U.S. Jews Call for Justice
On August 22, Jewish groups in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco organized direct actions to demand a cessation of Israeli military aggression in Lebanon and Palestine. Actions included a "die-in" at Penn Station in New York, banner drops over major highways in Philadelphia, and a lock-down outside the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco, a public affairs organization unconditionally supportive of Israel. Most recently, Jewish activists in the cities mentioned above plus Seattle, Boston, and Detroit, organized a ten-day campaign of solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon timed to coincide with the Jewish High Holidays-Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Organizers state that ignoring the suffering of Palestinians and Lebanese and the actions of the Israeli military dishonors the spirit of these holy days, intended for reflection and taking responsibility for individual and collective actions. By holding educational events and creative or spiritual actions, organizers hope to "honor [their] tradition" and "celebrate the possibility of transformation.
Activists Mark Katrina Anniversary
One year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, much of the city needs to be rebuilt, but community activists and organizations, including People's Hurricane Relief Fund, ACORN, NOHEAT, and C/3 Hands off Iberville, continue to work to ensure that the voices and needs of the grassroots community are included in rebuilding efforts and that the right of return is guaranteed for all New Orleans natives. Successes activists point to in the past year include blocking a plan drawn up last fall by mayor Ray Nagin's Bring Back New Orleans Commission recommending that poorer, Blacker sections of the city not be rebuilt and, last January, physically blocking the planned demolition of more than 2500 homes in the lower ninth Ward without permission of the owners.
Camp Democracy a Big Success
Peace activists from around the country descended on the national mall September 5 to 21 and held a nonpartisan camp for "peace, democracy, and the restoration of the rule of law." Camp Democracy brought speakers, singers, and soldiers together for skillssharing and discussions about ending the war, ending injustices domestically, and holding Congress and the Bush administration accountable. Themes addressed included nonviolence, impeachment, Hurricane Katrina, corporate welfare, the environment, and immigrant rights.
Bush's U.N. Appearance Draws Protests, Arrests
A march organized by United For Peace and Justice drew thousands of demonstrators to New York's east Side on September 19 to protest President Bush as he spoke before the U.N. General assembly. Sixteen demonstrators were arrested outside the United Nations during a civil disobedience action organized by the Bush Crimes Commission.
Students for a Democratic Society Re-Founding Convention
The recently re-founded Students for a Democratic Society held its first national convention from august 4-7 at the University of Chicago (UC). The weekend opened with a Friday night plenary where activists shared stories, struggles, shortcomings, exploits, and laughed at some of the quotes from our detractors-left and right. Workshop topics at the convention included organizing from the bottom up, the role of white privilege in organizing, and discussions on People's Global action (PGA)-an international non-hierarchical social movement network-and the Zapatistas' "Other Campaign."
Like its predecessor, the new SDS has grown quickly by filling the vacuum of youth-controlled anti-authoritarian organizations in the United States today. Through SDS, many young radicals have found a voice in a society-and a movement-that tend to be contemptuous toward youth. The initial call to re-form the infamous 1960s radical organization came on Martin Luther King Day by students at Salve Regina University, The New School, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan university, who sent out a press release calling for people, students and non-students, youth and elders, to join. Today there are nearly 150 chapters nationally located at 26 high schools and 80 colleges and universities, and 43 chapters of the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS), the non-student wing of SDS. More than 1000 have individually signed up through the website.
A short list of SDS activity since January includes disruption of politicians' speeches at Pace university and the university of Central Florida and Loyola University, free speech fights for recognition of the right to form SDS chapters and pass out literature, street actions including a militant protest outside the U.S. merchant marine academy where Bush was speaking, participation in this year's May Day actions for immigrant rights (most notably Connecticut College CC left SDS in New London), and the now legendary direct actions against military convoys and use of the Port of olympia. In the lead-up to the national convention, SDS held an inspiring northeast conference with participants such as Bernadine Dohrn, Bob Ross, Carl Oglesby, and Al Haber, alongside new SDSers Pat Korte, Alana Markowitz, and Ambre Ivol.
In a session at the convention on antiwar action, activists decided to propose an "out now" education campaign plus a week of direct action against war profiteers and the military for election week. Saturday evening included SDS participation in a Hiroshima Day vigil held appropriately at the UC campus, where the first self-sustained nuclear reaction occurred. Later in a nearby field, we listened to presentations by students who had recently witnessed student uprisings in France, Chile, and Quebec. The convention closed with a call for regional conferences to develop a regional structure and provisional decision-making process; plans are already under way for a northeast and a Southwest convention. The goal is to have a constitutional convention in a year's time. Onward!
Matt McLaughlin
Recruiters: Sexual Predators
Recent investigations by the associated Press and the Government accounting office (GAO) have turned up an increasing number of cases of misconduct and even criminal tactics by military recruiters, including sexually assaulting potential female recruits. In 2005, more than 80 military recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct-including rape and groping of more than 100 young women, most between the ages of 16 and 18. most assaults took place in recruiting offices, recruiter's apartments, or government vehicles. The GAO believes the actual figure for recruiting misconduct may be higher, as many incidents go unreported and the Department of Defense does not officially keep track of recruiter misconduct cases.
Opposition to War Hits New High
A recent CNN poll found that opposition to the Iraq war was at its highest since the u.S. invasion three years ago. Sixty-one percent of adults polled said they opposed the war, while only 35 percent said they still supported it. Within the military, 40,000 members of all three branches of the U.S. armed services have deserted since 2000, choosing a life in exile and possible courtmartial rather than potential service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Pentagon denies this, claiming the desertion rate has gone down since the "war on terror" began in 2001.
Lt. Watada Challenges War Legality
In a recent military hearing in the case of Lt. Ehren Watada, his defense lawyers presented three expert witnesses on the laws of warfare who testified that the u.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq violates international and U.S. warfare conventions, and the U.S. army's own manual on the laws of warfare. Lt. Watada has called the war a "slaughter" and has been charged with missing troop deployments, contempt toward officials, and conduct unbecoming an officer. The legality of the war is expected to be a cornerstone of lt. Watada's defense if he is court-martialed. as WIN went to press, Fort lewis commander Lt. Gen. James Dubek had not yet announced if he would order Watada to be court-martialed.
A Resounding Declaration
From September 21-28, more than 375 activists, religious leaders, and veterans, and more than 500 organizations from around the country participated in Declaration of Peace's week of coordinated actions against the war. Two-hundred and sixty five people were arrested in more than 20 nonviolent direct actions that took place at the White House, congressional offices, military bases, and military recruitment centers in Los Angeles, Providence, RI; Indian Island, Wa; Cincinnati; San Francisco; Des Moines; Wilmington, De; Santa Fe; Philadelphia; Bangor, ME; Milwaukee; and Portland, OR. Marches, vigils, fasts, and other actions also took place in locales ranging from Lincoln, NE, and Fayetteville, NC, to Houston, and Little Rock, AR. Next steps for the Declaration of Peace, a campaign of 500 secular and faith-based groups, include continued grassroots pressure in districts across the country to make the fall congressional elections a referendum on the U.S. occupation of Iraq, resisting "preventive" war against Iran, and making plans for the next phase of nationally coordinated nonviolent actions. The campaign's ultimate goal is for Congress to legislate and implement a comprehensive, concrete, and rapid plan to end the war and occupation in Iraq, including a prompt timetable for withdrawal of troops; a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation; and the shifting of war funding to meet domestic education, healthcare, and employment needs.
Congressman Takes up Swift Case
Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced on September 12 he would initiate a congressional investigation into the army's attempted prosecution of Specialist Suzanne Swift. The announcement came just after a day of direct action aimed at DeFazio-complete with a sit-in at his office, calls, faxes, and emails-organized by Swift's Oregonian supporters in Iraq veterans against the War. Swift, who faces AWOL charges, has refused redeployment to Iraq, where she would once again serve under officers who repeatedly sexually harassed and raped her. Swift's supporters seek honorable discharge and medical treatment for her, as well as punishment for the perpetrators.
