Next Steps for Anti-War Movement

[deutsey]

I posted the information below in another thread, but I felt this also warranted its own thread.

I went to the Maryland United for Peace and Justice conference last weekend and heard Medea Benjamin of Code Pink speak. It was great hearing her and the conference really revived my sagging energy for anti-war actions (I've been extremely active in protesting Bush and his militarism since the first inauguration in 2001).

Medea said we need to begin driving home the costly realities of this occupation. She targeted three main areas that need mobilization immediately:

Support the Woolsey Resolution to withdraw US troops from Iraq (http://coastalrain.tripod.com/wmfso/id25.html)

Begin to prepare for anti-war demonstrations in the fall (she wasn't able to give dates yet, but put it on your radar screen now)

Counter-Recruitment Campaign: the military's recruitment efforts are consistantly falling short of goals; this campaign can help perpetuate this trend. At the very least we need to get into the schools and provide alternative information to the hard-sell lies recruiters are foisting onto kids.

You can also start highlighting how much Iraq is costing us...certainly in terms of human life (http://icasualties.org/oif/), but also in economic terms. Go to www.Nationalpriorities.org and www.costofwar.com

These resources can be used to show what could have been done nationally on down to your county with the billions of dollars the invasion and occupation are costing us.

Here are some other resources:

http://www.nisbco.org/
http://www.militaryfreeschools.org/
www.ivaw.net
www.girights.org
www.objector.org
www.sldn.org (gay and lesbian rights in the military)
www.volunteerabroad.org

[bryant69]

1. I like the first two suggestions, but have concerns about the third

I guess it would depend on the tone. An informative campaign targetting potential recruits woudl be a very positive and effective tool. But a confrontive campaign could backfire on us.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[deutsey]

3. That's what the emphasis is: providing alternatives to military service

in a non-confrontational way.

We need to raise awareness that kids and parents can forbid the school to give their contact given to military recruiters.

We also need to get access to schools and provide alternative information to kids in schools where ROTC and military recruiters are allowed.

[tinanator]

5. theres plenty of confrontation coming from the recruiter side

police are often called, and depending on the locale it can be a real fight to retain the right to counter recruiting.

[deutsey]

6. They're growing desperate

We're a threat to their livelihood, despicable as that livelihood is.

Apparently, we can use the language in the No Child Left Behind Act to our advantage. According to activists at the conference, the language stipulates that recruiters will have as much access to schools as ANY other community group. I'd like to see that section verbatim, but they took it to mean we recruiters don't have a special access to schools, but are on equal footing as, say, local peace groups.

I'll see if I can find the section they're talking about. I want to use it to make the case with our school system anyway.

[deutsey]

7. See "Same Access to Students"

http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg112.html

SEC. 9528. ARMED FORCES RECRUITER ACCESS TO STUDENTS AND STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION.

(a) POLICY-

(1) ACCESS TO STUDENT RECRUITING INFORMATION- Notwithstanding section 444(a)(5)(B) of the General Education Provisions Act and except as provided in paragraph (2), each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide, on a request made by military recruiters or an institution of higher education, access to secondary school students names, addresses, and telephone listings.

(2) CONSENT- A secondary school student or the parent of the student may request that the student's name, address, and telephone listing described in paragraph (1) not be released without prior written parental consent, and the local educational agency or private school shall notify parents of the option to make a request and shall comply with any request.

(3) SAME ACCESS TO STUDENTS- Each local educational agency receiving assistance under this Act shall provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers of those students.


So I guess you'd have to pass yourself off as a job resource. :shrug:

[tinanator]

4. the third is well under way

Myself, Im gonna try to earn a commission recruiting rightwing white Bushloving frat boys and sorority girls.

[cap]

2. antiwar movement needs to be ready for military action

http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-19-15.pdf

[deutsey]

8. kick

[DistressedAmerican]

9. I've Been Asking A Lot Of The Same Questions. What Is The Direction?

Kick and Nomination!

[IrateCitizen]

10. I've got another important link for your list, deutsey...

http://www.peace-out.com

A conscientious objector support network by conscientious objectors. Of course, this is a bit of a plug, considering I'm one of the co-founding members of it. ;-)

On another note, the fall demos will most likely be occurring the first weekend in Oct.

[deutsey]

11. Thanks!

Of all the shameless plugs on DU, I think yours is very justifiable. :hi:

Thanks also for the probable date for the demonstrations. I'm going to start planning for them now.

[goodhue]

12. kick

[G_j]

13. nominated

& yes Medea rocks!

[morgan2]

14. the anti-war movement to be succesful

needs a new name. People here antiwar and they think against all wars. The leaders of the antiwar movement are generally against all wars. Most people believe there are reasons for war. This isn't going to be changed by proving to someone the current war isnt necessary. The only way people are going to stop war, is to show that each and every case for war is wrong for a long time. People have come to accept that the US will be in these imperial wars every few years. Start talking in terms of anti-Iraq occupation, not antiwar. That is what is going on now, this is what you can show evidence for and make the case that it is more harmful than good. Maybe if by some miracle the US can break the cycle of a war every few years, people will begin to realize there is almost always no need for them.

[understandinglife]

15. MNA 1608

www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[deutsey]

16. Kick