from War Times: four Years Of War: Protest, Act, Speak Out!
Friends,
On March 19 the fifth year of the illegal, immoral, disastrous war in Iraq will
begin. Activists across the country are mobilizing to mark the occasion with
demonstrations, vigils and direct actions from Friday March 16 through Tuesday March
20. Add your voice to the rising call for peace: to find an activity in your area
go to http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?sortby=&caltype=51
In many cities individuals and groups have already begun to act. Below are two
inspiring stories. The first, by Veterans for Peace Executive Director Michael
McPhearson, tells the story of his first arrest in a civil disobedience protest.
Following Michael's article is a press release from the reborn SDS (Students for a
Democratic Society) announcing the occupation of a Manhattan Recruiting Station by
New York City area SDS members.
And if you need materials presenting the case for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from
Iraq, check out the new flyer "Time To End the Occupation of Iraq" available from
War Times/Tiempo de Guerras. The flyer is downloadable in English and Spanish as a
.pdf file from http://www.war-times.org Or e-mail us at info@war-times.org and we
will mail you up to 25 copies free of charge.
Peace,
The War Times/Tiempo de Guerras All-Volunteer Staff
My Small Act of Civil Disobedience
Michael T. McPhearson
Yesterday, Feb 27th, I participated in my first open act of civil disobedience as
part of the Occupation Project. I along with St. Louis local chapter President Chuc
Smith, three other veterans; Jim Allen, Harry Wyman and VFP office manager Cherie
Eichholz and Military Families Speak Out Member D. Ridgley Brown visited
Representative Russ Carnahan's office to continue our conversation to persuade him
to vote down any bills that continue to provide funding for the war in Iraq.
Jim Allen and I decided to sit-in to protest Carnahan's refusal to pledge not to
continue funding for the war. As a result, Jim and I were arrested.
( Collapse )
--
SDS Occupies Recruiting Station in Manhattan
Contact:
Matt De Vlieger: 954.536.7461
Uruj Sheikh: 201.407.8670
At noon, Monday, March 12, 2007, nearly 100 students from area
universities marched to the armed forces recruiting station on 157
Chambers Street. Twenty-three members of Students for a Democratic
Society entered and occupied the recruiting station shutting down
recruitment activity for nearly two hours. Outside dozens more
protesters supported those being arrested with chants including,
"Troops out now," "No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East,"
and "Stop the war. Yes we can. SDS is back again." Member of Pace
University SDS, Uruj Sheikh said, "The fourth anniversary of the
occupation of Iraq is in one week. Billions of dollars are being
spent and hundreds of thousands have been murdered. Military
recruitment has been systematically deceptive and we as students, as
targets of recruitment, say something must be done to stop the war
aboard and at home." Protester Rakshan Kateeb, sophomore at Pace
University said, "The action was successful in that we are building up
to the big mobilizing actions at the end of this week and the
continued actions that will end this war." Visiting on Spring break
from the University in Central Florida, SDS member, Matt De Vlieger
said, "This demonstration was empowering and necessary. We need to
step up our resistance to the war against Iraq and U.S. imperialism.
As the war escalates, so does our resistance." Jessica Rapchik,
member from Antioch College SDS in Ohio said, "It was really
encouraging to be there locking arms with our brothers and sisters who
used civil disobedience for something they believe in." Jail
solidarity is being held across from New York State court on 100
Centre Street.
War Times/Tiempo de Guerras is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Third
World Organizing. Donations to War Times are tax-deductible; you can donate on-line
at http://www.war-times.org or send a check to War Times/Tiempo de Guerras, c/o P.O.
Box 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662.
On March 19 the fifth year of the illegal, immoral, disastrous war in Iraq will
begin. Activists across the country are mobilizing to mark the occasion with
demonstrations, vigils and direct actions from Friday March 16 through Tuesday March
20. Add your voice to the rising call for peace: to find an activity in your area
go to http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?sortby=&caltype=51
In many cities individuals and groups have already begun to act. Below are two
inspiring stories. The first, by Veterans for Peace Executive Director Michael
McPhearson, tells the story of his first arrest in a civil disobedience protest.
Following Michael's article is a press release from the reborn SDS (Students for a
Democratic Society) announcing the occupation of a Manhattan Recruiting Station by
New York City area SDS members.
And if you need materials presenting the case for an immediate U.S. withdrawal from
Iraq, check out the new flyer "Time To End the Occupation of Iraq" available from
War Times/Tiempo de Guerras. The flyer is downloadable in English and Spanish as a
.pdf file from http://www.war-times.org Or e-mail us at info@war-times.org and we
will mail you up to 25 copies free of charge.
Peace,
The War Times/Tiempo de Guerras All-Volunteer Staff
My Small Act of Civil Disobedience
Michael T. McPhearson
Yesterday, Feb 27th, I participated in my first open act of civil disobedience as
part of the Occupation Project. I along with St. Louis local chapter President Chuc
Smith, three other veterans; Jim Allen, Harry Wyman and VFP office manager Cherie
Eichholz and Military Families Speak Out Member D. Ridgley Brown visited
Representative Russ Carnahan's office to continue our conversation to persuade him
to vote down any bills that continue to provide funding for the war in Iraq.
Jim Allen and I decided to sit-in to protest Carnahan's refusal to pledge not to
continue funding for the war. As a result, Jim and I were arrested.
( Collapse )
--
SDS Occupies Recruiting Station in Manhattan
Contact:
Matt De Vlieger: 954.536.7461
Uruj Sheikh: 201.407.8670
At noon, Monday, March 12, 2007, nearly 100 students from area
universities marched to the armed forces recruiting station on 157
Chambers Street. Twenty-three members of Students for a Democratic
Society entered and occupied the recruiting station shutting down
recruitment activity for nearly two hours. Outside dozens more
protesters supported those being arrested with chants including,
"Troops out now," "No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East,"
and "Stop the war. Yes we can. SDS is back again." Member of Pace
University SDS, Uruj Sheikh said, "The fourth anniversary of the
occupation of Iraq is in one week. Billions of dollars are being
spent and hundreds of thousands have been murdered. Military
recruitment has been systematically deceptive and we as students, as
targets of recruitment, say something must be done to stop the war
aboard and at home." Protester Rakshan Kateeb, sophomore at Pace
University said, "The action was successful in that we are building up
to the big mobilizing actions at the end of this week and the
continued actions that will end this war." Visiting on Spring break
from the University in Central Florida, SDS member, Matt De Vlieger
said, "This demonstration was empowering and necessary. We need to
step up our resistance to the war against Iraq and U.S. imperialism.
As the war escalates, so does our resistance." Jessica Rapchik,
member from Antioch College SDS in Ohio said, "It was really
encouraging to be there locking arms with our brothers and sisters who
used civil disobedience for something they believe in." Jail
solidarity is being held across from New York State court on 100
Centre Street.
War Times/Tiempo de Guerras is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Third
World Organizing. Donations to War Times are tax-deductible; you can donate on-line
at http://www.war-times.org or send a check to War Times/Tiempo de Guerras, c/o P.O.
Box 99096, Emeryville, CA 94662.
