Madison response to escalation in Afghanistan

[undeterred]

Dear Friends,

It is with heavy and pained hearts that we hear early reports suggesting that on December 1st President Obama will announce that he will be sending 34,000 more troops to Afghanistan, escalating the illegal and immoral war that is causing such devastation and suffering to the people of Afghanistan. We elected him as the Peace President. We elected him to bring change, but he is continuing the abhorrent policies of the empire builders before him.

We, the people, must stand up and protest this travesty. We must let Obama know that we will not be silent in the face of these crimes against humanity. We know that too many innocent people in Afghanistan have died. We know that too many US military men and women have given their lives in vain. We demand our president bring an end to this endless war.

Several Madison peace groups have come together answering the call by the national Veterans for Peace office, calling for people of conscience from across the country to stand up and speak out loud and clear that we will not accept an escalation of war and violence in Afghanistan when we do not have health care at home, when we do not have housing for people in this country, when too many children in the US are going to bed hungry every night.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THESE ACTIONS IN MADISON

November 30 – Before the announcement, we must let President Obama know our demands

5:00 PM – Gather at Library Mall on campus for procession. Dress in black if possible

5:30 PM – Press conference – Library Mall

6:30 PM Showing of the movie “Rethink Afghanistan” and panel discussion – Humanities Building, UW-Madison Campus, Room to be announced


December 1 – President Obama’s speech

7:00 PM (time may change depending on when the President speaks) – Watch Obama’s speech with other peace activists, followed by open mic and call to action – Humanities Building, UW-Madison Campus, Room to be announced

December 2 – Response to President Obama’s action

11:00 AM – Gather at Lisa Link Peace Park. (We need volunteers who are dressed in black with black hoods or caps who are willing to be part of March of the Dead. We need volunteers to carry coffins.)

We will have a somber March of the Dead to the Capitol Square where we will remember and mourn the dead by reading their stories. We will deliver our demands to Senator Kohl’s office and Congresswoman Baldwin’s office, calling on our legislators to refuse to fund the escalation.

December 12 – Continued growth of the movement

3:00 PM – Showing of “Rethink Afghanistan” and discussion – Dardanelles, 1851 Monroe St.

Can we organize an action of nonviolent civil resistance against the escalation, risking arrest, sometime during the week of November 30-December 4? A likely target would be one of the Dane County businesses that has a contract with the Department of Defense for over $1 million. There are several possibilities. Please let me know if you are interested in being a part of this by contacting me, Joy, at [e-mail] or calling 608 239-4327.

It is time to revitalize our opposition to the illegal and immoral policies that are being continued under the Obama Administration. Please join us for all of the above events, organized by Madison Area Peace Coalition, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, and Madison Pledge of Resistance.

In continued peace, working for a peaceful world,

Joy First, Madison Pledge of Resistance

Buzz Davis, Veterans for Peace,

David Koene, Madison Area Peace Coalition

[undeterred]

1. Peace actions in Madison this week

Dear Friends,

We are coming together in the Madison area in response to Obama’s expected announcement of an escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Last night about 70 activists gathered on Library Mall to let President Obama know that we stand together, strong and firm, against an escalation of the violence, to let Obama know he still has time to make the right choice and be the president who brings an end to the immoral and illegal war in Afghanistan that is causing such horrific suffering for so many innocent people.

Tonight, December 1, you can join others who will be gathering in Room 2650 in the Humanities Building on the UW Campus to watch the President’s live speech and have a chance to discuss it afterwards.

Please join with us on Wednesday, December 2. We will be gathering at Lisa Link Peace Park on State St. at 11:00 am for a solemn March of the Dead as we remember all those who have died as a result of the imperialistic policies of our government. If you are able to dress all in black, please do.

We will begin processing up State St. to the Capitol at 11:30 am where we will be reading stories of the people of Afghanistan who have died for 30 minutes. We will then proceed to Senator Kohl’s office and the Representative Tammy Baldwin’s office where we will deliver a letter calling on them to vote against any funding for the escalation.

We should be finished by 2:00 pm.

An action of nonviolent civil resistance has been planned immediately following the events downtown. About 6 people are committed to risking arrest in an act of nonviolent civil resistance at a company on Wright St. that contracts with the Department of Defense, providing equipment to the war machine. If you are interested in risking arrest or in being there in witness and support, please let me know and I will give you more details.

We must continue our vigilance. Please join us in Madison for these events organized by a number of Madison area peace groups.

Peace,

Joy First

[undeterred]

2. Antiwar actions in Madison

MADISON: Madison has seen three days of action organized by local activists with citizens expressing their sorrow and outrage over President Obama’s announcement to escalate the war in Afghanistan. Madison area activists joined activists from around the country in hundreds of legal protests and in civil resistance, risking arrest in response to the announcement by President Obama to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

In Madison, there was a rally on Monday night, people gathered together to watch President Obama’s speech on Tuesday night, and Wednesday at noon about 70 people participated in the March of the Dead in downtown Madison, visiting the offices of Representative Baldwin and Senator Kohl. Though both Representative Baldwin and Senator Feingold are firmly against the escalation, Senator Kohl continues to support the illegal and immoral war in Afghanistan.

Wednesday afternoon about 10 activists went to Alfalight, one of over 300 companies in Dane County that contracts with the Department of Defense. They delivered a letter to the person in charge, asking them to end their relationship with the DoD, stating that ending their work for war and profit is one of the ways that we can bring an end to the wars which are causing suffering and death to countless innocent people.

The officials at Alfalight refused to end their participation in war, and instead called the police. When the police came, Marilyn Ross, Jennifer First, and Joy First refused to leave the premises and were arrested. They were handcuffed and taken to the Dane County jail where they were cited for trespassing, fined $400, fingerprinted, photographed, and released after about 2 hours.

The announcement by Obama has disheartened many people, including Marilyn who decided for the first time to risk arrest. After the arrest, Marilyn stated, “I couldn't leave because of LBJ. He could have been one of the great Presidents. Instead he became the war President and hated by most people. I don't want that happen to Obama. He could become one of the great ones. But I'm disappointed in him. I can't stand by and watch the escalation of his war.”

Joy First is part of Madison Pledge of Resistance and the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance. She said, “We must continue our resistance to the wars and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq. We follow the nonviolent practices and principles of Gandhi, King, Day and others, and we vow to remain strong and resolute in resisting the policies that lead to death and destruction. There are many other companies here in Dane County that are part of the war machine and we hope that they will consider how they can be part of a peace economy rather than a war economy.”