[Peace-discuss] UFPJ calls to antiwar action

[Morton K.Brussel]

FYI, and by the way, if anyone else is interested in attending the UFPJ 
meeting in St. Louis, as mentioned last night at the AWARE meeting, let 
me know. Details are given after the notice below.

mkb


ACTION ALERT * UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
http://www.unitedforpeace.org | 212-868-5545
===========================================
SATURDAY, MARCH 19:
GLOBAL DAY OF PROTEST ON THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQ WAR
* End the War * Bring the Troops Home Now * Rebuild Our Communities *
===========================================

March 19-20 marks the two-year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and 
invasion of Iraq. After all of the death and destruction, and with the 
Bush administration claiming a mandate to continue their war, there’s a 
new urgency and a stronger determination within the global antiwar 
movement to bring the troops home now.

LOCAL ACTIONS NATIONWIDE
UFPJ calls on supporters of peace and justice in every corner of the 
country, in communities large and small, to organize local protests 
against the war on Saturday, March 19. These can take many forms: 
vigils, rallies, marches, nonviolent civil disobedience. We especially 
encourage creative efforts to put the spotlight on the institutions of 
militarism at home by organizing actions outside military bases or 
military recruitment offices. List your activities on the UFPJ website 
calendar at http://www.unitedforpeace.org/events (select “March 19” 
under Event Type).

On the first anniversary of the war, at least 319 cities and towns 
across the United States organized protests. This year there is the 
potential to organize even more demonstrations, and to bring more 
people than ever out into the streets. The Bush Administration will 
soon ask Congress to pump as much as $100 billion more into the war; 
March 19 is an opportunity to call for an end to this disaster, and to 
demand that the billions be allocated instead for rebuilding our 
communities at home and paying for the damage in Iraq.

MAJOR REGIONAL PROTEST IN FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
UFPJ is also supporting a major regional demonstration in Fayetteville, 
North Carolina. We hope those of you within driving distance of 
Fayetteville will make this action your priority. Fayetteville is home 
to Fort Bragg – ground zero for the 82nd Airborne Division and many of 
the Army’s elite units. Beyond Fort Bragg, North Carolina hosts four 
other of the nation’s largest military bases, making the state one of 
the friendliest to the military-industrial complex.

Less well-known is the fact that Fayetteville is also home to a growing 
base of anti-war activists and organizations. They are military folks, 
veterans, families of active-duty soldiers and veterans, students, 
workers, housewives, clergy, educators, and all are part of a vibrant, 
and growing, statewide network. They stand firm in the knowledge that 
organizing in Fayetteville is a key to bringing the troops home from 
Iraq.

Military Families Speak Out (http://www.mfso.org/), Bring Them Home Now 
(http://www.bringthemhomenow.org), Iraq Veterans Against the War 
(http://www.ivaw.net), Veterans For Peace 
(http://www.veteransforpeace.org), Quaker House, Fayetteville Peace 
with Justice, the North Carolina Peace and Justice Coalition 
(http://www.ncpeacejustice.org), and the North Carolina Council of 
Churches (http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org) are spearheading the 
Fayetteville action. Please do all you can to be in Fayetteville this 
year; by actively building and participating in this demonstration, we 
have the opportunity to support the efforts of Southern organizers to 
build a Southern network, and a Southern movement, to replace war and 
occupation with justice and self-determination.

BE PART OF A GLOBAL ANTIWAR MOVEMENT
In addition to the many protests already being planned in the United 
States, people all around the world will be taking action on March 19 
as well. Responding to a call from the European Social Forum’s Assembly 
of Social Movements, European activists are organizing national 
mobilizations across Europe. Brussels will be the site of a central 
demonstration on the eve of a meeting of the European Council, where 
demonstrators will march against war, racism, and a corporate-dominated 
Europe. India’s national Anti-War Assembly recently committed to major 
protests on the second anniversary of the war. And we anticipate that 
the World Social Forum will join this call when it meets later this 
month in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

GET OUT THE WORD
Circulate this email wide and far. UFPJ will soon have flyers, 
stickers, and other resources available to help you get out the word.

BEGIN PLANNING LOCAL MARCH 19th ACTIONS
Bring together local groups to plan March 19th actions in your 
community. Post your plans at http://www.unitedforpeace.org/events



This was sent to Randall:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Leslie Cagan" <lesliecagan at igc.org>
> To: <ufpj at mediajumpstart.net>
> Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 7:46 PM
> Subject: [UFPJ] location set for UFPJ assembly!!
>
>
> : Update on National Assembly of United for Peace and Justice
> :
> : We are happy to let you know that after a great deal of work we have
> : secured a great site for the National Assembly on the weekend of Feb.
> : 19-21...the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. The 
> hotel
> : is easy to get to from the airport, and St. Louis is in driving 
> distance
> : from many cities. The hotel is across the street from the famous 
> Arch on
> : the Mississippi River. I visited the hotel last week and so we know 
> it
> : has all of the facilities we will need to help ensure a successful
> : assembly, and we have been able to negotiate an excellent price.
> :
> : As Feb. 19 is about seven weeks away we encourage your group or
> : organization to start the process of selecting delegates to represent
> : you at the National Assembly. We are still working out financial 
> details
> : but have decided that the minimal registration fee for the assembly 
> will
> : include accommodations and food for up to two delegates from each 
> UFPJ
> : member group (local affiliates or chapters of national organizations
> : that are members of UFPJ will only have one delegate). All the 
> details
> : will be worked out and emailed to you by the end of this week.
> : Registration for the assembly will be available on the United for 
> Peace
> : and Justice web site next week. Travel is the responsibility of the
> : member groups.
> :
> : During the National Assembly United for Peace and Justice will 
> decide on
> : a strategic framework, as well as specific strategy, program and
> : organizing proposals. There will be speakers and small group 
> discussions
> : on the war in Iraq, and the State of the U.S. and the Anti-War 
> Movement
> : and much more. The coalition will elect a new national Steering
> : Committee. Cultural and analytical presenters and some special 
> guests as
> : well as a dance party will round out the weekend.
> :
> : I also want to introduce the coordinator of the National Assembly, 
> Diane
> : Lent. Diane has been a volunteer with UFPJ and has worked on many of 
> the
> : mobilizations in New York. She has a long history in the peace and
> : justice movement and has coordinated similar gatherings for 
> progressive
> : organizations.
> :
> : We'll let you know as soon as the assembly registration is set up on 
> the
> : web site and in the coming weeks you will be getting a lot more
> : information about the assembly. In the meantime, if you have any
> : questions please feel free to contact Diane either by phone at the
> : national office (212-868-5545) or by email 
> (greenelent at earthlink.net).
> :
> : peace,
> :
> : Leslie Cagan
> : National Coordinator