“As a patriotic American proud to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It is time for U.S. troops to come home.” (more…)
At least seven bills have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would halt the escalation of the Iraq War and/or forbid further money from being used for anything except bringing U.S. forces completely out of Iraq. H.R. 508, introduced by Cong. Lynn Woolsey D-CA would require all U.S. military and private security personnel to be out of Iraq within six months of the legislation’s passage.
These bills, for all practical purposes, are being sidelined by the leaders of the Democratically-controlled House: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-CA; Majority Leader Steny Hoyer D-MD; and Cong. John Murtha D-PA, a legislatively powerful war critic because of his chairmanship of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Instead, attention of the House has been focused by the leadership this week on a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval of sending 20,000 more troops to Iraq. (more…)
The arrests started just five minutes after people
entered Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) office in the
Senate Office Building. The first of a planned
three-month series of occupations of U.S. legislators’
offices was designed to demand specific action to
quickly end the U.S. war in and occupation of Iraq.
About 50 people, representing nearly twenty
participating organizations, took part in the
nonviolent civil disobedience. Both TV and print media
covered the event. (more…)
On January 27th, the people sent a clear message to Washington - “Get U.S. Troops Out of Iraq Now!” Hundreds of thousands of people marched, and they completely - for the first time in history it is reported - surrounded the Capitol Building. When the first marchers came to the end of the loop there were people still waiting to start marching.
Unfortunately, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) - the primary sponsor - didn’t live up to the standards set by the marchers. Its continuing refusal to work with some other national coalitions, and its focus on celebrities and politicians, was reflected in its botching the start of the march and focusing of media coverage.
The great news though, from my perspective, is that this march drew such a broad range of people. Look at the people marching - www.traprockpeace.org has over 200 march photos - and you’ll see a cross-section of America. This - as much as the numbers - is what should worry the Bush Administration and Congress. (more…)
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Why protest matters
By Sharon Smith | February 9, 2007
HUNDREDS OF thousands of antiwar protesters amassed on the streets of Washington, D.C., on January 27, emboldened by the optimism of an antiwar majority that has finally found its voice.
To be sure, skeptics were quick to point out that members of Congress had vacated their offices for the weekend, as if their physical presence was necessary to notice the throngs of protesters. Other cynics remind us that even the enormous February 15, 2003, antiwar demonstrations failed to halt the U.S. drive to war on Iraq, as if protest is a futile exercise.
It is politically naïve, however, to expect that a single demonstration of any size is enough to persuade the world’s lone military superpower to reverse its bloodthirsty course.
A demonstration is not a protest movement. Such a movement requires an ongoing commitment to grassroots struggle. (more…)
The Campus Antiwar Network brought hundreds of students into the Unified Youth and Student Contingent on January 27th in DC. The new SDS, World Can’t Wait and other groups joined in one of the largest contingents in the march, and clearly the largest student bloc.
This 8 minute video shows the march to the rally point on the Mall; the spirited rally with chanting and talks by students; and the contingent marching on Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol.
It was a day of affirmation for the student movement, and a signal that the movement is strong and gaining momentum.
CAN was conceived in October, 2002 and formed via joint sister conferences - in DC and San Francisco - on January 17, 2003. It has been the largest and most active student coalition since the start of the war against Iraq. CAN was founded by students, and it is run entirely by students. It is democratic, grassroots, independent and owns its own website, which it maintains itself. Its operations are overseen by a national coordinating committee which is elected by delegates at its national conferences.
FORMER -GENERALS WHO WANT THE U.S. TO STAY IN IRAQ ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE WAR INDUSTRY
- Keane devises and pushes Bush’s “surge”.
- McCaffery wants more arms and money for Iraqis.
- Hoar and Odom, little connected to military business,
call for withdrawal.
- The importance of “contractors” in sustaining the war; “doing the patriotic bit.”
By Nick Mottern, Director, ConsumersforPeace.Org
As Congress weighs action on the escalation of the Iraq War, it may want to consider the business connections of retired generals who have been making recommendations, particularly those of retired four-star Army general John M. “Jack” Keane, who is one of the authors of President Bush’s “surge” policy. (more…)
This video joins 10 clips together to give a sense of this historic event, on January 27, 2007, which brought about 500,000 people to DC to march on the Capitol.
The video starts with a short clip of the intended ‘head’ of the march, with celebrities and politicians. A large swarm of photographers and videographers were jostling for position in front of the formation, which was behind a yellow taped in area. When the formation started to move, it took baby steps with the photographers walking backwards, clicking away. Hundreds had now gathered in the street - in front of the ‘head’ - ignoring pleas from march marshals to get up on the curb and “fall in behind” the celebrity formation. On the other side of these hundreds, the police escort then started up their engines, and these hundreds became the actual head of the march, with the celebrities coming up behind with their big banner.
The clip captures several energetic large contingents - the Service Employees International Union, the Campus Antiwar Network, and the International Socialist Organization. There are also people of all sorts marching, along with stilt walkers, puppets, etc.
And see coverage of a great after the march event - the End the War Now! program at Busboys and Poets. See videos, and download the audio, of the amazing hip hop artist Son of Nun; and speakers Kelly Dougherty, co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War; and Anthony Arnove, author of Iraq: the Logic of Withdrawal. http://www.traprockpeace.org/arnove_dougherty_012707.html
On January 27, 2007, 500,000 marched against war and occupation in Washington, DC. After this mass demonstration against the war, Kelly Dougherty, co-founder and Executive Director of Iraq Veterans Against War, and Anthony Arnove, author of Iraq: the Logic of Withdrawal, spoke at the Bus Boys and Poets cafe. Their talks followed an incredible performance of songs by activist/hip hop artist Son of Nun.
Son of Nun performs “Speak on It”
Kelley Dougherty, Iraq Veterans Against the War
Anthony Arnove, author of Iraq: the Logic of Withdrawal
In a moving, personal message that give a glimpse of the everyday tragedy of this war Dougherty recounted her experiences as a US national guard MP in Iraq. She gave witness to the miseries endured by the Iraqi people, and the relentless pursuit of profits in Iraq by companies such as KBR.
Arnove spelled out the disastrous consequences of this war, for the Iraqi people and the US, and made the case for immediate withdrawal of occupation forces, with reparations. (The video of his presentation is also on Google at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2841284427199107681
Son of Nun, the activist hip hop artist from Baltimore, performed 3 stirring pieces. Watch for video of his song about Katrina!
Andy Shallal, owner of Busboys and Poets, and Pamela Pinnock, Events Manager, introduced the program and served as hosts to an overflow audience, with people sitting on the stage. Michele Bollinger of the International Socialist Organization, which organized the event, served as moderator.
Learn more about the International Socialist Organization at http://www.internationalsocialist.?org and read news on the world and the movement at http://www.socialistworker.org
Learn more about Iraq Veterans Against the War at http://www.ivaw.org
See Son of Nun’s website at http://www.sonofnun.net/
Learn more about Busboys and Poets at http://www.busboysandpoets.com
The video was produced by Traprock Peace Center; Sunny Miller and Charles Jenks filmed and recorded the event. Find comlete coverage of this program and the days peace march at http://www.traprockpeace.org
Thanks to YouTube and Google for hosting the video!
