Anti-war activists in the Bay Area have resurrected Direct Action to Stop the War. The next meeting of DASW will be on Sunday, January 20th at 4pm at the La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck (near Ashby BART) in Berkeley. DASW is organizing actions related to convincing presidential candidates to take a stand against the war during the 2008 presidential campaign, and exposing companies such as Chevron that profit from the US-led war and occupation in Iraq. Several affinity groups have joined in the organizing, and many more are likely to join in the coming months.

Upcoming actions: On February 5th, protesters will gather in San Francisco's UN Plaza at 5pm and go to Clinton's campaign office. In Oakland, they will meet at Frank Ogawa Plaza, and then go to Obama's office. On Saturday, March 15th, there will be a direct action and rally at Chevron's refinery in Richmond. Chevron's Richmond Refinery processes Iraqi oil and pollutes the surrounding population of poor communities and communities of color. On Wednesday, March 19th, downtown San Francisco will be the scene of direct actions on the 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. DASW organizers say, "Help send a clear message to the economic and political interests behind this war: We will actively confront you every step of the way until the war is ended." DASW is encouraging affinity groups to plan actions against government or corporate targets, or to join in with actions that are already being organized.

A New DASW website | Old DASW website | Some past coverage of DASW: 8/2003: Direct Action to Stop the War Blockades ChevronTexaco Refinery | 4/2004: Remember the Shots! Return to the Docks! | Indybay's Original Coverage of Protests at the Beginning of the War