[Peace-discuss] FW: An offering

[Kranich, Kimberlie]

Hi, all.

> Ricky, Carol and I have been working on a handbill that AWARE could hand
> to people who participate at our Saturday "Prospect for Peace"
> demonstrations.  This is different from the leaflets we give to folks in
> vehicles.
> 
> The purpose of the handbill is to keep people safe, prevent people from
> being towed, summarize our agreements with the police, and  discourage
> violence. The handbill also lists information about weekly AWARE events
> and our vigil IF we go to war.
> 
> Because of the two incidents of violence against us (most recently the
> shoving incident last week) and predicted escalation of tensions as the
> warmongering continues and our numbers grow, we felt it was a good idea.
> AWARE is the organizer of these demonstrations and  therefore has an
> implied obligation to keep people informed and safe.
> 
> So, I offer the following draft document for discussion.  The idea is to
> pass it or something like it out to demonstrators each Saturday.  
> 
> Kimberlie
> *************************
> 
> Welcome to  AWARE's "Prospect For Peace" Nonviolent Demonstrations
>  
> Thank you for joining us today.  Since October 2001, Champaign-Urbana's
> AWARE (the Anti-War, Anti-Racism Effort) has organized street
> demonstrations against war against Afghanistan and Iraq.  Our
> demonstrations are intended to send an anti-war message and, when
> presented with an opportunity, engage passersby and drivers in thoughtful
> and respectful dialogue about why we oppose war against Iraq and are
> trying to stop  President Bush's new doctrine of "preventive" war. 
> 
> We have met with Champaign police and have agreed to ground rules that
> protect our Constitutional right to assemble and petition drivers with
> leaflets as well as protect our safety and the safety of others. 
>  
> We ask you to voluntarily respect the following preferred behavior while
> you are participating in this peaceful demonstration:
> 
> 1. Park your vehicle in one of the large parking lots near Lowe's and
> Circuit City where you normally shop. Your car will be ticketed and towed
> if you park in the Tires Plus parking lot.
> 
> 2. Be gentle and peaceful in your actions and words.
>  
> 3. Some of us will be leafleting following agreements we've worked out
> with the police in which one or two of us hand leaflets to people in the
> lane of traffic closest to the sidewalk.  If you're interested in
> leafleting too, please ask the person currently leafleting if you may have
> a go at it.
> 
> 4. For safety reasons, AWARE has agreed not to walk out onto or
> demonstrate on the median strip. Doing so could result in police giving us
> a warning and then a ticket if we, even one of us, remains on the median
> strip.
>  
> 5. On two occasions, drivers have physically threatened our group and one
> driver got out of his truck and shoved one of us. If such violence occurs
> or threatens, please call an organizer for help and write down the license
> plate number and vehicle make and model.  Ask one of the march organizers
> with a cell phone to call police dispatch immediately (333-8911). Police
> have issued a citation for one driver already.
> 
> Please join us for other activities as well.
> 
> *	In the event that President Bush declares war against Iraq, we will
> gather for a candlelight vigil at Westside Park (Church and Randolph
> Streets in downtown Champaign) from 5-9pm. For questions the day of an
> attack, please call 721-7224 for more information.
> *	 AWARE meets weekly from 5-7pm at the Urbana-Champaign Independent
> Media Center, 218 W. Main Street, in Urbana.  344-8820. Join us!
> *	"No Iraq War" signs are available for a $3 donation by calling Jeff
> at 384-0945 or Carol at 344-9155.
> *	To sign up for AWARE's listserves, please visit: www.anti-war.net
> 
> Please spread the word and help us build a nonviolent resistance to war.
> 
> Thank you!
> 
> AWARE Organizers
> 
>