[Peace] Day After War Begins (fwd widely) (fwd)

[Matt Reichel]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 16:41:41 -0600
From: reichel <reichel at students.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: SPA core discuss list <SPA-CORE-L at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU>
To: SPA-CORE-L at LISTSERV.UIUC.EDU
Subject: Day After War Begins (fwd widely)

To concerned citizens of the University -


      President Bush has announced to the world that this Monday, March 17th,
is the final deadline for "compliance" from the Iraqi government on
disarmament. Regardless of what Saddam Hussein says or does, war will commence
on this day or shortly thereafter.
      This is despite the fact that a majority of U.S. citizens oppose a
Unilateral and Pre-emptive war on Iraq. Never has the American public voiced
support for war without the U.N. support, but this is exactly what they are
getting. The War on Iraq is simply a disgrace to democratic and diplomatic
means of dealing with policymaking.
      As such, the commencement of warfare must necessarily spark immense
reaction from all peaceful and democratic elements in this society. Now is the
time for civil society to make it clear to the world that Bush is going it
alone in all respects: without broad support from a union of allies, without
the auspices of the United Nations, and without the backing of the people.
NOW IS THE time to rise up and DEMAND a just foreign policy.
          In accordance, Student Peace Action hereby calls for a day of
non-violent civil disobedience on the day after the war commences. All
supportive students, faculty, and administration are encouraged to help by
joining in solidarity. At noon we are co-sponsoring a PRC rally on the north
end of the quad, and at 1pm we will engage in a peaceful, yet disruptive
march. The purpose
of the march will be to effectively shut down the University. In order to make
this possible, we need every anti-war conscience to be on the quad beginning
at noon.
           This will be one action among thousands across the world in
response to the commencement of war. It is absolutely necessary that these
actions be disruptive, and yet conducted in a peaceful and caring manner.
Violence and vandalism will absolutely not be tolerated. Neither will the
commencement of our normal daily lives. While the normal operations of the
lives of millions of Iraqis have been disrupted by a dozen years of
sanctions and air warfare in the no-fly zone, and are now being further
decimated by escalated warfare, the least that we can do is sacrifice for
one day of intense and profound civil disobedience.

Solidarity,
Student Peace Action