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Anti-war Activists Visit the Democrats
February 5, 2008. Anti-war activists in San Francisco visited the campaign headquarters of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.
On Super Tuesday, anti-war activists in San Francisco visited the campaign headquarters of Democratic presidential hopefuls Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, to deliver the message that neither candidate is unequivocally anti-war and in fact have taken positions that indicate support for a continuing U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for possible invasions of Iran and Pakistan.
Demonstrators, accompanied by about a dozen San Francisco police officers, marched from U.N. Plaza, carrying signs and banners, to Clinton's campaign office on Howard St. and were met at the door by Clinton staffers. After a brief dialogue, demonstrators tried to enter the offices and were denied entry. Police stepped in to keep activists from going inside. Demonstrators then taped up large posters on the building's exterior, and Clinton supporters came out and ripped the signs down, claiming the right to do so because they were "defacing" the building.
After the confrontation at the Clinton office, demonstrators proceeded to the Obama office near Market and Octavia and were met by Obama staffers at the front door. This time there was no conflict, as demonstrators explained their concerns about Obama's questionable anti-war credentials. After another 10-15 minutes, the demonstration broke up.
Demonstrators, accompanied by about a dozen San Francisco police officers, marched from U.N. Plaza, carrying signs and banners, to Clinton's campaign office on Howard St. and were met at the door by Clinton staffers. After a brief dialogue, demonstrators tried to enter the offices and were denied entry. Police stepped in to keep activists from going inside. Demonstrators then taped up large posters on the building's exterior, and Clinton supporters came out and ripped the signs down, claiming the right to do so because they were "defacing" the building.
After the confrontation at the Clinton office, demonstrators proceeded to the Obama office near Market and Octavia and were met by Obama staffers at the front door. This time there was no conflict, as demonstrators explained their concerns about Obama's questionable anti-war credentials. After another 10-15 minutes, the demonstration broke up.
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I like a lot of the tone of this action, especially the linking of Hillary with the elites - however I wonder why there seems to be a lack of agency with the message of this protest. "The next President must..." Isn't this just putting more agency and power back into the political elite class to fix our problems (that they manufactured)?
This is an an example of militant begging, not attack against the system which causes our misery.
This is an an example of militant begging, not attack against the system which causes our misery.
"Instead of trying to encourage voting these people seemed to just want to start a fight, which is ironic, because they are supposed to be "anti-war."" -
That's right, instead of being supservant to their masters, these idiots actually tried to influence them. SHAME!
"These were not the actions of "activists," they were the acts of terrorists." -
You're either with us or you're with the terrorists.
Glad to see SFPD got a little overtime. They're great guys. -
I don't really have to make fun of this one do I?
That's right, instead of being supservant to their masters, these idiots actually tried to influence them. SHAME!
"These were not the actions of "activists," they were the acts of terrorists." -
You're either with us or you're with the terrorists.
Glad to see SFPD got a little overtime. They're great guys. -
I don't really have to make fun of this one do I?
Peace movement 'leadership' demands? 5 years of ineffective action
Cagan ineffective at ending (or complicity w/) Democratic Party $upport of Iraq debacle.
By Robert Jereski
Years after the majority of U.S. citizens and and over a year after the majority of U.S. military personnel were found to oppose the on-going occupation/war, what have we accomplished?
Strategy for change below.
Keywords: Bronx, Government, War & Peace, Security, Resource Wars, Activism, Repression, Ideologies,
This is somewhat surreal:
two weeks after an article highlighting peace movement leadership's retreat on war funding issues (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7949.html); and
almost a year after peace activists reminded the leadership - kevin martin -of peace action, sue udry of ufpj, eli of moveon etc - that the way to stop the war is to stop funding it ( http://www.democrats.com/moveon-explanation-1); and
a week after sue udry says she's up for trying to promote filibuster of funding, polling ufpj or peace organization members to see what WE would like to do and whether WE would like to demand that the Democratic majority stop introducing bills for vote that fund the occupation. . .
we get this rallying cry from Leslie Cagan ( lesliecagan [at] igc.org) which says "This Is Our Time to Respond. We Will Not Be Silent!"
WITHOUT SAYING OUT LOUD WHAT OUR DEMANDS ARE!
A particular strategy was designed by the National Steering Committee in December 2007 ( http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3817) which declared the ending funding for the war was one of two key goals of 2008 efforts. But nothing about this declared intent of UFPJ's goals is mentioned in the literature/email about the March actions: no demands, no accountability for Democratic leadership and legislators who continue to introduce funding bills for the war and who refuse to filibuster. Why not?
We - peace activists - demand the Democrats stop introducing bills to continue funding the war and that they filibuster spending bills. We demand that our peace movement institutions (UFPJ, Peace Action, Move On etc.) work to expose instead of to obscure the responsibility of the Democratic majority which is funding this occupation/war.
Without demands what does Leslie Cagan/UFPJ's action represent? A publicity stunt for UFPJ. It does our coalition a disservice to invest our members' time and energy in theater when we do not deign to clearly inform participants and the Democratic Legislature of our demands and of consequences for not delivering.
Note: by demands I obviously don't mean: "end the war now!" or "we want justice and peace". I mean demands that don't allow spinmeisters to say we are fighting for peace and continue to fund the war, allow bills to fund the war to come to a vote, or support those funding bills by not filibustering them in the senate.
Is there accountability for peace movement leadership which promotes such ineffective energy-sapping actions while effective actions are patently obvious to increasing numbers of peace activists? Please someone, with clear vision and deliberate purpose, take over UFPJ and make it an effective peace organization!
Robert Jereski
On Feb 1, 2008, at 12:26 PM, ufpj-legislative-request [at] lists.mayfirst.org wrote:
Dear Friends,
Below is the call for the day of nonviolent civil disobedience and
direct action that will take place in Washington, DC on March 19th, the
5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. United for Peace and Justice is
coordinating this effort, along with several other projects around the
5th anniversary.
Please be sure to share this call as widely as possible. In addition to
whatever local actions your group is planning, we encourage you to plan
now to send at least a delegation of people from your area to be part of
this action in Washington. It is important that we organize the largest
turn out possible and we want to make sure the action is national in
that there are participants from every part of the country.
As always, call the UFPJ office (212-868-5545) if you have questions
about the plans for the action in Washington, DC on March 19th - or want
to discuss anything else!!
peace,
Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ
-------------------------------------------
5 Years Too Many!
Take Action in the Nation's Capitol
Wednesday, March 19
March 19th will mark the beginning of the 6th year of the U.S.
occupation of Iraq. Enough is enough! We are organizing creative,
nonviolent acts of civil disobedience in Washington, DC, to interrupt
business as usual for those promoting and profiting from war and empire
building. Focusing on the pillars of war, our actions will take place at
multiple sites, demonstrating the real costs of war and offering visions
for a more just and sustainable world, a world at peace.
Five years of war and occupation in Iraq ... at what cost?
* A country in shambles with 650,000 to 1 million Iraqis dead or
wounded, 4,000,000 displaced, families and communities ripped
apart. Nearly 4,000 U.S. service people killed and over 40,000
wounded, many then neglected by our government. All the while U.S.
corporations reap huge profits as they plan to control Iraq's oil.
* Over $1.2 trillion spent on death and destruction, while at home
millions of uninsured have no access to affordable healthcare,
public infrastructure is collapsing, the housing mortgage crisis
is growing, unemployment is rising and the Gulf Coast has yet to
be rebuilt.
* Continued abuses on our natural environment with corporate greed
protected. The Arctic and Greenland melting before our eyes,
Indigenous cultures and peoples being destroyed, extreme climate
events -- all tied to the addiction to oil.
* Torture, illegal surveillance, domestic spying, erosion of civil
liberties. A criminal administration with a Congress and judiciary
no longer offering adequate checks and balances. The Constitution,
with its articles of impeachment, rendered irrelevant and
disregarded.
* And now threats of an attack on Iran and escalation of the U.S.
military operation in Afghanistan. False claims of weapons of mass
destruction, while all along the WMDs have been right here in the
U.S.
These Are the Times in Which We Live.
This Is Our Time to Respond. We Will Not Be Silent!
Join the Nonviolent Action and Civil Disobedience in Washington DC
Wednesday, March 19
United by common demands and organizing principles, groups are
encouraged to participate in nonviolent mass actions and/or organize
their own actions in coordination with others. There could be sit-ins,
die-ins, blockades, pray-ins, bike blockades, street theater, poetry
readings, puppets, speak-outs and more at government agencies, war
profiteers, corporate media, military recruitment centers, or other
pillars of war and empire in DC. Unleash Your Imagination!
Start organizing affinity groups and local meetings now. For more
information about the DC actions on March 19th contact:
http://www.5yearstoomany.org
or email dc [at] 5yearstoomany.org .
Download Article (PDF) Add to PDF Compilation Download PDF Compilation Email Article
Add your comments
Feb 02, 2008 09:51AM EST
Margaret
So, naturally, someone in touch with reality will be interested in how such a potentially powerful number of people can be mobilized most effectively, the officer/armchairista's comment above notwithstanding. To stop the war and occupation. I thought it was a scathing and clear case he makes and look forward to a reply or action by ufpj, as he is just indicating a WIDESPREAD sentiment.
Would be good to contact those responsible
Feb 03, 2008 01:48PM EST
Yes
For guiding the UFPJ.
I remember we were worried about Democrats using a 'slow bleed' strategy to allow the carnage to continue through the election and then blame the Republicans for it. And now not only are the Democrats doing that, but the institutional leadership of the peace movement (the leaders/staff of Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee and MoveOn) are completely complicit with it.
These 'peace organizations' should be exposed. They are ignoring what the millions of americans who want peace now are demanding so that they can accommodate the Democratic Party electoral strategy. Disgusting.
I wish there was a way to contact the people responsible for guiding the UFPJ coalition.
who is (mis)leading the anti-war movement
Feb 03, 2008 04:28PM EST
anti-war
Contact them... Tell them: stop letting the Democratic Majority get away with murder.... The slow bleed strategy to wait till after the election to try to end the war is sick...
dana [at] codepinkalert.org, berrigaf [at] newschool.edu,
outreach [at] wnpj.org, wslf [at] earthlink.net, office [at] peacefultomorrows.org, 121Contact [at] bru.mar.com, carld717 [at] aol.com, fithianl [at] igc.org, jgainza [at] afsc.org, daynegoodwin [at] gmail.com, tlk [at] utahpeace.org, info [at] utahpeace.org, bfp [at] brooklynpeace.org, ngordon [at] brooklynpeace.org, van.gosse [at] fandm.edu, jimobrien48 [at] gmail.com, gshagler [at] verizon.net, angelahelwig [at] yahoo.com, info [at] uslaboragainstwar.org, cwabhenning [at] aol.com, jen [at] ivaw.org, hanykhalil [at] igc.org, lrk44 [at] earthlink.net, jleblanc [at] unitedforpeace.org, SIUHIN [at] aol.com, george [at] peaceactionwi.org, office [at] endtheoccupation.org, bpinguel [at] afsc.org, saif [at] ips-dc.org, just_world [at] comcast.net, aroesler [at] casa.sjsu.du, erosenberg [at] wesleyan.edu, megscata [at] yahoo.com, ctunitedforpeace [at] yahoo.com, schwartz2020 [at] gmail.com, redphyx [at] yahoo.com, venugoep [at] udmercy.edu
UFPJ National Steering Committee
Elected at 3rd UFPJ National Assembly – June 22-24, 2007
Dana Balicki, CODEPINK - Women for Peace - dana [at] codepinkalert.org
Frida Berrigan, War Resisters League berrigaf [at] newschool.edu
Steve Burns, WI Network for Peace and Justice, outreach [at] wnpj.org
Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation, wslf [at] earthlink.net
Kelly Campbell, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, office [at] peacefultomorrows.org, 121Contact [at] bru.mar.com,
David Cline, Veterans for Peace
Carl Davidson, Chicagoans Against War and Injustice (CAWI), carld717 [at] aol.com
Lisa Fithian, Alliance of Community Trainers/Root Activist Network of Trainers, fithianl [at] igc.org
Joseph Gainza, American Friends Service Committee, Vermont, jgainza [at] afsc.org
Issac Giron, Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice (UT), daynegoodwin [at] gmail.com, tlk [at] utahpeace.org, info [at] utahpeace.org
Nora Gordon, Brooklyn for Peace (NY), bfp [at] brooklynpeace.org , ngordon [at] brooklynpeace.org,
Van Gosse, Historians Against the War, van.gosse [at] fandm.edu, jimobrien48 [at] gmail.com,
Rev. Graylan Hagler, Plymouth Cong. UCC/Ministers for Racial, Social & Economic Justice, gshagler [at] verizon.net
Angela Helwig, Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, angelahelwig [at] yahoo.com
Bill Henning, U.S. Labor Against the War, info [at] uslaboragainstwar.org, cwabhenning [at] aol.com
Jen Hogg, Iraq Veterans Against the War, jen [at] ivaw.org
Hany Khalil, War Times, hanykhalil [at] igc.org
Leslie Kielson, New York City UFPJ, lrk44 [at] earthlink.net
Judith LeBlanc, Communist Party USA, jleblanc [at] unitedforpeace.org
Siu Hin Lee, National Immigrant Solidarity Network, SIUHIN [at] aol.com
George Paz Martin, Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace, george [at] peaceactionwi.org
Omar Masri, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, office [at] endtheoccupation.org
Baltazar "Bal" Pinguel, American Friends Service Committee, National, bpinguel [at] afsc.org
Saif Rahman, Institute for Policy Studies, saif [at] ips-dc.org
Anne Roesler, Military Families Speak Out, just_world [at] comcast.net, aroesler [at] casa.sjsu.du
Erik Rosenberg, Students for Ending the War in Iraq (SEWI), Wesleyan University, erosenberg [at] wesleyan.edu
Meg Scata, American Friends Service Committee, CT, megscata [at] yahoo.com, ctunitedforpeace [at] yahoo.com
Chris Schwartz, Cedar Valley United for Peace and Justice (IA), schwartz2020 [at] gmail.com
Prasad Venugopal, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, venugoep [at] udmercy.edu, redphyx [at] yahoo.com
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Add your comments
Please Stop Reposting This Article...
Feb 09, 2008 07:54AM EST
Spamwatch
... over and over.
Thank You.
This discussion has substance
Feb 09, 2008 09:26AM EST
Samantha D.
it should be continued? why do you want to stop it? It has on-going immediate concern as the Steering Committee of UFPJ is meeting in April.
Is 'spamwatch' embarrassed?
SD.
Samantha
Feb 09, 2008 06:19PM EST
Faker Watch
Empowering Leslie Cagan (aka UFPJ) by paying attention to her may be a matter near and dear to you, but it is not to us. Embarrased? The word which comes to mind concerning her is BORED.
Relevant
Feb 09, 2008 07:50PM EST
Jeff
This is important, as the effort to stop the war is one of the most central concerns of the movement. And ufpj, which is more that Leslie, still has the potential to be very effective. We need to have a transition of leadership. After five years and the stated goal has not been met, wouldn't that make sense to rotate leadership?
Does an activist shit?
Feb 10, 2008 12:36AM EST
Not-bored
This topic is critical and for "Faker watch" (give me a break) to be dismissive is really gross. Does faker shit in the world?
You remind me of 'activists' who say they don't believe in government and my seasoned mentor tells them "well, it exists". She knows because, when we have a look, we find that our government is engaged in much violence. Ignoring the potential of UFPJ to stop the war just because Leslie Cagan and Kevin Martin won't challenge the Democratic Party is allowing many good people within the UFPJ to continue to waste their anti-war energy.
I'm contacting the Steering Committee and will urge all my (real activist) friends to as well.
David Swanson's Options for the Peace Movement should rally many to take similar action and kick the (mis)leadership of the peace movements institutions out of positions of control and authority.
That would take principled people standing up.
Yes the State Exists.
Feb 10, 2008 08:26AM EST
Fakerwatch
"This topic is critical and for "Faker watch" .... to be dismissive is really gross."
Gross? Is that the word you mean?
Leslie Cagan is best avoided. She is a minor distraction, one of the many mechanisms the ORDER uses to divert its opponents from effective action. Those observations come from many years of having lived in this world.
PS. A caution and an observation, should one be fool enough to get involved with her. "Watch your back", she is very good with a knife placed in the back. Also, she has weak spot for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as she seems to
have a proclivity to groveling before him and doing his bidding.
Shit or get off the pot!
Feb 10, 2008 09:39AM EST
Antiwar action
jereskki provides an analysis which would be new to many dedicated peace activists lulled into believing UFPJ is rallying the peace movement(s) to stop the war.
Other posts included ACTION to rally principled people on the UFPJ Steering Committee to tell Leslie and the Peace Action director (keith martin?) (and others in her circle, no doubt) to shit or get off the pot.
That is, there is an effective action being proposed:
Rally principled Steering Committee people to demand Cagan/Martin et al expose, target, and challenge Democratic Party leadership on-going funding of the war.
How? by publicizing the UFPJ leadership's intransigent support of the Democratic Party leadership's objective to slowly bleed the Republicans with this war.
For Cagan/Martin (and other "distractions" as you call them), challenging Pelosi and Reid's refusal to stop introducing bills or their refusal to demand filibuster of the Democratic Senators (enough exist to stop any funding bills) is off the table. So the members of the UFPJ Coalition don't hear about that VERY REAL WAY OF STOPPING THE BLOODSHED IN IRAQ!
Steering Committee is well-placed to make this an issue and free the UFPJ Coalition (and other peace orgs) of their terrible, ineffective leadership.
Are you gonna tell me that Frida Berrigan, on the steering committee, would not raise these issues, make much noise and transform UFPJ into a true antiwar org (and not an arm of the Democratic Party)?
So while you are ignoring UFPJ (and 10s of thousands if not more are looking to it for guidance), what are YOU suggesting/doing to stop the war?
Have I made a good case to support the above-posted strategy? I think Swanson has it right on how to stop the war; true peace activists have to act on that analysis and this one above (i think).
AA
Cagan ineffective at ending (or complicity w/) Democratic Party $upport of Iraq debacle.
By Robert Jereski
Years after the majority of U.S. citizens and and over a year after the majority of U.S. military personnel were found to oppose the on-going occupation/war, what have we accomplished?
Strategy for change below.
Keywords: Bronx, Government, War & Peace, Security, Resource Wars, Activism, Repression, Ideologies,
This is somewhat surreal:
two weeks after an article highlighting peace movement leadership's retreat on war funding issues (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7949.html); and
almost a year after peace activists reminded the leadership - kevin martin -of peace action, sue udry of ufpj, eli of moveon etc - that the way to stop the war is to stop funding it ( http://www.democrats.com/moveon-explanation-1); and
a week after sue udry says she's up for trying to promote filibuster of funding, polling ufpj or peace organization members to see what WE would like to do and whether WE would like to demand that the Democratic majority stop introducing bills for vote that fund the occupation. . .
we get this rallying cry from Leslie Cagan ( lesliecagan [at] igc.org) which says "This Is Our Time to Respond. We Will Not Be Silent!"
WITHOUT SAYING OUT LOUD WHAT OUR DEMANDS ARE!
A particular strategy was designed by the National Steering Committee in December 2007 ( http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3817) which declared the ending funding for the war was one of two key goals of 2008 efforts. But nothing about this declared intent of UFPJ's goals is mentioned in the literature/email about the March actions: no demands, no accountability for Democratic leadership and legislators who continue to introduce funding bills for the war and who refuse to filibuster. Why not?
We - peace activists - demand the Democrats stop introducing bills to continue funding the war and that they filibuster spending bills. We demand that our peace movement institutions (UFPJ, Peace Action, Move On etc.) work to expose instead of to obscure the responsibility of the Democratic majority which is funding this occupation/war.
Without demands what does Leslie Cagan/UFPJ's action represent? A publicity stunt for UFPJ. It does our coalition a disservice to invest our members' time and energy in theater when we do not deign to clearly inform participants and the Democratic Legislature of our demands and of consequences for not delivering.
Note: by demands I obviously don't mean: "end the war now!" or "we want justice and peace". I mean demands that don't allow spinmeisters to say we are fighting for peace and continue to fund the war, allow bills to fund the war to come to a vote, or support those funding bills by not filibustering them in the senate.
Is there accountability for peace movement leadership which promotes such ineffective energy-sapping actions while effective actions are patently obvious to increasing numbers of peace activists? Please someone, with clear vision and deliberate purpose, take over UFPJ and make it an effective peace organization!
Robert Jereski
On Feb 1, 2008, at 12:26 PM, ufpj-legislative-request [at] lists.mayfirst.org wrote:
Dear Friends,
Below is the call for the day of nonviolent civil disobedience and
direct action that will take place in Washington, DC on March 19th, the
5th anniversary of the war in Iraq. United for Peace and Justice is
coordinating this effort, along with several other projects around the
5th anniversary.
Please be sure to share this call as widely as possible. In addition to
whatever local actions your group is planning, we encourage you to plan
now to send at least a delegation of people from your area to be part of
this action in Washington. It is important that we organize the largest
turn out possible and we want to make sure the action is national in
that there are participants from every part of the country.
As always, call the UFPJ office (212-868-5545) if you have questions
about the plans for the action in Washington, DC on March 19th - or want
to discuss anything else!!
peace,
Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator, UFPJ
-------------------------------------------
5 Years Too Many!
Take Action in the Nation's Capitol
Wednesday, March 19
March 19th will mark the beginning of the 6th year of the U.S.
occupation of Iraq. Enough is enough! We are organizing creative,
nonviolent acts of civil disobedience in Washington, DC, to interrupt
business as usual for those promoting and profiting from war and empire
building. Focusing on the pillars of war, our actions will take place at
multiple sites, demonstrating the real costs of war and offering visions
for a more just and sustainable world, a world at peace.
Five years of war and occupation in Iraq ... at what cost?
* A country in shambles with 650,000 to 1 million Iraqis dead or
wounded, 4,000,000 displaced, families and communities ripped
apart. Nearly 4,000 U.S. service people killed and over 40,000
wounded, many then neglected by our government. All the while U.S.
corporations reap huge profits as they plan to control Iraq's oil.
* Over $1.2 trillion spent on death and destruction, while at home
millions of uninsured have no access to affordable healthcare,
public infrastructure is collapsing, the housing mortgage crisis
is growing, unemployment is rising and the Gulf Coast has yet to
be rebuilt.
* Continued abuses on our natural environment with corporate greed
protected. The Arctic and Greenland melting before our eyes,
Indigenous cultures and peoples being destroyed, extreme climate
events -- all tied to the addiction to oil.
* Torture, illegal surveillance, domestic spying, erosion of civil
liberties. A criminal administration with a Congress and judiciary
no longer offering adequate checks and balances. The Constitution,
with its articles of impeachment, rendered irrelevant and
disregarded.
* And now threats of an attack on Iran and escalation of the U.S.
military operation in Afghanistan. False claims of weapons of mass
destruction, while all along the WMDs have been right here in the
U.S.
These Are the Times in Which We Live.
This Is Our Time to Respond. We Will Not Be Silent!
Join the Nonviolent Action and Civil Disobedience in Washington DC
Wednesday, March 19
United by common demands and organizing principles, groups are
encouraged to participate in nonviolent mass actions and/or organize
their own actions in coordination with others. There could be sit-ins,
die-ins, blockades, pray-ins, bike blockades, street theater, poetry
readings, puppets, speak-outs and more at government agencies, war
profiteers, corporate media, military recruitment centers, or other
pillars of war and empire in DC. Unleash Your Imagination!
Start organizing affinity groups and local meetings now. For more
information about the DC actions on March 19th contact:
http://www.5yearstoomany.org
or email dc [at] 5yearstoomany.org .
Download Article (PDF) Add to PDF Compilation Download PDF Compilation Email Article
Add your comments
Feb 02, 2008 09:51AM EST
Margaret
So, naturally, someone in touch with reality will be interested in how such a potentially powerful number of people can be mobilized most effectively, the officer/armchairista's comment above notwithstanding. To stop the war and occupation. I thought it was a scathing and clear case he makes and look forward to a reply or action by ufpj, as he is just indicating a WIDESPREAD sentiment.
Would be good to contact those responsible
Feb 03, 2008 01:48PM EST
Yes
For guiding the UFPJ.
I remember we were worried about Democrats using a 'slow bleed' strategy to allow the carnage to continue through the election and then blame the Republicans for it. And now not only are the Democrats doing that, but the institutional leadership of the peace movement (the leaders/staff of Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee and MoveOn) are completely complicit with it.
These 'peace organizations' should be exposed. They are ignoring what the millions of americans who want peace now are demanding so that they can accommodate the Democratic Party electoral strategy. Disgusting.
I wish there was a way to contact the people responsible for guiding the UFPJ coalition.
who is (mis)leading the anti-war movement
Feb 03, 2008 04:28PM EST
anti-war
Contact them... Tell them: stop letting the Democratic Majority get away with murder.... The slow bleed strategy to wait till after the election to try to end the war is sick...
dana [at] codepinkalert.org, berrigaf [at] newschool.edu,
outreach [at] wnpj.org, wslf [at] earthlink.net, office [at] peacefultomorrows.org, 121Contact [at] bru.mar.com, carld717 [at] aol.com, fithianl [at] igc.org, jgainza [at] afsc.org, daynegoodwin [at] gmail.com, tlk [at] utahpeace.org, info [at] utahpeace.org, bfp [at] brooklynpeace.org, ngordon [at] brooklynpeace.org, van.gosse [at] fandm.edu, jimobrien48 [at] gmail.com, gshagler [at] verizon.net, angelahelwig [at] yahoo.com, info [at] uslaboragainstwar.org, cwabhenning [at] aol.com, jen [at] ivaw.org, hanykhalil [at] igc.org, lrk44 [at] earthlink.net, jleblanc [at] unitedforpeace.org, SIUHIN [at] aol.com, george [at] peaceactionwi.org, office [at] endtheoccupation.org, bpinguel [at] afsc.org, saif [at] ips-dc.org, just_world [at] comcast.net, aroesler [at] casa.sjsu.du, erosenberg [at] wesleyan.edu, megscata [at] yahoo.com, ctunitedforpeace [at] yahoo.com, schwartz2020 [at] gmail.com, redphyx [at] yahoo.com, venugoep [at] udmercy.edu
UFPJ National Steering Committee
Elected at 3rd UFPJ National Assembly – June 22-24, 2007
Dana Balicki, CODEPINK - Women for Peace - dana [at] codepinkalert.org
Frida Berrigan, War Resisters League berrigaf [at] newschool.edu
Steve Burns, WI Network for Peace and Justice, outreach [at] wnpj.org
Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation, wslf [at] earthlink.net
Kelly Campbell, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, office [at] peacefultomorrows.org, 121Contact [at] bru.mar.com,
David Cline, Veterans for Peace
Carl Davidson, Chicagoans Against War and Injustice (CAWI), carld717 [at] aol.com
Lisa Fithian, Alliance of Community Trainers/Root Activist Network of Trainers, fithianl [at] igc.org
Joseph Gainza, American Friends Service Committee, Vermont, jgainza [at] afsc.org
Issac Giron, Wasatch Coalition for Peace and Justice (UT), daynegoodwin [at] gmail.com, tlk [at] utahpeace.org, info [at] utahpeace.org
Nora Gordon, Brooklyn for Peace (NY), bfp [at] brooklynpeace.org , ngordon [at] brooklynpeace.org,
Van Gosse, Historians Against the War, van.gosse [at] fandm.edu, jimobrien48 [at] gmail.com,
Rev. Graylan Hagler, Plymouth Cong. UCC/Ministers for Racial, Social & Economic Justice, gshagler [at] verizon.net
Angela Helwig, Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, angelahelwig [at] yahoo.com
Bill Henning, U.S. Labor Against the War, info [at] uslaboragainstwar.org, cwabhenning [at] aol.com
Jen Hogg, Iraq Veterans Against the War, jen [at] ivaw.org
Hany Khalil, War Times, hanykhalil [at] igc.org
Leslie Kielson, New York City UFPJ, lrk44 [at] earthlink.net
Judith LeBlanc, Communist Party USA, jleblanc [at] unitedforpeace.org
Siu Hin Lee, National Immigrant Solidarity Network, SIUHIN [at] aol.com
George Paz Martin, Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace, george [at] peaceactionwi.org
Omar Masri, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, office [at] endtheoccupation.org
Baltazar "Bal" Pinguel, American Friends Service Committee, National, bpinguel [at] afsc.org
Saif Rahman, Institute for Policy Studies, saif [at] ips-dc.org
Anne Roesler, Military Families Speak Out, just_world [at] comcast.net, aroesler [at] casa.sjsu.du
Erik Rosenberg, Students for Ending the War in Iraq (SEWI), Wesleyan University, erosenberg [at] wesleyan.edu
Meg Scata, American Friends Service Committee, CT, megscata [at] yahoo.com, ctunitedforpeace [at] yahoo.com
Chris Schwartz, Cedar Valley United for Peace and Justice (IA), schwartz2020 [at] gmail.com
Prasad Venugopal, Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network, venugoep [at] udmercy.edu, redphyx [at] yahoo.com
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Please Stop Reposting This Article...
Feb 09, 2008 07:54AM EST
Spamwatch
... over and over.
Thank You.
This discussion has substance
Feb 09, 2008 09:26AM EST
Samantha D.
it should be continued? why do you want to stop it? It has on-going immediate concern as the Steering Committee of UFPJ is meeting in April.
Is 'spamwatch' embarrassed?
SD.
Samantha
Feb 09, 2008 06:19PM EST
Faker Watch
Empowering Leslie Cagan (aka UFPJ) by paying attention to her may be a matter near and dear to you, but it is not to us. Embarrased? The word which comes to mind concerning her is BORED.
Relevant
Feb 09, 2008 07:50PM EST
Jeff
This is important, as the effort to stop the war is one of the most central concerns of the movement. And ufpj, which is more that Leslie, still has the potential to be very effective. We need to have a transition of leadership. After five years and the stated goal has not been met, wouldn't that make sense to rotate leadership?
Does an activist shit?
Feb 10, 2008 12:36AM EST
Not-bored
This topic is critical and for "Faker watch" (give me a break) to be dismissive is really gross. Does faker shit in the world?
You remind me of 'activists' who say they don't believe in government and my seasoned mentor tells them "well, it exists". She knows because, when we have a look, we find that our government is engaged in much violence. Ignoring the potential of UFPJ to stop the war just because Leslie Cagan and Kevin Martin won't challenge the Democratic Party is allowing many good people within the UFPJ to continue to waste their anti-war energy.
I'm contacting the Steering Committee and will urge all my (real activist) friends to as well.
David Swanson's Options for the Peace Movement should rally many to take similar action and kick the (mis)leadership of the peace movements institutions out of positions of control and authority.
That would take principled people standing up.
Yes the State Exists.
Feb 10, 2008 08:26AM EST
Fakerwatch
"This topic is critical and for "Faker watch" .... to be dismissive is really gross."
Gross? Is that the word you mean?
Leslie Cagan is best avoided. She is a minor distraction, one of the many mechanisms the ORDER uses to divert its opponents from effective action. Those observations come from many years of having lived in this world.
PS. A caution and an observation, should one be fool enough to get involved with her. "Watch your back", she is very good with a knife placed in the back. Also, she has weak spot for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, as she seems to
have a proclivity to groveling before him and doing his bidding.
Shit or get off the pot!
Feb 10, 2008 09:39AM EST
Antiwar action
jereskki provides an analysis which would be new to many dedicated peace activists lulled into believing UFPJ is rallying the peace movement(s) to stop the war.
Other posts included ACTION to rally principled people on the UFPJ Steering Committee to tell Leslie and the Peace Action director (keith martin?) (and others in her circle, no doubt) to shit or get off the pot.
That is, there is an effective action being proposed:
Rally principled Steering Committee people to demand Cagan/Martin et al expose, target, and challenge Democratic Party leadership on-going funding of the war.
How? by publicizing the UFPJ leadership's intransigent support of the Democratic Party leadership's objective to slowly bleed the Republicans with this war.
For Cagan/Martin (and other "distractions" as you call them), challenging Pelosi and Reid's refusal to stop introducing bills or their refusal to demand filibuster of the Democratic Senators (enough exist to stop any funding bills) is off the table. So the members of the UFPJ Coalition don't hear about that VERY REAL WAY OF STOPPING THE BLOODSHED IN IRAQ!
Steering Committee is well-placed to make this an issue and free the UFPJ Coalition (and other peace orgs) of their terrible, ineffective leadership.
Are you gonna tell me that Frida Berrigan, on the steering committee, would not raise these issues, make much noise and transform UFPJ into a true antiwar org (and not an arm of the Democratic Party)?
So while you are ignoring UFPJ (and 10s of thousands if not more are looking to it for guidance), what are YOU suggesting/doing to stop the war?
Have I made a good case to support the above-posted strategy? I think Swanson has it right on how to stop the war; true peace activists have to act on that analysis and this one above (i think).
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