Action Alert #8

March 18, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE:


1. March in NYC Saturday, March 22

2. What you can do when Bush starts war on Iraq

3. Light up your window for peace


For New Yorkers and surrounding states:

March for peace and democracy Saturday, March 22 Assemble at noon Broadway between 36th & 42nd Streets.

The following was issued by United for Peace and Justice New York City branch:

On Saturday, March 22, New York is marching to stop the war in Iraq!

Join us for a massive and spirited march to support peace abroad and civil liberties at home, organized by United for Peace and Justice NYC.

Leaflet for downloading (bilingual English/Spanish) is available on UFPJ website. Print double-sided and cut in half to yield bilingual handouts.

Stickers, posters, and leaflets are available at the new UFPJ office, which has been generously donated by SEIU 1199: 330 West 42nd Street, 15th floor (between 8th & 9th Avenues) (212) 603-3700.

The CPUSA and Young Communist League will have a contingent in the NYC march and will send out information later this week on where we are meeting. If you can join the contingent or help distribute copies of the People's Weekly World , please contact us. Call (212) 989-4994, ext. 231 or 229.

We also have posters on which you can write your own message to President Bush. Some ideas for slogans are: Support Our Troops/End the War; Stop the War; Bring Our Troops Home.

What can you do when Bush goes to war?


Following are suggestions from the national United for Peace and Justice coalition on what even one individual or a small group can do to make a difference:

In every corner of the U.S. - and all around the globe - many people are already planning protests for the day a war begins, or the day after. We urge you to contact your local groups to find out what is planned and how you can help. If nothing is planned, it is not too late to organize an event. The most important thing is that hundreds of anti-war protests take place in cities and towns all across the country!

Some ideas for action:

* A candlelight vigil in the center of town or in front of a federal building (court house, post office, military installation, any other federal facility).

* A rally in a central location.

* A march through a populated part of your city, which could start or end with a rally.

* Meetings at schools, universities, places of work, community centers, religious institutions.

* Walk-outs from schools and/or work places ... people can then join a march or rally with others.

* Vigils, picket lines or other protests at the local offices of your Congressional representatives demanding they use the power of their office to stop the president.

* Non-violent civil disobedience at any appropriate locations: a federal building, a defense contractor, the office of a politician who voted for war, key streets or intersections in your city.

If this war begins, we should find creative ways to interrupt the "normal" flow of life.

For more information on nationally coordinated, local civil disobedience efforts, contact Peacepledge .

It is critically important that we move quickly, in the most unified ways possible, and that we project to the media the strong opposition to this war.

United for Peace and Justice will do whatever we can to let the media know what is happening throughout the country. But for us to do this work we must hear from you. Please be sure to post the information about your local actions on our web site ... and do so immediately: http://www.unitedforpeace.org.

For more information please call us at 212-603-3700, or at 202-862-9740, ext. 3038.

Finally, these are difficult days for everyone, but we must not become discouraged. If this war begins it will be even more important that we redouble our efforts to bring the war to an end as quickly as possible. Now is not the time to stop!

Put a Light in the Window


The following is from a Moveon.org e-mail alert:

We must remember in this dark moment that we have come a long way. By working for peace around the globe, millions of people have successfully challenged the justness of this war on a world stage.

We have persuaded governments to heed their peoples' call to peace, and helped the United Nations maintain its integrity.

We all have been part of a historic mobilization of the citizens of the globe. It will change everything. And in the end, we will win.

We will continue waging peace, even if war comes. We have joined together to articulate a vision of how the world should be - of how nations should treat each other, of how we can collectively deal with threats to our security.

One simple way to show your continued commitment to this vision is to put a light in your window. It could be a Christmas string or candle, a light bulb, or a lantern. It's an easy way to keep the light of reason and hope burning, to let others know that they are not alone, and to show the way home to the young men and women who are on their way to Iraq.

We'd like to keep a list of the places and people who are joining in this simple act. Please sign up now at: http://www.moveon.org/windowlight/


END OF ACTION ALERT