Organizing Locally

Gold Star Families Protest Bush - McCain Event
in Oklahoma City, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008

Three Gold Star parents will protest President George W. Bush's visit to Oklahoma City on Friday, September 12. The event is being held to raise money for Republican candidate John McCain and the Republican National Committee.

Warren Henthorn, of Choctaw, Kay Henthorn, of Oklahoma City and John Scripsick of Wayne, OK. consider it their patriotic responsibility to show up to ask questions of President Bush about his mishandling of the war that cost their son's lives. In desperate economic times, many people, who do not have family members or friends serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, are paying little attention to the killing and suffering that is taking place on a daily basis so far across the world.

A 2-page flyer/media alert is now available to print and fax to your local media outlets and elected officials for the Justice Robert Jackson Conference on the Planning for Prosecution of High Level American War Criminals this weekend.

The event will be live-streamed over the internet and will be available by recorded video post-event. Viewers need to pre-register, so allow a few minutes to do that.

Stop The War Coalition Demonstration in Manchester on September 20th

What will British foreign secretary David Miliband say in his speech to Labour's annual conference in Manchester? It's all too predictable. 'We' are 'winning' in Iraq, making 'progress' in Afghanistan, defending 'democracy' in Georgia, confronting Iran to protect world 'security' and waging endless war against 'global terrorism'. 'We' stand "shoulder to shoulder" with George Bush and whoever his successor may be in following slavishly wherever US foreign policy takes 'us'.

Calendar Publishers Unite for World Peace, Reaching a Billion People
Melvin Weiner, Director | Pathways to Peace Calendar Program

Kennebunk, ME: This year, for the first time ever, the United Nations International Day of Peace has been printed on hundreds of millions of calendars all over the world. We will reach a billion people. These are the 2009 calendars, which are in stores now. Yet, in 2007, before the International Day of Peace was even listed on any calendars, there were over 3,500 events in every country on the planet involving an estimated 200 million people. This year's observances of the International Day of Peace will be even more widespread and prominent.

The United Nations International Day of Peace is observed worldwide on Sept. 21st. Now in its 27th year, the observance of the International Day of Peace has grown exponentially over the years, and there are thousands of opportunities for people and organizations everywhere to participate in this event.

Boston father of fallen Marine leads protest
By Brian Bender | Boston.com

Launched on 8-8-08, MyPeace.TV is a social networking site dedicated to Co-Creating Peace through Media. We are also a strategic partner and proud sponsor of Peace.TV, a social networking site for broadcasting commercials and Public Service Announcements for Peace.

Upload videos and photos, participate in forums, post events, join groups, and more!

Join us in giving Cheney an UNWELCOMING reception when he visits Rome!
Monday, September 8, 5-7pm
Piazza di San Marco (Piazza Venezia)

One of the primary architects of Bush administration policy, Richard B. Cheney has approved and supported:

• unlawful detention and torture
• the illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan
• crimes against humanity
• war-privatization and war-profiteering
• threats of aggression against Iran
• the dissemination of propaganda
• violations of the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 14th amendments of the United States Constitution
• violations of the Nuremberg Principles and Geneva Conventions
• indefinite and discretionary detention of US and non-US citizens
• ...just to name a few.

Please join us on Monday and stand with us against war crimes and war criminals!!

U.S. Citizens for Peace and Justice - Rome

Peace Island in a Police State--When in Doubt, Hold a Picnic!
By Coleen Rowley | HuffingtonPost.com

Just across the Mississippi from the RNC-created Police State in St. Paul, some brave picnickers turned out to form a message and enjoy a day of art and music at our Peace Island Picnic. But it wasn't without its surreal moments.

by Linda Milazzo

During Sarah Palin's acceptance speech when nominated by John McCain for Vice President, McCain wouldn't leave Palin alone on stage. Rather than give her the momentary limelight, McCain peered over her shoulder and read her speech alongside her. He was visibly nervous and has remained so ever since. Other than Wednesday at the RNC when Palin finally appeared solo, the image of McCain hovering authoritatively over her is the constant at every appearance. McCain's public subjugation of Palin, and her public acceptance of it, set male-female advancement back decades. Were Palin truly a trusted and powerful woman she'd request and be granted autonomy on stage, and reject McCain's Taliban-like presence. All that's missing is her burka. Honestly, what strong woman tolerates a man hovering over her in the presence of thousands? If she's really VP worthy, McCain should leave her alone.

Here are 3 short videos evidencing McCain's "tight-leash" on Palin. The first is Palin's acceptance of the nomination for VP:

Still fighting and defending our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic!

Join Us in Andover, Mass., to Plan Prosecution of Bush, Cheney, et alia

AGENDA FOR THE “JUSTICE ROBERT H. JACKSON CONFERENCE”: PLANNING FOR THE PROSECUTION OF HIGH LEVEL AMERICAN WAR CRIMINALS

September 13 – 14, 2008
Andover, Massachusetts

Registration details available at: http://war-crimes.info

“The common sense of mankind demands that law shall not stop with the punishment of petty crimes by little people. It must also reach men who possess themselves of great power and make deliberate and concerted use of it to set in motion evils which leave no home in the world untouched.”

* * *

“The Charter of this Tribunal evidences a faith that the law is not only to govern the conduct of little men, but that even rulers are, as Lord Chief Justice Coke put it to King James, ‘under God and the law.’”

* * *

Antiwar activists seek expanded police probe
Tom LoBianco | WashingtonTimes.com

Antiwar activists who were targeted by an undercover state police operation from 2005 to 2006 will ask state investigators Tuesday to expand their probe to learn whether other law enforcement agencies took part in the spying.

Members of Pledge of Resistance Baltimore plan to rally in front of the Maryland State Police headquarters in Baltimore County Tuesday afternoon. The agency's surveillance of the group for 14 months in 2005 and 2006 is being investigated by the state. The group also was tracked by the Baltimore City Police Department in 2003, according to an e-mail obtained by The Washington Times.

Friday, September 19, marks the beginning of Year Two for the Iraq Moratorium.

It has been a long year, as the war, the occupation and the killing in Iraq drags on, despite our efforts to bring it to an end.

"It's got to stop! We've got to stop it!" was the phrase we used in launching the Iraq Moratorium a year ago. It rings as true today as it did then. We must keep organizing. We must keep the pressure on, no matter what happens in the November elections, until this bloodshed has ended and all of the troops are home.

A coalition working to end the war in Iraq announced it is organizing the year’s largest anti-war mobilization. Million Doors for Peace, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, will ask one million Americans to sign petitions urging the next Congress to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq within one year.

The action combines the best of grassroots activism and support from the netroots. The campaign will allow tens of thousands of volunteers to download a neighborhood “walk list” for the coalition website. The volunteers will then use this public information talk to and identify neighbors who oppose the Iraq war and will join the efforts to end the war. Please join this effort, click here.

Preemptive Strikes Against Protest at RNC
By Marjorie Cohn

In the months leading up to the Republican National Convention, the FBI-led Minneapolis Joint Terrorist Task Force actively recruited people to infiltrate vegan groups and other leftist organizations and report back about their activities. On May 21, the /Minneapolis City Pages /ran a recruiting story called "Moles Wanted." Law enforcement sought to preempt lawful protest against the policies of the Bush administration during the convention.

Since Friday, local police and sheriffs, working with the FBI, conducted preemptive searches, seizures and arrests. Glenn Greenwald described the targeting of protestors by "teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets." Journalists were detained at gunpoint and lawyers representing detainees were handcuffed at the scene.

"I was personally present and saw officers with riot gear and assault rifles, pump action shotguns," said Bruce Nestor, the President of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, who is representing several of the protestors. "The neighbor of one of the houses had a gun pointed in her face when she walked out on her back porch to see what was going on. There were children in all of these houses, and children were held at gunpoint."

Rally focuses on Iran, saber-rattling
Hundreds protest prospect of US acting against Iran
By Susanne Cervenka | Florida Today | Event Photo Gallery

Gillian Myers held a sign firmly over her head. Its message: "Even children know to march for peace."

The 4-year-old from Palm Bay was among about 500 people participating in Florida's First Mass March to Stop War on Iran. Rallies similar to the one Saturday -- which was led by Brevard Patriots for Peace -- have increased across the country as some believe U.S. leaders are building up to war with the Middle Eastern nation.

"We were misled into one war and we don't want it to happen again," Gillian's dad Ray Myers said. "Sitting at home and complaining doesn't do anything."

by Linda Milazzo

The above video, courtesy of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and videographer, Jeffrey Thompson, is one of the first behind-the-scenes views of the extreme dedication and depth of organization of CODEPINK, which like most PEACE and social justice groups, is comprised mainly of volunteers who work ceaselessly and selflessly to restore this nation to the rule of law and principles of freedom upon which it was built.

by Linda Milazzo

IS THIS REALLY WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE?!

by Linda Milazzo

At the very core of patriotism is the desire to preserve and enhance democracy. For true patriots - those who take their love of nation beyond the confines of their cushy sofas and wide screen TVs - there are no limits to their efforts to hold leaders accountable to uphold the Constitution and safeguard its inherent freedoms. Thus, for the past three days that I've been in Denver - in the hotbed of this mecca of "this is what democracy looks like," I've witnessed the GOOD and the NOT so good.

The GOOD are the thousands of Americans who have traveled from every part of this country to engage in actions to spread their personal messages of democracy: peace above conflict, government's responsibility to provide for its citizens, and an immediate stop to the constant rape of our resources and our once fine name by those who base success on the depth of their fortunes rather than the depth of their humanity.

New York settles suit with antiwar activists for $2M

The city has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed antiwar activists were unjustly arrested five years ago, city officials said.

The suit was filed by 52 activists against the Iraq war who were arrested in April 2003 outside the Manhattan offices of a military contractor.

"This settlement was reached without any admission of liability on behalf of the city and the individual defendants," said Susan Halatyn, a spokeswoman for the city's Law Department. "Although defendants believe that they would ultimately have prevailed at a trial, the costs of going forward weighed in favor of a settlement at this time."

City Council asked to pass resolution regarding impeaching Bush, Cheney

A group of residents want the Chico City Council to back up their request to impeach the president and vice president.

The group, which informally calls itself the "Chico Impeach Team," is asking the council to pass a resolution urging Congress to "do its job" and begin the process to impeach President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, group project leader Marla Crites said.

While acknowledging the terms of both will end in January, Crites said she believed it was not too late for impeachment.

"I think they need to be held accountable whether they have one more day in office or two more years," Crites said. "I think we need to fight for justice or fairness ... Whoever wins the election can, unless we set things straight, can pick up wherever they left off and can continue the same behavior. And that to me is dangerous."

Bush has reasons to stiff Vt.
By KEN HERMAN | TimesArgus.com

BRATTLEBORO — It's not that President Bush is ignoring Vermont, which twice gave him the fewest votes of any state. Heck, on Friday he declared part of it a disaster.

It's just that Bush hasn't been here since taking office, making the Land of Ben and Jerry the only state he has not visited as president.

And now — with a gubernatorial race featuring an incumbent Republican not eager to have his photo taken with Bush (not to mention a voter-approved resolution in Brattleboro calling for Bush's arrest) — smart money says he might not get here before depositing his final government paycheck in January.

Read about it.

by Linda Milazzo

Last Monday evening, in the plush environs of Los Angeles' American Jewish University, a dedicated group of pro-peace, Pro-Constitution patriots "booked" Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. No, I don't mean "booked" as in charged her with a crime and jailed her. In this scenario, "booked" is more akin to "punked" - in which case we surprised Madam Pelosi by revising her new book, and then forced her to read our revisions. Tuh-Dah!!

It happened like this:

Madam Speaker of the House Pelosi, second in line to the Presidency, appeared at a book signing for her ironically titled new tome, "Know Your Power." Since Madam Pelosi has not used her power as Speaker to hold impeachment hearings against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as prescribed by Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution, we pro-Constitution patriots held her to task. We took her new book and scrawled our personalized imperatives and questions within it. I wrote "Honor Your Oath" on side-by side blank pages in the book and "Debate Cindy Sheehan" on the blank side of the book jacket. See below:

Democracy dreaming
By Joel S. Hirschhorn | InformationClearingHouse.info

What is this thing called democracy? So easy to talk about, so difficult to make real.

Pure democracy is not what our Founders gave us. Who would want a simple majority to control the minority? Instead, America was given a representative democracy within a constitutional republic where laws that protect all people trump majority rule. Standing between majority-won elections and government power are elected representatives: writing, overseeing and implementing laws. But when you can no longer trust the elected representatives what happens to American democracy? It becomes an oxymoron.

Deadly Denial: A Rocky Mountain News Series

Tens of thousands of America's former nuclear bomb builders are sick, dying or already dead because of their exposure to radiation and other poisons. You knew that.

After decades of stonewalling, the government started a compensation program in 2000. You knew that.

After four years of bungling, Congress reformed the program, demanding that it be "compassionate, fair and timely." Perhaps you knew that.

But what you may not know is that today only one in four claimants has been compensated and millions more of your taxpayer dollars have been wasted creating hurdles instead of help.

For many of the nation's cold warriors, the government's game is deadly denial.

Check out the Rocky Mountain News Series.

Fort McCoy Action – Sparta Wisconsin
By Joy First | Photo Gallery

I was honored and awed joining with other activists in a nonviolent direct action at Fort McCoy near Sparta, WI on Sunday August 10, 2008. The action was organized by Witness Against War, a campaign of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (http://www.vcnv.org ). Witness Against War has about 10 activists walking 450 miles from Chicago, the location of the 1968 Democratic National Campaign, to St. Paul for the start of the 2008 Republican National Campaign. They are interacting with local communities along the way, raising awareness about the role of both political parties in continuing the war and occupation of Iraq, and calling for an immediate end to our government's illegal and immoral actions in Iraq. They spent two days in Madison at the end of July and I was happy to be able to join up with them again for this action.

A training/planning meeting was planned on Saturday afternoon near Sparta. I was able to get a ride from Erin and Ron, who were driving up from Chicago. As we gathered at a small town hall in a beautiful setting in rural Wisconsin on Saturday for training and action planning, I was humbled to be in the company of this dedicated and inspiring group of people. Looking around at the pastoral lands, it felt like we were truly in the heartland of the country. Also joining in were others from Catholic Workers and Christian Peacekeeping. As I looked around the room with about 45 people present, I realized that I had been arrested with about eight of them in the past. Many of the individuals in the room had spent time in Iraq and surrounding areas and have first-hand knowledge of the carnage going on in the middle-east. They are committed to doing all they can to bring the suffering and devastation to an end.

Impeachment Theater

The CodePink Affinity Group "Impeachment Theater" is looking for actors, costumers, prop managers, etc. to help produce a couple of impeachment street theater plays at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

We have a very short one by David Swanson starring Pelosi, a possible impeachment hearing, and maybe even a murder trial. We need your help!

Susan Harman, susanharman@igc.org, 510-482-2856

AMERICA FOR SALE?
Foreign Governments’ Links to Secretive Buyout Firms Raise Potential National Security Concerns, Says New Public Awareness Campaign
Ads calling for increased federal oversight to run in six states

WASHINGTON, DC – Potential national security concerns are being raised over the growing links between foreign governments and secretive private equity buyout firms in a major new public awareness campaign being launched today. The campaign, sponsored by one of the nation’s largest unions, SEIU (Service Employees International Union), calls for stronger federal oversight of arrangements where foreign government-controlled investment funds, known as “sovereign wealth funds (SWFs),” buy into private firms that own or invest in American companies responsible for defense, energy, and homeland security.

Tom Linebarger, Recording Secretary of the Painters & Tapers Local 913 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, reported the passage of the following resolution on February 6, 2008:

Whereas; HR 799 calls the House to vet VP Cheney's efforts to ignite a war and occupation, paid for with the blood and money of American and Iraqi working people and their posterity, and,

Whereas; there is ample evidence suggesting VP Cheney has manipulated intelligence to deceive citizens and Congress to justify the invasion of a foreign nation, the highest of crimes, and to the detriment of their and our working class, and,

Whereas; the VP has led efforts to condone torture, set-up illegal spying, create a secret Energy Task Force, promulgated a Unitary Executive Theory to defy law, directed no-bid contracts to help self and friends and refused to comply with subpoenas, and,