The Declaration of Peace

7 arrested as hundreds take action to Shut Down the Army Experience Center

Reports, Photos, and Video from the May 2, 2009 Action to Shut Down the Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills Mall, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See photos and video at: http://shutdowntheaec.net/

Excellent photo essay at the Philadelphia Independent Media Center: http://www.phillyimc.org/en/protest-army-experience-center

Also see more photos here , _here__ and __here.

Fox TV in Philadelphia coverage of the Action

Video: Bob Smith, Rev. Robert Moore, Ann Wright and others speak at May 2nd Rally and Action.

Video: Bob Smith delivers Criminal Complaint at AEC

Criminal Complaint Served and Seven Arrested at the Army Experience Center in Philadelphia Mall

May 2nd Protest

by Elaine Brower

May 4, 2009

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Criminal-Complaint-Served-by-Elaine-Brower-090503-749.html

A few months ago, when I first discovered the existence of a place called “The Army Experience Center” in a Philadelphia mall that enticed kids as young as 13 to not only play violent video games, but allowed them access to a real Apache helicopter, M-16 rifle, automatic machine guns, an armored humvee and a tank, I decided that everyone who cared about our youth should be outraged and take action.

We couldn’t allow the Department of Defense to use this first-of-its-kind center, which cost an initial investment of $12 million, and has over 14,000 sq. ft. of space which houses a “Tactical Operations Center”, gaming stations allowing kids to play the most violent video games available, and the back room where they can touch and feel weapons created for killing, to produce any more around the Country. We decided to shut it down.

On Saturday, May 2nd, over 300 people from all over the northeast decided to take action. A coalition of over 30 anti-war, peace and justice groups rallied at St. Luke’s Church on Knights Road, just about a mile away from the Franklin Mills Mall, which houses the AEC. Everyone was fired up about shutting this atrocity down, and you could feel the energy in the crowd that ranged from Viet Nam vets to Iraq Vets to young students. Drums were heard, speeches and rallying cries to “Shut it Down!”

With that, everyone took to the street and marched to the mall, ready to deliver the “Private Criminal Complaint” to the commanding officer at the AEC, as well as to the mall owners, who allow this place to exist. The complaint states in part “the Army Experience Center is involved in “Endangering the Welfare of a Child” and “Criminal Solicitation of a Minor” and “Corruption of Minors” – soliciting underage persons to act in a violent manner, and thereby supporting criminal and corrupt behavior…”

Over 300 activists entered the mall banging drums and screaming their rallying cries to “SHUT IT DOWN!” and “WAR IS NO GAME!” as the complaint was handed to the recruiting officer in charge. The complaint was read out loud, which had a profound effect on everyone who was there shopping, and visiting the various eateries.

People stopped to listen, and really couldn’t believe what was happening. I myself, was part of a group of protesters who donned death masks and the names of fallen soldiers and stood directly in front of the AEC, which was at that point surrounded by police.

But that didn’t stop us from demanding that it be closed and they should cease and desist corrupting our youth. Those of us in death masks stood silently by and watched the rest of the group shouting at the recruiters. “Stop stealing our kids” “No wars for empire”, “SHAME ON YOU!” to the endless pounding of drums.

It seemed to me that the recruiters were becoming a bit unnerved, and the police were becoming extremely impatient. This was a peaceful protest, as we were not only exercising our first amendment right of “freedom of speech”, but trying to get our youth de-militarized, and away from the clutches of bloody war games.

Of course, since the AEC is open to the “public” many demanded to go inside, but weren’t allowed. Ret. Army Col. Ann Wright at that point was speaking directly to the kids who had gathered to witness what we were doing and told them not to “buy the recruiters stories” of patriotic glory. That there was “nothing glorious” about war, and it definitely was “not a game.”

Debra Sweet, National Director of World Can’t Wait, who co-sponsored and planned this event, took charge of the microphone and denounced the AEC and the government for allowing this place to exist, recruiting youth to participate in an illegal war, as well as enticing them with games when war is “not a game.”

Pat Elder of Peace Action, Montgomery, had packs of candy cigarettes which he labeled “Warning: Allowing teens to shoot weapons at the mall is like a heavy dose of CANDY CIGARETTES!” and gave out to youth witnessing our protest.

After only one warning, the police decided to aggressively arrest seven of the protesters who were wearing death masks, peacefully standing in front of the AEC and not blocking the entrance. Taken to a distant precinct, the civil affairs Captain vowed vengeance by trying to charge the seven with a “misdemeanor in the third degree.” After 6 hours in the most deplorable conditions, they were released to return to court in June.

We Must All Take Action

What is happening right under our noses is a transformation of the way in which the military plans on re-wiring the brains of kids at a very young and impressionable age to turn them into silent killers. By allowing anyone from the age of 13 to 18 to handle a machine gun, or use games that promote violence, it creates a generation that is wired to kill and think that killing is something that is easy and sanctioned.

Allowing this to happen is being complicit in the violence we see now occurring on our high school and college campuses. The numbing of the child’s brain to react to witnessing death and destruction is what is happening in this center. Common sense tells us that, and yet this place is allowed to exist and paid for by taxpayer funds.

The federal budget allocated to the Department of Defense is almost $700 billion, with increasing funding coming this fiscal year, yet the Department of Education is allocated approximately $114 billion.

There is definitely an imbalance which must be addressed.

The criminal complaint will go forward, and more protests and actions are planned for the future.

Visit http://www.shutdowntheaec.net for more information and see how you can get involved.

Report from Debra Sweet, Director of The World Can’t Wait

On Saturday, over 200 of us, with two sound systems, large banners and signs, marched a mile through suburban streets and into the Franklin Mills Mall in NE Philadelphia. We were loud outside, and louder inside, determined to resist the Army’s recruiting of youth through video games and war simulations.

We were stopped by rows of police and security guards from entering the Army Experience Center. We read aloud a criminal complaint against the AEC and the owners of the mall, for conspiring to draw people into the commission of war crimes. I explained what war crimes are. We chanted “Shut It Down!” “War is NOT a Game!” and “What are they recruiting for? Murder, rape, torture, war!”

Sue Niederer of Pennington, NJ, whose son 2nd Lt. Seth Dvorin was killed near Iskandariyah, Iraq on February 3, 2004, wore a t-shirt saying “Recruiters Lied!” She got on the bullhorn to suggest we all take a public tour of the center. The police spokesperson announced, “you’re not going to be going on the tour because this center is closed down now!” Oh — he didn’t say that! We chanted “shut it down” all the louder. Before the police warning to leave, some of the peace activists went outside to have a vigil on the road. But most of us stayed, attracting shoppers, and rows of young kids holding skateboards, from the skate park next door. Some of us sat down. We weren’t tired, but you’ve got to teach people how to sit down as resistance.

Check out this video from a professional gamers website: VIDEO

Thanks to Op Ed News who headlined an article by Elaine Brower. Editor Rob Kall called the action “very well organized.” Thanks to dozens of Veterans for Peace; to Pat Elder of the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth; Iraq Veterans Against the War; Code Pinkers and Grannies of all kinds, Peace Action, the Brandywine Peace Community, and activists from all over the east coast. Special thanks to the Activists Response Team, who did the March of the Dead, and took 7 arrests for disorderly conduct, which we will help fight.

Elaine Brower of World Can’t Wait, one of the 7 pictured in white masks who were arrested at the end of the action, wrote, “It seemed to me that the recruiters were becoming a bit unnerved, and the police were becoming extremely impatient. This was a peaceful protest, as we were not only exercising our first amendment right of ‘freedom of speech’, but trying to get our youth de-militarized, and away from the clutches of bloody war games. Of course, since the AEC is open to the ‘public’ many demanded to go inside, but weren’t allowed. Ret. Army Col. Ann Wright at that point was speaking directly to the kids who had gathered to witness what we were doing and told them not to ‘buy the recruiters’ stories’ of patriotic glory.”

A middle school teacher brought 4 of his students to the protest. They had already taken the tour of the AEC, and brought copies of the letters they sent to David & Melvin Simon, owners of the mall which leases to the Army.

Manny, who was about to speak to the crowd just as the arrests started, and was hustled out by his teacher (sorry Manny) wrote, in part:

“Do you believe money is worth more than human lives? You just probably said to yourself, ‘No, of course not.’ Well, now you are unknowingly answering ‘yes’ because of the space you have leased out to the Army. They have recently opened an Army Experience Center. They are supposedly not recruiting kids. They have video games set up for kids to play and have the ‘army experience.’ Last time I checked arcades don’t ask for your social security number….

The Army does not charge a single cent for this. They don’t charge admission; they don’t charge you for playing either. Instead, they give you an ID card that you have to swipe in order to play. They record this in their database. They see how many times you played the Humvee simulation. They see how many times you rode in the Black Hawk Helicopter. Then they decide what field to place the child in once he/she turns 18. The recruiters will come to the child’s home and ask them to take a test. The recruiters will not be regular run-of-the-mill men. They will pick strong, well built men who will try everything to convince them to take the test and join the Army. They will be sent to a war we don’t even belong in. We, the U.S., are like the strong kid who thinks he can beat everyone at the playground. We pick fights for no reason. Then we walk away not caring who got hurt or who died.”

Is Army Abusing Children With its Latest Experiment, the Army Experience Center?

by Rob Kall

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Is-Army-Abusing-Children-W-by-Rob-Kall-090504-927.html

An Iraq Veteran’s Reasons for Opposing the Army Experience Center

by Jesse Hamilton

http://www.opednews.com/articles/An-Iraq-Veteran-s-Reasons-by-Jesse-Hamilton-090505-668.html

Draft of speech given on May 2nd, 2009 to protest the Army Experience Center

We apologize for the Iraq War

by John Dear SJ

May 05, 2009

http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/we-apologize-iraq-war

Last week some five hundred of us gathered in Washington, D.C., to repent of the mortal sin of the U.S. war on Iraq. There we expressed our remorse and called for an end to our nation’s warmaking. Then we streamed onto the streets to take our plea to President Obama, arriving at his gate as he concluded his TV appearance marking his first 100 days. Some criticize Notre Dame for welcoming the president onto Catholic ground to deliver its commencement address. As for us, we criticize the U.S. government, including the Obama administration, for its ongoing warmaking.

We gathered under the banner of Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, an ad-hoc coalition of 20 Christian peace groups from around the nation (www.christianpeacewitness.org). For years we’ve gathered for protest and prayer. And this year we renewed our demands:

• A quicker end to the war on Iraq.
• The resettling of some five million war refugees.
• An immediate effort to rebuild Iraq.
• A public apology from our government for its pre-emptive aggression and for the suffering in its aftermath.

We gathered in the sanctuary of the National City Christian Church, a glittering neoclassical wonder chiseled from Indiana limestone. We prayed and sang and read scriptures and imbibed the inspiring words of an array of moving speakers. We heard first from Sr. Dianna Ortiz, U.S.-born survivor of torture in Guatemala, author of the powerful memoir, The Blindfold’s Eye, and founder of Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International. She read from her book, voice quavering, tears flowing: “No one fully recovers from torture: not the one tortured, nor the one who tortures.”

Then a word, through videotape, from Najlaa Al-Nashi, an Iraqi woman displaced by the war. She now serves as the Middle-Eastern Coordinator for Direct Aid Iraq in Jordan (see www.directaidiraq.org). Over her life looms the specter of death. Many whom she embraced have died — her husband, son, mother, many friends. Her home lies in rubble. And yet she refuses to see narrowly. She keeps mindful of the millions of Iraqis killed, injured, displaced — all of them, to her magnanimous heart, her neighbors.

“I don’t know what the future of Iraq is,” she said, “but my father taught me to ask, ‘What should I do to help?’ So we do what we can for peace. All of us can do something. I invite you to do more for the people of Iraq.”

And then a word from Rev. Tony Campolo, a respected evangelical author, pastor, and activist. “We have created a Jesus not from the scriptures, but a white Anglo-Saxon militarist. We have created God in the image of American militarism. So we wage war on Iraq and presume God is with us.”

He pleaded, “We have to start following the Jesus of the scriptures. When is the church going to start following Jesus, and feed, clothe, love and heal the enemy? When are we going to overcome evil with goodness? Our nuclear weapons are not providing us with any real security. There is no security except in following Jesus. Be agents of reconciliation. Believe the good news that the forces of darkness will not win. Be committed to the biblical Jesus.”

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., president of the Hip Hop Caucus, followed. He spoke of his years in the military, his conversion to Gospel nonviolence, and his persecution by the government. An Air Force officer gone “bad” in the government’s eyes, his name made its way onto a no fly-list. And later in 2007, while vigiling as General David Petreus testified before Congress, he suffered a beating by police that left him with a permanent limp.

Tonight, he confessed, he being an African-American minister, it was hard to march on Obama’s White House, to protest against war, to court arrest. “But millions of Iraqis look down at us from heaven,” he said. “And until war and torture end forever, we cannot stop marching. We cannot stop working for peace.”

The speakers stirred our blood, but I found myself most stirred by my friend and mentor Elizabeth McAlister. Long ago, Liz and her husband Philip Berrigan co-founded Jonah House, a peace community in Baltimore. Peace and resistance are Jonah House’s raison d’être. For some 35 years they have consistently protested nuclear weapons and war.

Not unlike Jesus in the synagogue, she read from Isaiah: “Every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for flames” (8:22-9:5). “The U.S. is not the reign of God, but a reign of violent exploitation and terror, with fascism at home and empire abroad … Isaiah says all the implements of war must be destroyed. Then our hope will be realized. In Isaiah’s texts, the people make the difference, people like us. The consequence is that nations do not make war anymore.”

As she spoke a gentle rain fell outside, and afterwards we buttoned up our coats and gathered up our peace banners and trudged the many blocks to the White House, a police escort keeping close and keeping out a weather eye. We walked at length and finally arrived and there I delivered a message of support from Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa.

Dear friends. Our God is looking at you and smiling and saying “How they have vindicated Me!,” because God had been wondering what had got into God’s head to create us sowing so much mayhem in Afghanistan, Abu Ghraib, Darfur, Gaza, and Iraq. “Oh dear, why did I create that lot?” God thinks. But now God says, “Thank you” for confessing that the war in Iraq should never have happened. You are conduits for God’s grace and compassion to flow into a world that is hurting, to heal it. Each of you is an oasis of love, compassion, goodness, laughter, and forgiveness. Hold up God’s world so that it may be doused with the waters of healing. God bless you all.

From there, Kathy Kelly led us all to the gates of the White House, there to offer bread — sign of compassion and rebuilding — a sign the gatekeepers summarily rejected. Then she and 18 others knelt in prayer and submitted to arrest. Off they went to D.C. Central Booking. The next morning 61 people were arrested at the White House, at the conclusion of the 100-Days-Against-Torture Campaign, calling for a criminal inquiry into the Bush administration’s use of torture and the immediate release of innocent detainees still held at Guantanamo.

None of us, need it be added, is deterred. We cling to the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq statement. It rings as true after the arrests as before. “We will pray and act to become a nation that funds human needs and programs of social uplift over armaments and military action, and through our conversion, we will experience the promise of resurrection and new life.”

With this hope in mind and heart, we continue our pursuit of a disarmed world.

St. Anthony Messenger Press has just published John Dear On Peace, by Patricia Normile. John’s two new books are A Persistent Peace (Loyola Press) and Put Down Your Sword, (Eerdmans). For information on his books and speaking schedule, see: www.johndear.org

Christian Peace Witness for Iraq

Twenty people were arrested in front of the White House, Wednesday night, during the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.

Videos:

Prayer March and Action at the White House

John Dear reads letter from Archbishop Desmond Tutu in front of White House

The cloud of witnesses sing as the arrests take place at the White House

Noah Baker Merrill at the April 29th Convocation

Kathy Kelly at the April 29th Convocation

Rev. Lennox Yearwood at the April 29th Service

Many more videos here from the 2009 CPWI.

Photos and Audio:

See photos and read and listen to Liz McAlister’s words at the CPWI.

Reports:

“In the Name of Jesus, Stop the War!”

http://faithfulagitation.blogspot.com/2009/05/in-name-of-jesus-stop-war.html

Friday, May 1, 2009 report from the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship:

Three hundred Christians worship and witness together, twenty arrested in an act of nonviolent direct action in front of the White House, as President Obama held his “100 Days” press conference inside.

As more than three hundred Christians worshipped together at National City Christian Church in Washington on Wednesday night, they heard a rousing call from Tony Campolo to put an end to the war in Iraq. Campolo shared the story of the fourth century Monk Telemachus who was martyred when he entered the Coliseum in Rome during the fights of the gladiators and demanded “In the name of Christ, Stop.” After he was killed, a hush fell over the crowd and the Coliseum slowly emptied. The tradition of Gladiators fighting for sport had come to an end. Campolo suggested that,similarly, Christians who take the Bible seriously must be prepared to take great personal risks as they demand, “In the name of Jesus, stop the war.”

Others were also there to inspire the crowd, who had come from all over the country to worship and witness together on the evening that marked President Obama’s first 100 days in office. Elizabeth MacAlister, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Kathy Kelly, Sr. Diana Ortiz, Noah Baker Merrill and by video presentation, Najlaa Al-Nashi from Direct Aid Iraq all spoke strong words of criticism for the Iraq War, and implored President Obama and the U.S. Congress to bring the war to an end.

There was a light rain falling as the worshippers left the Sanctuary at National City Church and processed to Lafayette Park in front of the White House carrying candles and baskets of bread. There in the park, Rick Ufford-Chase called on all of those assembled, and on our President and Congress, to lead with apology, repentance for our actions, and a commitment to make amends to the people of Iraq for the spiral of violence unleashed by the U.S.’s “pre-emptive strike” in March of 2003. Fr. John Dear read a letter from Archbishop Desmond Tutu expressing his gratitude to Christian Peace Witness for Iraq for their continuing insistence that the war in Iraq must end.

After attempting to present a loaf of bread for President Obama, the group formed a large circle in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, and sang together for over an hour. Eventually, twenty of those standing in the “arrestable space” on the sidewalk in front of the White House were arrested and put into police vans. Eleven of those arrested, including Presbyterian Pastor Tim Simpson and his son Stephen, were released just after midnight. Nine others, including Kathy Kelly, were held over night until they saw a judge the following day.

Presbyterian Pastor Clay Thomas, Associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, FL and a member of the public policy advocacy team for Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, said that the conversations that CPWI supporters had with their legislators the following morning were a significant step forward in advancing CPWI’s effort to end the war. “In fact,” said Thomas, “we were given a 90 minute meeting with representatives from the Obama Administrations National Security Council and the Public Liaison for the religious affairs office.”

“In each of those meetings with government representatives,” said Rick Ufford-Chase, former moderator of the General Assembly of the PC(USA), “CPWI’s message was that “we must see a plan that indicates how we will remove all U.S. military personal and bases from Iraq, support reconstruction of Iraqi communities devastated by the war, resettle five million Iraqis displaced by the violence, and establish a commission of inquiry regarding our nation’s use of torture. Those moves, taken in concert with one another, will send a clear message to the rest of the world that we are truly interested in the things that will make for a just peace and a lasting security for all people.”

“We apologize for the Iraq war”

by John Dear SJ ~ May 5, 2009

Peace Witness Held to Mark First 100 Days of Administration

Pace e Bene participates in Christian Peace Witness for Iraq at White House

April 27, 2009 Press Release

Also check this out and this about the 2009 Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.

More information at http://christianpeacewitness.org/

Lockheed Martin - The Profits of War - Crucifixion Today

Beyond War/Beyond Lockheed Martin: A New Economy is Possible!

“…When they came to Skull Place, as it was called, they crucified him there and the criminals as well, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, ‘God, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ They divided his garments, rolling dice for them….” - Luke 23: 33 - 49

“Let us pray that we will break the chains of violence and war; that we may resist war-making and stop Lockheed Martin with acts of justice and Jesus’ love. May the cross, which over time was transformed from a means of violence to a symbol of liberation and peace, be our symbol of nonviolence and justice, a sign of nonviolent resistance to Lockheed Martin, militarism, injustice, and war.” - Opening prayer from Good Friday Stations of Justice & Peace, April 10, Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, PA

The Brandywine Peace Community (b.1977) campaign, now in its 15th year of nonviolent direct action at Lockheed Martin, continues.

Yesterday, yet another time at Lockheed Martin, yet another Good Friday Stations of Justice & Peace at the world’s largest weapons corporation and international war profiteer.

More than 50 people gathered at the corner of Mall & Boulevards, directly behind the King of Prussia Mall, for the Christian observance of Good Friday modeled on the traditional Stations of the Cross and recognition that war, and the works of Lockheed Martin, represent a continuing crucifixion.

After the opening Station (Pilate Condemns Jesus to Death) and accompanying reading, people processed to the main driveway entrance of Lockheed Martin behind a large wooden cross with the Lockheed Martin logo at the crucifixion nail points. Each successive Station and reading was followed by a different person carrying a cross into the drive and standing there cross in hand until the 12th Station - Jesus dies on the cross - and the sight of a line of people and crosses standing the entire width of the driveway.

Surrounded by police cars and vans and the sound of Adagio for Strings, the crosses were laid down in the drive with a banner reading “Beyond War: A New Economy is Possible!” and those in the action began walking down the drive toward the Lockheed Martin weapons facility. Each were stopped by Lockheed Martin security, and arrested by police when refusing to leave. The sixteen people arrested were taken to the Upper Merion police station and release on disorderly conduct citations.

(Good Friday Litany at Lockheed Martin)

By the cross and resurrection…(all:) We Stand Against War! By Jesus’ witness to truth…(all:) We Act for Justice and Peace! By Jesus’ passion and death…(all:) We Resist Lockheed Martin! By Jesus’ victory over the grave…(all:) Beyond War, a New Day and New Economy is Possible!

Sixteen people arrested Good Friday ‘09: Rich Conti, Tom Mullian, Annie Geers, and Bob Smith, all of Delaware County, PA; Shane Claiborne, Mary Jo McArthur, M.J. Gentile, Beth Friedlan, Carroll Clay, Joe Clay, Amber Christis, and Father Patrick Sieber, OFM, all of Philadelphia, PA; Theresa Camerota of Wyncote, PA; Tim Chadwick and Art Landis, of Bethlehem, PA; and Jackie Bauman, Elmwood Park, NJ.

Look for photos, readings, and more week’s end at http://www.brandywinepeace.com

Have a blessed Passover and a Happy Easter!

Next up to Stop Lockheed Martin …

April 15, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Tax Day Vigil Silver Lake Park next to Lockheed Martin, Route 413 bypass in Newtown, Bucks County, PA. Invest our Tax Dollars in a Peace Economy! NOT in Lockheed Martin. Sponsors: Coalition for Peace Action and Penn Action. Contact: 215-380-6804 www.cfpabuxmont.org www.pennaction.org

APRIL 23, PHILADELPHIA, Double Tree Hotel, 237 Broad Street, ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING OF LOCKHEED MARTIN! Plan to Protest Lockheed Martin in Philadelphia!

8:30A.M. - Center City protest vigil and bannering at Phila. City Hall (west side), 15th & Market Streets; 9:30A.M. - Coffin-lead March to Double Tree Hotel/Lockheed Martin Shareholders Meeting, which begins at 10:30A.M. Join us in bringing to Lockheed Martin CEO and management the deadly consequences of Lockheed Martin war and weapons profiteering here and around the world.

Organized by the Brandywine Peace Community. Co-sponsored by: BuxMont Coalition for Peace Action, Phila. Jews for a Just Peace.

Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest weapons corporation, the U.S.’s chief nuclear bomb and space weapons contractor, the world’s largest international arms dealer, Israel’s largest arms partner, and the Iraq War’s chief weapons profiteer. Lockheed Martin is the very center of the corporate war economy, which is the “elephant in the room” of the current economic meltdown and enabler of war and violence around the world.

Beyond War, Beyond Lockheed Martin: A New Economy is Possible!

For more information: BRANDYWINE PEACE COMMUNITY P.O. Box 81, Swarthmore, PA 19081 - 610.544.1818 www.brandywinepeace.com

Protests in Washington, Calif. call for war’s end

Associated Press

Herald Times (Bloomington, Indiana)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

WASHINGTON — Before war protesters ended their demonstration Saturday afternoon, several placed cardboard coffins in front of the offices of northern Virginia defense contractors such as KBR Inc. and Lockheed Martin Corp. as riot police stood by.

“Lockheed Martin you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” they chanted as part of a demonstration that began in Washington to mark the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Arlington County, Va., authorities estimated there were 2,500 to 3,000 protesters.

Organizers from the ANSWER Coalition said more than 1,000 groups sponsored the protest to call for an end to the Iraq war. Carrying signs saying “We need jobs and schools, not war” and “Indict Bush,” demonstrators beat drums and played trumpets as they marched from near the Lincoln Memorial past the Pentagon into Virginia.

Meanwhile, at a similar protest in San Francisco, tension grew after four or five dozen activists surrounded a group of riot-equipped police, throwing sticks and water bottles. Police responded by regrouping in riot formation and physically detaining several protesters who pushed and shoved with officers.

Protest leaders shouted from the stage, urging police to leave. Barriers were quickly erected between police and protesters as an organizer urged calm and the activists started to disperse.

In Washington, protesters demanded that President Barack Obama immediately withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq, saying thousands of Iraqis have died and thousands of American troops have been wounded or killed.

“We think it’s especially important for this new administration to feel the pressure from people that we don’t want more war,” said Obama supporter Pat Halle, 59, of Baltimore.

Anti-war activists said even though former President George W. Bush is out of power, they are disappointed with what they see as stalled action from Obama.

“Obama seems to be led somewhat by the bureaucracies. I want him to follow up on his promise to end the war,” said 66-year-old Perry Parks of Rockingham, N.C., who said he served in the Army for nearly 30 years, including in Vietnam.

Obama has said he plans to withdraw roughly 100,000 troops by summer 2010. He promises to pull the last of the U.S. troops by the end of 2011, in accordance with a deal Iraqis signed with Bush.

There were about 138,000 troops in Iraq as of March 13.

In southern California, hundreds of protesters gathered in Hollywood. Among them were peace advocate Cindy Sheehan — whose son was killed in Iraq — Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis and Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam veteran whose story was chronicled in the book and film “Born on the Fourth of July.”

Protesters in Los Angeles were expected to follow a rally with a march and then a symbolic “die in” where they would lie down in a major Hollywood Boulevard intersection to symbolize the soldiers who have died in the war.

Protesters waved signs and sold bumper stickers and T-shirts commemorating the event.

Denise Clendenning, 51, an environmental scientist from Chino Hills, Calif., said she hopes Obama will rethink his strategy to withdraw most of the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and call all of them back instead.

“We all have a lot of confidence in him,” she said, holding two signs that read “Out of Iraq” and “End the War.”

In Washington, U.S. Park Police said no arrests were made. However, there sometimes was commotion among activists. At one point during the demonstration in Virginia, some taunted police while others urged their fellow protesters not to bother authorities. Some protesters then began arguing among themselves.

This year, the protest in Washington was held on a weekend — a few days after the March 19 anniversary of the war, which began in 2003. Last year’s weekday protest was marked by lower turnout than in previous years.

Marching on the war profiteers

by Linda Greene / The Bloomington Alternative

April 5, 2009

http://www.bloomingtonalternative.com/articles/2009/04/05/9916

To activists accustomed to participating in peace marches involving hundreds of thousands in Washington, D.C., the March 21 march on the Pentagon, which commemorated the sixth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, was disappointing: no more than 10,000 protesters participated in the rally and march.

According to Michael T. McPhearson, executive director of Veterans for Peace and co-chair of United for Peace and Justice, this demonstration was critical in guiding the Obama administration from the ground up.

“We must confront [the power brokers and financiers] at their seat of power,” McPhearson wrote in an e-mailed letter. “President Obama must know that we hold him accountable for his promise to bring the troops home from Iraq. He is now the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces. Their use is up to his discretion.”

Mike Ferner, president of Veterans for Peace and speaker at the rally that preceded the march, said in an e-mail the small number of demonstrators “tells me the antiwar movement is pretty reflective of society at large. Interest in the war among the public is way down. I haven’t seen any polls lately, and I’d love to see that concern about the war continues at significant levels, but intuitively I doubt it.”

“Still,” said Ferner, who is slated to speak in Bloomington on April 29 at the Monroe County Public Library, “that drop in concern may be in response to a ‘what issues are you most concerned about?’ question, whereas even though the war is down a few notches in that answer people are still opposed to it and think it’s a dumb idea — even while it’s not relatively as important. Frequently wars get people’s attention off economic crises. Seems to go the other way around this time.”

Another possible reason for the middling attendance is complacency from the election of Barack Obama — failure to face the fact that despite the new rhetoric of his administration, foreign policy is essentially the same under Obama as it was under Bush. As one speaker said at the rally, despite the language of change, “for the military-industrial complex, it’s business as usual.”

According to Christine Glaser, a member of the Bloomington Peace Action Coalition (BPAC), “Many believe President Obama when he says he wants to end the war in Iraq, even if he says it will take almost three years to do that. Many people seem to be unaware that Obama has not spelled out what will happen with the massive U.S. military bases in Iraq, and with the army of military contractors.

“This occupation is still as wrong today under Obama as it was three or five years ago under Bush, and the people who rallied and marched in D.C. on March 21 stated that clearly. Many [in the antiwar movement] supported the Obama campaign because they hoped that was the most effective thing they could do to end the war. If that turns out not to be the case, they’ll not just quietly accept it.”

“In terms of numbers,” said BPAC’s Timothy Baer, “the anti-war movement has been in decline since early 2008, when the election campaigns started heating up. The average person is now still in their ‘honeymoon’ phase with President Obama or in their perpetual state of apathy concerning issues beyond what they perceive as their own sphere of existence.

“However, I feel that the intense energy and camaraderie of the ‘March on the Pentagon and the War-profiteers’ was a palpable sign that the movement is on its way back up.”

As Baer implied, what the marchers lacked in numbers, they compensated for in enthusiasm. The mood of the demonstration was resolute but exuberant as the marchers made their chief demand — troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. Threatening Iran and bombing Pakistan were high on the agenda. Using U.S. taxpayers’ money to fund Israeli attacks on Palestinians was criticized, also.

Beforehand, the demonstration was billed as a rally and march on the Pentagon, but it passed about a block away from that engine of the war machine because of the heavy police presence and continued on a four-mile hike to the corporate offices of several military contractors, including KBR, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. On the corporate doorsteps marchers deposited some 100 mock coffins draped with the American flag and flags of countries the United States has taken military action against recently.

With this action at the corporate offices, corporate war profiteers became as much the focus as the federal government. In fact, the demonstrators exhibited a high level of political sophistication about the role of corporate war profiteers (or, more euphemistically, military contractors) and the interrelationships between corporate domination, imperialism, class struggle, war, poverty, hunger and other social injustices.

According to Glaser, who has participated in several marches on Washington in the last few years, “I have not been part of a demonstration that focused as much on war profiteers as did this one. The main focus of most demonstrations that I participated in was trying to influence Senators and Representatives to use their power to end the war in Iraq by denying approval for war spending bills.”

Asked if the demonstration indicated any progress the peace movement has made toward success, Ferner answered by e-mail, “One indication of a success is the diverse crowd [the demonstration] drew and the fact that people got to see activists of a different age, cultural background, race, nationality, etc. than they’re likely to see in their hometowns unless they live in New York City.”

He went on, “The energy and chants of the young activists was inspiring to many of us old timers who enjoyed it more than plodding along to the same old same old. And just the fact that it happened is a good sign.

“Even though I have frequent doubts if this kind of activity has any effect on the body politic, in the end I have to agree with those who say it’s important to do even if the numbers are down. Obama needs to be reminded he’s not getting a pass on this issue — another reason it would’ve been good to have a massive showing, but a reminder nonetheless.”

Also, he observed, “One other success associated with [the march] is the relationship building that happens with these events. Again, it would’ve been better if many more relationships had been forged, but the ones that were will bear fruit at some time. Admittedly, the above is ‘success’ defined in limited terms. But better small success than none, I’d say.”

Baer concluded, “Key now is educating the public and the ‘Obama-lovers’ among the Peace Movement to what the statements and foreign policies of the Obama Administration really mean for the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and of this country.

“We need to continue to speak and act with clarity and authority even if it often seems that no one is listening.”

Linda Greene can be reached at

Copyright © 2009 by The Bloomington Alternative.

For those who may not have seen recent media coverage of BPAC and ISAW events in Bloomington, Indiana and the March on the Pentagon, I offer the following links to articles.

Thank you to those who reported on these events and to all who participated.

Also, hear the great interviews with Elsa Marston Harik and Kadhim Shaaban, and WFHB coverage of March 25th events.

Fundraiser directs resources to Iraqi refugees

Indiana Daily Student – March 25, 2009 http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=67057

Fundraiser aims to help Iraqi families

Indiana Daily Student – March 26, 2009 http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=67103

“What’s going on in Iraq is illegal” ~ March 25th Demonstration

Indiana Daily Student – March 26, 2009 http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=67115

Marching on the war profiteers

The Bloomington Alternative – April 5, 2009 http://www.bloomingtonalternative.com/articles/2009/04/05/9916

Shadow colonies and the ‘War on Terror’

The Bloomington Alternative – April 5, 2009 http://www.bloomingtonalternative.com/articles/2009/04/05/9919

Dave Stewart’s interview with Elsa Marston Harik

WFHB’s Interchange – March 3, 2009 http://wfhb.org/interchange-author-elsa-marston-harik

Dave Stewart’s interview with Kadhim Shaaban

WFHB’s Interchange – March 31, 2009 http://wfhb.org/news/interchange-kadhim-shaaban

Bloomington Demonstration to “End the U.S. Occupations”

WFHB’s Daily Local News – March 25, 2009 http://wfhb.org/news/daily-local-news-march-25-2009

Six Years of War in Iraq

Timothy Baer asks if the Obama Administration and Congress will really do the right thing and end the U.S. military occupation of Iraq. WFHB’s Firehouse Feedback – March 17, 2009 http://wfhb.org/news/ff

Report & Video of January 6, 2009 March of the Dead

Channel 9 News segment: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=80156&catid=158

YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX-LRlSmevo

17 Anti-War Protesters Arrested on First Day of 111th Congress

“March of the Dead” ends in Hart Senate Office Building Arrests

January 7, 2009 at 16:51:30

by Elaine Brower

Yesterday was the first day of the 111th Congress. For the first time since the November elections, members of Congress returned to the Hill, and newly elected officials were sworn in with pomp and circumstance, with their families in tow. What a proud moment for them, especially the recently minted democrats who rode the wave of national discontent with the republican party. The halls of the Dirksen, Russell and Hart Buildings were freshly scrubbed, and bustling with food, people, and new furniture.

However, gathering a few blocks away were anti-war activists determined to rain on their parade by reminding these partygoers that there are wars happening, with lots of death and destruction, compliments of Congressional funding and complicity. The “March of the Dead”, created by the group “Activist Response Team” or ART, sent out a call for all those with a conscience to show up on January 6th in D.C. to wear a mask and carry the name of someone killed in illegal wars and occupations.

They gathered, approximately seventy people, in the inclement weather, blocks away, doning white masks and wearing all black signifying the souls of those who will be haunting the criminals who are sending bombs to kill Iraqis, Afghanis, Palestinians and members of the military who are the lethal arm of this government’s quest for empire. About 11:45 AM the solemn march started in a downpour, with media watching and documenting the procession of the dead. Winding their way around the streets of D.C., the 70 represented over a million humans wantonly killed by mega-ton bombs and drone missiles; by soldiers’ bullets, car bombs and IED explosions. The souls of the dead reminding those who are living of the horrors of aggression.

The march stopped at the Supreme Court Building, where the guards expected the protesters to conduct civil disobedience. But moments later, the group moved away kept their ambling pace, hands open with black gloves and staring gazes. Their mission was to bring the dead to Congress.

Unexpectedly, at about 2:00 PM, the marchers entered the Senate Hart Building, and slowly moved into the middle of the open atrium where eight stories up are offices with large windows facing inside. The stark vision of death disrupted the staff inside the building, including some of those Senators who were reveling in their glory. The names of those killed in the wars began to be read and the press followed them.

In the center of this open area, about forty protesters kept reading and calling out to those in the building to end the war, end the illegal occupation, and stop the funding to Israel. The passionate pleas were noticed, and most came out of their offices to gaze down upon the spectacle, while munching their chips or drinking soda, something those dead would never do again.

Simultaneously with the reading of the names five huge banners were dramatically unfurled over the sides of the railings facing into the atrium. The largest, about four stories high, black with white lettering, read “THE AUDACITY OF WAR CRIMES.” It was dropped from the fifth floor and tied to the railing.

Across the way “IRAQ” “AFGANISTAN” and “PALESTINE” banners were also dropped and tied to the railings. The Capitol Police, who were present when the march came into the building, quickly responded to remove the words that were so hurtful to those who were guilty of committing these war crimes. Within seconds, the banners were pulled up, but it gave press and other independent media a chance to photograph it all. An everlasting message to the murderers who keep spending taxpayer dollars to kill innocent people.

At that point seven people were arrested for unfurling the words of truth, but those on the ground floor of the Hart Building remained reading the names of the dead. The police were gathering in force, and just as a secure perimeter was formed around the masked readers, another banner announcing “WE WILL NOT BE SILENT” was dropped. Quickly, three people were carted off by the police, and the banner was cut down. But those onlookers on the ground floor applauded and yelled with excitement.

The reading continued for another 30 minutes. A warning was issued for them to stop their “unlawful activities”, or be arrested. The police announced that the protesters were “disrupting the building,” when in reality, it was war, death and destruction that was the disruption.

So on the first day of the 111th Congress, within the hour they were being sworn in, the dead were marching to remind them what they had done, what they are doing, and that it should end immediately. When it was over, seventeen courageous protesters were arrested. Those that participated in the banner action were charged with “unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct” and must return for a court appearance because it is a grave offense to speak the truth. Those who read the names were charged with “unlawful conduct” and were able to pay and leave. But the dead will not be forgotten.

By 3:15 PM the building was empty of those who called attention to the atrocities sanctioned by those who occupied the offices. But the souls of the dead will remain there, filling up the halls, hovering over their desks, following them home, forever to be haunting those who are and who will remain responsible and complicit for causing this holocaust.

Elaine Brower - Anti-war activist, mother of U.S. Marine currently on his way to Iraq for a 3rd tour of duty; member of Steering Committee for the “World Can’t Wait, Drive Out the Bush Regime” and Military Families.

Account from Lori Perdue, CodePink

()

Sent: Tue 1/06/09 5:15 PM To: IN Peace & Justice Network ()

Thank you for the blessing Nick. It means so very much coming from you. The action today was inspiring and saddening in equal portions.

There were apx 60 citizens dressed in all black, wearing white masks and placards with a name of a person killed in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Palestinian Territories. We slowly, in memorial, marched from the SE corner of the Capitol, past the Supreme Court, the Senate office buildings the Capitol Building (the new “visitors center” under construction) and back up the House side of the Capitol. Following the procession, we gathered in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building to witness the reading of the names of the victims.(mine was Abeer Hazam, the 15 year old Iraqi girl raped, murdered and burned by US troops in 2006. The soldiers involved have been prosecuted for her death and the deaths of her family members.) There were five banners dropped from various spots along the atrium in this action. Three of the banners (at least three stories tall) bore the names of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine, one read “We Will Not Be Silent” and the other I regret to report I didn’t catch it’s message. I was in a discussion with Capitol Police about the possible arrest of a compatriot and they cut it down pretty fast, before I could get a look at it. Things happen pretty fast here.

All in all there were 12-15 arrests in the Hart, of those who refused to remove their masks or were handling the banners. The Capitol Police gave the arrestees three warnings and then arrested them. There was absolutely NO violence from anyone, even the police. David Swanson of afterdowningstreet.org was among those arrested.

The rest of the afternoon I spent on the Hill going from one congressional reception to another, meeting several Senators and pressuring them to do more, to do all they can, to bring our troops HOME in 2009. I met Sen. John Kerry for the first time (he’s TALL! And, encouraging of CODEPINK) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, whose hand I shook and encouraged her to push harder to end the conflict in Gaza and thanked her for her NO Vote on the Iraq War. She thanked us for our work and said she would continue to push for peaceful, diplomatic solutions. … I’m off to a Vigil for those killed in Gaza and will be back in touch tomorrow after my adventures in the House of Representatives.

In Peace and Solidarity, Lori

___________________________________-

March of the Dead to Greet Congress

For Immediate Release

Contact: David Swanson david@davidswanson. org 202-329-7847; Laurie Arbeiter 917-915-6115; Peter Cobb 415-686-1096

MARCH OF THE DEAD TO GREET CONGRESS ON TUESDAY

WHAT: A long column of figures dressed all in black with white death masks and bearing the names of those killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. The march will be followed by a dramatic nonviolent action intended to awaken Congress to the need to end the wars.

WHEN: March from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Additional dramatic action 2:15 p.m.

WHERE: The march will approach the U.S. Capitol on Pennsylvania Ave. SE and turn north on 1st Street to pass between the Capitol and the Supreme Court, turn west on Constitution Ave. to pass the Senate office buildings, turn south to pass the west front of the Capitol, and turn east on Independence Ave. to pass the House office buildings. Members of the media wanting to cover the additional nonviolent action should meet representatives of the March of the Dead in front of the Supreme Court at 2 p.m.

WHY: “We will be conducting the March of the Dead as the 111th Congress is being sworn in,” said Laurie Arbeiter of the Activist Response Team, creators of the march. “We demand that this Congress end the terror of war, get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, stay out of Iran, Pakistan, and Syria and stop all support of Israeli foreign and military policy that results in massacres like the current one in Gaza.”

“The power to begin and end wars rests with Congress,” said David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org, “and the responsibility of Congress is to represent the American people. We have now for the second time elected a Congress to end the occupation of Iraq, and this time we will insist that it be ended. A treaty unratified by the Senate cannot legalize three more years of war. And the human impact of long-distance slaughter cannot be kept from the eyes of Congress members if we make up our minds that they will see it.”

—

David Swanson is the author of the upcoming book “Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union” by Seven Stories Press and of the introduction to “The 35 Articles of Impeachment and the Case for Prosecuting George W. Bush” published by Feral House and available at Amazon.com. Swanson holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and as a communications director, with jobs including press secretary for Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign, media coordinator for the International Labor Communications Association, and three years as communications coordinator for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Swanson is Co-Founder of AfterDowningStreet.org, creator of ConvictBushCheney. org and Washington Director of Democrats.com, a board member of Progressive Democrats of America, the Backbone Campaign, and Voters for Peace, a member of the legislative working group of United for Peace and Justice, and convener of the accountability and prosecution working group of United for Peace and Justice.

Peace Activists to Stand Trial in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday, January 12

For Immediate release: January 5, 2009

United States District Court, 120 North Henry Street, at 1 PM

Press Conference at the Vigil for Peace on the corner of M. L. King Jr. Blvd. & Doty St. in front of the Madison Municipal Bldg, at 12 noon

Charged with trespassing are thirteen participants in WITNESS AGAINST WAR, a 450 mile walk from Chicago to last summer’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul “to challenge and nonviolently resist our country’s continuing war in and occupation of Iraq” (http://vcnv.org/witness-against-war). The activists from around the country were arrested by Department of Defense Police on August 10, as they attempted to enter the gates of Fort McCoy, a military installation in Wisconsin’s Monroe County.

Fort McCoy’s “vision” according to its mission statement is “To be the Premier Training Center and Force Projection Site of Choice for America’s Defense Forces,” training more than 122,000 soldiers in 2007, active military as well reserve and National Guard troops from Wisconsin and around the Midwest and beyond. Included among those trained at Fort McCoy are “troops processing for mobilization/demobilization through the installation.” (http://www.mccoy.army.mil/AboutFortMcCoy/documents/FactsFig.pdf) In plain language, Fort McCoy is the site from which a large portion of US soldiers, reservists and National Guard members continue to be trained and shipped out to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The activists who will be on trial on Monday came to Fort McCoy with another “vision,” expressed with banners and signs calling for an end to the war and a leaflet meant to be distributed to soldiers there reading: “We come to Fort McCoy to, in some small way, act in solidarity with members of the military who choose to nonviolently resist this war by refusing to be deployed to Iraq. We encourage members of the active duty military, Reserve and National Guard to consider refusing deployment orders and to be in contact with the GI Rights Hotline regarding their rights within the military at 1-800-394-9544.”

Soldiers leaving and entering Fort McCoy on August 10 gave friendly greetings to the WITNESS AGAINST WAR walkers they passed in the few miles before they reached the fort’s main gate and seemed to welcome their plea for the wars to end. Several of the DoD police officers who met them at the gate, most of them veterans, some recently returned from combat, also expressed appreciation for the message brought by the walkers even as they arrested them. Any support for the activists among Fort McCoy personnel did not, however, rise to the higher ranks. In a letter responding to the activists’ peaceful intentions, Col. Daniel A. Culver of the fort’s Office of the Command Judge Advocate, cited “risk of disruption to Fort McCoy’s mission” as grounds to ban the activists from the installation.

The members of the public are invited to attend the trial and the press conference preceding it. Some of Monday’s defendants will be attending a fund raising event for the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice (http://www.wnpj.org/node/955) the evening before, on Sunday, January 11th, 5:30 - 9:30 pm – at the Harmony Bar and Grill, 2201 Atwood Ave, Madison. They have been invited to speak about their Ft. McCoy actions and the “Keeping the Guard Home” campaign from 6:15 - 7 pm as part of the evening’s program. The rest of the evening will include graduation cake for peace organizer, Todd Dennis, guitar music by Jason Moon of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, an ‘open mic’, and more. All welcome. ($10 suggested donation- sliding scale.)

The defendants, who will be representing themselves at trial are: Kathy Kelly, 54, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence ; Jeff Leys, 44, of Watertown, Wisconsin; Joy First, 54, of Madison, WI; John Bachman, 56, Eau Claire, WI; Brian Terrell, 52, of Maloy, IA; Renee Espeland, 47 of Des Moines, IA; Kryss Chupp, 49, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Chicago; Ceylon Mooney, 33, Memphis, TN; Eileen Hanson, 34, Winona, MN; Joshua Brollier, 25, Clarkesville, TN; Lauren Cannon, 38, seminarian at Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL; Alice Gerard, 51, of Grand Island, NY; and Gene Stoltzfus, 68, of Ontario, Canada.

Contact:
Joy First at (608) 239-4327 or < jsfirst@tds.net> Jeff Leys at (773) 878-3815 or jeffleys@vcnv.org Renee Espeland at (515) 664-1326 (cell) or

Trial Statement for Joy First

January 12, 2009

Good afternoon Your Honor. Thank you for hearing our case.

I am here before you today because I cannot and will not remain silent when my government is engaged in an immoral and illegal war in Iraq and other places around the world. I am compelled to continue to do everything I can to call attention to the horror and suffering resulting from our government’s imperialistic and aggressive policies.

My co-defendants and I have done everything we can to try to bring the war and occupation of Iraq to an end. We have petitioned our President through letters, phone calls, and visits. We have petitioned our members of Congress, calling them, writing them, and visiting their offices countless times. We have been part of vigils and demonstrations, organized and attended town meetings, signed petitions, collected signatures for petitions and followed many other means to try to stop the unnecessary killing of innocent people for over five years.

Though what I have done has not stopped the war and occupation of Iraq, I strongly believe it is imperative that we, the people, speak out and I must continue my work for peace and justice.

So on August 10, 2008 I went to Fort McCoy to deliver a letter that has been introduced into evidence, a letter asking our young men and women in the military to follow their conscience and refuse deployment to a war that is illegal and immoral. During this action I was very aware that there will be 3500 members of the Wisconsin National Guard going to Iraq early in 2009. This is the largest deployment of the National Guard from Wisconsin since WW II. How many more of our young men and women have to die? How many more innocent Iraqis must die?

I was arrested for this action. But I am not sure why I was arrested. I do not think I broke any law. Citizens are allowed on the base to hunt, and fish. The night before we went to the base, there was a concert with hundreds of civilians being allowed on the base. Just an hour before we tried to deliver our letter, a friend was allowed to go to the PX on the base to buy supplies. It was because of our message and for that reason alone that we were denied our First Amendment right to free speech and were arrested on August 10, 2008, not because we did anything wrong.

We are a peaceful people, and engage in our actions peacefully, calling for an end to the violence of war, following the principles of Gandhi, King, Day, and others. I would not participate in any kind of violent action and I do not think that I broke any law on August 10, 2008.

I am called to continue to do everything I can to stop the suffering of war and work towards a peaceful world. I am at a point in my life where I think about the future generations. As a grandmother I feel like my arms must reach wide and embrace all the children of the world and work for a better world, a world without the terror of war.

I believe it is my First Amendment right to free speech that allows me to voice my concerns in this way. I also believe it is my obligation under the Nuremberg treaties to speak out when my government is acting illegally. According to the Nuremberg Principles, if we remain silent while our government is engaged in illegal and immoral activities, then we are complicit, we are guilty of being in violation of international law and of going against our most dearly held values.

It is our responsibility as citizens of this great country to speak out and call attention to the unjust actions of our government and demand that they stop the war now. We believe that we can make a difference.

Please find us not guilty as charged and join us in saying that we need to stop prosecuting those who speak out against the war. It is time to bring the real criminals to justice.

Thank you Your Honor.

Trial for August 10, 2008 Civil Resistance Action at Fort McCoy

January 12, 2009
by Joy First

On August 10, 2008 I participated in an action of nonviolent civil resistance at Fort McCoy. This was in conjunction with the Witness Against War Walk, an event organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, walking 450 miles from Chicago to St. Paul for the start of the Republican Presidential Convention.

Fort McCoy is a military base where many of our young men and women are trained to be deployed to Iraq. The basis for our action was to bring a letter to the soldiers supporting them and advising them that they have the right to refuse deployment to a war that is immoral and illegal. About 50 people participated in the 3 hour walk from Tunnel City to Fort McCoy on August 10. Once at the main gate, 13 individuals chose to peacefully try to gain access to the base to deliver our message. We were arrested, processed, and released in about an hour or so.

On January 12, 2009 twelve of us were on trial at the U.S. District Court in Madison, WI under Judge Stephen Crocker with a large number of supporters in the audience. Those on trial were Brian Terrell, Jeff Leys, Alice Gerard, Kryss Chupp, John Bachman, Gene Stoltzfus, Lauren Cannon, Ceylon Mooney, Eileen Hanson, Renee Espeland, Joshua Brollier, and myself. Kathy Kelly was also arrested, but she was in Egypt attempting to provide humanitarian aide to the people of Gaza under siege by the Israeli army. She had notified the judge by letter and her case will be reviewed when she returns home.

Originally we were charged under a Federal Statue for trespassing. For some reason, they were not able to charge us under that statue and the final charge was trespassing under a Monroe County Statue. Judge Crocker said this was no longer a criminal charge, but he was treating it that way so that we would have more rights and the burden of proof would be higher.

The U.S. District Attorney called four witnesses. The first witness was the Deputy Chief of Police at Fort McCoy, who described what happened that day. Then three officers who did the processing on the day of the arrests took the stand. As in many cases of mass arrest for civil resistance, they identified us by our pictures taken at the time we were arrested. The whole process of identification was bogus. They went through looking at a copy of each citation attached to a picture of the person arrested. Judge Crocker asked the person who was issued the citation if they had any objections on this being entered into evidence. So when we said no objections, we were identifying ourselves. Nevertheless, the officers never pointed to us in the courtroom and said that is Joy First who was arrested at Fort McCoy, but only looked at the picture and identified the picture as Joy First.

After the prosecution rested, Jeff Leys made a motion for judgment of acquittal based on the fact that we were not properly identified. Judge Crocker denied the motion.

Judge Crocker explained that each defendant would have five minutes to speak. He said we could not use the necessity defense or international law, but rather than argue over what we were saying, he would just give us each our five minutes to say whatever we wanted to say and then he would make his ruling.

The statements made by the defendants were elegant and moving, but we also knew by the judge’s words that it was just an exercise in futility that would not really have any impact on the eventual ruling by Judge Crocker.

Brian Terrell said that he looked up the vision of Fort McCoy on the web and it said that they are the premier training center for America’s defense system. We brought our own vision, an alternative vision, to the base disrupting their mission of providing cannon fodder in Iraq. It was our legal and moral responsibility to go there.

Gene noted that the soldiers being trained there will be facing an incredible legal and moral dilemma. He said that he did not feel guilty and will accept the consequences.

Ceylon explained that he had been to Iraq twice and seen the effects of war. He works with soldiers who have come home and sees the long-term effects of war on them. What we did was not illegal.

Jeff introduced the letters we wrote and pictures of the action into evidence. He said he hoped that we would be in front of the judge again as we build the movement of nonviolent civil resistance.

Eileen declined to speak.

Alice said that she went there to speak to the soldiers. The pressure on the military is necessary and we did nothing wrong. It is the government that is violating the law.

I talked about all we have done to try to stop the war, and that we must and will continue this work. I noted that it is my First Amendment right and my obligation under Nuremberg to do this. Bush and company are the real criminals.

Renee asked the judge if anything she said would really make a difference. She spoke directly to the officers who had testified earlier beseeching them to see what they were doing in a different light. She noted that grave injustices are being done to the soldiers at Fort McCoy.

Kryss noted that laws are important, but when laws are used to protect institutions of injustice, she will follow God’s law. She sang “Finlandia”.

Josh said that government exists by the people and for the people, for the common good, but it is sometimes used to hurt people. Not advising soldiers of what is really going on is illegal. He believes our actions were consistent with the spirit of the law.

John said he felt it was time to vote with his feet. The war was unpopular and undemocratic. When he was trying another case in northern Wisconsin, both the judge and prosecutor told him they were supportive of what he did.

Judge Crocker said that our right of free speech ends when we trespass. And he added, “Let’s face it. You all trespassed.” He said he had to find us guilty though he noted that it is wonderful that citizens will do what we did.

The maximum penalty for this charge was 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. The prosecutor recommended a $100 fine. Judge Crocker sentenced us to a $75 fine. In sentencing statements, a number of defendants said that their conscience would not allow them to pay the fine. Judge Crocker said he would check and see if the fine could go to a victim’s compensation fund rather than the general treasury which was more acceptable to some of the defendants.

For a newspaper report of the trial, see http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/01/13

Indictment Day Action – Department of Justice – Washington, DC – November 10, 2008

by Joy First – Madison, WI

See video of the action here.

I have been working with others in the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) (http://www.iraqpledge.org) since March of 2003, organizing actions of nonviolent civil resistance, risking arrest, to bring an end to the war and occupation of Iraq. We organize actions in DC about twice a year – in March and again in the fall. This summer we decided that as part of our call for justice we must hold the Bush administration accountable for war crimes. We were inspired, in part, by the book by Vince Bugliosi calling for the prosecution of George Bush for murder. We decided to design an action for the fall of 2008 focusing on the indictment of Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

We began in September when NCNR sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking for a meeting to discuss the indictment of Bush and Cheney for war crimes. In the letter, we outlined some of the crimes we believe they are guilty of committing. Of course, as we expected, we did not receive a response from Mukasey. After several phone calls trying to confirm whether or not he had received the letter and still no response, we decided we needed to go in person to the Department of Justice, and we planned our action for November 10.

As part of getting ready for the action, we wanted to check out the Department of Justice building. So when I was in DC for a trial in October, several of us walked to the Department of Justice office building to get a lay of the land. There were two guards standing at the sidewalk with large concrete planters lining a 10x20 ft. plaza-like area leading to the door. Because of the concrete planters, the area was inaccessible to the public except for the small opening between the planters where the guards were standing. We tried to simply walk into the building but were immediately stopped by the guards. They said that we could not enter unless we had an appointment with someone inside. We asked how we got an appointment and they were not very helpful in telling us how that could be accomplished. This experience gave us valuable information. We knew it would be unlikely we would gain access to the building on November 10 and we planned our action for outside.

On Sunday November 9, I flew to DC, again leaving my family in Madison behind, but knowing this is what I had to do. We planned to meet at a restaurant in Union Station to discuss plans for the action the next day. As I walked towards the group, Max, one of my great teachers on nonviolence, greeted me saying, “Here’s Joy First all the way from Madison. We know that if we do an action, she will be here because she believes she can make a difference.” His words confirmed for me why I have to do this work. Sometimes people make comments to me about whether it is worth my time and effort to continually return to Washington, DC for these actions and trials. But Max said it so simply and so truthfully. I believe that I can do nothing less, and that ultimately what we are doing will make a difference in the world.

We talked for a couple of hours at the meeting on Sunday making plans for the action, and then about 25 people met again in the restaurant of the Hotel Harrington on Monday morning at 10:00 am to finalize our plans. This is a wonderful group of citizen activists that I am working with. They are all so committed and inspiring people and we have worked together for several years and have developed a good rapport and relationship so we came together easily as our plans developed.

At 11:30, we broke to take care of final details, such as bathroom breaks etc., before gathering to walk together to the Department of Justice which was about three blocks away from the hotel. We had a solemn procession to the DoJ carrying large banners calling for the indictment of Bush and Cheney. When we came around the corner, we immediately saw that there were about 10 extra police officers waiting for us, and two vans for transporting prisoners. We had posted information about this action on various websites and they knew we were coming. But even if we hadn’t posted the information publicly, we know from past experience that they spy on our private emails, so we were not surprised that they were ready and waiting for us.

We walked past the entrance and past all the officers, smiling and greeting them as we walked by. We gathered on the corner to strategize and discuss our final plans for a few minutes. Then we decided it was time. Max and I were chosen as the spokespeople to talk to the guards, so we approached them with a copy of the letter we had mailed to Mukasey in September. The group had decided previously that we would not accept just handing the letter to a low-level official and then walking away. That is exactly what the Department of Justice tried to do. Max and I talked to a Public Affairs officer from the DoJ who said he would take our letter and give it to the Attorney General’s office. We told him this was an urgent matter because over a million innocent Iraqis and over 4100 US soldiers had died and people were continuing to die everyday and that it was necessary that we talk to AG Mukasey about indicting Bush and Cheney for war crimes. We told him we were committed to having a meeting with AG Mukasey or one of his close aides. Again, we were refused. All the spokesperson could do was to say he would take our letter.

Max turned and told the group the results of our conversation and asked what we should do next. Pete Perry said, “We must make evident the crimes of the Bush Administration.” As planned, those of us risking arrest, numbering about 15, began to lay down on the ground representing the dead, representing what has happened as a result of the illegal and immoral war perpetrated by the Bush administration. A couple of people drew chalk outlines around the bodies and then lay down themselves. By this time, we had the 15 people lying on the sidewalk and about 30 supporters there in solidarity and witness. A couple of supporters began to string up crime scene tape which was immediately ripped down by the police. A couple others began to read names of the dead. I was feeling so overwhelmed with emotion as a laid down thinking about why we were there, thinking about the incredible human suffering that has brought us to this place.

The officers began telling us that we were going to be arrested if we didn’t leave the area immediately. They were standing there with their plastic cuffs ready to go. Some of them were aggressive. There were reports of police officers deliberately stepping on activists as we lay there and saying that they hoped others would step on us. People who had business in the Department of Justice building were only able to enter the DoJ building by stepping over bodies and so even though we were lying on a public sidewalk, we expected that we would be arrested.

However, time passed and we knew there was a lot of discussion going on among the authorities about what to do with us. In the meantime we continued to lie there, names of the dead were read, and other supporters stood by the street holding up large banners calling for the indictment of Bush and Cheney so we had a long time to be there and get our message out.

We always go into these actions knowing that we are risking arrest, but it is not our goal to get arrested. Our goal is to speak truth to power and get our message heard, We go into these actions never knowing if we will be arrested or not. From what I could hear, it sounded like the federal officers at the Department of Justice wanted us arrested and out of there. However, I am guessing the DC Metropolitan Police did not want to arrest us. They would be the ones who would have to take care of us and spend many hours processing all of us and I think they just didn’t want to do it. In our meeting at the hotel on Monday morning, we had decided that we would lie there for an hour and if we were not arrested in an hour, one of the supporters would don a black shroud and raise us from the dead.

It was very emotional lying on the ground for an hour and listening to the people bustling around, listening to the names of the dead being read. There are innocent people of all ages who have died in Iraq. It is especially difficult to hear the names of the children. It was comfortable to stay there on the ground for so long, but we were committed to being there and getting our message out. After lying on the ground for an hour, Ty came around to each person saying it was time to rise up because we had more work to do.

We all stood and then we came together to make a decision on what to do next. It was during this time, that Max announced a man from India had joined us. He was a practitioner of Gandhism, and he was in the United States for 10 days to talk about nonviolence. I am not sure if he just stumbled on our action and decided to join us or if he found out about the action somehow and purposely came to the action to be part of it. He said he was glad to see nonviolence being practiced in the U.S. He also said that it is not the number of the group that is important, but the spirit and that we had a great spirit.

Not being arrested gave us the opportunity to do something else and so we decided that we would go to the White House to see if we could share our message, asking for an indictment of Bush and Cheney, with Obama who was there to meet with Bush. We walked to the White House carrying our banners, chanting and singing. There was a large crowd of onlookers and media at the White House hoping to catch a glimpse of Obama.

For about 30 minutes or so, we stood holding our signs and chanting. Then we decided to try to give a copy of the letter to Mukasey and a book by Dennis Kucinich outlining the 35 articles of impeachment to the guards at the White House gate. About 10 of us approached the guards and asked them to deliver these items to Bush. They refused and said we would have to move back. They pushed their chests out and came towards us to push us back in a very aggressive manner. We backed up a few feet and then several of the activists kneeled on the ground so we could not be pushed back any further. We thought we might get arrested at that point. I remained standing next to those kneeling as we started singing. There were many onlookers lined up on each side of us. From somewhere inside of me I began to speak in a very loud voice. I don’t exactly know where this voice came from because I am a very shy, scared person. I don’t do this work because I want to be noticed. In fact, I have always felt invisible and in some ways would prefer to remain that way. But here was this voice coming out of me.

It seems that in this work, I continuously find my voice to speak out because I have to. I yelled out, talking to the onlookers and to the officers who were trying to hold us back, that we have to arrest George Bush. He is responsible for the deaths of a million Iraqis – many of them are innocent children. I said that I was a grandmother of five from Wisconsin and that I had to come here to try to make a better world for them. I said that we needed to indict Bush and Cheney for war crimes. While I was speaking the singing stopped and the onlookers became quite and listened. Then Manajeh said that we have the obligation to stand up to this. We must not be good Germans. We must demand justice. Both Manajeh and I are grandmothers calling out for the hope of a better world for future generations. As a grandmother, I feel like my time has come, and it doesn’t matter how scared I am, I MUST speak out now.

I was glad that we were not arrested at the Department of Justice so that we could go to the White House. Our action there that day was spontaneous, but it felt like we were just where we needed to be. Throughout our actions at both places, there was a feeling of spontaneity. We have a cohesive group and there is a lot of trust among members and so many of us were able to speak out at different times during the day as our hearts moved us to speak and that enriched the actions.

We cannot stop our work now. Many people have hope that Obama will be our savior. But social change starts with the people, at the grass roots. It does not come down from the top. I believe that we must cry out for peace and justice now more than ever before. We have someone in the White House who we may be able to move, but it is our responsibility to make our voices heard. We are the people, we have the power, and it is our time to be heard. Please join us as we continue our struggle for peace and justice. We will prevail.

Please see a video of the action at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tROdXbCLmYY