Feature Archives

On April 11th, 2006, in spite of the pouring rain and administrative attempts to stifle students’ free speech, Students Against War (SAW) organized over 150 students to march from the center of campus to the job fair, where they nonviolently prevented access to military recruiters through sit-ins and other measures. After about an hour and a half of negotiations and students’ refusal to back down, military recruiters left the job fair.

The students’ first victory appeared early in the day, as administrators separated military recruiters from other employers, allowing the protesters to block access to the military, while the remainder of the job fair continued...

The successful protest was also significant in light of the fact that University administrators hired, at great cost to the school, a number of police from other UC campuses. These police, local officers, and a top local official, physically assaulted multiple students without provocation and repeatedly refused to provide identification when requested. Students were pushed, punched, choked, and a student’s hand was slammed in a door. One student, acting as a legal observer, was pushed and arrested for documenting police surveillance, but was released after an immediate display of student support...

In the face of administrative and police repression the students remained remarkably peaceful... Read More

Photos: Military Recruiters Evicted From UCSC Job Fair, Again! || Military Recruiters Out At UCSC After SAW's Third Strike
Video: The moment of departure

See also: Military Recruiters Abandon Post at UCSC Career Fair

Previous coverage: SAW to protest Military Recruiters on April 11 || UCSC anti-war group SAW makes demands of administration concerning career fair|| UC Students Demand Answers about Spying Scandal || Students Denounce Pentagon Surveillance of Counter-Recruitment Activities || Rally, Queer Kiss-in Greet Military Recruiters at UCSC || UCSC Students Kick Military Recruiters Off Campus

ANSWER called for March 20th to be a day of youth and student resistance to imperialism. The Campus Anti-War Network called for March 13th through 17th to be a national week of campus action, with March 20th as the "spring break alternative."

Some local 3/20 events: 11am at Sonoma State | 11am at San Jose State | 12pm at UC Berkeley | In Petaluma ( Photos). Organizers encouraged students to hold events at high schools and colleges around the country to demand an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq and money for young people's education, not military recruitment. The Monday events followed the global day of protest on March 18th, when the world observed the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and demanded that the troops be brought home. Also on March 20th, there was a 7am takeover of Montgomery and Market, which is a central intersection in downtown San Francisco, to protest the continuing U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and US torture all around the world ( Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 · Video: 1 | 2). A counter-recruitment action took place at 4:00pm at the Stonestown Mall Marine Recruitment Center .

SF ANSWER | International ANSWER | Campus Antiwar Network

On Monday morning, February 20th, Hyim Jacob Ross unfolded his camping chair in Splash Pad Park across from the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, California,. He started a five-day, around the clock one-person vigil and juice fast to oppose the war on Iraq, and for peace and education. The 30-something Bay Area native was on spring break from his elementary school teaching job in Richmond. He said that he felt that while the occasional protest march was important – as a musician, he’s actually performed at few of them – something more had to be done. He said that his actions were a “response to the effect the depletion of economic and social resources the Iraq war is having on our domestic programs and services (especially education and children’s health).” Several of Hyim's students visited him during the week to bring anti-war and peace drawings to post along Grand Ave.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, join Not in Our Name joined him for one of that day's “Witness to Lawbreaking” vigils that had been initiated by MoveOn.org. They said, “Lies, torture, spying? Not in our name!” On Thursday night, fifty people gathered at Grand and Lake Park Avenues to join Hyim Jacob Ross on the final evening of his five-day protest.

Hyim's website | Bay Area NION

Fernando Suarez del Solar, Pablo Paredes, Camilo Mejia, and Aidan Delgado are leading a "coalition of the willing" on a 241-mile quest for peace. They started in Tijuana, Mexico on March 12th, passed through Marine Corps Depot Camp Pendleton to the Cesar Chavez burial site in La Paz, CA (on March 22nd), and will end in the Mission district of San Francisco. On Monday, March 27th, they will be at Fruitvale BART at 7:30am. They will meet up with the immigrant Hunger Strike at Montgomery and Market in San Francisco at 12:00pm, then at Mission High School at 3:15pm, and then they will gather in Dolores Park at 5:00pm for a culmination ceremony.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Video 1 | 2

Organizers say, "Latinos represent nearly 15% of the US population and 11% of the US military, with many serving in combat or hazardous duty occupations. In addition, an estimated 20% of the fallen service members in the early months of the invasion were Latino. With the continued growth of the Latino population and its vital importance to the future of this country, it is time the Latino community become an active and vocal part of the 60%+ of US citizens that oppose this War. It is also time to show the Latino community that they have a voice and a right to fight for peace and stability. We make this call not only to the Latino population but to all those who agree with our message 'No more bloodshed in Iraq'."

The March has passed through many communities, including San Diego, Escondido, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, Rosamond, Keene (La Paz), Fresno, Watsonville, Salinas and San Jose. Read more, including info about the march route and initiators. The march is in need of help such as funding, volunteers, media, organizers, and donations.

Past coverage of Pablo, Camilo, and Aidan | Guerrero Azteca Project

On February 25th, there will be a Counter Recruitment Presenters Mobilization in San Francisco. This training/organizing event will be aimed at youth-to-youth presentation teams, veterans and non-veteran classroom presenters, and anyone else who wants to learn, share, and support counter recruitment efforts. The military recruits in most Bay Area high schools. The event will take place from 2-5pm in the War Veterans Memorial Building, Room 219, at 401 Van Ness, in San Francisco.

This event is being co-sponsored by Veterans for Peace and Alternatives to War Through Education/ Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors

Women in Oakland and Fresno, California, New York City, Rochester and Albany New York, Tucson, Arizona, Lake Worth and Sarasota, Florida, and Montpelier, Vermont headed to their local military recruiting offices to try to enlist as a Valentine gift.

Over 200 people went to an Oakland army recruitment station on Tuesday, February 14th to offer to trade places with young soldiers in Iraq. The noontime crowd, which was made up of mostly elder women, called out that they were there to enlist, so that the young people could come home from the war. The demonstration was organized by the Bay Area Chapter of Grandmothers for Peace. Passersby were handed small leaflets explaining the women's mission. The Oakland recruiting office was dark and the doors locked during the action. A soldier who was guarding the building from down the block said, "The pink ladies come every Wednesday. They hold up signs of dead people and stay for about a half an hour." Report and photos

In Fresno, some 25 Raging Grannies handed out Valentines Cards and sang songs as they tried to enlist in the military. After singing for a while, the Grannies entered the military recruiters' offices. The marines, air force, and army recruiters seemed so afraid of the Raging Grannies that they closed and locked their doors. The women put their Valentine's cards through mail slots. Then, many of the Grannies entered the Navy recruiters' office and spoke with 2 recruiters. After about 5 minutes of discussion, the recruiters asked the Grannies to leave; when they exited, the Grannies saw several Fresno police officers outside of the building. Apparently the marines, air force, and army had to call in re-enforcements to protect them from the Grannies, some of whom were using canes and walkers to get around. Report and photos | Video

Read more about the Raging Grannies and Grandmothers for Peace

On February 5, a meeting was held among more than 90 antiwar, labor, veterans, environmental, political, gay, social justice, and human rights groups and individuals. They met to see if they could work together in the Bay Area under the banner of "Stop the War in Iraq! Bring all the Troops Home Now! And plan for a mass action in New York on April 29, 2006 as a major focus; and plan an event in the Bay Area for those who can't go to NY on 4/29." The group decided to plan a conference (for) sometime in April. Groups all over the Bay Area and even the Central Valley were represented; however, the meeting was by invitation-only.

A public meeting for people who agree with the group's basic goals will be held on Saturday, February 25th at 10:30am at the ILWU Local 6 Headquarters South of Market in San Francisco. Additional nominations for the steering committee will be accepted. Read more, including the text of the invitation to the February 5th meeting.