Iraq War Protests

ME, Portland: Rally for Democracy

Chip — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:39:07 -0500

Start: 11/06/2009 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

THE TIME IS NOW! RALLY FOR PEACE! RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY!

Where: Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101

When: Friday, November 6, 2009, 5 PM

Portland will be the site of a major Rally featuring David Swanson on Friday, November 6 at 5:00 PM. Swanson, a nationally recognized activist and author, is co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ProsecuteBushCheney.org, the Washington Director of Democrats.com, and a board member of Progressive Democrats for America. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign and has been a leading voice for the prosecution of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

His new book Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union is an assessment of how Bush/Cheney fundamentally altered the way our government works, inflated the powers of the executive, and deteriorated the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Only through the active efforts of citizens, Swanson argues, can we restore our rights, and expand our conception of political rights to meet new challenges. Daybreak offers a shocking and inspirational breakdown of all that we have lost, and all that we have to gain.

Also speaking at the Rally are:

Dud Hendrick, President of Maine Veterans for Peace, Chapter #001; Lisa Savage, CODE PINK MAINE local coordinator; and Bruce Gagnon, coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Herb Hoffman, Vice President of Maine Veterans for Peace, Chapter #001 and former candidate for the United States Senate, is the Master of Ceremony.
Dud Hendrick will address issues concerning how the American public has been numbed by militarism and the implications for US policies, both foreign and domestic.
Lisa Savage will represent the CODE PINK platform calling for the cessation of funding wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq while recognizing that military force does nothing to prevent terrorism. CODE PINK advocates for funding human needs not wars.
Bruce Gagnon, recently returned from South Korea, will connect his experiences in Korea and issues here in Maine, including Bath Iron Works, low flying F-15s in Western Maine and the proposed DRONE testing site at the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
Hana Maris, singer/songwriter, peace activist along with Joan Fox, vocalist, and Kim Hoffman, violinist, will share their music to inspire and motivate those in attendance.

The Rally is being co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace - Chapter #001, Code Pink of Maine, Peace Action Maine, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Waterville Area Bridges for Peace and Justice, and the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine.

All Troops Home from Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iraq - NOW!
Jobs and Health Care, Not War and WMDs!
Bring Maine National Guard Home - NOW!
No DRONES in Maine.

All are urged to come to the Rally and demonstrate their concern and commitment.

Immediately following the conclusion of the Rally at 6 PM, David Swanson will go to the Longfellow Bookstore, just a few yards away, and do a Book Signing of his recently published work, DAYBREAK: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union. David will speak about his book and be available for a Q & A. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that the people of Maine are not going to quietly accept the direction in which our country is headed.

VA, Richmond: Teach-In: Rethinking Afghanistan & Iran

Chip — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:44:33 -0400

Start: 10/17/2009 - 7:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

What: Teach-In: Rethinking Afghanistan & Iran

Where: Asbury United Methodist Church, 324 N 29th St, Richmond, Virginia 23223

When: Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public

It's been eight years since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, making this the longest U.S. military engagement since Vietnam. Many thousands of lives have been lost, including nearly 900 GIs. According to the Center for Defense Information, the estimated cost of this war will reach $439.8 billion by the end of this fiscal year. And the Obama administration is now weighing whether to commit tens of thousands more troops.

The evening will feature Larry Syverson, member of Military Families Speak Out whose son Branden is serving in Afghanistan and stationed at an outpost in Taliban territory. Last week, Syverson organized a protest in downtown Richmond to mark the eighth anniversary of the Afghanistan war, saying: "We need to end these wars and bring ALL our troops home NOW." Syverson will discuss his experience as the parent of a soldier serving in Afghanistan and discuss his opposition to the war.

We will also screen excerpts of the film "Rethink Afghanistan." Has the US war in Afghanistan brought stability to Afghanistan or security to the U.S.? Are the Afghan people better off today than they were eight years ago? Or are we merely laying the groundwork for a longer and wider war, a war without end? These are some of the questions raised by the new documentary film "Rethink Afghanistan," directed by Robert Greenwald, the man behind "Outfoxed," "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" and "Iraq For Sale." (For more information, see http://rethinkafghanistan.com.)

Rethink Iran

Nearly every day we are told by government officials and the media that Iran presents a dangerous threat to the U.S., to Israel, to world peace in general. Iran, which hasn't attacked another country in more than 200 years, is presented as a dangerous aggressor that must be contained, sanctioned or even attacked. The similarities to the build-up to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq are striking.

What's the real story behind the headlines? Is Iran trying to develop a nuclear bomb? Does it want to destroy Israel?

FL, Orlando: Florida Mass March to End War Economy: Healthcare, Not Warfare

Chip — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:13:12 -0400

Start: 10/17/2009 - 12:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Pledge to attend by emailing sabletide@yahoo.com
http://october17.org/orlandofl/
On Tuesday, October 20, co-organizer Jeff Nall will appear on 96.5 WSLR Sarasota Community Radio’s “Peace & Justice Report” to discuss the protest. The show starts at 9am.

What: Florida Mass March to End the War Economy

When: 12pm, Saturday October 17

Where: Rally at South East corner of Alafaya Blvd. (SR 434) and University Blvd, the main entrance to the University of Central Florida in Orlando

More info: email sabletide@yahoo.com

About:
Anti-war march and rally on October 17
Orlando march wants to end war economy (TC Palm, 10/7)

Who: Endorsed by 40 groups including Florida Peace Congress, Central Florida Veterans For Peace, Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), Florida Chapter, Florida Peace Action Network, Humanists for Peace, RiseUpTampaBay, Brevard Patriots for Peace, Students for a Democratic Society at UCF, The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, CODEPINK of East Central Florida, Peace Now Citrus County, St. Augustine People for Peace and Justice, NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, South Florida Palestine Solidarity Network, Marions for Peace, Green Party of Florida, Socialist Party of Florida, Broward AntiWar Coalition, Socialist Party of Southeast Florida, Radicaljack.com, Wage Peace of Jacksonville, SOA Watch South Florida, Environmental and Peace Education Center of Fort Myers (EPEC), The Refuge, Veterans For Peace South Florida – Chapter 32, CODEPINK Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Veterans for Peace, Chapter 119, Socialist Party of Tampa Bay, Socialist Party USA, Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace, Mark Weaver Show, Peace Coalition Of Brevard, After Downing Street, Arlington South, East Orlando Food Not Bombs, Orlando Food Not Bombs, Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace Chapter 14, Melbourne Food Not Bombs

OR, Portland: The Stand

Chip — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:59:37 -0400

Start: 10/10/2009 - 1:00pm

End: 10/11/2009 - 1:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

"The Stand" is about teenagers protesting the war in Iraq by walking out of school. A cast of spirited and conscious teens fed up with the frivolity of Grease, Hair Spray & High School Musical make the case: our Department of Defense feeds on the ignorance and passivity of “the people” twelve years socialized by the Department of compulsory mis-Education.

All peace-related groups are welcome and encouraged to table at any and all performances.

SHOWS:

Brody Theatre, 16 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 97209 224-2227, 1 pm Saturday & Sunday Oct. 10/11. $5.

OR, Portland: The Stand

Chip — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:36:46 -0400

Start: 10/10/2009 - 8:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

All peace-related groups are welcome and encouraged to table at any and all performances.

SHOW:

Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis St., Portand, OR 97202, 823-3177. Saturday, Oct. 10, 8 PM, (FREE!)

NY, West Point: "Army - Don't Go To Iraqistan!" Rally

Chip — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:11:30 -0400

Start: 11/14/2009 - 10:30am

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Please try to attend the next "Army - Don't Go to Iraqistan" rally to be held this coming Saturday, Oct. 10 at West Point to address people arriving for the Army-Vanderbilt football game. Directions.

We will gather at 10:30 a.m. in Highland Falls by the clock at the southern most tip of the public park at Main Street and West Point Highway, just south of West Point's Thayer Gate. The rally will end at noon, kickoff time.

Eleven of us attended the rally there this last Saturday, and we found the experience very worthwhile.

We came to West Point because it is the nation’s top training center for young people entering Army leadership and because it is a way to reach out to people who are directly affected by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The photos below are graciously provided by Andy Courtney.

We all were very surprised at the numbers of people who gave us thumbs up, honked horns or showed other signs of approval.

For example, when we got into town we set up shop across from the park on the shoulder of the road. A man, who seemed to be from Highland Falls be cause he knew the name of the person in front of whose driveway we were standing, stopped his car and suggested that we move to the park because this would increase our visibility and would put us on public property, thus avoiding a complaint by the driveway owner, who, the motorist told us, could be quite contrary.

We did not receive this warmth at earlier anti-war protests at the same spot. We also got some of the customary signs of disapproval, but this was outweighed by the positive responses.

In addition, we found the Highland Falls police extremely cordial and agreeable to our presence in the park; they asked only if the park was where we intended to hold the rally. A police car stood by during the event, and at one point a man stopped to talk to the officer in the car, pointing at us. But nothing was said to us by the police beyond our initial encounter.

As we prepared to depart at noon, Chuck Bell suggested that we shout out Margaret Eberle’s name and then shout “Presente”, which we did three times; for although she has passed from us we felt her very much with us on Saturday and continue to do so.

This is a link to a report of the rally appearing on the MidHudson News website.

Again, we urge you to attend the next rally this coming Saturday. If we have enough people, we will set up a rally point at West Point's Stony Lonesome Gate off of 9W, just north of Highland Falls, where people also enter to attend the game. You will feel that you are making a difference.

Please RSVP if you will be able to attend. Note that we plan to hold similar rallies on Oct. 23 and Nov. 14, also home games for Army.

NYC, NY: How do we end the war in Afghanistan?

Chip — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:33:42 -0400

Start: 09/16/2009 - 7:15pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

How do we end the war in Afghanistan?

What: David Wildman of Global Board of Ministries of the United Methodist Church, recently returned from his 4th trip to Afghanistan

When: Wed. Sept. 16th, 7:15 pm

Location: St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church
263 West 86th St. (between Broadway & West End Ave - half a block from #1 subway)

Yesterday's New York Times headline: "U.S. Buildup: a Necessity?" Yet another article questioning continued troop buildup in Afghanistan! 57% of the people in this country do not support continuing this war. How can we expand that majority as we did with the Iraq war in order to convince Congress and President Obama to take action to end the war in Afghanistan?

Join us on Sept. 16th to ask all the questions you need answered so that you can help to grow the grassroots movement against war in Afghanistan. Get all the information and resources to organize a house party as part of UFPJ's national day of action on Oct. 7, the anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. Click here for information on hosting a "Peace for Afghanistan House Party".

This event is a fundraiser for NYC United for Peace and Justice. We are asking for $10 at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

DC: Honoring Michael Kirk of Frontline's "Bush's War" on Constitution Day Sept. 17, 2009

Chip — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:08:36 -0400

Start: 09/17/2009 - 9:30am

End: 09/17/2009 - 12:30pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

The American Society of International Law, the Constitution Project, and the Georgetown Center on National Security and the Law invite you to attend a special event on Constitution Day, September 17, 2009, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Georgetown University Law Center
McDonough Hall - Hart Auditorium
600 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001

RSVP

Presentation of the Constitution Project's 2009 Constitutional Commentary Award

Honoring Michael Kirk for his production of Frontline's "Bush's War;" the award will be presented by 2007 honoree and Pulitzer Prize-winner Charlie Savage of the New York Times

Panel Discussion: "Defining Human Rights: What Role does International Law Play in our Constitutional System?" Featuring:

John Bellinger, Partner at Arnold & Porter LLP; Legal Adviser to the Department of State, 2005-2009
Judge Patricia Wald, former Chief Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit; former judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Moderator David Cole, Professor at Georgetown University Law Center

Please join us for a light lunch following the event.

PA, Philadelphia: Iraqi Labor Tour

Chip — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:17:41 -0400

Start: 09/21/2009 - 7:00pm

End: 09/21/2009 - 9:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

Learn how Iraqi labor unions are trying to re-build Iraq

Remember this past Spring, when IVAW members Aaron Hughes and T.J. Buonomo went to Iraq for the First International Iraq Labor Conference? There they met with union leaders representing all sectors of the economy from across Iraq. Well, this month, IVAW is excited to host five of those same leaders in an East Coast tour as they head to the AFL-CIO National Convention in Pittsburgh. We kick off this tour today in Washington, D.C., then on to New York City, and Philadelphia.

Five Iraqi Labor Federation leaders representing the largest unions in Iraq are here to make their case for expanded labor rights in their country to U.S. labor leaders, war veterans, and any one else who will listen. During their visit, they will also collect signatures on a petition to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, calling on her to press the Iraqi government to legalize unions and protect the rights of Iraqi workers.

Sign the petition here and circulate it to your friends, family members, and union colleagues.

If you live in the Washington, DC, NYC, or Philly metro areas, don't miss this unique opportunity to hear directly from Iraqi union leaders about conditions for average working people under U.S. occupation.

Iraqi Labor Tour Schedule

Monday, September 21, 7:00-9:00 PM at Friends Meeting House, 4th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA

Background:

Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Saddam Hussein's 1987 law banning labor unions has remained in effect. Iraqi labor unions have been organizing without the protection of a basic labor law, even though Iraq's constitution requires one and Iraq is a signatory to the International Labor Organization Convention on the right to organize and bargain. Since the U.S. occupation, Iraqi union leaders have faced severe repression including having their bank accounts frozen, harassment, beatings, detention, torture, and even assassination. Yet, they continue to organize, despite these obstacles.

In fact, unions have played a critical role in resisting the privatization of their economy, which is one of the unstated goals of the continuing U.S. occupation. Iraqi unions are particularly concerned with passage of an oil law that would give away profits to foreign companies, instead of reinvesting that wealth in the infrastructure of Iraq. (Click here for an in-depth article on the history of Iraqi unions and Iraqi oil.)

Unions play an important role in re-builing Iraq's economy and promoting civil society. There is no country in the world that claims to be a democracy that doesn't have a free labor movement. And Iraq should be no different. A free labor movement can play an important role in the political life of Iraq, but currently they are shut out. Iraq Veterans Against the War is committed to supporting everyday Iraqis in rebuilding their society and the right to organize in a union is fundamental to that.

Attend one of the events, sign the petition, and make a donation today.

Thank you for taking action in solidarity with Iraqi workers,

Iraq Veterans Against the War

DC: Join Pro-Peace & Accountability Groups for Plans & Action 10/3-5/2009

Chip — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:32:05 -0400

Start: 10/03/2009 - 12:00am

End: 10/05/2009 - 11:59pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-4

We are writing to invite you to participate in a nonviolent resistance action at the White House that is being organized by the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR), Witness Against Torture (WAT), Voices for Creative Nonviolence, War Resisters League, Peace Action and other peace groups.

The action will be carried out by various affinity groups, focusing on:

Ending the US War in Afghanistan
Ending the US Occupation of Iraq
Stopping the US Drone bombings in Pakistan
Closing Guantanamo and Bagram US Military Prisons
Accountability for Torture

A flyer for the action is attached.

Witness Against Torture will also be holding a planning meeting (for January, 2010 and beyond) on Saturday, October 3, 2009 @ 3pm.

Please RSVP to daloisio@riseup.net to let us know if you will be participating in the action and/or you are able to come to the meeting on Oct. 3.

Below is our proposed schedule for our time together and info you need to know about logistics and the White House action.

Saturday, October 3
3:00 p.m. -- WAT meeting at St. Stephen's and Incarnation Church
6:00 p.m. -- Dinner @ St. Stephen's

Sunday, October 4
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.-- Meeting at the Festival Center for White House
Action planning meeting (1640 Columbia Rd. NW.-- between 16th and 17th)
6:30 p.m. -- Dinner at St. Stephen's

Monday, October 5 (Phil Berrigan's Birthday)
7:00-7:30 a.m. -- Breakfast
7:30 a.m. -- Leave for Supreme Court
8:30-9:30 a.m.-- WAT Vigil @ Supreme Court Calling for Closing of
GITMO and Bagram
9:30 a.m. -- Procession to McPherson Square for Rally
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. -- Rally @ McPherson Square for White House Action
11:30 a.m. -- Procession to White House
12 Noon -- White House Action

***Housing, legal, and other information can be found @ www.warresisters.org/logistics

**If you're on Facebook, join and share our Event Page for the Action:

Hope to see many of you soon!

Peace-
Matt Daloisio

100 Days to Close Guantanamo & End Torture

Matthew W. Daloisio
daloisio@riseup.net
New York Catholic Worker - Maryhouse
55 East 3rd Street, NY, NY 10003
Witness Against Torture
War Resisters League
Friends of 339