Organizing Locally

On Thursday, the corporate media turned out in impressive numbers to cover the pro-justice march in Jena, Louisiana. But last Saturday, just five days before, that same corporate media barely addressed the anti-war march in Washington DC.

Personally, I'm thrilled the mainstream corporate media covered Jena, but I'm not delusional as to WHY:

For the Bush-crony corporate media, which owns profitable "defense" industry businesses and serves the military industrial complex in myriad ways, the march in Jena was viable to promote. It served the interests of both the Bush administration and American media corporations by providing a global view of Bush's exportable democracy. Unlike the anti-war movement that directly targets George Bush and Dick Cheney, the Jena march targeted local officials and local injustice. It never mentioned George W. Bush or his administration. Thus, the Jena march was covered and the anti-war march was not.

Furthermore, if Bush put a media kibosh on the Jena march the way he does on anti-war marches, he would ensure an even greater divide between Black Americans, the Republican party and his administration. Activists know the success of public demonstration is judged by the attention it gets. If the Jena march generates media attention, the march is deemed a success. If the Republicans and George Bush want to keep any faith with Black Americans, they had better let the media do its work.

Published on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
by the Homer Tribune (Alaska)
by Layton Ehmke

Conspicuous signs reflected the frustrations of the dozen-or-so activists lining WKFL Park on Pioneer Avenue Saturday. Those driving by showed their support for voicing those concerns with the presidency by honking and waving in return.

Amy Bollenbach, chair of the Homer Citizens for Impeachment group that has grown to 30 members since its inception four weeks ago, said the movement is partly fueled by the shame she carries about the state of the country - that, and the accusations about botched CIA reports, an empty connection between Iraq and Sept. 11, spying and tapping citizens’ phones and the lack of cooperation on congressional inquiries.

Last Tuesday, the Madison City Council failed to pass a resolution for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney. It failed because 8 members of the City Council lacked the courage and the integrity to exercise their duty, their right and their responsibility to honor their oaths to the Constitution and to protect and represent their constituents from a criminal government. And, I say criminal government, because it is not just the executive that are criminals, with the exception of twenty members of the House who have cosponsored HRes333, congress is complicit in these crimes.

madison.com
Samara Kalk Derby
September 9, 2007

The country's best-known anti-war activist, Cindy Sheehan, made her first trip to the Madison area Saturday, headlining the sixth annual Fighting Bob Festival in Baraboo, and calling for the impeachment of President George W. Bush.

The "Peace Mom," whose soldier son Casey, 24, was killed just five days after arriving in Iraq in 2004, resigned May 29 as an anti-war activist.

Her retirement lasted just five weeks. On July 2, she un-retired after hearing that President Bush had commuted the prison sentence of Scooter Libby. She announced later that month that she will run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the 2008 congressional election because the speaker won't pursue impeaching Bush.

During previous American presidencies, less calamitous than that of George W. Bush, the most consistent visitors to local and national legislators were paid corporate lobbyists seeking favors that rarely, if ever, served the common good. Greedy K-Street 'Abramoffs' exploited American capitalism and sacrificed the many to benefit the few.

Before the reign of George W. Bush, self-indulgent corporate lobbyists far outnumbered unpaid patriots who called-on elected officials. Average Americans didn't phone, fax, email and visit their national, state and local legislators to plead for their country's salvation. They felt no need to. Their democracy, though flawed, was at no risk of failing. Their electeds, though flawed, weren't tearing it apart.

But today, with America in a Constitutional crisis, savvy constituents across the nation are rushing to intervene. The number of patriot lobbyists visiting electeds has grown substantially. Citizen interventions abound.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR PLANS!

Presidential Advance Manual

I reviewed the entire manual which the ACLU has posted on their website. What the Washington Post has posted is hardly an appetizer considering what is actually in the manual.

One of my favorite lines was: "There will also be an additional 15-20 percent above the tickets ordered printed in order to ensure that the event is full and there are no empty seats or areas."

And then there is: "Always be prepared for demonstrators, even if the local organization tell you that there will not be any. It is the responsibility of the Lead Advance to have in place an effective plan for dealing with demonstrators."

Dan Dittmann
Minneapolis

FARMER – VETERAN COALITION

Farmers Helping Veterans – Veterans Helping Farmers

Because large numbers of men and women are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of physical, emotional and vocational support,
Because a disproportionate number of our veterans are returning to rural America,
Because our farms are suffering from a lack of young people going into agriculture,
And because we believe that our farms can help to heal our country,

Dane County, WI citizens showing us how to do it.

This past Friday, several dozen Angelenos, organized by the Los Angeles National Impeachment Center (LANIC - www.bcimpeach.com) under the leadership of LANIC Executive Director Peter Thottam, appeared before the Los Angeles City Council to demand that Los Angeles become the 82nd city in the nation to draft a resolution to impeach George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

Supporting these un-elected everyday patriots in their quest to save their nation was Progressive Democratic Councilmember, Bill Rosendahl, who promises to introduce an impeachment resolution in the Council as soon as one of his fellow Councilmembers agrees to be a co-sponsor.

Now how pathetic is that!

Florida For Peace Meets Senator Bill Nelson
Boasts, Prevarications, and a Rattlesnake

On Tuesday August 7th ten members of Florida For Peace traveled to Kissimmee, FL to meet with Senator Bill Nelson at the public library. They represented over fifty groups from from all parts of Florida.

When the group arrived a staff member directed us to a conference room where the senator was waiting. A local news crew had a camera set up. After shaking hands and sitting down, Senator Nelson mentioned how he was having town meetings, three just yesterday in Jefferson, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Lydia Vickers - CODEPINK Tallahassee, Co-Founder/Florida For Peace - began by stating she had traveled to all eight of his offices around the state and had meetings with his staff and thanking the Senator for meeting with us.

Senator Nelson began by thanking us for coming from all over the state to see him. He then talked about what he termed as townhall meetings, two of which he had the previous day in the Tampa Bay area. He said that 150 people had attended one meeting and 130 had attended the other one and that no one had brought up the issue of the Iraq War...

The Veterans For Peace, Citizens For Peace, and The Peace Is Possible Coalition of Mobile will be hosting a huge IMPEACH BUSH AND DICK CHENEY rally on September 15th. Event will be held at Memorial Park, in the "Loop" area of Mobile, near the old Government Street Cannon, 1850 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36605, from Noon to 3:00PM.

We will have as our guest of honor, THE BILLY SUNDAY BAND, featuring their latest anti-war song. We plan to line the streets on both sides of the park, holding IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY signs, and also, anti-war signs. Our event is corresponding with national events being held on that same day, especially the big march on Washington.

Takoma Park City Council Strongly Backs Bid to Impeach Bush, Cheney by Dan Morse

Over the years, Takoma Park has declared itself a nuclear-free zone, established an immigrant sanctuary law and written a 5,000-word manual for its trash and award-winning recycling programs.

Last night, its City Council voted to call for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

"Takoma Park has passed many resolutions over the years, and I've been proud of most of them," council member Reuben Snipper told a crowd of about 100. "I personally am as appalled as many of you are at the actions of Bush and Cheney."

The council approved the resolution 5 to 0, with two members absent.

Last week Tallahassee anti-war activists attended a meeting with Congressman Allen Boyd (FL2-D) to demand an end to the Iraq War and to bring the troops home. Out of that meeting came a heretofore unknown news item.

At the behest of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Boyd recently organized a Congressional junket to Iraq for members of Congress (including Republicans) who haven't been to Iraq.

That's where the problems ensued...

A great music video featuring the anti-war movement has inspired the theme of the this Impeachment Rally. "Be a Hero! Stand Up and March for Impeachment, for Peace, for Justice!" Calling all super-heroes, all citizens willing to put themselves out for Truth, Peace, Justice and IMPEACHMENT!

Join Superman, Wonder Woman, and Spiderman at an Impeachment Rally at 1:00 p.m. at Lytton Plaza in Palo Alto on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 and other heroic citizens to demand the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. During the rally, musician August Bullock will sing "Heroes of America," which inspired the theme for this month’s rally. The march will begin at 2:00 p.m. as the heroes courageously call for impeachment through downtown Palo Alto on their way to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s office at 698 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

The heroes in Palo Alto are not the only ones calling for impeachment. Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney last week.

UFPJ - It's time to bridge the divide between the peace and justice movement and the climate action movement! For far too long, our groups have been working on one or the other of these issues, but now is the time to acknowledge the ways in which these issues are linked and the need for people throughout the world to take action to end both war and climate change!

This coming Saturday, April 14th, peace and justice activists have an opportunity to join with tens of thousands of people throughout the United States who will be participating in Step It Up (www.stepitup2007.org)...

Last week, in what was likely the most unique candle-light vigil in the nation, Tallahassee organizers and volunteers lit over 3200 luminary candles encompassing the circumference of Lake Ella in downtown Tallahassee to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the illegal war and occupation of Iraq. It was 'time to come home' in Tallahassee..... (photo essay here)

CALL TO ACTION ON CONGRESSIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL VOTE
We have reached another defining moment in the movement to end the U.S. war in Iraq and global drive for empire. We must continue to do everything in our power to stop the current Iraq War Supplemental no matter how hard the Democratic Party leadership might try to present it as a way to end the war in Iraq.

We need to demonstrate to those elected to represent us that there will be consequences for their continued support for the war...

This week, the U.S. war on Iraq is 4 years old. We are ready for it to end. Too many lives and too much money have already been spent on this war. We are asking for the troops to be brought home. We are asking for our tax dollars to stop funding the war. We are asking for your support.

On Sunday, March 18 four teams of photographers went through the subway documenting all the New Yorkers who are against the war. Check out the photos in a slide show or by gallery!

Millions world-wide have seen Davis Guggenheim and Al Gore's Academy Award nominated documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth." A jarring portrayal of our planet in peril. The film is monumentally important. Yet as much as I've considered the content of the film, I've considered its title even more. "An Inconvenient Truth." No flowing alliteration. No catchy phrase. Just the fact. "An Inconvenient Truth." It's brilliant.

In this world, more specifically in this nation, where convenience is highly prized, inconvenience is the enemy. It's a sign of failure. The cornerstone of this capitalist society is the acquisition of enough wealth and power to hand all inconvenience over to someone else. The gardener. The housekeeper. The nanny. Perhaps the driver. Maybe the chef.

Watch YouTube.

The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Rev. Nicholas G.L. Utphall, St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Monona [Wisconsin]

Dear Editor:

On Saturday in Madison, as in many other places, there was a rally against the war in Iraq.

It seemed like a good turnout, until one considers just how widely unpopular this war is. Last April 68 percent of us voted our discontent with the war in the referendum to bring the troops home. Surely now, 10 months later, we are even more eager for peace. But we're not doing much about it.

Greetings from the Annual Peace Alliance Conference in Washington, DC!

All of us here wanted to let those of you that couldn't join us, to know you are in our thoughts. This conference is already a huge success. Sold out and standing room only for some events. More requests from the media than we've ever had in the past. And it couldn't have happened without all of the work everyone has done over the past year. Those who were able to make it to the conference and all of those who couldn't join us in person. We know you are here in spirit and that it is our work and energy together that continues to nourish this movement...

*Vote*No*WarFunding.org*
*February 17*
*CUT OFF ALL WAR FUNDS DAY *
New York City - Boston - Detroit - Philadelphia -Los Angeles - Raleigh - Atlanta - Across the U.S.

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW - Demand that Congress Cut Off ALL War Funding
*S*oon, Congress will vote on Bush's request for more than $100 billion in additional funding for the criminal occupation of Iraq. Congress has the power to stop the war by cutting off war funding. *They cannot hide behind "non-binding resolutions" and hearings--they must stop the war.* They cannot hide behind the claim that they are "supporting the troops" -- voting to fund the war is voting to continue the war, which means more soldiers and Iraqi people will die...

Minneapolis Declares Food Fight on the White House
 

Jan 29, 2007 1:31 PM

This just in:

Minneapolis City Council passes resolution urging the cessation of war and combat operations in Iraq and the return of American troops

The vote was 9-0 with 4 abstentions.

Wednesday morning after his SOTU, Smirk went to Wilmington, DE to hawk his bogus "energy" plan. He did not recieve a "warm" welcome from the good citizens....

A Timely Anti-War Effort-Support the Occupation Project
January 22, 2007 at 14:29:32 by Paul Rogat Loeb
Tell A Friend

I rarely do on-line fundraising pitches, but there's a very timely project that I think can help make a significant difference in building pressure for withdrawal from Iraq. Stacy Bannerman is a long-time peace activist, wife of an Iraq War Veteran, and author of an excellent book on the impact on the war on the families of reservists, When the War Came Home. Together with other peace activists, Bannerman's been working on an effort called The Occupation Project, that will bring Iraqi vets and their families to Washington DC for a combination of civil disobedience and testimony at congressional hearings and public events. This could make a significant difference because no one carries more credibility with the general public than the returning vets and their families...

The Iraq Veterans Memorial
Americans voted their disapproval of the President's Iraq strategy in November, yet as we approach the fourth anniversary of Bush's invasion, he has chosen to escalate the conflict by recklessly using more American lives to try to salvage a delusional national policy.

In response, peace groups and politicians from both parties have been crafting creative ideas to extricate the US from this catastrophic conflict and activists are ramping up their efforts to finally force an end to the war.

Nation friend and filmmaker Robert Greenwald has just announced the formation of the Iraq Veterans Memorial....

The Iraq Veterans Memorial

Gold Star Families Speak Out · Military Families Speak Out · Iraq Veterans Against the War · North Texas Vets · Veterans for Peace · Soldiers of Today and Yesterday · GI Special · United for Peace and Justice · Brave New Foundation

Inspired by the AIDS Quilt, the Vietnam memorial, and the New York Times biographies of the 9/11 victims, Robert Greenwald and Brave New Foundation, in partnership with numerous Iraq veterans groups, are creating a living online memorial to U.S. soldiers killed during the Iraq war. The Iraq Veterans Memorial will bear witness with the video testimonies of family, friends, co-workers, and military colleagues of those lost.....