meganmonkey's journal - 3rd Anniv of War: Upcoming Civil Disobedience/Direct Action

Don't be afraid to step it up. We know that they aren't listening. We need to get louder. And anyone in the DC area, the group there is awesome - I got arrested with 400 others there last fall and I highly recommend it ---mm

From Mourning to Resistance:

National Campaign of Nonviolent Actions

to Mark 3rd Year of War in Iraq

Over a dozen direct actions planned across country at Congressional offices,

Pentagon, war profiteers, and military recruiting centers

Groups involved with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance Against the War in Iraq (NCNR) are organizing over a dozen nonviolent resistance actions in the coming week to end the illegal and immoral war in Iraq launched by the U.S. three years ago this weekend. Nonviolent resistance actions have been spreading across the country in recent months, reflecting the growing majority of Americans opposed to the continued carnage in and occupation of Iraq. To date, over 2,300 Americans and 100,000 Iraqis have been killed and countless others severely injured and disabled. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is spending over $120 billion on the war and occupation this year alone, while diverting vital funding from a wide array of important domestic programs. For a list of actions planned as part of the “From Mourning to Resistance: 3 Years too Many – Stop the War!” national week of action, see below.

NCNR promotes nonviolent opposition to the war, following the disciplines and practices of nonviolent leaders such as King and India’s Mahatma Gandhi, and is the only national anti-war campaign and network devoted exclusively to nonviolent resistance. On the national Martin Luther King holiday in January, NCNR initiated “A Call to Conscience for the U.S. Congress,” a campaign of nonviolent sit-ins at the offices of members of Congress who refuse to speak out or otherwise take appropriate action to end the war. Many of the nonviolent resistance actions scheduled across the country during the coming week are part of this continuing campaign. For a complete copy of “A Call to Conscience for the U.S. Congress” and other information about the NCNR, go to www.iraqpledge.org

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Actions planned during the coming week include:

Washington, DC: From Mourning to Resistance – March on the Pentagon
(March 20): The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance is organizing a march from near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Pentagon, where there will be a ceremony honoring the war dead, followed by a die-in. Other nonviolent actions also planned. Contact: Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200, ext. 31 or MObuszewski@afsc.org

Arizona
Tucson (March 20): A Citizens’ Weapons Blockade will take place at Raytheon Missile Systems, which makes a killing on bombs and missiles used in the war in Iraq. Contact: Nancy, 520-829-7107 or ncgallen@cox.net ; Jack & Felice, 520-323-8697 or nukeresister@igc.org

California
Los Angeles (March 20): Local groups will kick off a campaign of nonviolent resistance to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq with a march to Senator Diane Feinstein’s office, where a press conference will be held, followed by a sit-in. Contact: Kyle & KamGi Finch, 310-455-1670 or kalapaskyle@earthlink.net

Connecticut
Norwich (March 20): The Global Call Iraq Campaign and others, dressed in funeral attire and carrying coffins, will gather at Representative Rob Simmons’ office. A march to a local military recruiting center will follow, ending with a die-in. Contact: Danny Malec, (860) 591-4009 or dm@globalcalliraq.org

New York
New York City (March 19): The NYC War Resisters League and a wide array of peace, student, labor, religious, and other groups will lead a procession and rally that will turn Times Square into a “Zone of Mourning” for war dead. Contact: Eric Laursen, 917-806-6452 or Frida Berrigan, 347-683-4928

Syracuse (March 20): The Syracuse Peace Council will hold a rally at the Federal Building, followed by a march through downtown ending with a direct action. Contact: Jessica Maxwell, 315-472-5478

Oregon
Portland (March 20): Members of the Whitefeather House Portland Catholic Worker community and others will visit the office of Senator Ron Wyden, who the group is urging to co-sponsor a Senate bill that will bring US troops home in 2006. A press conference and demonstration is also planned outside the Federal Building. Contact: Joy Ellison, 503-327-825 or jubilus@gmail.com

Eugene (March 20): A group of local citizens will engage in several direct actions targeting multiple government facilities engaged in prosecuting the war in Iraq. Times and locations will be announced the morning of March 20. Contact: Maria Qualtere-Burcher, 541-954-0155; Rich Klopfer 541-521-0596

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia/Valley Forge (March 19-20): On March 19, the Brandywine Peace Community and religious, peace, veterans, military family and other groups will hold a candlelight vigil and service, followed by a nonviolent resistance action at the war’s chief profiteer, Lockheed Martin, the next day. Contact: Robert Smith, 610-544-1818 or brandywine@juno.com

Wisconsin
Madison (week of March 20): Instead of a previously planned vigil and media event at Senator Herb Kohl’s office, anti-war activists will call the Senator to thank him for making a strong statement calling for bringing the troops home (see http://kohl.senate.gov/~kohl/press/06/03/2... )