Tag: anti-war

Having again elected a new Congress with a mandate to end the war, activists are determined to hold Congress accountable this time. The Raise Hell for Molly Ivins Campaign is urging contact with members of Congress, in their home offices, on the Third Friday of the month — Iraq Moratorium day — and has produced a video with Vietnam vet Ron Kovic to promote it.  (That’s next Friday, Nov. 21.)

United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) is urging meetings with members of Congress in their home offices between now and Jan. 3, when they are seated. Says UFPJ:

These visits will help communicate our sense of urgency. Our nation is still at war, as well as in the throes of sharp economic decline and a growing global environmental crisis. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing us billions of dollars, which are vitally needed here at home, and tens of thousands of deaths on all sides. There is much to be urgent about!

With a new administration and a new Congress coming to power in January, we have an opportunity to advance new priorities and to help restore the proper role of Congress in foreign policy matters. But that means we have to start our work now, we cannot wait for several months…

Issues To Address In Your Meetings With Members Of Congress

At a time of economic crisis, the United States needs a new foreign policy, which emphasizes diplomacy and international cooperation, rather than military power and war. In discussions with members of Congress, it will be helpful to stress that our economy will not recover, and we will not have the resources to create green jobs, health care for all, 21st-century education and rebuild the infrastructure, if the military budget is not reduced. The present level of military spending is outrageous and not sustainable with all the new programs promised during the election campaigns.

Other specifics:

1) On Iraq. Congress should insist on the rapid withdrawal of all U.S. military forces and contractors from Iraq. This withdrawal should be accompanied by a new diplomatic surge to stabilize the country and open the political space for Iraqis to decide their own future. Deployment of the National Guard in wars overseas should cease, returning their focus to domestic security.

2) On Afghanistan. Congress should not permit an expansion of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. It should press for a multilateral regional effort at stabilization along with rapid withdrawal of NATO and U.S. forces.

3) On Iran.  Members of Congress should make clear their opposition to a new war in Iran. They ought to encourage unconditional, high-level talks to reduce tensions and urge Iran to abandon any nuclear weapons program. If the U.S. truly wants to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, it will require us to live up to our commitments under Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Why not work on that on Iraq Moratorium day as well?

If there’s no Congressional office where you are, bring cell phones and contact numbers to your Moratorium event and place calls from there.

Do something. Keep the heat on. It’s got to stop, and we are still the ones who have to stop it.  

From our friends at the Iraq Moratorium:

Yes, we know there’s an election in four days, and a lot of folks are preoccupied.  By all means, cast a ballot.  But don’t stop there.

No matter who wins or loses on Tuesday, the war in Iraq won’t be over.  It will drag on.  More blood will be shed.

We want the war, the occupation, and the bloodshed to end as quickly as possible.  

That’s why in three weeks, on Nov. 21, we will observe the Iraq Moratorium once again. We hope you will again be part of it, as people all across the country interrupt business as usual and take action to call for an end to the war.

If we’re going to end this war, it is essential that we keep the pressure on the people who are elected on Tuesday.  We learned after the 2006 elections that change does not come quickly, easily, or automatically.

Please plan to join thousands of others who will take some action, big or small, on Nov. 21 to mark the Moratorium.  You’ll find lots of ideas on the website, IraqMoratorium.com.

And please take a minute to list the activity you’re planning, so others can learn about it and participate, or take heart and inspiration from what you do.  Use this easy form to share your plans.

And if you can spare a dime, buddy, we sure could use it, now that the campaigns are winding down.  We’ve operated for more than a year on almost no money or paid staff.  But even a shoestring operation needs to buy a shoestring now and then.  We’d be most grateful for any help you can offer.  Go here to donate.

Today is Iraq Moratorium day, a day to interrupt our usual routine and do something, big or small, individually or with a group, to call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq.

Events are planned across the country. You can find them, and suggestions for individual action, on the Moratorium website, IraqMoratorium.com.

The Raise Hell for Molly Ivins campaign, which has participated in the Moratorium since it began in September 2007, started out asking people to bang on pots and pans, as the late, great progressive voice, Molly Ivins, had suggested in one of her last columns.

The Ivins campaign is asking people this month to call or visit their local Congressional offices today to demand an end to the war, and has enlisted Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, author of “Born on the Fourth of July,” for this video:

A lot of people are preoccupied with the election, and that’s important.  But we elected a new Congress two years ago with a mandate to end the war, and nothing happened.  Just changing leaders is not enough.  We need to keep the pressure on, no matter who wins on November 4.

Friday is Iraq Moratorium day, a day set aside each month to interrupt your usual routine and do something to stop the war and occupation.

One of the great things about the Moratorium is that you can observe it wherever you are, whether there is a group action planned or not.  For example, here’s a report from Paul Krehbiel, a Pasadena, CA activist:

My wife and I were in France in September and took a break from our routine on Moratorium Day to support the Iraq Moratorium and call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq while we were at the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral. My wife lit candles for all those who have suffered and all those who have lost their lives in this horrible war, and I held a sign — made from the inside of a gift bag, which said, “Iraq Moratorium” with the peace sign. Hundreds of people watched silently. Some were praying.  

Whether you do it in Paris or in Podunk, do something on Friday.

You’ll find a list of events and ideas for individual action on the Iraq Moratorium website.

Those striking photos from the Peace and Justice Center at St. Norbert College in DePere, WI which held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil for peace in Iraq as part of Friday’s nationwide Iraq Moratorium actions, were submitted by Patti Cole.

Reports are coming in now from across the country — New York City, San Francisco, and points in between, like Wisconsin, which remains in the forefront of the movement, along with California.

You’ll find reports, photos and an occasional video on the Moratorium website, which serves as a clearinghouse for activists to exchange ideas and inspiration.  Check it out.

While you’re there, tell us what you did on Moratorium day to stop the war and occupation.  And if you’re willing and able to do so,  put something in the Moratorium tip jar.

Next event, the Third Friday, as always:  October 17.

Today’s the day.  You know what to do.

The Iraq Moratorium marks its first anniversary.

The Moratorium is a simple idea.  It asks people to interrupt their daily routines once a month, on the Third Friday of every month, and do something to call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq.

It can be something simple, like wearing a button or armband to work or school.  Or it can be dramatic, like taking part in some kind of major rally, march, occupation, die-in or other action.  Some choose to challenge authority and get arrested.  Others send an email to their Congress member.  There is room for all of that and everything in between.  There are no rules, and only one requirement to be part of Iraq Moratorium day:  Do something!

You’ll find lots of ideas for individual action and a listing of events at the Moratorium website.  You’ll also find reports, photos and videos from previous actions.

Operating on a shoestring and relying on volunteers, the Moratorium sparked at least 1,322 events in 42 states and 256 communities during its first year of operation. (Those were listed; many others just happen and are never added to the list or the count.)

Imagine what it could accomplish with a little money and even a tiny bit of media attention?

Help make it happen.   Donate something if you can, knowing that every badly-needed dollar will be put to immediate and effective use in the cause of peace.

But, more importantly, do something.

You may not end the war.  But acting can be its own reward.  Give it a try.

The Iraq Moratorium marks its first anniversary on Friday, but it won’t be a celebration.

The goal when the Moratorium was launched in September 2007 was to put itself out of business by ending the war and occupation of Iraq.

Despite George Bush and John McCain’s belief that we are somehow winning, there are more US troops there now than there were a year ago.  The war itself is five and a half years old.  

If McCain becomes president, there is no end in sight.  If Obama does, we’ll eventually get out, but it will take continued pressure on him and the Democrats in Congress to do the right thing.  (We elected a new Congress two years ago to end the war; how’d that go?)

The Iraq Moratorium, inspired by the Vietnam Moratorium that helped end that war, was created to reach out to the two-thirds of the American public who say they oppose the war but don’t do anything to try to end it.  It’s what Nixon called the silent majority, except that now they are on the antiwar side.  But they are still silent.

The Moratorium is a simple idea.  It asks people to interrupt their daily routines once a month, on the Third Friday of every month, and do something to call for an end to the war and occupation of Iraq.

It can be something simple, like wearing a button or armband to work or school.  Or it can be dramatic, like taking part in some kind of major rally, march, occupation, die-in or other action.  Some choose to challenge authority and get arrested.  Others send an email to their Congress member.  There is room for all of that and everything in between.  There are no rules, and only one requirement to be part of Iraq Moratorium day:  Do something!

You’ll find lots of ideas for individual action and a listing of events at the Moratorium website.  You’ll also find reports, photos and videos from previous actions.

Operating on a shoestring and relying on volunteers, the Moratorium sparked at least 1,322 events in 42 states and 256 communities during its first year of operation. (Those were listed; many others just happen and are never added to the list or the count.)

Imagine what it could accomplish with a little money and even a tiny bit of media attention?

Help make it happen.   Donate something if you can, knowing that every badly-needed dollar will be put to immediate and effective use in the cause of peace.

But, more importantly, do something.

You may not end the war.  But acting can be its own reward.  Give it a try.

That’s theoretical, of course.

The number is extrapolated from the turnout for an Iraq Moratorium-sponsored event on the Third Friday of August in Cornwall, CT, home of the famous covered bridge.

Cornwall’s population at the last census was 1,434.  About 10 per cent of that population turned out for the Moratorium event.

That surpasses the record established by Hayward, Wisconsin, home of the muskie festival, which has had turnouts of 80-plus people even in the winter to call for an end to the war.  Hayward’s population is 2,100.  We had projected that if the entire country turned out at the same rate as Hayward, there would be 12 million people in the streets.

The same old stuff from Congress; a sabre-rattling resolution threatening Iran.  A new marriage. A cell phone borrowed from a protester to call Congress.  And Code Pink.

An auspicious start for that new marriage.  And an Iraq Moratorium event to shake things up a little in Brooklyn.

As the Iraq Moratorium prepares to start its second year with actions across the country on Sept. 19, here’s a report from one of the many held in August:  

THE GRANNY PEACE BRIGADE: CONFRONTING THE UNSPEAKABLE, SUPPORTED BY THE UNCONSCIONABLE, ONE PHONE CALL AT A TIME: House Congressional Resolution 362 – sponsored by Rep. Ackerman and co-sponsored by NYC Reps. Towns, Fossella, Weiner, Maloney, & Engel – evokes disappointment, fury, and phone calls from constituents.

Let the word go forth: the good people of New York City aren’t one bit happy with the language and intent of this nasty piece of business*. On Thursday, August 7, several Grannies, CodePink women and members of Brooklyn for Peace set up shop at Brooklyn Borough Hall to sound the alarm and ask constituents to call their representatives and the response was so terrific, we went back for an encore on August 15th. Once again, Brooklyn welcomed us. Calls were made, conversations were started, voters were registered, and here are a few of the moments we’ll certainly remember:

On the 15th, Iraq Moratorium day, our first call is made by that Politically Endangered Species, a man in a suit! As faithful followers of the phone-a-thoners may recollect, this is not our strongest constituent base and we hope this is the start of a trend.

Two women from Yvette Clark’s district, giddy with excitement when they discovered ‘their girl’ missing from the Wall of Shame. “You just tell her we love her to bits and we’re proud of her,” they tell her office.

A man shakes his head over Rep.Towns’ support of H. Con. Res.362. “The man came to my church,” he says. “He seemed like such a good man. What’s happening here?” We wonder the same thing.



A young couple, just married in Borough Hall, pose for their wedding portraits right near our table. We offer them our congratulations, Granny buttons and we register the bride…to vote!

A young mom from Anthony Weiner’s district drops by. Her small son has autism and it is a full-time job getting him the support he needs. She calls Weiner’s office, tells the staffer she wants to register her distress at the congressman’s support of H. Con. Res. 362, and wants to see him front-burner domestic issues for ‘real people’. The office hangs up on her. Note to Rep. Weiner: you’ve got one very angry constituent on your hands – and she is not about to keep quiet.

We are told that Rep. Edolphus Towns and members of his staff were covertly checking out our table. If indeed this was the case, we sure are disappointed he didn’t want to engage us in some discussion.

– Fran Sears with Phyllis, Caroline & Joan P

– photos by Eva-Lee Baird

A delegation from the national Veterans for Peace convention, taking place in nearby Bloomington, joined the core group of walkers for the last 2.7-mile segment of the trek, which began in Chicago in mid-July.

Members of Code Pink and the Sisters of St. Joseph greeted the walkers and hosted a celebration at St. Joseph Church to mark the end of the journey.

Witness Against War, a walk from Chicago to St. Paul to promote non-violence and an end to the war is Iraq, is in its final week.  

Dan  Pearson,  the one who dreamed it up, scouted and planned the route, and coordinates much of the logistics, calls it “a totally worthwhile endeavor.”  He and Kathy Kelly are co-coordinators of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, the Chicago-based group that organized and sponsors the walk.  

The drive from Milwaukee, where I had last walked with them, to Pepin, WI, on the Mississippi River, to rejoin them, took five hours.  It had taken the walkers five weeks.

As they started Saturday’s trek from Pepin to Maiden Rock, along one of the most spectacularly scenic stretches of river in the country, they had covered 420 miles.   When they reach St. Paul this weekend, in time for the Republican national convention, they will have walked nearly 500 miles.

There are 10 walkers on Saturday, including Marie Kovecsi, who joined the group in Winona, MN to spend a week walking with them before returning to start another school year as a teacher of deaf and blind students, and me.  The rest are part of the core group who left Chicago in mid-July and have walked most or all of the way.   Most days they are joined by local activists who walk with them for a day or two, but there are none on Saturday in this sparsely-populated area.