algo bien conocido alrededor del mundo, me alarma el hecho de que el vicepresidente de un país, cuya obligación es la de mantener la ley, haga este irreflexivo comentario que estigmatiza obviamente a la unión SINALTRAINAL , poniendo en peligro las vidas de sus miembros.

Efectivamente, dos días después, el 14 de diciembre, de acuerdo con un mensaje urgente de la unión, "en la ciudad de Barranquilla, en la casa de habitación de Euripides Yance trabajador de Coca cola e integrante de la Junta Directiva Nacional de SINALTRAINAL fue dejado un comunicado titulado AGUILAS NEGRAS donde amenazan y dan plazo de una semana para que salgan de la ciudad varios dirigentes estudiantiles, sociales y sindicalistas, entre ellos, varios integrantes y dirigentes de SINALTRAINAL y trabajadores de Coca cola EURIPIDES YA NC E, LIMBERTO CARRANZA, CAMPO QUINTERO."

Solicito respetuosamente que el gobierno colombiano haga todo lo posible para salvaguardar las vidas de los sindicalistas, líderes sociales, estudiantes y defensores de los derechos humanos e investigan estas acciones para traer justicia castigando a los autores intelectuales y materiales.

También pido que el vicepresidente Francisco Santos retire su declaración que estigmatizó a SINALTRAINAL . Hago al vicepresidente responsable por cualquier daño que le ocurra a los sindicalistas o a cualquier otro activista social.

Respetuosamente,

__________________

Tell Bush, Pelosi, and Halliburton: No War on Iran!

2006-12-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

Tell Bush and Congress: Hands Off Iran!

We must act now to stop another war.

As the war in Iraq drags on into a fourth brutal year, the same politicians who led the U.S. to war in 2003 are preparing for a new war --this time against the people of Iran.

Once again using the pretext of "weapons of mass destruction," the U.S. is moving the forces into place in preparation for a possible attack. The USS Eisenhower strike force, with some 800 Tomahawk cruise missiles and a fleet of bombers, has moved into the Persian Gulf. A second carrier group, led by the USS Stennis, is now steaming toward the region. The London Telegraph reported this spring that "a major American attack on Iran's nuclear sites would kill up to 10,000 people and lead to war in the Middle East."

In addition to moving military forces into place, the U.S. pushed through UN Sanctions on December 23 intended to cut off vital technology and funds to the people of Iran.

History teaches us that we cannot trust politicians in Washington to stop this new war. In 2002, both Democrats and Republicans rushed to vote for war against Iraq and they have voted every year to fund that war. Now, politicians of both major parties are calling for aggressive action against Iran, at the same time they are discussing sending more troops to Iraq.

The only force that will stop this war is a grass roots movement, and we need your help now to help stop a new brutal war in the Middle East.

Over the next few months, the Stop War on Iran campaign will be organizing meetings, speak outs, and teach-ins to help build a movement to stop the drive to war. We will also be preparing "Stop War on Iran" placards, banners, and leaflets to bring to antiwar and progressive activities, including the national antiwar marches on January 27 and March 17, the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

What we do over the next few weeks and months can be decisive. Please join us in helping to build a movement to stop Bush's new war.

Sign the petition - Sign the online petition -- flood Bush, Cheney, Halliburton, and Congress with the message - No War on Iran!

Donate to help with organizing expenses

Tell a friend help get the word out!

Volunteer - we need thousands of activists across the country to help build a movement to stop a new war

Hands Off Iran!
No Sanctions! No War!
Money for Jobs, Education, and Healthcare, Not War!
U.S. Troops OUT of the Middle East!

for updates, see the Stop War on Iran blog

Stop War On Iran - 55 West 17th St, 5C, New York, NY 10011

March on Washington - Cut off war funding!

2006-12-20T12:40:00.000-08:00

Troops Out Now Coalition

The Decisive Battle this Spring - The Challenge for the Antiwar Movement
March on Washington
On Jan. 27 and March 17 (the 4th Anniversary of the War)

WE MUST FORCE CONGRESS TO
CUT OFF WAR FUNDING

And we can if we move from symbolic protest to mass resistance

Not One More Dollar for War and Occupation!
Bring ALL the Troops Home Now!

Forcing Congress to vote to cut off further war funding is the defining issue for the antiwar movement this spring and it is a struggle that we can win if we are bold enough to take it seriously.

The Troops Out Now Coalition calls on everyone to join the antiwar march on January 27...and come back on March 17...and come ready to STAY in DC!

ON MARCH 17, ASSEMBLE AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND MARCH TO THE U.S. CONGRESS -- AND STAY THERE UNTIL THEY CUT OFF WAR FUNDING

An Appeal for Unity in the Antiwar Movement

Our chance of winning are greater if the antiwar coalitions unite!
A crucial factor in our ability as a movement to rise to this challenge is the willingness for all antiwar forces nationwide--especially the national coalitions--to renew a commitment to work for unity with each other. We appeal to all antiwar forces to take the high road and work together this Spring. The time has come for us to coordinate our efforts, and avoid competing dates and plans.
If we work and plan together--our chances of success will be greater.

More than at any time since the start of war, the antiwar movement is in a position to force congress to vote no on war funding. The people are on our side, the momentum is on our side, the whole world is on our side; the only question is whether we have the conviction and the courage to take our struggle against the war from the level of symbolic protest to real mass resistance.

Some time between now and early February, Bush is going to ask Congress to approve between $130 to $200 billion more dollars to finance the war to add to the close to a half a trillion dollars in war funding Congress has approved in a series of votes over the past three and a half years.

Sometime between February and May 2007, Congress will vote nay or yea to this request. This vote will be the most important war vote in Congress since a majority of both Republican and Democratic Party members of Congress voted to authorize the war in

How You Can Help:

Endorse the call for unity for March 17

Volunteer

Become an Organizing Center

Donate

Oct. 2002.

Clearly, Congress has the authority to cut off spending for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and effectively make it impossible for the criminal carnage to continue. What makes the next war funding vote different from all the previous ones is that on Nov. 7, people voted to end the war.

As a result of the massive antiwar vote, Democratic Party politicians will take control of both houses of Congress on January 4. When that happens, the authority to either carry out the mandate of the elections to end the war and occupation of Iraq by completely cutting off all war funding or to betray the people by approving more funds to continue it, will shift to the leadership of the Democratic party.

The top Democratic Party leaders in Congress have already indicated that they are preparing to betray the antiwar mandate. Some members of Congress say they will support resolutions introduced in Congress that call for a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq or a time table for withdrawing most troops. But such resolutions are little more than symbolic, half- measures that won’t end the war. However, the real fight is the war funding vote and we must force Congress to vote NO.

In the past, members of Congress who claimed to be opposed to the war have justified their votes for war funding by claiming they had to keep up the funding to “support the troops”. It’s time for us to reject all excuses and rationalizations for voting for war funding. A vote for war funding is a VOTE FOR WAR. Moreover, voting to approve more funds for war will only ensure that more U.S. troops and many more Iraqis will be killed and maimed.

IN MARCH – WE MUST BE READY TO STAY IN WASHINGTON

We will be in Washington on January 27 and we will come back on March 17. And when we come back in March, this time we must be prepared to stay there in the thousands to force Congress to vote NO on more war funding. If Congress tries to rush a vote on war funding before March 17, this time we must be prepared to come to Washington in mass to make sure that the war funding is voted down.

PAY THE PEOPLES’ BILLS - NOT FOR WAR & OCCUPATION; BRING YOUR BILLS WITH YOU TO WASHINGTON

We are asking people to bring their medical, rent, heating and utility bills; student loan bills; credit card bills, and food bills that they can’t afford to pay as well as shut-off notices, mortgage foreclosures, eviction notices to the march on Washington. It must be made clear to Congress that feeding more money to the war while more and more people cannot pay for their basic living expenses is a crime. The cost of the war is not the only reason why we oppose the war. We oppose the war because it is an imperialist war for colonial conquest and plunder. Yet the cost of the war is important because it’s paid for by money stolen from providing social needs. The money that has paid for death and destruction in Iraq could have gone towards reconstruction in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

In his famous speech declaring his opposition to the Vietnam war almost 40 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “It is disgraceful that a Congress that can vote upwards of $35 billion a year for a senseless immoral war in Vietnam cannot vote a weak $2 billion dollars to carry on our all too feeble efforts to bind up the wound of our nation’s 35 million poor. This is nothing short of a Congress engaging in political guerilla warfare against the defenseless poor of our nation…”

MARCH AGAINST THE WAR AT HOME
STOP RACIST POLICE TERROR - STOP THE RAIDS AGAINST IMMIGRANT WORKERS

As we march to end the war abroad, we must also demand an end to the war at home. We must demand an end to the raids on immigrant workers like the recent massive military raid carried out by thousands of Homeland Security/Immigration and Custom Enforcement police on mostly Latin@ workers at six Swift and Co. meat processing plants. We must demand an end to the racist police brutality and terror that recently killed 23 year-old unarmed Sean Bell in New York City and 93 year-old Kathryn Johnston in Atlanta, both of them African American.

Immediate, Unconditional, & Complete Withdrawal from Iraq--Out Now!
End Colonial Occupation & Imperialist Aggression from Africa to Asia, from Iraq to Palestine, to Afghanistan, to Haiti, to the Philippines, to Puerto Rico
No New Wars Against Iran, Syria, North Korea
Hands Off Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, & Lebanon
Solidarity with Immigrant Workers and Katrina Survivors
Stop the War at Home -- Stop Racist Police Terror -- Stop ICE raids
Military Recruiters Out of Our Schools and Communities -- No Draft -- Education, Not War

How You Can Help:

Endorse the call for unity for March 17 - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/mar17endorse.html
Volunteer - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/mar17volunteer.html
Become an Organizing Center - http://troopsoutnow.org/mar17orgcentsignup.html
Donate - http://www.troopsoutnow.org/donate.html

Troops Out Now Coalition blog

pics

ANTI-WAR MARCHES OF NEW TYPE: Washington, D.C.: Protest hits FEMA, ICE

How the Troops Out Now rally rocked!

We All Live in Jena ; National Call to Action

RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SUPPORTING GI RESISTERS

Anti-war protestors bring music to Capitol

Encampment targets FEMA, ICE & Congress

SEPT 29: NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

Encampment participants disrupt Senate hearing on war funding

NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE! FREE THE JENA 6! Eyewitness reports, Jena, LA., Sept. 20

Press Conference announces Encampment and Mass March

9/25 3PM - EMERGENCY NO WAR ON IRAN DEMO AT WHITE HOUSE

** Press Conference 9/24 3PM **

NYC Outreach Meeting and Updates

Leafletting at FIT

Outreach

Family bicycles 4500 miles to join Encampment to Stop the War

Momentum for encampment and September 29 growing in DC-MD-VA area

Camp out on Congress’s doorstep to say "No funds for racist occupation!"

No funds for racist occupation!

September 20: Protest Racism in Jena - Free the Jena 6!

Schedule for Encampment to Stop the War: Sept 22-29

LA Troops Out Now on KPFA

“For Katrina/Rita survivors — Where the struggle stands today for the right to return"

Los Angeles Encampment Schedule

LA Encampment/S29 Press Conference

Remember Sabra & Shatila

No more phony deadlines!

Sept 28th and 29th Youth and Student Actions

Say NO to War Funding -

Outreach volunteers needed

Join the cast of SiCKO

Calling for Activist video trainees and volunteers!

FREE PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON !

FREE PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON !

Sign the online petition and send emails to Dutch, Filipino, U.N. and U.S. officials and members of the media!

Joma Sison Questions & Answers Fact Sheet

What you can do to demand the release of beloved Philippine leader falsely arrested and in detention

from Protest to Resistance...

September 29: March on Washington

Impeach Bush and Cheney for War Crimes

July4: Unity with Mumia Abu-Jamal and all resisters!

National Antiwar Strategy Meeting: Activists call for unified struggle to stop the war

Tell the Denver City Council: ‘WE DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION’

Defend Cindy Sheehan

STAND in SOLIDARITY with the Bolivarian Revolution!

Don't let the Democrats veto the antiwar movement

Protest Bush's veto - Don't let the Democrats veto the antiwar movement

All Out for Mumia Abu-Jamal! Join Danny Glover, Cynthia McKinney and many others in Philadelphia!

All Out for May 1!

May 1 - Support the Struggle for Immigrant Workers' Rights

U.S. Bases Out Now!

Democratic Party Leaders Plan To Betray Anti-War Movement

Across the US - the People Demand "No More Money for War"

End the Occupation of Haiti

ENCAMPMENT TO STOP THE WAR

March on Clinton and Schumer's Office

VoteNoWarFunding.org

Troops Out Now Coalition Response to the State of the Union Address

Lebanon: from destruction to resistance

No Surge - Troops Out Now

Free the Lucasville 5

YOU CAN REVERSETHIS TERRIBLE INJUSTICE

January 27 - Washington DC Get your bus tickets today!

In response to Bush's call for a surge

IAC on Saddam Hussein Execution - Statement and Call to Action

URGENTE Colombia Español & English PLEASE FORWARD AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE!!

Tell Bush, Pelosi, and Halliburton: No War on Iran!

March on Washington - Cut off war funding!

Press Conference 9/24 3PM

YOU CAN REVERSE
THIS TERRIBLE INJUSTICE