Inside the Belly of the Beltway Beast

Punishing the whistleblower? - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

2011-12-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

Last week and this week has been the pre-trial Article 32 hearing for the brave whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning.

I am proud that OccupyDC joined the rally last Saturday demanding Bradley's freedom. The military wants to put this great gay American behind bars for life. His crime? Reporting war crimes and widespread government corruption, which helped light the fire of the Arab Spring. That in turn inspired Occupy here in the states.

This is a good review of Bradley's case at this point:
Punishing the whistleblower? - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

Moving Forward with the Millenials

2011-10-02T22:45:00.001-04:00

Today is Gandhi's birthday, and yesterday I think I witnessed a hopeful future for humanity. David, Laurel and I went to lower Manhattan to take part, if only for a day, in Occupy Wall Street centered in Zuccotti Park, about a block from the New York Stock Exchange. What I saw there was a few hundred young folks (and a few older folks) occupying a space, and creating a community of resistance to the burgeoning and oppressive plutocracy in the U.S.

One of the most frequent, and powerful in my mind, themes touched on by this growing movement is the concept that we are the 99% and we are being sold out and exploited by the richest 1% and their enormous corporations (recently given First Amendment rights by the US Supreme Court). The ones who get generous tax breaks and simply want to feed their own greed with no concern for the overall health of the nation. The disparity between the billionaires and the rest of us has increased and is quickly beginning to resemble many third world countries where there is no middle class.

The exciting thing about this movement, and its surprising growth, is the young folks -- the Millenials -- playing such a key role in an open and truly democratic process, which I think is part of an early stage of an actual nonviolent revolution. And about a week ago on NPR I remember hearing a discussion lead by Linda Werrtheimer about this generation (folks in their 20s on down to middle school), and all the talking heads agreed that cooperation and putting the needs of the group ahead of the individual was a hallmark of this generation. They believed that the emphasis on cooperation, far more than the last several generations, would lead to them being able to solve many of the world's problems. Sounds pretty idealistic, but I think it's true.

The media although beginning to cover the occupation, still can't seem to get the messaging right. Here is a manifesto of sorts put forward by the occupiers. I am rather hopeful after what I saw in that park in lower Manhattan. I saw a food station, a medical station, rain tarps, a myriad of progressive causes being advocated, a drum circle, and a engaging nonviolent direct action training. I also saw a lot of mutual respect among the participants, and a determination not to be lulled into complacency by slick and corrupt politicians and mind numbing celebrity-driven TV (as so many of my generation was).

The march to Brooklyn Bridge was also exciting, although a bit scary when Laurel got stuck behind the cops' orange fencing (now a favorite tool of the NYPD when making mass unlawful arrests). Luckily she got out soon enough and we met back at the bus returning to DC, but it was reported that 700 nonviolent protesters were arrested when they blocked east-bound traffic on the bridge. That is a major nonviolent direct action, and didn't get that much press, but it is still a powerful movement. Word on the streets in Manhattan is that the unions will start endorsing, and apparently the New York Teamsters already did. And there is a lot of talk over the weekend how 200 NYC cops refused to show up to enforce crackdowns on the occupation.

"Something has started," Michael Moore simply stated on Democracy Now last week when talking about Occupy Wall Street. And it's something I am feeling extremely hopeful about. It maybe the start of a much needed revolution to secure a better future for 99% of us.

This Thursday it comes to Freedom Plaza, DC -- my hometown. I will be there for a little part of it. And although the first two or three days will be far more programmed (permit, big stage, older group of people on a steering committee) than Occupy Wall Street, it will quickly take on a very grassroots and participatory democratic structure, and a life of its own, when many refuse to leave and truly make this mobilization in the capital city another sustainable occupation demanding greater social and economic justice for all.

A Gay Man Behind The Dream: Remembering Bayard Rustin

2011-09-02T19:31:00.000-04:00

With the passing of the 48th anniversary of the great March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s milestone speech, “I Have a Dream,” once again, a gay black civil rights organizer and strategist has been forgotten. This man was someone who greatly influenced both Dr. King and the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and deserves to be remembered by all Americans and honored by the LGBT community as a hero.

Bayard Rustin, born in 1912, studied the nonviolence philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, and never sought the spotlight, but his impact on American social movements of the 20th century is undeniable.

A Quaker and a talented singer Rustin became involved in the gay rights movement during his later years. Sadly the dedication ceremony of Dr. King’s Memorial was rained out because of Hurricane Irene. Yet his legacy will never be dimmed or overlooked. However many are unaware of Rustin who played an incredibly influential role in the young Atlantan preacher’s life.

A gay black man from Westchester, Pennsylvania, Rustin was involved in nonviolent direct action against discrimination while Martin Luther King Jr. was still in college. And he was out when precious few gays journeyed beyond the closet. In fact, in 1953, Rustin was convicted and spent 60 days in a California jail for “sex perversion,” which was consensual sex with a man in a car. However, this experience never slowed down Rustin who went on to become an influential advisor to both civil rights and labor leaders.

During his tenure with the War Resister’s League, Rustin met Dr. King and began working directly with him. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he was advising Dr. King on Gandhian nonviolent tactics. In fact, the March on Washington was mainly organized by Rustin with the full support of labor leader A. Philip Randolph. Life Magazine featured the two of them on its cover shortly after the march. Both civil rights leaders and white segregationists disparaged Rustin for being gay. However, we might never have heard “I Have a Dream” if it wasn’t for this persistent and dedicated gay black man.

In addition, Rustin quickly recognized King’s leadership and helped build the Southern Christian Leadership Conference around him. Later he was forced to resign, despite Dr. King’s support, from the same organization he was responsible for forming due to his being out.

Other activities Rustin engaged in before King even appeared on the landscape, included travelling to California to help protect the property of Japanese Americans imprisoned in internment Camps during WWII, and co-organizing the Journey of Reconciliation, which was the first of the Freedom Rides – directly testing the Supreme Court ruling which banned racial segregation in interstate travel.

Every August 28th America pauses and remembers Dr. King’s eloquent and visionary words from the steps of the Lincoln Monument. Perhaps we can also begin remembering the gay man who was influential and prominent behind the podium, Bayard Rustin.

October in Freedom Plaza is growing and it will be great

2011-08-09T22:05:00.005-04:00

The market is collapsing, unemployment remains high (especially for people of color and recent grads), America's credit rating was just downgraded, and the U.S. is engaged in several hopeless and costly wars and military occupations... I am now actively helping to organize and build the October 6th to whenever occupation of Freedom Plaza. This could be the beginning of the paradigm shift many of us have been pushing for.

The time is now to act (before it is too late)! We just need enough people to stop business as usual in DC, the capital of the empire.

Here are some videos about October2011 made by Dennie Trainor Jr.:

Why I will be in Freedom Plaza

Uprising for a new world

2011-06-16T19:01:00.006-04:00

Rep. Kucinich and eight other brave members of Congress are currently suing President Obama for Peace. Their case states that the commander-in-chief is in violation of the War Powers Act when it comes to the War on Libya. Obama absurdly contends that our military is not engaged in "hostilities" when it bombs buildings and kills people in this North African nation. Therefore, the pres claims the law does not apply. The War Powers Act was passed in order to further clarify Article 1 of our Constitution (that Congress and the President need to make such war-making decisions jointly). Passed in 1973, it was designed to check unlimited presidential military actions. Sadly, it has been ignored by presidents and Congress for at least a couple decades now.

I doubt this lawsuit, although a very honorable step, will gain much ground. If folks haven't noticed things have not gone well for the peace and justice movement for the last few years... The American people, however, are getting increasingly angry with the lack of jobs, the continued bailout of bankers and the wealthiest of the wealthy, and endless wars which cost us trillions of dollars we simply do not have.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the U.S. Government has spent more than $1.2 Trillion on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. If we break that down for Fiscal Year 2011 alone, that sum of money could have been used to provide healthcare for 86.8 million low income children, or 73.7 million households with renewable electricity (wind power), or 15.5 million one-year university scholarships for one year. Where are our priorities?

On October 6th of this year my affinity group will be gathering in downtown DC and then marching to the huge mobilization at Freedom Plaza. The organizers of this mobilization intend for the mass of peace and justice loving people to not leave until some demands are met. Chief among those demands are to remove U.S. forces from Afghanistan, which will be entering its second decade (the longest U.S. war ever) that month, and redistribute these funds into relief for the poor and programs to protect our fragile environment.

We, the people, can change the direction of our country. We need to have faith in our own power. Just as the people in Tahrir Square, Cairo had faith in their own collective power. We must remain united and strong and beautifully nonviolent, but not passive. Yes, positive social change can happen in our lives. Are you ready to be a part of it?

My affinity group will be taking the name Camp Agape. You can join if you are committed to nonviolence, and are willing to put the groups needs above your own during your time at Freedom Plaza. We need to look out for one another, comfort one another and share food and water with one another. We also hope to be a place of hospitality to those more vulnerable than us who typically make the streets of downtown DC their homes. We hope to share some of our food and water with them.

Camp Agape also hopes to be a place of listening, sharing wisdom, and supporting one another during some stressful days. If you want to play a part in a great change with other people who believe (and live) in love of their fellow humans, join us.

Here's some more information on this massive mobilization!

What will happen in DC in October?

2011-06-09T22:27:00.004-04:00

There has been a call put out to the entire peace and justice movement to assemble in Freedom Plaza (downtown DC, along Pennsylvania Avenue), and to not leave until the U.S. Government begins withdrawing all it military forces from Afghanistan (this will be at the same time our nation completes a decade of war in this Third World country) and begins to redirect war funds to desperately needed social programs and protections for the environment. The original organizers are encouraging people not to leave until the demands are met. I think this does need to happen. But I also realize that those leaving their homes and camping out on the concrete slabs of Freedom Plaza will need support. They will need food and water brought into them. Folks will need to begin to organize themselves, as did the courageous protesters in first Egypt and Tunisia, and now currently in Spain.

So will it last longer than a couple days, will the mass media largely ignore us? Again, I will repeat, this needs to happen. The U.S. Government no longer truly represents the people -- it represents Wall Street's interests and private companies. It continues to pursue endless wars, while now embracing austerity measures. Will the American people finally stand up for themselves and speak out loud and clear, saying "Enough is enough -- bring the war dollars home!"?

I am laying the groundwork (Alice G. is the first one to join me!) for my own affinity group for October 6, 7 and 8. I do have tentative plans to fly out of DC on Oct. 9 with my college buddy Matt. I will finally visit the great state of Arizona and visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon. If the people's revolt continues until the time I fly out of town, I will consider this action a success. Because by then, it can't simply be ignored. The people's voices will be heard in the halls of power.

It will be a positive experience, and I want to organize my affinity group around positivity; around the creative powers of love and the full commitment to community. Even if the revolt's demands are not met, people will begin to notice that people are exercising their own power, and more will be inspired to follow suit. This could be the beginning of something great and long-lasting.

My two suggestions leading up to Oct. 6 is that we reach out to Unions -- such as what we saw in Madison. That we in the peace and justice movement fully embrace those struggling for labor rights. That we accept that there can be no lasting peace without justice. I would also like to see us embrace and highlight local causes -- such as DC Statehood (Taxation Without Representation) and the hospitality of the homeless we will encounter in DC. We need to follow the lead of our brave brothers and sisters in Food Not Bombs, and provide food for free. This is a part of the world we want to create.

Are we ready? I hope so. It's going to be an exciting time in DC by the time October rolls around. Let's make a difference in our lives and communities, let's be part of a paradigm shift away from violence and uncontrolled consumerism, toward peace, justice and a greater sense of responsibility to our communities.

Start of Summer Update

2011-06-04T16:09:00.005-04:00

I have neglected my blog for too long. Work at the LoC is going well, although not very exciting. I did pass the criminal background check during the last month, and they know all about my past arrests and convictions. Here is a pic of a lotus at Lake Artemesia where I walk Bruno nearly every day.

My current activism remains almost exclusively focused on courageous whistle blower, Bradley Manning (now moved from Quantico to more humane Leavenworth). The prosecution and persecution of Bradley and other whistle blowers reveals the repressive nature of Barack Obama’s presidency. Although he claimed “hope” and even pushed “government transparency” during his campaign, the reality of his time as president has proven to be the opposite.

We (the Bradley Manning Support Network) had a tele-press conference for Bradley (exactly one year after his arrest) recently which featured Pentagon Papers’ Daniel Ellsberg and WikiLeak’s Julian Assange. It proved to be wildly successful. Here are a couple news stories that emerged from it:

MSNBC

Economic Times

I promise to write more very soon. This week will be Ray’s birthday! He’s a wonderful guy who is now in my life. And on Monday announcements will be made about a very important action taking place in downtown DC in October…

So, I promise, more very soon. Right now I’m dealing with a severe toothache that the dentist will help take care of Monday morning. Bruno is doing well, but kind of detests the heat and humidity.

Bradley Manning's freedom and Obama's shame

2011-04-14T12:47:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Life is good. 3/20 in Quantico was a big success, and now I am signed up with Zipcar so Bruno and I can be a bit more mobile.

Here is the latest on Bradley Manning (securing his freedom is my focus now)...

Mistreatment of Manning Criticized by UN Torture Investigator, Hundreds of Legal Academics and Hundreds of ThousandsBy Kevin Zeese

Colonel: "Obama Could End Torture with One Phone Call"

For Immediate Release

For Further Information
Jeff Paterson
Kevin Zeese (301-996-6582 cell)
Bradley Manning Support Network
Email address removed
1-202-640-4388

Mistreatment of Manning Criticized by Leading Law Professors & UN Torture Investigator

Hundreds of Thousands Write Obama Urging End to Manning Abuse

Washington, DC: The eight months of solitary confinement of Bradley Manning at Quantico has drawn national and international criticism in the last week. Support is growing for him around the world with 500,000 writing President Obama in the last few days and with hundreds of top U.S. legal scholars criticizing his conditions of confinement.

Lawyers representing every leading law school in the United States have written an open letter to President Obama criticizing the conditions of Manning. Among the law professors is Lawrence Tribe who was President Obama's law professor at Harvard and served in his administration until recently. The letter, Private Manning's Humiliation , raises questions about President Obama saying: "President Obama was once a professor of constitutional law, and entered the national stage as an eloquent moral leader. The question now, however, is whether his conduct as commander in chief meets fundamental standards of decency."

Col. Ann Wright (ret) who served 29 years in the military noted that "President Obama could end the treatment of Manning with one phone call. As Commander-In-Chief he is responsible for the actions of the Marines at Quantico. Certainly he understands the constitutional right to be convicted before punished and that the condition of Manning violates protection from cruel and unusual punishment."

The UN Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez reprimanded the United States for blocking an official visit with Manning to investigate his treatment. The UN torture investigator has been reviewing Manning's case since December but the United States will not allow a private meeting with no tape recording. The military has also refused a U.S. Congressman's request for an official visit to Manning, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, as well as a visit from Amnesty International.

Daniel Ellsberg, a veteran who graduated from Quantico and is noted for leaking the Pentagon Papers commented: "It seems likely that the Pentagon's refusal to allow Amnesty International and the UN Rapporteur on Torture to hold unmonitored discussion with Bradley Manning (as the UN mandate demands) reflects well-founded fear that such experts on abusive conditions and torture could conclude that Manning's treatment is not only "ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid' -- as State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley was forced to resign for saying-- but criminal."

This comes at a time when the U.S. and China are challenging each other on human rights. China issued a lengthy report regarding human rights violations in the United States this week. As PJ Crowley, former Assistant Secretary of State said when he resigned the Manning case would be an embarrassment to the U.S. internationally, highlighting "the broader, even strategic impact of discreet actions undertaken by national security agencies every day and their impact on our global standing and leadership. The exercise of power in today's challenging times and relentless media environment must be prudent and consistent with our laws and values."

Around the world there is growing anger at the treatment of Manning. Five hundred thousand people have sent letters to President Obama urging him to "immediately end the torture, isolation and public humiliation of Bradley Manning." The petition was put out by Azaaz.org and is addressed to President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Defense Gates.

"A half million people have taken a stand in support of Bradley Manning. It's certainly a challenge to President Obama to get on the right side of history here and finally put an end to the extreme and illegal pre-trial punishment," said Jeff Paterson, a veteran speaking on behalf of the Bradley Manning Support Network. "After he ends the mistreatment of Manning, he could then ensure that Bradley receives the fair and public trial that is guaranteed under the Constitution."

Call the White House and tell President Obama end the torture of Bradley Manning: Comments: 202-456-1111. Switchboard: 202-456-1414.

# # #

February leaves us and March will be busy

2011-02-27T20:33:00.006-05:00

There is a lot going on for me in March. And the weather was warming up nicely today; Bruno enjoyed his walks.

March 13th we have the fundraiser for Bradley Manning's Legal Defense Fund. Location: Busboys and Poets at 5th and K Streets NW.

March 19th Veterans for Peace lead a big protest and civil resistance action at the White House.

March 20th we have a rally and march to the gates of Quantico (similar to what was done on MLK Day). Buses have been reserved to take folks from Union Station.

Meanwhile, the resistance to union busting and the further destruction of the Middle Class intensifies in Wisconsin. Hundreds of protesters have reclaimed their state capitol building in Madison, staying overnight in the rotunda. This same beautiful resistance is now beginning to spread to Indiana and Ohio.

I really don't think the corporate servant boy, Gov. Walker of Wisconsin will be re-elected in three years from now. It must also be pointed out that this beautiful show of people standing up for themselves and fully participating in democracy owes a lot to the successful anti-government revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. I think many Americans are getting sick and tired of bailing out huge banks while their incomes have shrunk were inspired by our colleagues in North Africa.

So, anyhow, March will be a busy month and I am ready to work on making links between transparency, truth, justice, peace and accountability. These themes run through Cairo, Madison, and here in the belly of the imperial beast.

My thoughts continue to be with Bradley Manning every day, and I leave this entry with the following: "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." ~George Orwell

Petition and background on Bradley Manning

2011-02-15T05:54:00.001-05:00

Who is Bradley Manning?

In late May 2010, Private First Class Bradley Manning, an intelligence analyst with the US Army in Baghdad, was arrested, suspected of providing the “Collateral Murder” video to Wikileaks. This video was covered widely in the mass media and has been viewed as revealing a war crime.

On June 6, 2010, he was charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including eight criminal offenses and four noncriminal violations of Army regulations. The full charge sheet is available at www.bradleymanning.org/3163/charge-sheet-html.

Bradley's arrest was precipitated by an alleged online chat confession to convicted felon and hacker Adrian Lamo. The details about and circumstances around this online chat are unconfirmed and somewhat dubious.

The military held Bradley Manning in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait until late July, 2010, at which time they transferred him to U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia. They have continued to hold him there in solitary confinement. If convicted Manning could spend 52 years in prison.

On the 3rd of November, 2010 agents from Homeland Security and the F.B.I. stopped David House, a developer and friend of Bradley, while on his way back into the United States from a short vacation. They seized his laptop and other electronic devices, then proceeded to question him regarding his visits to Manning at Quantico. They did all of this without a warrant or charges.

On the 15th of December Glenn Greenwald published a key article concerning the inhumane conditions of Bradley Manning’s detention at Quantico. Articles and interviews followed confirming Greenwald’s story, including one by David House and a blog entry by Bradley’s lawyer, David E. Coombs.

Coming swiftly behind these articles, the office of Manfred Nowak, United Nations special rapporteur on torture, confirmed that they received an official complaint about Bradley’s situation. Two other United Nations special rapporteurs also released a joint statement meant to “recall a number of international legal principles”, point number three being protection for so-called “whistle blowers” when they release information about wrongdoing.

At the same time several outlets reported that Bradley’s prosecutors were attempting to incriminate Julian Assange, co-founder of Wikileaks, by offering deals to Bradley. It should be noted that the prosecution of whistle blowers is increasing during the Obama administration (ie: Tom Drake, Shamai Leibowitz).

On Martin Luther King Day 2011, Approximately 150 concerned citizens marched to the front gates of Quantico base demanding Bradley's freedom. A couple days later, apparently in retaliation, the brig commander took additional punitive steps toward Bradley. His clothes and his eye glasses were taken from him for a couple days. Within a week this brig commander was replaced by a new one.

Now, at the start of the second decade in the second millennium, Bradley Manning has a growing list of supporters, including famous whistle blowers, Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, and Colleen Rowley (a TIME "Person of the Year" for 2002) who retired from the FBI. We hope that you will join us as well, and act in support of justice in this historic time.

To learn more: http://www.bradleymanning.org/

Many of us return to Quantico on March 20th.

And here's the petition for Marylanders only...

Investigate punitive holding conditions of Bradley Manning Petition

Maryland fight against militarism in schools 2/1/2011 - GreenTeaParty | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

2011-02-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

Special thanks to my friend Pat Elder for doing my most recent show. He is a real expert on the topic of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and the access recruiters get to our youth!

Maryland fight against militarism in schools 2/1/2011 - GreenTeaParty | Internet Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Laurel, Thalia and I speak out against the prosecution of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

2011-02-01T05:48:00.000-05:00

In a call published on Michael Moore's Website, our house decided to respond. A video will be put together with a cast of hundreds and released on the day of Julian Assange's extradition hearing... We hope that truth and a more transparent government will emerge from this chapter in history.

Happy MLK Day!

2011-01-17T07:17:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to Dr. M. L. King Jr. (his actual birthday was Saturday); we are given a federal holiday for a great man! A man of amazing vision, a revolutionary (on a spiritual/ethical plane) leader, and someone with a prophetic message.

Here's one of his quotes, as some of us will be protesting at the FBI Building (due to crack downs on nonviolent peace activists in the Midwest) and Quantico (where Bradley Manning has been held in solitary confinement for more than 7 months): "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere..."

I have come to realize that much of this nation -- especially the government -- has reached the spiritual death that Dr. King warned about in his 1967 Riverside speech. This speech was made when King was being criticized for denouncing the war the U.S. waged in Vietnam.

Below is an e-mail exchange I had with a devout liberal Democrat. This shows you that many still believe pleading with the politicians of the two wings of the corporate-dominated party is the way to go. I am afraid we are well past this now. I am removing his name out of respect. But first, here is another King quote I am remembering, as I honor this great man today...

"We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must ... shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, militarism and economic exploitation are incapable of being conquered."

Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 11:08 PM
This is an honest dialogue. I am not sure why you are trying to use Dr. King's great legacy (one in which he truly believed in the power of THE PEOPLE) to win an intellectual debate. My aim is to help people realize the power they have when they create communities of resistance and form grater circles of solidarity. We don't need to be reminded of the power of those in government (the reason for the two protests tomorrow).

Kennedy did not want King to march on Washington. And nowadays many in power don't want folks to know about when King spoke out against Vietnam and the entrenched militarism in our society. We get a sterilized version of "I have a dream." To truly honor Dr. King is to try and learn from what he was teaching and the truly prophetic message he had. Personally, I believe this nation -- especially the government has reached the spiritual death that King warned about. And if we don't choose people over property and profits (which he also warned about) we are sealing our own doom.

I hope to see you tomorrow. I am glad you are fighting for what is righteous and just. We both want many of the same things -- we are simply taking different routes. I honor Dr. King by the contributions I have made (including going to DC Jail for speaking out against war) and continue to make (fundraising for Brad's legal defense and financial contributions to Courage to Resist and Coal River Mountain Watch).

In peace and understanding,
Pete

On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 10:54 PM, Liberal Democrat wrote:

Votes, contributions, and most of all being known for doing the right thing. That's what's in it for them. These are just people after all.

Hope arises where it will. It's not an either or situation--believing in ourselves and those in office who deserve belief in them.

Have a great MLK day--a holiday we have thanks to politicians, honoring a man who worked with then and future politicians to achieve great things.

On 1/16/11 10:48 PM, Pete Perry wrote:
> Mike, You didn't answer my question. ;) What's in it for them?
>
> I am not trying to discourage. Just trying to help people realize what many of us in the peace and justice movement have come to realize: The system is broken and needs to be completely replaced. That's where I would like to spend my long-term energies.
>
> The hope is in we the people with vision. Not politicians. I want people to believe in themselves, not a certain clique controlled by corporate interests on Capitol Hill.
>
> "Right of the People to alter or to abolish it..." ~Declaration of Independence
>

>
> On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 10:37 PM, Liberal Democrat wrote:
>
> There's a lot in it for them. Dr. King warned against cynicism. In his honor, let's not expend any energy discouraging each other, OK?
>

>
> On 1/16/11 10:27 PM, Pete Perry wrote:
>> What's in it for them? The same old political calculation holds true -- they don't want to lose the more conservative votes. And they won't lose most "liberals," because they are still democrats afterall...
>>
>>

>>
>> On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 5:40 PM, Liberal Democrat wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm not sure the electeds need to do anything public, just a few phone calls to the right people could help get attention for the motions.

New Year's Stuff (or 3 Threes)

2010-12-31T12:52:00.008-05:00

In less than 11 hours it will be 2011. I am convinced 2011 will be better than 2010 for progressives and Americans in general. The economy will not fully recover, but more and more people will begin to realize they are being lied to by many powerful folks in government and in multi-national corporations. This increased awareness is healthy and greatly needed.

I am hopeful because more people realize the current mainstream lifestyle of outrageous oil consumption is unsustainable and that this will require a major shift of resources and a complete redesigning of the way we live our lives.

Many newspapers, magazines, broadcast outlets at this time of year review the top three stories or trends that marked 2010 and a preview of the coming year... So, I've got three lists of my own.

Top 3 Local Stories for progressive activists
1. 135, mostly veterans (including Daniel Ellsberg), arrested at White House fence demanding end to wars and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq
AFP article on arrests during a wintry day
2. James Lee who I had an acrimonous interaction with during my time as a WPC board member takes hostages at Discovery Building, has homemade bomb, killed by police
More details on Lee
3. Bradley Manning, alleged source of WikiLeaks' biggest exposure of government malfeasance ever, brought to Quantico, Va. and held in solitary confinement
Inhumane conditions Manning must endure

My 3 New Year's Resolutions:
1. More than 60% of my food purchased will be local or at least regional (Maryland, DC, Virginia, Delaware, SE Pennsylvania)
2. Buy organic seeds and reacquaint myself with gardening
3. Save $ for a comfortable bed...
(runner ups are practicing mindfulness, focusing on community building and avoiding being arrested)

3 Places I plan on going in 2011:
1. GenCon in Indianapolis! (and I get to visit my buddy Rangan while there)
2. New Mexico (Taos, Santa Fe)
3. Vermont (Long Trail, Shelburne Farms)

I hope to also write more in my blog next year. A lot happened this year, much of it difficult and not very pleasant. But, again, I believe next year will be a much better one -- thanks to having a job, good friends, and the best dog in the world!

Last radio show was about nonviolent resistance

2010-12-23T17:49:00.002-05:00

Happy holidays to everyone! Bruno and I are packing to go over to G'town very soon...

Here's the show -- special thanks to Max from Baltimore.

Listen to internet radio with GreenTeaParty on Blog Talk Radio

What is Fracking and why did Pittsburgh ban it?

2010-12-11T22:54:00.000-05:00

My most recent Internet Radio show. I think it went really well. What is Fracking and why did Pittsburgh ban it?

Gaming and the truth...

2010-12-05T18:05:00.007-05:00

Sometimes you just need to escape reality, and sometimes you have a hankering for a good game. It's great when these two wants collide. For me that's been fantasy role-playing. My Pathfinder (sometimes called D&D 3.75) campaign has had more than two dozen sessions, and that's what I would consider a long-running campaign. The makeup of the game has changed a couple times, and I think we are settling down to the five players we have now. I am pleased with the gaming troupe we have.

I mentioned in a previous blog posting about Mike and how he came late into the campaign and was playing a disruptive character. Honestly I think it was more Mike as a player. I have played several fantasy role-playing games with him in the past -- and as a player he is usually very impulsive and makes poor decisions. Overall, he's a better DM, but even that is not saying much... But anyhow, yes, he was asked not to return to the group. And this last session just had a better feel to it. He did not take the news well, and I am sort of done dealing with his own drama (which has a lot more to do with other things in his life than gaming).

The other part (the flip side?) of this posting -- reality and telling the truth. WikiLeaks, which I have also written about previously, has now released the more than a quarter million State Dept. cables (that Pfc. Bradley Manning allegedly burned onto a CD and turned over to WikiLeaks). Many of them are embarrassing, some showing routine corruption and deception. I think the American people have the right to know what is being done in their name and with their tax dollars. I also feel that diplomats should be engaged in diplomacy, not espionage. So, I again thank WikiLeaks for helping to enlighten the American citizenry. For if we truly live in a democracy we need this knowledge to help make informed decisions. It also sparks needed dialogue on the overall direction and long-term goals of the U.S. in the world. Do we want to be actively talking about attacking Iran with Saudi Arabia and Israel (both have been pushing for this)? Do we want to be directing career diplomats to collect DNA samples from United Nations officials? Or do we want to work in more collaborative ways to bring more peace and justice to the world, not only unilateral empire-building ones?

Unfortunately, the Obama administration is beginning to act like the Nixon administration (Daniel Ellsberg went through a lot of the same drama after he released the Pentagon Papers). Attorney General Eric Holder is looking for a way to prosecute Julian Assange of WikiLeaks for simply doing what most journalists do, which is protected under the First Amendment. Also, there is no specific law saying that you can't release these confidential papers (if you are a non-federal employee). I am not sure how this will turn out in the end, but it's clear the government is going out of its way to prevent the public from learning the truth about how American diplomacy functions.

One of the journalists I most admire, Glenn Greenwald (also a constitutional attorney), has again written eloquently about Wikileaks. Please read the the recent article, as it reflects some of my same thoughts. So why is the government so intent on prosecuting a truth-teller when there are plenty of folks running around in government committing real crimes?

Next release coming from WikiLeaks: Damaging internal documents from one of the nation's largest banks (rumor is that it is Bank of America). This should be very interesting, indeed!

Green Party leader on my Internet Radio Show

2010-11-23T23:48:00.001-05:00

Many thanks to Julia Willebrand for joining me for an enlightening conversation...

Listen to internet radio with GreenTeaParty on Blog Talk Radio

Soup and Dungeons and Dragons

2010-11-11T09:10:00.004-05:00

My new job is going well, and it appears our contract is being expanded. That means that my co-worker and I will be overlooking other contractors from our firm arriving within the next month or two as the project moves into the next phase. Today I am home on a paid holiday! I don't think I've ever had Veterans Day off from work before.

Bruno is doing well, and it seems that he is gaining much better bladder control and his listening skills are improving, as well. Later this morning we are going down to the lake!

Anyhow, let me dive into a couple things. I love cooking! And a few weeks ago I made this delicious and nutritious soup for myself and my housemates. Here's the recipe I created.

First make the chicken stock -- I stole this from the cool cookbook my sister Ellen bought me. It's "Japanese Hot Pots" by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat.

1 pound chicken bones and wings
12 cups water, plus more for boiling the bones

Place the bones in a large stockpot, fill it with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from the heat. Strain the bones and discard the water (this will remove all blood and coagulated proteins, which improves the stocks pure flavor). Rinse the bones under running water to wash off any scum. Return the bones to the same pot. Add the 12 cups of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium and simmer until the stock reduces to about 8 cups (approximately 30 minutes). As it cooks remove any scum on surface. Strain the liquid and discard the bones. This creates pure and simple broth I use for the soup's base.

And then onto my Chicken and Vegetable Noodle Soup...

1/3 of 16 oz. box of Fettuccinni
1 cup diced Yellow Onions
1 cup sliced white button Mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced baby Carrots
1/2 cup cubed Zucchini
1 Tbsp. Ground Black Pepper
1 Tbsp. minced Parsley
1/2 Tbsp. Sea Salt
1/2 Tbsp. Garlic powder
2 tsp. Basil leaves
The Chicken stock described above

Boil the Fettuccinni until al dente (somewhat firm). Meanwhile saute the onions, carrots and zucchini in a medium saucepan with a thin layer of vegetable oil, adding the black pepper, sea salt and basil leaves -- stirring kind of like a stir fry dish.

Drain the Fettuccinni and quickly rinse it under cold water. Heat the chicken stock and add mushrooms, and garlic powder -- using a large pot -- and cover. Wait until this comes to a near boil and add the Fetuccinni, the onion/carrot/zucchini mix and reduce to a simmer. Add the parsley on the top and cover. Stir slowly occasionally, but mostly just keep covered for the next 20-25 minutes on a simmer.

It should serve 5 or 6 people. And it's delicious!

Now onto D&D! I love Pathfinder and my home campaign set in the official setting of the world of Golarion is going well. My friend Mike recently joined the group and for some reason he has decided to play a problematic character. I can't help but believe this reflects some of his own personal problems right now. I won't go into the details, but I am not only concerned about his bard/rogue's erratic behavior and the impact it is having on the party, but also my reaction to the way Mike is role-playing and generally behaving outside of the game, as well. I too easily let him provoke me.

So the the real quick of it is -- I want to enhance the fun for everyone. And I am not sure this will also entail asking Mike to leave the campaign, but it might. I think it's always a little problematic to add a new player character after a party has been adventuring together for several levels, but it also does not help when the player is purposefully trying to upset the harmonious team play, and then it becomes worse when the DM feels he constantly needs to react. So, we need to figure out a resolution to this real quick.

The party has been tracking a murder cult of a neutral evil God of deception. However, they are now coming into contact with a rival evil force, one of chaotic evil powers from the Abyss. They have traveled north from Andor to the shores of Lake Encarthan. Along the way they have encountered rival Orc tribes (one with a couple Hill Giant servants), a village under siege, a city with a culture controlled by merchants with a superiority mindset. Next it appears they are about to set sail for the wilds of The River Kingdoms.

The image is a really intense battle with Succubus spy the party was last seen battling...

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions for a Free, Just and Peaceful Palestine!

2010-11-09T23:39:00.002-05:00

Listen to internet radio with GreenTeaParty on Blog Talk Radio

BDS: Movement for a Free Palestine

2010-11-04T20:01:00.000-04:00

Five more days until my next Internet Radio show!

I promise to write more very soon. I will share some info about cooking, fantasy role-playing (the non-kinky kind), and updates about Bruno...

But here is the link to the show Tuesday evening:

BDS: Movement for a Free Palestine

Big Sister: If you see something suspicious, report it.../Why I love dogs more than humans

2010-10-06T22:35:00.012-04:00

It has been a while since I wrote anything on this blog of mine. Well, I have started my new job at the Library of Congress! Very happy with that development, as poverty got real old. Can't really claim to be an activist currently, but I can say I am a proud former activist. I am considering pulling together a big fundraiser for heroic whistleblower Bradley Manning, but other than that -- no real activism/organizing. I am focused on doing my job and spending time with my best friend: Bruno. How was that for an introduction?

OK, every morning, I am exposed to Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano urging commuters to report any suspicious activity they may witness within the Metro system. It just has a very eerie and paranoid feel to it -- Big Sister is looking out for us, and watching us. It's also a blatant reminder that this country has changed a lot since my childhood (the national anthem still mentions "home of the brave," right?) This as news reports of peace activists in Chicago and Minneapolis have had their homes swarmed by FBI agents confiscating computer hard drives and other materials. Yes, we have something to be afraid of -- peace activists. I am sort of expecting an FBI agent to come visit us here in College Park. Another incentive to get out of the activism gig -- in addition to jail time, big fines, inter-movement bickering, and the reward of seeing little to nothing come of our efforts.

I am a financial supporter of activist organizations I believe are truly making a positive difference (Coal River Mountain Watch and Courage to Resist), but I am now a working man. I enjoy the archival work I am doing, and I'm working with some interesting documents at the LoC. And the salary is not bad and the health insurance is included. Time to work five days a week and enjoy the weekends with Bruno -- going to the dog park, sleeping in, gaming with friends. Simple hedonistic pleasures sound pretty good now.

Speaking of which, Bruno absolutely loves the dog park. We have joined and he is proudly sporting his College Park Dogpark tag shaped like a fire hydrant. I think it was definitely worth the annual fee, as Bruno is truly a social dog. He loves running in a pack, and it makes me happy to see him in a state of bliss (it also helps tire him out). It's a good place, good people, great dogs!

Bruno is just wonderful and we share a love, not that different from a parent-child relationship. He still sometimes pees in unwanted places when very excited, but he's improving (I am sure my housemates are glad with this development). Dogs give and receive love so much more easily than humans do -- and they are basically very uncomplicated (it's refreshing).

So, maybe I will start a new Internet Radio Show, and maybe you will see me at a protest once every couple months. But I am ready to live a quieter and simpler life here in College Park.

It was nice to have Desiree, David, Malachy and Gael over for dinner the other night. We cooked a three-course meal for our friends. Here's the recipe I basically used:

* 1/4 cup butter
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/2 large onion, finely chopped
* 2 large tomatoes, sliced and peeled
* 1 tablespoons coriander
* 1 tablespoon cumin
* 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
* salt and ground black pepper to taste
* 2 small red chili peppers sliced
* 1 head cauliflower, broken into small florets
* 2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

1. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, first add the coriander. Add the onion and tomatoes (after quickly boiling to remove skins); cook and stir until tender. Season with cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Add the cauliflower and potatoes to the pan, and stir to coat with spices. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally.

Until next time. Maybe my next entry will be more passionate about a cause, or perhaps I will discuss my ongoing D&D campaign (run by yours truly), or the brand new Darwin's World campaign (run by my buddy Mike)...

I knew James Lee and worried about him

2010-09-02T06:16:00.007-04:00

I knew James Lee, the one the media is calling an environmental extremist, and who walked into Discovery Channel's HQ yesterday with a gun and some explosive devices. He came to many Washington Peace Center and Code Pink protests and events, and he liked to go by his last name only.

In November 2008, he posted a video of the now late William Thomas (at his 24-hour anti-nuke vigil across from the White House) in a drunken state on the Washington Peace Center's blog (at that time it was open to the public). This video certainly did not help Thomas or his wife Ellen. He also posted extremely random and outrageous posts, clearly stating that he had the answers for world peace (drastic population reduction was a central one) and all of us at the Washington Peace Center should follow his instructions.

It was a bit of an ordeal. He protested the small Washington Peace Center office for three or four days with a bullhorn, and then we entered into an informal mediation with him. Not much came of that mediation, except that he claimed he did not need help or medication. I had claimed he needed professional help, other board members were not as sure. But he then stopped harassing us and our two staffers, and returned his attention to Discovery (which I honestly did not know about) as he was working on at the beginning of that same year.

Here is an e-mail exchange I had with Lee. As you can clearly see, as is now being reporting in some media outlets, he wanted to be heard -- to get his message out far and wide. I guess in the end, he attained this goal.

------

Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:47:12 -0500
From: pete4peace@gmail.com
To: misterfifteen@hotmail.com
Subject: I removed the post

Hi Lee,

I am a member of the WPC board and a friend of Ellen Thomas. I removed your post, as it was totally unrelated to peace and social justice issues. Thomas is struggling with severe alcoholism, and his friends and family are afraid he will drink himself to death. I do not think his troubles need to be spotlighted on our Web site.

A couple other board members saw the post and were highly concerned. The Peace Center Web site is not a place to embarrass people and distract from the good work that we are trying to accomplish. I hope you can understand.

Regards,
Pete

>
reply

___ Lee
to me

No, I do not understand. This is the TRUTH, man! This is your OPINION that the arrests were unrelated to peace and justice issues. William and Ron didn't seem embarrassed at all in court and wanted some attention to their cause. Now you want to give them a media blackout in their own HOME? Then shut the hell up about the media blacking YOUR cause out. I'm going to give you some time to think about what you are doing and reconsider that post.

So stop being so damned bias let the post be where it may. Otherwise, you're just another politician controlling the media in a different suit.

TRUTH and Justice.

Lee

>
Reply

Again from
___ Lee
to me

Don't think that you're the ONLY media outlet either. I can post this video link all over the place. I can send links to the Washington Post, Washington Times, Craig's List, Facebook, Myspace, Indymedia, and the list goes on and on. You can only control that little, tiny, website is all.

Now I'm making this a mission BECAUSE OF YOU.

>

Again from
___ Lee
to me

I'm going to prepare of list of TV Stations on where I can send this video link to. I think they will be interested in this little film. Who knows? Maybe they won't black it out like you did. I might just get very lucky and the whole world can see this.

Wish me luck, asshole.

Lee

>

Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:04:13 -0500
From: pete4peace@gmail.com
To: misterfifteen@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: I'm going to prepare a list

Hi Lee,

I was hoping you wouldn't resort to insults. You are free to send the link of the video to any and all news organization you like. But I am curious, why? What's your motivation? To embarrass Prop. 1?

You have been extremely disruptive during coalition meetings. I don't know if you are emotionally disturbed or cointelpro. But myself and WPC staff feel uncomfortable around you. I felt you should know this.

Pete

>

reply

___ Lee
to me

What's embarrassing about the video? It looks fine to me. Why would ANYONE in the peace movement be embarrassed by this? You should be PROUD of what happened and tell it to the world. It's the TRUTH, what's wrong with that?

I don't think I was that disruptive during the coalition meetings. I was speaking my mind. Should I have just shut up instead of 'Shout Out?' Does an asian speaking his mind make you uncomfortable? Do you want me to be a quiet little asian and do your laundry and not say anything while the white people are talking? Am I the only one who you feel 'uncomfortable' around?

You have not seen the tip of the iceburg.

Lee

>

from Pete Perry
to ___ Lee
date Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 2:32 PM
subject Re: I'm going to prepare a list

Lee,

Again, Thomas is struggling with severe substance abuse. His life is in danger because of this. There was no point to his arrest, other than him constantly goading police with "Arrest me, I need it." And "You goddamn dumb monkeys." That was his message. What's the point?

Lee, you make me uncomfortable because you have talked about using violence. You also have said just plain old mean things. Sorry, brother man, I don't care if you are white or purple you make me uncomfortable because of your BEHAVIOR. A couple other people have said the same thing to me. Maybe your behavior will change when you are around others, or maybe it won't. I believe that's up to you.

We do want the Peace Center Web site to be used by activists actually organizing, and sharing their thoughtful comments about the peace and justice movement. We don't want to embarrass our friends and allies for no apparent reason.

peace,
Pete

------

What happened at Discovery is all very sad, and I think there are folks you just can't reach... Be at peace now, Lee. A peace you couldn't find in this world -- a world you had already, in some ways, became disconnected from.

Note -- This reporter actually spoke with Lee's brother who said he probably wanted to die: ABC News, Sept. 1

NoVa Greens Talk: Ending Mountaintop Removal

2010-07-29T22:57:00.002-04:00

Really glad to have done this show. I think eventually Mountaintop Removal will be abolished! Special thanks to Bo Webb and everyone at Coal River Mountain Watch.

NoVa Greens Talk: Ending Mountaintop Removal

Transitions in Pete's World

2010-07-21T23:18:00.005-04:00

I told myself I was going to write a huge blog entry on all things going on with me personally, professionally, and activism-wise. I am at the end of significant relationship and will be moving into a fun home in College Park in August. I get to keep the dog, my number one canine -- Bruno -- and my new housemates are enthusiastically welcoming him! The resident feline, however, does not seem to enthused. I think the two can still warm up to each other, and frankly I doubt Bruno even really understands all things cat.

In regards to my profession, I have been studying a bit for the certified archivist exam on August 11th. Although I have been told by some that since I have a master's degree in library and information science with some archives classes (and work experience), I don't really need this certification. Personally, I think it will strengthen my candidacy as I continue to job search (which has been a long and often disappointing process). However, I am very close to landing a fairly decent job at the Library of Congress, which will strengthen some archival skills. I will have to let you know when that final decision happens.

Activism, well still involved in the NoVa Greens -- at least until I move to Maryland. A week from tomorrow I will be doing the first full-length episode of NoVa Greens talk! My guest will be anti-mountaintop removal activist Bo Webb. He is a native West Virginian living in the heart of the coal fields and is with Coal River Mountain Watch, which I have heard of and been impressed with their work. Currently I am reading Coal River by Michael Shnayerson. This is all part of a build up to a late September mobilization called Appalachia Rising.

Anti-war/anti-torture stuff -- there have been a bunch of acquittals in DC. First 24 activists with Witness Against Torture were acquitted of Unlawful Assembly both inside the Capitol Rotunda and the east steps of the Capitol Building. This was a major victory for First Amendment Rights! Another First Amendment victory was the acquittal of the indomitable Cindy Sheehan and two others stemming from a March 20 protest at the White House. Superstar activist attorney Mark Goldstone was involved in both cases. Congratulations are in order for Mark, as he is now turning around his win-loss average.

Money continues to be very tight, so activism will need to take a back seat to just working, earning money, pinching pennies. But I don't have much to complain about. I have my baby dog Bruno to fulfill my devoted love and companionship quotient. And regards to my hobby of role-playing games, sadly my Pathfinder campaign maybe going on a hiatus, as right now I need to hold down a second part-time gig in addition tot he historical society. Major bummer, but I am sure I'll be able to pick up this past-time again in a month or two!

We had our very first Internet Talk Radio Show!

2010-06-25T09:04:00.001-04:00

It was sort of a test run, but it actually is a pretty good introduction to our local political group, Northern Virginia Greens. We plan on making this a monthly 30-minute effort!

An introduction the Northern Virginia Greens

The case of WikiLeaks and Bradley Manning: Obama criminalizing whistleblowers

2010-06-20T07:49:00.006-04:00

First there was Shamai Leibowitz receiving the longest jail sentence in U.S. history for a whistleblower earlier this year, and now there is the case of Australian-born investigative journalist Julian Assange actively being sought by the U.S. Government -- and the arrested, but not yet charged, 22 year-old Pfc. Bradley Manning.

Manning should be a hero for exposing war crimes. However, he is being treated as a dangerous criminal and held indefinitely in Iraq. According to an Internet chat with a convicted felon who subsequently betrayed him, Manning explained why he allegedly gave whistleblower site WikiLeaks two massacre videos (the first released, the second coming very soon) and reportedly 260,000 diplomatic cables:

"I want people to see the truth… regardless of who they are, because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public."

This is evolving into a fascinating case of freedom of the press, and the right of the people to information in a democracy. Sadly, the Obama administration wants to criminalize this activity and WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief is now in hiding.

Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales of Democracy Now reported on this matter:

Journalist and attorney, Glenn Greenwald also wrote an expose on this whole matter, digging into it a bit deeper. He also questions the motivations and tactics of the criminal hacker Adrian Lamo (who also reportedly has some mental issues) who turned Bradley over to Federal authorities and Wired magazine, which did not publish the entire Internet chat logs, only portions of them. Here's Greenwald's article: The strange and consequential case of Bradley Manning, Adrian Lamo and WikiLeaks

My now unused degree in journalism is coming in handy as I follow this case, and observe the various ethical issues involved. I believe the WikiLeaks/Assange/Manning case has a lot of legal and societal implications, and will be remembered in a similar vein to the way Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers are today.

Personally, I believe the people of the U.S. and the entire world need to know of these war crimes. The second video, to be released very soon, is of a massacre in Afghanistan is believed to show the brutal slaughtering of approximately 140 humans, many of whom are children. So, keep watching WikiLeaks...

Steve Mihalis, a great friend and man of peace

2010-04-16T17:59:00.002-04:00

May we all take up the cause as Steve did, and perhaps more importantly in the *manner* that he did.

I spoke with Steve by phone a week before he passed. He was in a whole lot of pain and the drugs were not helping. I forced back tears, as I was talking with him. The conversation was too brief, as was the time I knew this great guy. As I ended the conversation, I said "Steve, you know what? There's a whole lot of us in D.C. who love you." He just responded that he loved all of us, as well.

I had been arrested with Steve a handful of times, as we resisted the empire's wars and its unjust detaining and mistreatment fellow human beings. He always arrived in DC with a smile and open arms for a hug and a kind word, or two, or three.

Steve never had an unkind word for anyone. He became very involved with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance over the last four years, and that's how I got to know him better.He always provided this wonderful source of positive energy during our nonviolent direct actions. He truly believed that together we can make the world a better one.

My life has been enriched by knowing Steve, many many lives have been. For this I am deeply grateful. And I am pledging to interact with the world a bit more like Steve.

Steve, we love you and miss you dearly! Now rest and be with the angels, friend.

I understand the funeral will be tomorrow in his hometown of Elyria, Ohio. Here's the following related info:

Friends will be received Saturday from 2 P.M. until the time of a 5 P.M. service at Dicken Funeral Home, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria. Reverend Mary Meadows will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family through the funeral home or to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 2173 North Ridge Road East, Suite H, Lorain, Ohio 44055-3400.

Anti-War Camp to Nonviolently Resist Shut Down

2010-03-22T08:37:00.004-04:00

Anti-War Group Peace of the Action led by Cindy Sheehan Refuses to Leave and Will Expand Anti-War Encampment, Camp OUT NOW, While Permit Runs Out

Press Contacts
Robby Diesu 631-241-5966 robby@peaceoftheaction.org DC Coordinator
Polly Miller 202-595-5892 polly@peaceoftheaction.org DC Coordinator

www.peaceoftheaction.org

Monday, March 22nd at 11:30 am
Camp OUT NOW (between 15th and 17th on Constitution NW) parking is available on Constitution.

Cindy Sheehan has spent the weekend in jail and will be arraigned on Monday. Directly following her arraignment she will join with fellow members of Peace of the Action, and follow through on the plans to continue the camp after the permit runs out. The group is planning on staying in there current location, between 15th and 17th on Constitution NW, and from there moving to directly in front of the White House (Lafayette Park side) after the police force the shut down at their current location. The group will continue their encampment until their demands are met: A meeting with President Obama where he creates a Peace Council and an end to the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

--
Peace and Justice for all
Robby Diesu
52diesu@gmail.com
DC Coordinator for Peace of the Action

Camp Out Now set up today!

2010-03-15T22:16:00.006-04:00

Peace of the Action swung into action today, setting up Camp Out Now. Cindy Sheehan, who I am quite happy to have gotten to know, has no plans of leaving until the War OF Terror begins to end.

Please stop by and visit Peace of the Action on the north side of the Washington Monument. Hard to miss, as the tents are directly across Constitution Avenue from the back of the White House.

This morning as we were setting up camp, we did a sun dance with some drumming, the rain stopped, Ann Wright joined us, and Obama flew over in his helicopter -- Cindy was the first one to react waving the peace sign! Weather should improve during the week, and there will probably be more chances to interact with the president.

Reports coming from camp this evening is that more tents have been set up next to the larger communal tent and the police are not happy with this. We shall see how this plays out.

From CNN's Shannan Adler

Washington (CNN) - Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who became a household name for protesting outside of former President Bush's Texas ranch, is now camping out on the soggy grounds of the Washington Monument in an effort to draw attention to her cause.

Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, said she and her fellow anti-war protestors are demanding that a representative from the peace movement have a seat at the table when war is being considered.

"We are committed to doing this until we see activity from the government," said Sheehan, referring to the anti-war protestors resolve to remain on the National Mall.

Sheehan said that each day this week there will be "teach-ins and training for non-violent civil resistance until Monday when the action starts."

The "action" will be blocking intersections in the nation's Capital as well as protesting at offices, she said. But Sheehan noted "we don't want to divulge what we are doing because we don't want law enforcement to be able to organize against us beforehand for our actions."

After a trip to Target to load up on necessary camping supplies as well as tables and chairs it would appear that Sheehan has no plans on leaving.

Why I arrived

2010-02-21T19:05:00.006-05:00

The first meeting of the now revitalized Greens Party of Fairfax County was held yesterday at the Oakton Public Library. I am glad to be working with Green veterans Jim Lowenstern and Paul Hughes. Jim has run for House of Delegates in the past. Paul started the meeting with a presentation on corporate personhood, which has again become a hot topic in light of the Supreme Court's disastrous decision stating that money equaled free speech and that corporations are entitled to the same First Amendment rights that we as human citizens of the U.S. enjoy.

We had a larger turnout than expected at this meeting. A couple Greens moving to the area from other states, and three folks who are new to the Green Party but expressed an interest in becoming involved. I truly believe we can make a difference on the local level, and I hope more progressives will become actively involved in their own communities.

Our next meeting in March will continue where we left off in deciding which local issues we wished to focus on, and which are some of the county and municipal seats we many consider running for. There's a lot to work on locally, and I am looking forward to doing my part in turning Fairfax County in a more progressive direction. Here is the group's Web site: NoVa Greens.

Looking back at my previous posting, and realizing that I do want to help Cindy Sheehan and Robby and Polly with Peace of the Action (particularly Camp Out Now) in March, I now admit that at times my words were too harsh. I admire those still incredibly dedicated to the peace and justice movement. I am sorry that my words may have pushed some friends away. However, I feel I was entitled to express my own thoughts and feelings. Like I said, perhaps the words chosen were not the best. Although I no longer really see this struggle as "my struggle," I respect and admire so many involved in it.

I am just glad to be working with the local greens and living my life with Matthew. Money is tight, but we are pulling through.

Why I left

2010-02-03T04:52:00.004-05:00

I promised myself I would write this for a while now. Dissatisfied with the pace of change and lack of cohesion and supportive community within the peace and justice movement, I decided to return to my own life and focus on building my career and having a good life with my partner. I knew I would be taking a long break from activism and organizing before I even went to jail (Dec. 18-21), but my time in there simply confirmed this in my own mind. I realized that leaving this "movement" was the right thing, but at the same time I was annoyed that people I cared for were sacrificing a great deal more than 98% of the rest of the peace and justice movement, and were getting precious little support. I wanted to make a point about this. This fact exposes a major injustice. I also was not getting hardly any support for my own ordeal.

Furthermore, a few I had considered good friends had already turned against me. They were angry that I would challenge them, and be so completely honest in my opinions about the movement's lack of diversity and willingness to adapt.

The peace and justice movement has shrunk during President Obama's tenure. Some within the progressive community, although fewer now than a year ago, persist in seeing him as some great hope. Something nearing the proportions of a modern day Moses. Efforts to persuade them otherwise have not been very successful. So not only is the peace and justice movement stuck in doing the same limited, predictable and easily dismissed protests but it is floundering in the face of this unrealistic belief that elections can change our course. Meanwhile social movements have not changed anything in a positive direction in decades.

I wish those who persist in the struggle good luck, although I am disappointed by their unwillingness to accept diversity and adapt their tactics. Groups like National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, although well-intentioned, have stubbornly clung to the same type of actions which are not working. And now for those risking jail time, this group (as well as many others) offers very little legal or financial aid.

Jail is a terrifying place, and although this would probably be a major part of a nonviolent revolution, far too few are willing to go there. Personally, I went there once, and I do not care to repeat it. This burden, like so many others within the movement is not fairly shared. And there's not a lot of real concrete support; there remains a lack of community and cohesion which is deeply disappointing and troubling.

On a personal level, my relationship with my wonderful partner is getting better. Now is a good time for me to get off this crazy merry-go-round. I have very little hope we can impact the course of the empire at this time. We can, however, impact our own lives one day at a time in very personal but powerful ways.

A letter to Federalist Society friends from the John Yoo event

2010-01-18T16:51:00.004-05:00

Lindsay is a great young Catholic Worker. She has already impressed me with her always cheerful demeanor, and quiet and strong spirituality. I thank her for this powerful letter, which reminds me what it's all about.

Lindsay Hagerman, New York, NY
Friday, January 15, 2010: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday

Dear Roman, Simone, Greg, Phil, David, and the rest of the people who shared a table with me at John Yoo's talk this afternoon:

I wish I had enough foresight to hand you a note when I left our table. Since I did not, I am left to pray that this letter reaches each of you.

This afternoon at twelve o'clock, I joined your table in the center of the banquet room for John Yoo's book signing and luncheon/talk. We chatted for about a half an hour until the speaking began. Soon after John began to speak, my friend Bob stood up by his table behind us. Some of you looked back and saw him standing silently with a black hood over his head, holding a sign that read "Indefinite Detention = Torture = Illegal." After about two minutes, a security guard asked Bob to leave the room and Bob complied. I waited a few more minutes then I excused myself from our table and stepped into the center aisle. I made sure that I stood directly in John Yoo's line of vision. I pulled a black hood from my purse and put it over my head. I silently stood holding a large piece of paper that read: "Legal arguments cannot mask torture." I silently prayed for you, for me, for John, for the victims of torture around the world, and for all of our families.

Before I had time for much else, a security guard grabbed my waist. With the guard behind me, I very slowly processed with hood and sign until I left the room. During that slow walk, I prayed for forgiveness. I prayed for forgiveness from God and from torture victims throughout history. I prayed for all of us in that room, including myself, who are or have been complicit with the sin of torture, whether in our presence or in our names.

In the stairwell as I was leaving to join the outside demonstration, I sent up a prayer of gratitude for Dr. King's life, for his work, and for the opportunity I had today to express my love for all of God and Her creation.

Even though we clearly disagree in our opinion of John Yoo's work, I genuinely enjoyed our conversations and would love to have more opportunities to share back and forth. Unfortunately, there were times in a couple conversations where I was not able to be forthright with you, especially when some of you asked me questions to which honest answers may have "outed" me as a protester. I regret having "deceived" you and want you to know that the vast majority of information I shared about myself was truthful.

My name is Lindsay Hagerman. I am 26 years old and was raised in Dallas, Texas. I graduated from Highland Park High School (an elite public school in a very white, very Republican community). I graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA and then did my graduate work in American history at the University of Delaware. It is true that I have relatives that have urged me to go to law school. I do live and work at a House of Hospitality for homeless women and children in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Roman, I was moved by something you shared with me from your years at Stanford Law School during the Vietnam War. You spoke with resentment about protesters who repeatedly called you a "fascist." I mourn how name-calling from all sides undermines our ability to understand one another. I have continued to reflect on your story, as well as conversations I had with others of you, and here are a couple more things I want you to understand about me and what I did today:

I am like you. No matter how much you may want to lock me away in the neat and tidy "protestor" stereotype, I feel "at home" with you. Sitting at that table, even I was taken aback by the ease with which I slipped back into the "polite" social norms of "my past." You reminded me of members of my family, people in my neighborhood growing up, classmates and friends of mine. Despite Yoo's joke about his students (caricatured as Jon Stewart-watching liberal activists) not doing their homework, I did mine. I did it well in "good schools" with a large percentage of conservative teachers and professors. But the more I tried to understand the experiences of poor people and people of color, the more I questioned basic fundamental "truths" I'd been raised to believe. Before long James Baldwin's words rang true with me:

"People who imagine that history flatters them (as it does, indeed, since they wrote it) are impaled on their history like a butterfly on a pin and become incapable of seeing or changing themselves, or the world. This is the place in which it seems to me, most white Americans find themselves. Impaled. They are dimly, or vividly, aware that the history they have fed themselves is mainly a lie, but they do not know how to release themselves from it, and they suffer enormously from the resulting personal incoherence."

When we embrace "torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment" as acceptable methods for dealing with any human being, we embrace incoherence. I don't see any of you or John Yoo as evil—to the contrary, you are my brothers and sisters. I love you too much to stand by while you continue to impale yourselves and destroy the lives of our other brothers and sisters. I had a moral obligation to act as I did today precisely because I can "pass" in settings like a Federalist Society gathering.

Please, please feel free to contact me next time you're in New York City. I would love to take any of you out for coffee or tea. Either way, my prayers are with you.

Sincerely,
Lindsay

2010-01-10T11:28:00.002-05:00

Do you agree with these?

Ecological Wisdom
Whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves. We advocate stewardship of our resources for the continued health of our communities and our planet.

Social Justice
Everyone should share in the fruits of our society regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, age, or disability. We work for a world in which all can live free of fear and discrimination

Grassroots Democracy
Citizens have the right and responsibility to participate in the environmental, political, and economic decisions that affect their lives.

Nonviolence
We reject violence at all levels of society, from the family to the nation. We promote peace by working for justice and by advocating non-violent resolution to conflict.

Decentralization
Concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few contributes to social and economic injustice as well as environmental destruction. We call for the return of local decision-making so individuals and communities may act in their own best interests.

Community-Based Economics
We support the strengthening of local communities by encouraging economic self-reliance in all ways practical.

Feminism
We call for cooperative ways of interacting to replace the cultural ethics of domination and control. We actively promote equal rights for all citizens.

Respect for Diversity
We support the cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity among all people. We also cherish and encourage the preservation of the earth's biodiversity.

Personal & Global Responsibility
As individuals, we strive to be mindful of our interconnectedness, to consider the effect of our actions and lifestyle choices on the earth and all its inhabitants.

Future Focus & Sustainability
For love of our children, we consider the long range consequences of current actions. For the sake of future generations, we seek to create a society which meets the needs of everyone within the natural limits of the earth.

If you do -- Then join the Green Party! Be true to yourself, and do something good for your community, your state, your nation.

These were taken from the Green Party of Virginia's Website: (http://vagreenparty.org/)

Recent Reports from Cairo -- Gaza Freedom March

2010-01-02T08:13:00.004-05:00

By Jean Athey

Gaza Freedom March
Fourth Letter: December 31, 2009

Over 1300 people came to Cairo this week from all over the world, hoping to join Palestinians today in a nonviolent Gaza Freedom March to end the blockade. Since we were prohibited from going to Gaza, we decided to march in Cairo today instead. We hoped to step off at 10 a.m., the same time as the march in Gaza was to begin.

Many people managed to make it to the location selected for the march—near the Egyptian Museum-- but they were quickly and forcibly removed from the street; a few were injured and some had their cameras destroyed. Once off the street and onto the sidewalk, protesters were surrounded by riot police, and there they remained all day.

I was one of those who didn’t manage to get to the march. Egyptian police surrounded the Lotus Hotel early this morning, where many people are staying, including me, and they prevented us from leaving. The government also cut off Internet access to the hotel. We were able to go outside directly in front of the hotel, which is on a busy street, but we could not cross the police line. So, we set up a demonstration on the sidewalk, chanting, waving signs, singing, and talking to passers-by and to the police.

We finally stopped the demonstration at about 3 p.m.

A lovely French woman named Delphine is my roommate, and tonight we went together to eat dinner. We saw a young couple going into the same restaurant as us and speaking American English. Assuming they were with the March, we invited them to join us, which they did. But it turned out that they were simply in Egypt on vacation. We began to tell them about the March, which they found interesting. Both were well-educated, but neither knew anything at all about Palestine, Gaza, or the issues we are trying to address. Nothing. Nada. Rien.

It was disheartening to see the level of education that is needed in the US if American policy is ever to change. They were a very nice couple and highly supportive of our actions, once they understood what they are about.

There is so much work to do in the US.

Tonight we will ring in the New Year in Tahrir Square, altogether. We hope, we pray, that 2010 will bring some relief and some hope for all Palestinians and, especially, that the siege of Gaza will end.

*** ***
Gaza Freedom March
Fifth Letter—January 1, 2010

Hedy Epstein, 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, has stolen our hearts. At four feet-ten, she is a giant. Her gentle smile lights up every room that she enters, and yet if you saw her on the street, you might not immediately sense her power. Unless you paid close attention, you would just see a sweet little old lady.

When she came to Cairo, Hedy decided to undertake a fast in support of the people of Gaza, a particularly apt form of protest given the inadequacy of both the supply and type of food the people there have access to. Malnutrition is endemic in Gaza, and children’s growth is stunted; people frequently go hungry.

Inspired by Hedy, thirty others joined her fast, beginning on December 28. Today, the fasters held a press conference on the steps of the building housing the Egyptian journalists’ union. Some of the thirty will continue to fast, others will stop now. They released this statement:

We are thirty activists from around the world, inspired by Hedy Epstein, the 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, who initiated a hunger strike in Cairo for the opening of the borders of Gaza to the outside world.

We recognize that the Palestinians of Gaza continue to hunger for food, shelter, and most of all for freedom.

We continue to hunger for justice for Gaza and all of Palestine. At this time, we announce that we will feast when Gaza feasts.

Until that time, each of us will choose the time to end her/his fast and again take food.

Our pleasure in that food will always be mixed with the pain of Palestinians.

We call on all people of conscience from around the world to renew their resolve for peace and justice in Palestine.

My friend Keren, Jewish like Hedy, has talked about how personally difficult it is to work for justice in Palestine when your dearest community will not support you, even actively opposes you. Hedy, too, has struggled with this problem, Keren told me, when members of her own family rejected her. And yet, she takes this strong, brave action, risking her health and accepting shunning from loved ones in order to stand up for those who are oppressed.

On this final day of the Gaza Freedom March, I have reflected on the experience—did we accomplish anything? We have all been inspired--by individuals of conscience like Hedy, by the sense of international friendship and solidarity that has pervaded these days here, even by the observable impact of our practice of nonviolence on the young policemen. There has been media coverage of our multiple protests here, and so we have raised up the issue of Gaza around the world, although coverage in the mainstream media has been limited, especially in the U.S. We have made lasting connections with one another, and so a nascent international movement, initiated by the South African delegation, is forming to combat the apartheid system in Palestine, a system with many similarities to what once existed in South Africa.

Most people will leave Cairo either tomorrow or the next day, returning home to their various countries. A few of us are staying on, however, hoping that we can, in a few days, get into Gaza after all--not to participate in a march but rather to offer our service as volunteers. If we are successful and cross into Gaza, we know that we will be greeted with love by the people there. We received this e-mail yesterday, written a few days ago, from the youth of Gaza:

We are still waiting for everyone to cross and share his/her feelings with us, but even if Egypt keeps you out, your work in Egypt is critical. Egypt is one of the perpetrators of the blockade, and we so appreciate all the solidarity protests you have conducted at great personal risk throughout the great city of Cairo, at every important "nerve center." You showed your support of Gaza and Palestine loud and clear, waking humanity up to the 1.5 million persons in Gaza who have been suffering for the past four years.

So please don't stop fighting, no matter what happens. With your help, we will achieve peace and justice. We are marching for freedom together.

We are still waiting for the Gaza Freedom March to cross from Cairo and we are against the Egyptian government’s decision! Welcome to Gaza and to a Happy New Year without blockade, settlements and occupation!

As for me, I have never spent a more memorable New Year’s Eve than last night, when I went to the French Embassy where the 200-strong French delegation was still camped out. Marching on the sidewalk between rows of small tents, with a couple of hundred riot police standing guard at the curb, the French, wearing paper New Year’s Eve hats, chanted, “Ga-za, Ga-za, on n’oublie pas! Ga-za, Ga-za, on n’oublie pas!” Gaza, Gaza, you are not forgotten! And, “Gaza, bonne annee, oui! Gaza, bonne annee, oui!” Happy New Year, Gaza.

May 2010 be the year that the blockade ends and freedom comes to Gaza and all Palestine.

A week ago I was in DC Jail -- This is a reflection

2009-12-27T17:55:00.002-05:00

A week ago, I was spending my third and last night in DC Jail. A loud, violent and cruel place. A place populated by young black men, as a white inmate I was an extreme minority. And as a gay white man of somewhat slight build, I elected to get the protective custody order from Judge Lynn Liebovitz upon my sentencing. My sentencing, in retrospect was not that severe, and this is because my pre-sentencing officer had recommended probation and I admitted that my days of being arrested for expressing my moral and ethical beliefs (which put me in complete opposition to the U.S. Government’s foreign policy) were over. Perhaps someday, when I am retired and close to my friend Eve Tetaz’s age I may resume nonviolent civil resistance against the moral bankruptcy and downright evil policies of the U.S. Empire, but for now I choose a different life for my lifetime partner and myself.

Many of you have expressed an interest in discussing my experiences further, and I am open to accepting questions from you once you have finished reading this small essay of mine. However, I was only there a short while, and I am not familiar with the women’s privately run jail. Also, I think Catholic Workers who have done jail time in excess of a year might provide greater insight, especially if you think you will be doing more than a small handful of days in prison.

Why do I say my sentencing was not that severe? Because we are dealing with Judge Liebovitz in this case. She is well known as a harsh sentencer. She gave Ellen Barfield 25 days jail time, and another 50 suspended during her entire year of supervised probation. I only got four days (which in DC jail time is more like three) and nine months supervised probation. Eve’s sentencing was delayed due to health concerns and a possible medical procedure. However, she is likely to not receive much compassion from Judge Liebovitz, who said that our actions were selfish and extremely egotistical. She was also disturbed that Ellen and Eve chose to scatter money with their own blood on it in a Senate hearing room. In my opinion their actions were powerful, as the US Government spends our tax dollars every single day creating more bloodshed in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan. I only spoke out, quoting John Kerry’s own 1971 anti-war words back to him, trying to remind him of who he was and why he was morally outraged during another illegal and immoral quagmire of a war. Such audacity. How dare we?

And yet, the price is rather high. If you are going to jail alone with no other political dissidents with you, it can be an extremely dangerous place. The DC Jail, at least the men’s, has been locked down for nearly three weeks now since they found a handgun hidden there. There are persistent rumors that there is a second handgun hidden somewhere there, as well. Lockdown means you are in your cell for 23 hours, with one hour to shower and look at the TV for a few minutes before returning to your cell. I was in lockdown regardless, because that’s what protective custody is. Also, protective custody means you get your own cell. For those who are gay or transgender, or possibly convicted of a crime that would thoroughly piss off other inmates – they typically receive this status.

They do feed you three meals a day, but the obnoxious sounds of yelling, cursing, and threatening inmates will keep you up all night. As I left the jail, one guard said to me: “No I don’t think you will be coming back. This is hell on earth.”

I heard constant comments oppressive of women, dehumanizing of gays, and extremely disrespectful of each other among the inmates. This is a product of a country, which is seriously ill, which does not seem to care about its poor. Where many of the rest of us pretend poverty and lack of education is not a major issue. Where there are very few opportunities for those who are poor and of color. The statistic I am familiar with in DC regarding incarceration is that at any given time one in five black men under the age of 40 are in prison.

Part of the journey of nonviolent resistance is incarceration. It is a fairly serious sacrifice. I doubt that there are many Americans willing to travel this route now, unless the wars and torture impact their lives directly. How many will go into the jailhouse for altruistic reasons? And how many of us are actually doing this for our own selfish reasons – somewhat of a messiah complex? My words are harsh, but I have though about this topic for a long while now. While I admire Eve, Ellen, and the many great ploughshares activists, I have come to realize two important points for myself. Firstly, while I don’t regret any of my civil resistance actions and do believe that I was trying to highlight the US Empire’s own criminal behavior on a massive scale, I have come to accept that this is no longer my struggle. At this point, I feel that I have done my part and now I am interested in other endeavors, perhaps on a more local level, working in some capacity where the US Government has failed people. Secondly, I basically have no hope that the US Government can be “reformed” or somehow redeemed from the awful and corrupt system that it has become, an engine for the violent and oppressive US Empire.

Many of you, dear friends, will continue with civil resistance actions. However, I urge you to prepare yourselves psychologically for jail. Many of you will endure it alone. I don’t think there will be what many of us had hoped for, a massive wave of growing numbers of people willing to engage in such great actions. Cindy Sheehan continues to hold onto this hope through her planning of Peace of the Action in March. I’ve been at this for about five years now, and I know even progressives are far more forgiving of Obama than they were of the fool from Texas. I just don’t see it happening. But good luck and may God/Goddess smile upon you.

Where I am and my setencing statement

2009-12-12T05:31:00.008-05:00

Hello blog-readers! I have not written here for a while. These are tough economic times, and Matthew and are trying to cope with them on a very personal level. I continue to job search for something full-time with a decent salary, but I am glad to have returned to CCHS for now. My own circumstances and feelings about the state of things in our country has lead me to decide to basically quit being an activist-organizer (for free) within the peace and justice movement. Those who continue to carry a lionshare of the load for this movement have my respect. I do not regret any of my actions for peace and justice, but I realize now is the time to start a new chapter in my life.

Here is my sentencing statement in the Kerry case involving Ellen, Eve and myself:

Good morning Judge Liebowitz.

On May 21st, Eve Tetaz, Ellen Barfield, Steve Mihalis and I spoke during a senate foreign relations committee hearing. We provided public testimony. Public witness. Nothing more. Nothing less. We believe it is part of our obligations as citizens to be active participants in our democracy and voice our concerns when it is necessary. Myself, I quoted Senator John Kerry's own 1971 anti-war warning to him. I wanted to remind him of who he was as a young man disillusioned with a tragic and misdirected war he had been embroiled in. I wanted to plead with John Kerry to help end this tragic and misdirected war which has now gone on twice as long as World War II for our nation. We were nonviolent, and there were no victims. We were trying to prevent the continued victimization of innocent Afghans at the hands of our own military might.

I work as an archivist with the Chevy Chase Historical Society. I have a master's degree in library and information science from Catholic University of America where I completed my coursework in 2008 with a 3.93 GPA.

I do not have children of my own, but I do have two nephews and one niece, and I hope for a more peaceful and just world for them when they become adults. They are the main reasons I became involved in the peace and justice movement five years ago, because I believed hope alone was not sufficient. This month, President Obama announced 30,000 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan and tens of billions of dollars more, in addition to what is already being spent on this tragic and misdirected war, will be wasted. This is folly and harmful to our own country where more than half of our tax dollars are spent on past, present and future military expenditures. Obama argues that this is a just war. I disagree. It is a war based on revenge and aggressive domination.

We are people of conscience. We believe in improving our communities, our nation and the world. We are also responsible individuals and we stand before you today to accept our sentence. Thank you.

Ellen, Eve and I go to court

2009-10-11T07:28:00.000-04:00

Anti-war protestors prosecuted by government

Contact: Ellen Barfield, 410-243-5876; Pete Perry, 202-631-0974 October 11, 2009

WASHINGTON – Three nonviolent anti-war activists go on trial Tuesday, October 13 for an action in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on May 21 of this year.

Ellen Barfield of Baltimore, Eve Tetaz of Washington, DC, and Pete Perry of Fairfax, Virginia will argue their case before a jury of their peers. The three are charged with Disruption of Congress. The trial will be presided over by Judge Lynn Leibovitz in courtroom 310 of the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse.

“We were expressing our dissent to the costly and tragic war in Afghanistan,” Perry said. “This is a war based on revenge that has now clearly lost the support of a majority of Americans.”

Barfield is a military veteran, Tetaz is a retired DC public schoolteacher, and Perry was instrumental in organizing last week's protest against the Afghanistan War in Washington.

NON-VIOLENT PEACE DEMONSTRATORS BRUTALIZED

2009-10-06T08:13:00.003-04:00

News Release: Non-Violent Peace Demonstrators Brutalized by Secret Service at White House Today

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Martin, 301-537-8244 (mobile)

Paul Kawika Martin, 951-217-7285 (mobile)

BY SECRET SERVICE AT WHITE HOUSE TODAY
Activists had sought a meeting with the Obama Administration to urge an end to the war in Afghanistan

Washington, D.C. – Twenty-three non-violent peace activists calling for an end to the US war in Afghanistan were violently pushed and dragged away from a White House gate by Secret Service officers this afternoon. The activists, participating in a larger demonstration of over 300 people organized by the National Campaign for Non-Violent Resistance, had sent a letter to President Obama last month requesting a meeting today to discuss their opposition to the war.

After a non-violent “die-in” at the White House gate, the peace activists waited for over three hours while various police departments, including the Washington, DC Metro Police, Park Police and Secret Service, gave conflicting stories about whether the activists would be arrested or not, the group’s request to meet with someone from the Administration having been summarily rebuffed by White House guards.

Suddenly, with no warning and with dozens of other police officers watching, a group of about a dozen Secret Service officers swooped in to push and drag the protesters, who included a number of retirees, away from the White House gate and outside a police perimeter that had been established in the normally public area in front of the White House.

“I wonder how the officers who brought a grandmother to tears with their completely unnecessary, harsh use of force will explain how their day went when they go home to their families at the end of their shift,” asked Kevin Martin, Executive Director of Peace Action. Martin was shoved hard in the back by two Secret Service officers, causing him to fall into National Campaign for Non-Violent Resistance Co-convener Joy First, a grandmother from Wisconsin. First was roughed up by several officers and was still in tears twenty minutes after the incident.

“Clearly, the Obama Administration, which has increased the violence in Afghanistan with its escalation of troops earlier this year, would rather have Secret Service thugs rough up peace activists than to engage in a dialogue with us about Afghanistan,” said Martin. Paul Kawika Martin (no relation), Peace Action’s Policy Director, had just returned from a citizens’ peacemaker delegation to Afghanistan organized by the peace group Code Pink. “But we will not be deterred, and the American people have turned decidedly against this war. We call on Obama to meet with us to discuss Afghanistan and apologize for the brutality of the White House police force, and to begin bringing US troops home so the people of Afghanistan can resolve their country’s problems.”

Peace Action is the country’s largest peace and disarmament group with over 100,000 members nationwide. www.peace-action.org

The National Campaign for Non-Violent Resistance has worked for peace in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002. http://www.iraqpledge.org/

-30-

4 activists resisted at Vermont Yankee

2009-09-30T09:18:00.002-04:00

4 women arrested at Vt. Yankee

By SUSAN SMALLHEER Rutland HErald Staff - Published: September 29, 2009

VERNON - Four elderly women living downwind of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor were arrested Monday afternoon when they walked through the first two security gates at the Vernon reactor and sat down on folding chairs, blocking entry to the plant.

The four women, members of the Vermont Yankee Shut It Down Affinity Group, are no strangers to Vermont Yankee protests, and each said they had been arrested multiple times outside the Entergy Nuclear corporate headquarters in North Brattleboro but never prosecuted.

Entergy Nuclear officials said that the response by the plant's security forces Monday afternoon went well and denied that security had been breached. But the women, wearing tie-dye t-shirts and carrying folding stools and signs, ignored the entreaties of the armed guard at the guardhouse, marched right past him through the second chain-link gate and then sat down with their folding chairs and protest signs.

In about a minute, Vernon Police Chief Kevin Turnley showed up in his cruiser, and eventually three Vermont State Police cruisers showed up. The four women were put in the various cruisers and taken to the nearby Vernon Police Department, where they were processed and released.

At one point, a guard tried repeatedly to manually close the exit gate, but couldn't because it was caught on a metal box. The gates are usually controlled electronically.

Several cars and trucks turned around and backed away from the main entrance to the plant, which declared an internal emergency until the women were arrested and removed, according to John Dreyfuss, director of nuclear safety assurance, who came to the guard station to view the arrests.

Turnley said that the four women were asked to leave and when they refused they were arrested for unlawful trespass. Turnley said they were released with citations to appear in court in late December.

The group was led by Hattie Nestel of Athol, Mass., a former Brattleboro resident. She was the first to be arrested. Others included a 90-year-old retired peace worker, Frances Crowe from Northampton, Paki Wieland, 66, of Northampton, and Ellen Graves, 69, of West Springfield, Mass.

"There is no foolproof nuclear power plant," Nestel said before she was arrested.

"There is no such thing as a peaceful, safe, renewable and cost-effective nuclear power facility," she said, saying the plant should be shut down.

Paki Wieland, 66, the retired social worker and former college professor, said that the only rationale for nuclear power was corporate financial benefit.

"We're downwinders," said Wieland, who said it was a "brilliant" calculated decision to build Yankee so far south and so far east - "it wasn't in Vermont."

Wieland said that the radiation releases from the reactor follow predominant winds - that take the radiation away from Vermont to Massachusetts or New Hampshire.

"We're more at danger than Vermonters are," she said.

Wieland said she started protesting nuclear power back in 1977. "I'm an old Clam," she said, referring to the Clamshell Alliance, which protested the construction of the Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire.

Nestel said she had been watching the plant and realized from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., during a shift change, that the gates were left open, making the plant convenient for a protest.

"People are not looking at Vermont Yankee," said Nestel. "We are casting the spotlight on the danger. We will be breathing in the radiation, but we're willing to risk that."

The four women met beforehand at the Burger King restaurant in Brattleboro to discuss their last-minute plans. They were driven to the plant by a friend, who pulled up and blocked the first gate as all four got out. Another friend accompanied them, but didn't walk past the second gate.

The security guard, who appeared to be armed with a handgun, was heard talking to the women about the benefits of nuclear power, but they were intent on their goal of getting through the second gate and sitting down.

Larry Smith, spokesman for Entergy Nuclear, who also came to the plant gates, said that the protesters didn't get anywhere near the security gate, which is much closer to the reactor itself.

"They trespassed on our property and they were arrested," he said.

Dreyfuss said that the protesters posed a serious threat to the plant and to themselves.

"I'm worried. It's a dangerous thing to do. People are putting themselves at risk," said Dreyfuss, noting that the guards are authorized to use deadly force if necessary.

"It's dangerous, and we had an excellent response," Dreyfuss said.

While police have regularly arrested anti-nuclear protesters, they hardly ever get prosecuted, with county prosecutors saying it would take needed resources away from serious cases.

Turnley, who has been a member of the Vernon department, has seen plenty of protests in those years.

"I've seen a few," he said.

Press release: Protesters demand Obama end Afghanistan War

2009-09-27T10:04:00.002-04:00

Anti-war groups demand end to Afghan War,
demonstrate at the White House

For Immediate Release Sept. 27, 2009
Contact: Pete Perry, 202-631-0974; Gael Murphy, 202-412-6700

Washington – Disappointed with President Obama’s unwillingness to significantly change course from the Bush administration in Afghanistan, and alarmed by the recent troop build-up there, national anti-war groups will be joining together October 5th in a day of nonviolent direct action, during the week the Afghanistan War begins its ninth year. The coalition includes the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Code Pink, Peace Action, the Black is Back Coalition, Progressive Democrats of America, the War Resisters League, the Washington Peace Center, World Can’t Wait, Veterans for Peace, and Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Joining them will be Cindy Sheehan, the mother of Casey Sheehan, a soldier killed in Iraq in 2004.

The White House action — the first such protest aimed specifically at the war in Afghanistan — comes at a time when domestic support for the war is slipping badly and members of Congress are asking that the Obama administration rethink the entire approach to the conflict. The war increasingly appears unwinnable, unnecessary, and misguided, draining American lives and resources, causing immense suffering among Afghan civilians, and rallying a broad-based insurgency whose main goal is to end the US occupation — not to engage in long-range terrorist attacks against the United States. By destabilizing nuclear-armed Pakistan and stoking greater hatred of the United States, the war further weakens American security.

The coalition will deliver a letter to the president and request a meeting with him at 11:45 a.m. on Monday, October 5th. If the meeting is refused, dozens of peace and justice activists are prepared to risk arrest, in the tradition of Gandhi, Dr. King, and Dorothy Day, in order to persuade the commander-in-chief to meet their demands. The October 5 coalition demands:

1) That the U.S. cease its combat operations and military occupation of Afghanistan as well as its military operations in Pakistan, withdrawing all troops as soon as possible.
2) That the U.S. engages in vigorous international aid efforts, particularly medical assistance and infrastructure reconstruction, in Afghanistan.
3) That the U.S. closes the prison at Bagram Air Base, releasing those who have been held with no charges, and prosecuting suspected terrorists in civilian courts. The same should happen immediately at Guantanamo.
4) That money appropriated for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq be used for life-affirming programs in the U.S. and abroad, such as health care and housing for the poor.

“We are coming to the White House to insist that the government confront the realities of the war in Afghanistan and change course,” says Jeff Leys, co-director of Voices for Creative Nonviolence based in Chicago. “How long will the American people be asked to pay for death and destruction there, when we face so many urgent problems at home?”

The action at the White House will be preceded by a rally starting at 10:30 a.m. in McPherson Square. Lifelong war resister Liz McAlister of Jonah House will be the featured speaker.

###

2009-09-24T13:58:00.002-04:00

Dear Friends,

10/5 will be a great day and will mark a key step in the revival of
the anti-war movement, post Obama-mania. Altogether we are at
approximately 100 people signed up to risk arrest.

As decided on the last conference call, we will have one final
planning call before the Oct. 5 action.

As Frida noted, we need to talk about media. Are there other specific
things that people want added to the agenda? If so, please forward to
me.

Here is the tentative program for the rally in McPherson Square:
MC Welcome and Intro (5 minutes)
Poet 1 (one poem) (3 minutes)
Song by Emma's Revolution (5 minutes)
Poet 2 (one poem) (3 minutes)
Elizabeth McAlister (10 minutes)
Song by Emma's Revolution (5 minutes)
Black is Back Spokesperson (10 minutes)
Max Obuzsewski -Closing Remarks (5 minutes)
Song by Emma's Revolution (5 minutes)

I will make up the agenda and get it out along with a reminder early next week...

In peace and resistance,
Pete

Dialogue with the pres. before Oct. 5th

2009-09-15T08:44:00.001-04:00

September 15, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear president Obama:

We are writing on behalf of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance to seek a meeting to discuss the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. We are greatly concerned that the people of Afghanistan, like the people of Iraq, are suffering greatly from the U.S. invasion and the continued assault on this beleaguered country.

We feel you are stuck in the same trap, which ensnared President Lyndon Johnson. His decision to continue that awful war in Vietnam brought down his presidency. He failed to listen to the peace movement, and history has not been kind to him.

Today's peace movement is baffled by your persistence to wage war on the people of Afghanistan. Not only is your policy flawed, but it is doomed to failure. Afghanistan surely does not need more killing and destruction. It needs financial assistance and the willingness of the United States to build roads, schools and clinics. The people, especially the women and children, need food, medicine, shelter and an end to the fighting. Moreover, the U.S. military is unsuited to do humanitarian work in Afghanistan.

Please meet with us as soon as possible in order to explain your exit strategy, which must include a plan to provide aid and reconstruction in Afghanistan through nongovernmental organizations. After dialogue with a variety of people in Afghanistan, the U.S. government would then fund international efforts to assist Afghans with the rebuilding of their decimated infrastructure. This would include the funding of medical assistance needed to care for hundreds of thousands of people seriously wounded since the invasion in October 2001.

We protested the belligerency of the Bush administration, and now we are demonstrating against your misguided efforts in Afghanistan. We are mystified that in the midst of a horrible economic crisis, you are wasting precious tax dollars and other resources in a futile war without end. To call this a war of necessity is an attempt to rewrite history.

Develop time lines for the withdrawal of combat troops, close down all military bases, including the notorious prison at Bagram Air Base, and stop the bombing of Pakistan. We need an economic revival in this country, and not a war of choice in Afghanistan. A better use of your time and the country's resources would be to embark on a massive program of promoting clean energy throughout the United States and to get legislation passed guaranteeing health care for all.

Please respond by indicating when and where a meeting can be scheduled. We want to assist you in ending this very tragic chapter in U.S. history. Then you can go about the very painful process of trying to restore the world's trust in the U.S. government. Continuing the war in Afghanistan will further alienate our country from the global community. We look forward to your response and further dialogue.

In peace,

Joy First, Co-Convener, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

jsfirst@tds.net

Pete Perry, Co-Convener, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

pete4peace@gmail.com

Max Obuszewski,Coordinating Committee, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

mobuszewski@verizon.net

Ellen Barfield, Coordinating Committee, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

Malachy Kilbride, Coordinating Committee, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance

Kevin Zeese, Director, Voters for Peace

Gael Murphy, Co-Founder, Code Pink

Mike Ferner, President, Veterans for Peace

Leah Bolger, Vice President, Veterans for Peace

Elaine Brower, Military Families Speak Out

David Swanson, Co-Founder, AfterDowningStreet Coalition

June Eisley, Coordinator, Delaware Pacem in Terris

Don Muller, Sitkans for Peace and Justice

Patricia Wieland, Nothampton Committee to Stop the War in Iraq

Resisting a lost war...

2009-09-01T19:31:00.001-04:00

President Barak Obama presses on with an escalation in a war he cannot win. A majority of the Afghan people view U.S. military forces as a foreign occupying force, and now a growing majority of Americans no longer support this war. The United States empire can not sustain this military occupation. The facts on the ground and a myriad of historical examples prove this.

Afghanistan's history is replete with the tombstones of foreign occupiers. In the 18th centuries it was the Persians, twice. In the 19th and early 20th century it was the British, three times. In late 20th century the Soviets were thoroughly defeated in what was considered "their Vietnam."

Commander-in-chief Obama tells us this is a just war, a war we must fight to avenge those those killed on September 11th. However, President Karzai in his recent campaign and subsequent re-election has indicated a desire to sit down at the negotiating table with the Taliban. Furthermore, his brother-in-law is a known opium runner, while our military pledges to burn the poppy fields, a fantastical dream of cutting off the Taliban's primary funding source.

The American people tire of war, Osama bin Laden's whereabouts remain unknown, and we decimate civilian populations in both Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan (widening the war) with daily drone bombings. Latest polls show between 51-54% of the American people want this war to end. They are not stupid, they realize there is no "victory" to be had. Who is Obama doing this for? High-ranking military brass? Military contractors (who donated heavily to both his and Hillary Clinton's campaigns)? Surely it is not for the American people who are being told our government cannot afford comprehensive health care reform.

Now we are told August has turned out to be the deadliest month yet for the Afghanistan War. When will it end? It has resulted in lost lives, lost hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars, and lost direction and morality.

On October 5th the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance will join with a growing coalition of other anti-war groups by acting in a dramatic civil resistance action at the White House. We, as people desiring a more peaceful and just world, are demanding the following the same week the Afghanistan War begins its ninth year:

1) That the commander-in-chief remove all U.S. combat troops and halt to the occupation of Afghanistan. This would allow the Afghan people full autonomy and self-determination without foreign influence.

2) That the U.S. take part in an international aid effort, focusing on both medical assistance and the rebuilding of Afghanistan's infrastructure. That this work be done for the benefit of the Afghan people, not private contractors.

3) That the U.S. close the prison at Bagram, and those with no charges be freed. Those with charges should be tried in civilian court.

4) Immediately halt the disastrous and blatantly immoral drone bombing of Pakistan. This further threatens the stability of the entire region, and only produces further hatred of the U.S.

Sadly, despite promises of change we have been given continued war and a continuation of indefinite detention. It is now time for all people of conscience to act. It is time we begin forcing Obama's hand. Won't you join us in D.C. on October 5th?

For further information: NoGoodWar.org

###

~ Pete Perry is a D.C. native and peace and justice activist. He is also the co-convener of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance.

End these Endless Wars and Occupations -- Oct. 5th at the White House

2009-08-22T09:31:00.003-04:00

Hello,

You participated in the largest arrest action in U.S. Park Police history on September 26, 2005. I was with you. I was one of the 374 people of conscience acting for peace that day, including scholar Cornell West and peace mom Cindy Sheehan. As the present co-convener of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, I want to invite and encourage you to join us again on the week the Afghanistan War will enter its 9th year of lost lives, lost hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and lost direction and morality. This is a war that can not be won, yet the escalation continues. What are our troops fighting and dying for? Even President Karzai has said during his recent campaign that he wants to sit down at the negotiating table with the Taliban. It is time the war and occupation end, it is time to end indefinite detention at places like Bagram prison and begin the process of building peace and rebuilding infrastructures.

Eight years ago on October 7, 2001, the U.S. and Britain invaded Afghanistan -- and the war on Afghanistan continues today, with President Obama, the “anti-war candidate,” increasing the number of troops. On Monday, October 5, 2009, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR), working with Witness Against Torture, Peace Action, The War Resisters League, Atlantic Life Community, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and Veterans for Peace, and World Can't Wait will mark the anniversary and speak out against the war with direct action risking arrest at the White House.

On October 5th, we will gather at 10 AM at McPherson Square for a permitted rally and to hear lifelong war resister and widow of Phil Berrigan, Liz McAlister. From McPherson, we will march to Pennsylvania Avenue. Around noon, the various affinity groups will visit the White House calling for withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and demand an ending of the illegal bombing in Pakistan with US drones and other forms of violence, the closing of the Bagram prison, and an ending to indefinite detention and torture. We are calling for an end to these wars and occupations, including that of Iraq, so that our resources can be used for life-sustaining actions including the funding and the rebuilding of Afghanistan’s and Iraq's infrastructure and medical assistance to Afghans and Iraqis, in addition to poverty reduction programs in the United States and world wide. We are also calling for accountability for those who have committed war crimes.

The White House action is a key component of a number of complimentary actions planned for October.

For more information: www.nogoodwar.org
To sign up: http://vcnv.org/ncnr
For other events and an ongoing campaign: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=4019

In Peace and Resistance,
Pete Perry
Co-Convener, NCNR

Three of My Friends Held in DC Central Lockup Until Monday

2009-06-28T10:53:00.001-04:00

DRAFT PRESS STATEMENT: TASSC Arrests, White House sidewalk, Sat. June 27, 2009::

Today, five persons of conscience were arrested on the White House sidewalk, in connection with a 24-hour Vigil to End Torture, sponsored by the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC). The group gathered at Lafayette Park, bringing messages of solidarity from organizations and individuals - all calling for an immediate end to torture and support for survivors of torture.

Mid-way through the vigil, at about 1:00 p.m., several hundred vigil participants processed from Lafayette Park to the front of the White House, carrying their mesage of an immediate end to torture. Five persons remained on the White House sidewalk, in violation of federal regulations, and were arrested by US Park Police. The five are: Joy First, of Madison, Wisc.; Malachy Kilbride, Eve Tetaz, Harold Nelson, and David H. Barrows, all of Washington, DC.

Nelson and Barrows were released from police custody, after posting a fine of $100. Kilbride, First and Tetaz opted to seek a trial on the charges, and were held over in custody: they are expected to see a magistrate in DC Superior Court, on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Upon learning he would be held over the weekend in jail, Malachy Kilbride made the following statement: "When I got arrested, people knew where I was going and that I would be treated under the law. I did this for the "disappeared," who are treated outside the law."

The TASSC vigil continues until 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 28. It includes remarks by representatives of human rights groups - such as SOA Watch, Witness against Torture, the National Lawyers Guild, and religious groups - as well as statements by survivors of torture in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The 24-hour vigil raises awareness of practices of torture, particularly among the many visitors and tourists visiting the White House and Lafayette Square area.

What is a crime? We go to trial Monday!

2009-06-20T08:17:00.006-04:00

I have not written much recently because life has been busy, and I am now beginning to focus on my own career rather than what can easily become (and often did for me) all-consuming activism. I have been arrested again since last I posted -- more on that later. Below is an interesting reflection mentioning our January 6th (first day of Congress) arrest.

Thank you to my friend David Swanson for the following post on his afterdowningstreet.org...

U.S. Govt. Threatens to Prosecute Waterboarding
By David Swanson

We've been lobbying the Department of Justice all these months without realizing that the key to justice lay in the Department of the Interior, and specifically in the National Park Service, which has told activist Steve Lane he will be prosecuted if he attempts to demonstrate waterboarding at Thursday's anti-torture rally in Washington, D.C. The permit for the rally reads "Waterboarding exhibit will not be allowed for safety reasons."

Of course it's not news that the government views waterboarding as a crime. Attorney General Eric Holder called it torture at his confirmation hearings. But it is news that someone has been threatened with prosecution if he engages in torture. We learn about ongoing torture by the government all the time, and we're told all the time that torture is no longer official policy, and yet in neither type of story is there ever any suggestion that the laws against torture might be enforced, now or in the future. In the government's view, torture must be less safe when performed without the benefit of government resources, doctors, lawyers, psychologists, videographers, and vice presidents. However, street demonstrations of waterboarding have yet to produce a single corpse to add to the pile produced by official U.S. government torture.

Other crimes in Washington are also crimes if you or I commit them, but not if someone else does. When a group of us ordinary citizens spoke against the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine in the lobby of a senate office building on January 6th of this year (video) we were hauled off to jail. Bill Moyers' Journal covered the story. But when tourist groups are spoken to by senators in the same lobby, no crime occurs (video). I'm not talking about the people who hung banners from the balconies, or the passersby who cheered. I'm talking about those of us who stood and read the names of the dead. Seventeen of us (including some who hung banners) were arrested. Some of us paid a fine. On Monday, four face prosecution for unlawful assembly even though freedom of assembly is guaranteed in the Constitution, while warrantless wiretapping -- just to pick one example of ongoing government crimes -- is banned by the Constitution.

The greatest hypocrisy is not that tour groups can make noise whereas citizens with a political message cannot. The greatest hypocrisy is not that our president is speaking up for protesters as long as they are in Iran, while the Pentagon considers protesting to constitute "low level terrorism" when practiced within the United States. The greatest hypocrisy is that laws are being enforced while the most important laws and the most egregious violations are being ignored as a matter of loudly announced principle. When Laurie Arbeiter, Robbie Diesu, Michelle Grise, and Pete Perry appear in court on Monday they will not be able to ask the judge to stop looking backward, even though their "crimes" occurred in January. They will not be able to accuse the judge of petty vengeance for his or her refusal to "look forward." They will be compelled to face the question of whether they violated a law. (Never mind that the Capitol Police arrested us and then figured out hours later something they could most plausibly charge us with.)

Meanwhile, Dick Cheney confesses to felonies every time he opens his mouth, a civil suit against John Yoo has produced a 42-page order that could easily serve as an indictment, and the families our drones keep bombing in Afghanistan could never be persuaded that reading the names of the dead is the most serious crime that has occurred. The House has impeached a judge for groping despite his already having been convicted in court. But another judge responsible for torture is permitted to continue ruling on cases.

Here are two ideas to try to straighten our priorities out:

First, call Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth A. Meyers and ask that the charges against those who read the names of the dead be dropped: 202-727-3500 or 202-727-4783.

Second, take part in Torture Accountability Action Day on Thursday, June 25th, by joining our rally and march in Washington, D.C., (11 a.m. at John Marshall Park) or any of the rallies happening around the country on the same day:
http://tortureaccountability.webs.com/eventsacrossus.htm

Being Anti-Torture is now mainstream

2009-04-23T12:36:00.003-04:00

Myself and some of my dearest friends in the peace and justice movement have been working very hard on our government to acknowledge that it has engaged in torture, and that it will not tolerate it any longer. As we near the conclusion of Witness Against Torture's 100 Days Campaign, we want to acknowledge that while there have been some success there's still a lot going on in places like Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan that we don't know about.

Anyhow, this recent report is promising:

Senate report on prisoner abuse connects dots all the way to the top
Ewen MacAskill in Washington
April 24, 2009 - 12:00AM

AdvertisementA HIGH-LEVEL US Senate report published yesterday directly implicates senior members of the Bush administration in the extensive use of harsh interrogation methods against al-Qaeda suspects and other prisoners around the world.

The 232-page report, the most detailed investigation yet into torture by US military and intelligence personnel, undercuts the claim of Paul Wolfowitz, a former deputy defence secretary, that the abuse of prisoners in Iraq was the work of "a few bad apples".

The report adds to the debate in the US since President Barack Obama, who regards the techniques as torture, opened the way for possible prosecution of members of Bush's government.

Carl Levin, the Democratic chairman of the Senate armed services committee, which ordered the inquiry, said: "The paper trail on abuse leads to top civilian leaders, and our report connects the dots."

The report says the paper trail goes from Donald Rumsfeld, who was defence secretary at the time, to Guantanamo and to Afghanistan and Iraq. "The abuse of detainees in US custody cannot simply be attributed to the actions of 'a few bad apples' acting on their own," the report says. "The fact is that senior officials in the US government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorised their use against detainees."

Pressure to adopt more aggressive interrogation came from the uppermost reaches of the Bush administration, the report says. Mr Rumsfeld authorised the use of 15 interrogation techniques. A handwritten note from him, attached to a memo of December 2002, says: "I stand for 8-10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to 4 hours?"

The report condemns the techniques adopted: "Those efforts damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemies, and compromised our moral authority." It says the methods were lifted from a military program called Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (Sere).

The report says Sere instructors trained CIA and other military personnel early in 2002 in the use of harsher interrogation techniques but warned that information obtained that way might be unreliable.

The internal debate suggests the definition of what was "acceptable" was flexible.

The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said yesterday that the former vice-president Dick Cheney, who claimed valuable information was obtained through harsher interrogation techniques, should not be viewed as a "reliable source" on torture.

Guardian News & Media

Palestinian Hip-Hop

2009-04-12T12:13:00.000-04:00

My housemate is held over night after dramatic protest at White House

2009-04-10T16:51:00.001-04:00

Catholic peace activist, Paul Magno, arrested at
White House while dramatizing the crucifixion

WASHINGTON -- Dramatizing a contemporary 'crucifixion,' a local peace and justice activist was arrested during a Good Friday nonviolent protest at the White House.

After two colleagues helped chain Paul Magno to the fence of the president's home, an assembled group of protesters, many with Witness Against Torture's 100 Day Campaign (http://www.100dayscampaign.org/), began to sing "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord." The action occured shortly after 12 noon, amid a crowd of tourists.

The activists are calling for the immediate closure of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and the end of all torture. The group has also begun calling for the closure of Bagram, Afghanistan, despite U.S. military plans to double the size of the military prison.

"Just as our Lord Jesus of Nazareth was torture and crucified, men in places such as Guantanamo and Bagram are being tortured and crucified today," Magno said. "Our president must act justly and immediately release those who have never been charged with a crime, but have been held for years."

Magno is being held overnight, and will likely be arraigned Saturday morning in DC Superior Court. It was not clear late Friday afternoon what crime he was being charged.

"We are here today to remember that men are being imprisoned, tortured and run through a sham of a judicial system, just as was Jesus Christ," said Carmen Trotta with Witness Against Torture.

Magno has been associated with the Catholic Worker movement for nearly three decades, and spent 20 months in federal prison for nonviolent resistance to the nuclear arms race following a Plowshares action in Florida in 1984. By comitting the action Friday, he will also be violating an unsupervised probation ordered 10 months ago by Judge Wendell P. Gardner of DC Superior Court, stemming from an earlier protest calling for the closure of the controversial Guantanamo prison camp.

Magno has been actively involved in the Washington Peace Center since 2004 as a former coordinator and currently a board member. He is currently on staff of Witness for Peace, an organization of people of faith and conscience engaged in supporting peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas.

# # #

My housemate risks arrest on Good Friday

2009-04-09T23:15:00.002-04:00

Local activist, Paul Magno, to mark Good Friday with a dramatic nonviolent direct action at the White House

WASHINGTON -- On a day holy to all Christians, a local peace and justice activist will risk arrest during a dramatic protest against the indefinite detention of prisoners at places such as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The planned action will attempt to nonviolently recreate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the White House.

The action will happen at about 12 noon at the White House during Witness Against Torture's daily vigil (http://www.100dayscampaign.org/) calling for the immediate closure of Guantanamo and the end of all torture. The group has also begun calling for the closure of Bagram, despite U.S. military plans to double the size of the military prison.

"I want to call on the president to do the morally correct and just thing, and release all the prisoners who have never been charged with anything, and to shine an even brighter light on these unlawful places of injustice," said Paul Magno, a Washington activist.

Magno explained that his Good Friday protest is important, because it highlights that Jesus of Nazareth was a victim of torture and a prisoner of an empire.

According to local peace and justice activists, the action will be purely nonviolent and done in a manner of respect, with the aim of calling on President Obama to end the use of abusive tactics which amount to torture and to immediately close "legal black holes" such as Bagram and Guantanamo.

"It is not acceptable to simply close Guantanamo while leaving Bagram open, a place with even less oversight," the Washington activist added.

Magno has been associated with the Catholic Worker movement for nearly three decades, and spent 20 months in federal prison for nonviolent resistance to the nuclear arms race following a Plowshares action in Florida in 1984. By comitting the action Friday, he will also be violating an unsupervised probation ordered 10 months ago by Judge Wendell P. Gardner of DC Superior Court, stemming from an earlier protest calling for the closure of the controversial prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Magno has been actively involved in the Washington Peace Center since 2004 as a former coordinator and currently a board member. He is currently on staff of Witness for Peace, an organization of people of faith and conscience engaged in supporting peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas.

# # #

Former Uighur Prisoner writes to President Obama

2009-03-28T14:38:00.004-04:00

Abu Bakker Qassim's letter to Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,

I express my gratitude and my best respect for the contribution of the United States of America to our Uighur community. At the same time, I express my gratitude for your right and prompt decision to close the jail of Guantánamo Bay. I hope you will forgive my English, which I have tried to learn.

I hope my letter will find you in a good health. Please allow me to express my wish and prayer to read my letter.

My name is Abu Bakker and I'm writing on behalf of Ahmet, Aktar, Ejup, with whom I have lived since May 2006 in Albania, the only country that offered us political asylum from Guantánamo when US courts concluded that we were not enemy combatants.

I would like to write something about myself. The Uighur people have a proverb: "Who thinks about the end will never be a hero." Obviously it is human to think about the end, as it is human for me to remember things long ago.

30.12.2000. My last night in my little home. No one was sleeping … not even my eight-month twins in my wife's womb. No one was speaking … even my two-year old son … I had decided that I would confess that night to my wife the end I had thought of in my heart, but I hesitated because of a question my son had asked me, that I could not answer. It was at the beginning of winter. We were standing near the oven, and I was cuddling his hands. He took with his little hands my forefinger.

Dad! Is a fingernail a bone?

No, I said. The fingernail is not a bone.

It is flesh?

No. Neither is it flesh.

So, the fingernail: what is it, Dad?

I didn't know.

I don't know, I said.

So small was my boy, and I couldn't answer his questions. And when he grows up and the questions are not about the fingernail? How shall I answer then?

31.12.2000. Without telling the end, without turning back my head, without fear I started my long and already known way. "Ah, if only …! Ah, if only I reach Istanbul, am hired in the factory, to work day and night, to save my self and money. God is great! Ah, if only I could bring my wife there, my son and – the most important – to see my twins for the first time in Istanbul. To hold them on my breast, to pick up as I could … to show my son and to tell to them: We are from the place where the sun rises. I would embrace them, I would answer all of their questions, I would teach to them everything my mother taught me, as her mother taught her, to my grandmother her grandmother … as though in a movie with a happy ending: me film director, me scenarist, me at the lead role. The hero of my dearest people … Me."

After three years and a half, questions after questions, the military tribunal in Guantánamo asked me:

If you will die here, what will you think at your last minutes?

I'm a husband and a father that is dying in the heroism's ways, I answered and I asked the permission to put a question of my own:

If Guantánamo Bay were closed today, would you be a hero for your children?

I was proclaimed innocent. The lawyer proposed – meantime we were waiting for a state which will accept us – to live in a hotel in the Military Base of Guantánamo Bay. No way! We were put in a camp near to the jail, which was called "Iguana Camp." We were nine. Sometimes, one of my friends asked the soldiers about the time. Even today, I hadn't understood why he needed to know the time. I asked the time … I had reasons …

In Camp Iguana, there were iguanas. We fed them with bread, so they began to enter in our dormitory. All of us needed their company. Sometimes, when they were late, everyone missed them …

One morning, I had an unforgettable surprise from my friends. They gave to me cake from their meal, since that day was my twins' birthday. The same day, in our dormitory entered two iguanas and I give to them the cake … thinking about my kids … thinking about my end … My dream finished from Istanbul to Guantánamo, from my kids to iguanas …

Finally in 2006 I arrived in Albania, my second homeland. The ring of the telephone! What anxiety! Are they alive? For the first time, I spoke with my wife and my kids. They were alive!

Every morning, I go out of my home before the sun rises and wait for him with the hands up and empty. Since I'm still from the country where the sun rises. I think about the family which perhaps I will never see again and I resolve not to forget my vow, seven years ago, to be their hero.

Yet, Mr. President, seventeen of my brothers remain in that prison today. It is three years since I left the prison, and still they are there. Please end their suffering soon. Your January 22 words were so welcome to us, and I congratulate you for that and for your historic election. But many months have passed.

For the four of us who remain in Albania (one of us is in Sweden today, trying for asylum), life is very hard, and our future still seems far away. I hope that one day soon your government and countrymen will meet our seventeen brothers. Maybe when that day comes there would be hope that we might come to America too.

Mr. President.

In life not everyone will reach his desired end. Perhaps you don't know, but we are similar … Except as to the end. Since you, like me, without thinking abut the end of your long way, managed to be a hero … I'm at Your side … I'm proud of you …

Mr. President.

Please allow me to share with You a thought. Gift a pair of shoes to every child, to every woman, or every barefoot man since the barefoot people doesn't think too much before walking on the dirty mud. Begin with everything from above.

Very truly yours,

Abu Bakker Qassim

Tirana, Albania

March 24, 2009

Congress: Tell Them in Person April 4 - 19

2009-03-25T18:32:00.003-04:00

By David Swanson

It's just spring, when the world is puddle-wonderful, and your representative and your two senators pack up their lingerie and come dancing from hop-scotch and toy soldiers to make the trek outside the Beltway for a well-earned vacation sponsored by corporations completely indifferent to legislative news and dedicated to appreciation of nature's bounty in this season of new birth -- er, I mean, to begin a District Work Period dedicated to discovering exactly how much you appreciate the good work they've done so far -- er, that is to say, the last frazzled human threads that our democratic republic hangs by are coming home from April 4th to 19th and if you want to nudge them gently or forcefully in any direction you should call and ask for an appointment NOW.

This is something you have a right and a responsibility to do, either alone or with your friends and family, or with some like-minded neighbors, or with a coalition representing activist groups, labor unions, and other civic bodies. If your polite request for an appointment with your representative or one of your senators does not work, insist on it. Do not take no for an answer. If you cannot get an appointment or you can but cannot get a commitment to better represent your district or state, I highly recommend sitting down in your elected official's district office, phoning the media, and picketing out front. All is not well in our nation, and while there is no point in turning a friendly meeting unnecessarily confrontational, in most districts and states that WILL be necessary.

Why? What are we asking for that they aren't willing to provide? Well, peace, justice, the rule of law, and a fair break for working people, to name a few things. But, of course, every elected official on the planet will agree to those vague values, shake your hand, and blow you kisses out the door. What you want are specific hard commitments, and what they understand committing to are bills. So, where we have bills for them to cosponsor, ask them to cosponsor. Where we don't, ask them to introduce a new bill. Where appropriate, ask them to sign or draft a letter, make a statement, or commit to voting yes or no. Each congress member or senator is unique, as are the needs of each district and state. Knowledge is power: know as much about the person you are meeting with as possible. You can't discuss a dozen things in a meeting. But you can hand them a list of a dozen things and insist that they agree to at least one of them. You can choose to win their support on three minor matters rather than sitting-in at their office over one big one. You can use your judgment, but you should bear in mind that there is no conflict between respectful conversation and public pressure. Pressure is what the public is supposed to provide in a democracy. Disagreement need not and should not look like it does on television shoutfests.

You may want to make clear to your congress member and senators that you want them to have more power, not less, and that you want to help them get it. They've given up the power of war, the power of the purse, the power of treaty, the power to legislate without signing statements and secret laws and executive decrees, and even the power of subpoena. We want Congress to reclaim some powers and we want Congress members to think of themselves as powerful defenders of the first branch of our government, not members of political parties attending a royal court. We want them to envision what Congress could be if it resembled the body described in Article I of the Constitution. Here are steps they can take:

Cosponsor the State Secrets Protection Act
This is a bill to deny presidents the power to keep information secret from even a closed court of law by claiming "state secrets." While this power was abused greatly by President Bush, this bill was reintroduced by leading Democrats because President Obama began abusing this power. This is a rare instance of Congress standing up for itself (er, for the courts, but walking begins with baby steps) despite the party membership of those involved. Your representative and senators should be willing to sign onto this regardless of their party or politics. The House version (HR 984) has 16 cosponsors. The Senate version (S 417) has 6. Learn more:

Impeach Jay Bybee
If Congress wanted all of its powers to start flowing back up Capitol Hill, it would reclaim the power of impeachment, and it has a perfect opportunity. John Yoo didn't write those torture memos alone. His boss was Jay Bybee, and Bybee's signature is on memos that amount to confessions to felonies. Meanwhile, Bybee is serving as a federal judge in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. That the people of San Francisco and their Congresswoman who serves as Speaker of the House tolerate this is a disgrace. Any member of Congress of any party and from any state can introduce an article of impeachment or a bill to initiate impeachment hearings. Learn more:

Ask Eric Holder to Appoint a Special Prosecutor
In June 2008, 56 Democratic Congress members, led by Congressman John Conyers, wrote to Attorney General Mukasey asking for a Special Prosecutor. Conyers and Congressman Jerrold Nadler wrote to Mukasey again in December 2008. Please ask them to re-send these letters to the new Attorney General, Eric Holder. Nadler says he's drafting a new letter. The demand for prosecution has been supported by many members of the House and Senate. Almost 200 organizations are calling for a special prosecutor, as are almost 50,000 Americans. Ask your representative and senators to work with Nadler or on their own to publicly ask Holder to do what the law requires. Learn more:

Co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act
This bill would enforce the basic human right to assemble and self-organize, to form a union in the workplace free of intimidation and retribution from employers. This is a bill to restore power beyond Congress, to the people. You don't have to tell congress members that, but you do have to show it to them and compel them to back this. The House version (HR 1409) already has more than enough cosponsors to pass (224), but the Senate version (S 560) has only 39 and needs 50 (or 60 if the Senate leadership chooses to allow a filibuster to block it. If unions won't pressure senators hard for this, that doesn't mean future larger unions can't be made to fight for justice. We know they won't if they don't exist. Learn more:

End the Filibuster
Ask your senators to ask Senator Reid to support changing the filibuster rule (which can be done with a simple majority) to henceforth require only a simple majority to bring a bill to a vote. It is obscene to continue with a system in which senators representing 12 percent of the country can block all the efforts of the House and Senate. Learn more:

Cosponsor Single-Payer Healthcare
The United States National Health Care Act or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, is a House bill, HR 676, that now has 72 cosponsors. Some members of the Senate supported this bill when they were in the House, but there is not yet any bill in the Senate. Your far-right elected officials will call this "socialized medicine" but it uses private doctors, private hospitals, complete freedom of choice (unlike the current system), saves businesses billions, and nets 2.6 million new jobs. Your moderate-right elected officials will tell you they want to just follow the president's plan, but unless they do their jobs and represent you by pushing for single-payer there will not be even a partial solution to our healthcare disaster in the final compromise bill. You can't compromise unless you have a starting position. And that requires putting your name on the line. Learn more:

Cosponsor Resolution Rejecting Treaties Made Without Congress
Bush made a treaty with Iraq for three more years of war, without congressional approval, and President Obama has declared in a signing statement that he has the power to make treaties without congress "interfering," despite the Constitution's requirement that two-thirds of the Senate approve any treaty. Feel free to mention Bush or Obama depending on who you're talking to. A House resolution (HRes 72) would express opposition to Bush's Iraq treaty unless approved by Congress. It has 6 cosponsors. Many groups and individuals are urging Pelosi to support this. No Senate resolution or bill has yet been introduced. Learn more:

Oppose Escalation of War in Afghanistan
Even when Congress members won't use their powers and choose to behave as advisors to the throne, it is possible for them to say the right thing and for that to help build the willingness to act. A bipartisan group of fourteen members of Congress recently wrote to the president asking him to reconsider his proposal to ship more troops to Afghanistan. Your representative and senators should send similar letters. Learn more:

Promise to Vote No Money for War Escalation, War Extension, Military Enlargement, or Bankers
Congress plans to vote on another supplemental spending bill for 2009 to continue the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and expand the latter. This will be for $75.5 billion on top of the $68.5 billion already stolen from our children and forked over. We want commitments to vote no on appropriating or authorizing any such spending, unless amended to be used purely for withdrawal. Enough is enough. We have seen huge struggles over this in past years that should not be allowed to dissipate because the wars are rebranded with the face of a new commander in chief. We do not have another $75.5 billion to spend on death and destruction and the antagonizing of the Muslim world. That money must go to human needs.

Another $130 billion or so will be marked for war funding in the upcoming FY 2010 budget as well, on top of another $557 billion or so in military spending, not counting various pieces of Pentagon spending and the military spending scattered across various other departments. In other words, the plan is to increase the largest military budget in world history. More than half of every dollar of income tax now goes to killing rather than living, investment in weapons and only weapons is destroying our economy, we desperately need jobs, green energy, mass transportation, healthcare, infrastructure, and schools, our government has already put our grandchildren in deep debt to China, and the plan is to INCREASE this approach. It's time to say No. We need a commitment to vote No on appropriating or authorizing any spending that extends illegal wars and fails to significantly decrease the wasteful spending of the Pentagon. If that means passing an amendment to the budget, so be it. If it means revising the budget until it will pass, so be it. We waste some $140 billion per year maintaining military bases around the world that damage our relations with the world. We dump billions and billions into weapons systems that do not work or are designed to combat enemies we do not have. Investing in non-military areas creates more and better-paying jobs, and without all the blowback. We need change, and we will not get it by voting, or by watching basketball. Change comes through organized public pressure. Learn more:

Cosponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act
Congress passed a law in March permanently banning exports of nearly all U.S.-made cluster bombs. But Congress has not banned the use of cluster bombs by the U.S. military. The Senate version of a bill to do so (S 416) has 23 cosponsors, and the House version (HR 981) has 24. Learn more:

Let Wall Street Bankers Try Working for a Living
We need an understanding in congress that we will not tolerate any more bailouts for bankers, and we need leadership in efforts to undo what has been done, take our money back, allow fraudulent finance companies to fail, and fund the real economy. We want New Orleans rebuilt. We want a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. We want a living wage minimum wage. And we want investment of the size traditionally reserved for weapons makers and now expanded for bankers to go, instead, into the creation of non-military non-Wall Street jobs. We want money for every useful local and state need and pet project any elected representative has in mind, and we want our representatives to begin seeing potential funding for human needs when they look at massive military and Wall Street waste. We want local groups that work on domestic issues to see the same thing, and we should use these visits to build such coalitions. Here are two more things we DO want:

Cosponsor the Universal Prekindergarten Act
This House bill (HR 555) would assist States in establishing a universal prekindergarten program to ensure that all children 3, 4, and 5 years old have access to a high-quality full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten education. It has 6 cosponsors.

Cosponsor a Department of Peace
This House bill (HR 808) has 65 cosponsors. Learn more:

You can find your representative and senators at:

Obama reaches out to Iran

2009-03-20T08:38:00.002-04:00

This is a positive development. As someone entirely dedicated to peace, I am extremely pleased with the direction Pres. Obama appears to be taking

What happened at the Pentagon on St. Patrick's Day?

2009-03-18T18:13:00.002-04:00

Myself and several other activists associated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance visited the Pentagon Tuesday morning taking with us copies of a letter that had been delivered a week earlier to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The letter asked for the U.S. government to pursue peace and just diplomacy over illegal and immoral wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as an immediate cessation of bombing portion of the nation of Pakistan. We also said that if we did not receive a response, we would pay him a visit.

Seven of us approached the doors of the Pentagon, about 30 yards from an entrance to the Metro station. We spoke with a guard monitoring those entering the building, as we did not carry officially-issued Pentagon badges. However, we are all citizens and taxpayers of the U.S., and wished to meet with at the very least someone from Gates' office. We were told to go into a security booth for those arriving at the Pentagon for business where we had to show two forms of ID. Inside this booth a senior Pentagon Police Officer quickly rushed in and started talking with us. He said he recognized three of our group (from previous actions at the Pentagon), and knew why we were there. He ordered us out of the booth where he would speak further with us on the sidewalk.

Once back outside on this sidewalk connecting the Metro to the doors of the Pentagon, he told us a meeting would not be granted but he would do his best to make sure the letter would get to Gates' office. We told him that the letter had already been delivered, and that we were taxpayers, that we paid all of the Defense Department employees' salaries, and we were determined to have a meeting with someone in the secretary's office. He again denied us entrance, and said no meeting would happen. We said that we had already mailed, faxed and petitioned our government to change its disastrous courses in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that we were now trying a more direct approach.

The officer became a little more agitated and warned us that the police would begin making arrests if we did not leave. We then began sitting down on the sidewalk, and continued communicating with this officer, and another one who was on the scene. Manijeh from New Jersey said that her right to petition her government for a redress of grievances was enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution. I said we would keep talking to anyone who would listen, but at the same time we were determined to have that meeting with someone in Gates' office. I also stated that we were remembering Capt. Brian Bunting, from Montgomery County, Maryland, who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan a couple days before, and that he was 10 years younger than me. "I do not want anymore young Americans to loose their lives for illegal and immoral wars based on lies," I uttered loud enough so a couple passersby could hear.

The only response we got at that point was the senior officer to first ask us to move to yet another part of the sidewalk, and when we refused he issued two more warnings that we were about to be arrested. He said we were blocking an entrance to the Pentagon, as dozens of Pentagon workers easily passed by us quickly as they entered the building. Several of us said we were not blocking anything. Both officers started calling for back up to assist with making arrests.

Within a minute, a few police arrived on motorcycles, while our young friends with Our Spring Break watched nearby. The police rushed us, rapidly snatched us up and slapped handcuffs on us. I assured them that we were all nonviolent, and that all of us were compliant. We also in turn asked for illegal wars and immoral occupations to be stopped as they lead us to waiting police cars.

Once we made it to the Pentagon holding cells, the police treated us with respect and I found them to be extremely polite. One officer admitted that he was against the occupation of Iraq. And as another of us was fingerprinted his large, long fingers were compared to the late great activist Peter DeMott's. "You have the same fingers as that farmer, DeMott?" A couple of us shared small recollections of Peter with the police. Peter died in a tragic accident recently, and one of his greatest anti-war actions occurred on March 17, 2003 -- exactly 6 years earlier, and two days before Shock and Awe. He and three other Catholic Workers poured their blood inside a military recruiting station in upstate New York. They shut the station down for several hours that day, and all of them did some time in jail for this powerful witness.

We were all charged with Failure to Obey a Lawful Order. Within two and a half hours, all seven of us were released with a court date of May 8th. That day we will appear in Alexandria Court in order to continue to speak out and resist.

Bush, Yoo, Etc tried to destroy our Constitutional rights

2009-03-10T18:55:00.005-04:00

This further confirms what many of us activists long believed about the modus operandi of the Bush regime. Of course many of us (including myself and 52 others in Maryland) were tracked and labeled terrorists by the Maryland State Police. And a subset of that group was further spied on by the Department of Homeland (Fatherland) Security. Here it is, Bruce Fein explains what happened to the U.S. Constitution following September 11, 2001.

FEIN: End presidential secrecy
Bruce Fein

Congress should swiftly enact a statute prohibiting secret presidential government.

The urgency was demonstrated last week when nine ill-conceived legal memoranda to justify despotism cobbled together by the pliable Jay Bybee and John Yoo in the Justice Department under President George W. Bush were belatedly released.

Their shelf-life would have been nanoseconds if they had been immediately exposed. Their counterconstitutional reasoning would have been instantly discredited. Instead, the memoranda remained intact until the twilight hours of the Bush presidency when their secrecy could no longer be guaranteed under a successor administration.

Like a death bed conversion, all nine were recanted by then- Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Steven Bradbury in twin disclaimers on Oct. 6, 2008, and Jan. 15, 2009. Similarly, the department backed down from its post-Sept. 11, 2001, claims of presidential authority to torture or to spy on Americans in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) after published leaks to the media. As Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis lectured, sunshine is the best disinfectant.

The common but chilling theme of the memoranda was that only the commander-in-chief clause of the Constitution remained standing after Sept. 11, 2001. The Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures could be disregarded in pursuit of suspected terrorists. The First Amendment's protection of free speech could be subordinated whenever the president thought it helpful to defeating international terrorism.

John Yoo, then deputy assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel, advised: "First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully." Moreover, "The current campaign against terrorism may require even broader exercises of federal power domestically." Laws or treaties prohibiting torture, warrantless electronic surveillance, mail openings, or even burglary could be defied under the banner of counterterrorism.

The commander-in-chief power was inflated manifold. Alexander Hamilton, the strongest proponent of a muscular chief executive, in Federalist 69 accepted the modesty of the president's war powers under a Republican form of government. He elaborated that the commander-in-chief authority "would be nominally the same with that of the King of Great Britain, but in substance much inferior to it. It would amount to nothing more than the supreme command and direction of the military and naval forces, as first general and admiral of the confederacy; while that of the British king extends to the declaring of war, and to the raising and regulating of fleets and armies; all which by the Constitution under consideration would appertain to the Legislature."

The department's legal memoranda insist that the president's commander-in-chief authorities exceeds that of the British monarch to include the power to suspend the Great Writ of habeas corpus and to hold American citizens as "enemy combatants" indefinitely without accusation or trial.

Indeed, no limiting principle is articulated that would prevent the president from doing anything he believes might assist in waging war against international terrorism. In other words, to borrow from Cicero, Sept. 11, 2001, silenced all laws but one: the commander-in-chief power.

If the executive branch were infallible, then these constitutional abuses would be less troublesome. The victims of the violations would all have been genuine terrorists, "the worst of the worst" in the words of the Bush administration. But the vast majority of Guantanamo Bay detainees held as "enemy combatants" have been exonerated in habeas corpus proceedings mandated by the United States Supreme Court last year because the government had no evidence.

Exemplary are 17 Uighur adversaries of the Chinese communist government who have been detained for more than seven years without a crumb of evidence of hostility to the United States. The Bush administration's constitutional transgressions justified by the nine legal memoranda made the United States less safe by serving as recruiting agents for al Qaeda and discouraging anti-terrorism cooperation from foreign countries like Great Britain, Germany or Italy.

There were no offsetting counterterrorism benefits. Torture yields false information. Thus, Abu Zubaydah, an al Qaeda cipher according to the FBI's leading expert, confessed to everything to relieve the pain of torture. Every authentic enemy combatant or Sept. 11, 2001, conspirator can be criminally prosecuted in civilian courts with the trappings of due process.

Jose Padilla was initially erroneously detained as an enemy combatant. He was later prosecuted for conspiring to provide material assistance to a foreign terrorist organization. Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called "20th hijacker," was criminally prosecuted and convicted in a civilian court for complicity in the 2001 attacks on America. Every scrap of useful intelligence gathered illegally in violation of FISA could also have been obtained in compliance with the law.

The government also revealed last week that the CIA had destroyed 92 interrogation videotapes of Mr. Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Of that number, 12 involved so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques," a euphemism for torture or cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment.

Secret government is twice-cursed. Darkness invites lawlessness. And self-government requires public knowledge of what the government is doing. James Madison, father of the Constitution, warned: "A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps both."

Congress should enact a statute prohibiting the executive branch from withholding information requested by Congress or the public based on an asserted need for confidentiality. Any adviser whose candor to the president depends on a promise of secrecy should be fired. National security secrets like the Manhattan Project should be disclosed to Congress in executive session.

Sunshine on the presidency has never harmed the United States.

Bruce Fein is a constitutional lawyer at Bruce Fein & Associates Inc. and author of "Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for our Constitution and Democracy."

Obama Pressured by Israel Lobby to Boycott World Conference Against Racism

2009-03-03T20:45:00.003-05:00

By Roberto Lovato, New America Media
Posted on March 3, 2009, Printed on March 3, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/story/129674/

At a time when racial conflict and discrimination are on the rise around the world, the Administration of the world's first black U.S. president will not be attending the world's most important conference on race and racism.

In what may signal a dangerous new, "post-racial" approach to global race relations, President Barack Obama's Administration announced that it will not attend the second World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Geneva next April. According to this article in the New York Times, the Administration will boycott the conference to protest what it deems the unfair equation of Zionism with racism in the outcome documents of the first conference held in Durban, South Africa, and now the second conference, also known as "Durban II, as well." Other concerns cited by Administration officials, some of whom recently attended preparatory meetings in Geneva, in their justification of the boycott include a proposal to place restrictions on the defamation of religions and any language calling for reparations for slavery. According to the Times article, one of the primary reasons for the Obama Administration's decision was that "Israel and some American Jewish groups urged a boycott of the April conference, and several close American allies, including Canada."

Praised by groups that lobbied against Durban II like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), whose leaders applauded the U.S. decision, "for refusing to participate in a process that would in any way brand Israel as a racist country," the Obama Adminsitration's boycott comes at the worst possible time for a planet facing rapidly increasing levels of recession-inspired racism, xenophobia and hatred.

Increasing numbers of experts report that most continents -- Europe, Africa, Asia -- are seeing exponential growth in hate crimes, ethnic tensions and other manifestations of the racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, the kind on intolerance that will be discussed at the Durban II Conference. And in the Américas, the very palpable rise in racial tensions, hate crimes and other discrimination are well illustrated by events here in the "post-racial" United States: the NY Post Chimpanzee cartoon scandal, the U.S. visit (including a film screening in Congress) by Danish racist Veert Wilder and the massive protests against the racial profiling, humiliation and other practices of Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, to name a few taking place in the United States. And these were only the events that the Obama Administration was silent about this past week.

The Obama Administration's silence on both these racial incidents and on such fundamentally racial -and global-problems as the "drug war," criminal justice reform and immigrant detention contrasts with the much-lauded statements on race by Attorney General Eric Holder. In statements made to coincide with the start of Black History Month, Holder called the U.S. "a nation of cowards" when it comes to discussion of race.

Apparently, as indicated by Obama Administration's boycott of the Durban II conference, Mr. Holder's statements are equally applicable to the global discussion of race. Consider, for example, Mr.Holder-and the Obama Administration's relative silence on reversing the abject failure and tragedy that is the global and domestic "war on drugs" (he's actually in favor of pursuing it more intensely) and the unprecedented levels of racialized imprisonment it entails. In the face of the radicalization of racial hatred that is afoot throghout the world, both the Durban response and Holder's Black History Month statements are beginning to sound like the oh so many hollow and jaded "Si Se Puede"'s and other ethnic, racial "History Month"-like slogans designed to gain favor among former minorities, all the while pursuing right-of-center criminal justice policies that devastate these same communities.

And with its very dangerous boycott of Durban II in response to pressure from the very powerful Israel Lobby , the Obama Administration may be giving the green light to governments and other groups practicing their own brand of racial discrimination, promoting hatred and other forms of discrimination. While much of the media is discussing the U.S. boycott, most of these reports neglect to the mention the near universal condemnation of the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians, which United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto likened to apartheid last November:

"More than twenty years ago we in the United Nations took the lead from civil society when we agreed that sanctions were required to provide a non-violent means of pressuring South Africa. Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel."

Rather than join the rest of the world in Durban and in condemning the killing and discrimination on the part of the Israeli and other governments -- including our own -- Obama's boycott reflects his choice to pursue the more dangerous path to dealing with race, racism and discrimination: symbolism at the expense of real changes to very devastating policies. Such are the perils of our increasingly post-racial presidency in a racially-troubled world.

Political choices like the Durban decision or the blind eye turned to the indiscriminate killing of and discrimination against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank make one wonder if the Obama Administration has also chosen to become the black face of empire.

Roberto Lovato, a frequent Nation contributor, is a New York-based writer with New America Media.

WE COMMIT CIVIL RESISTANCE NOT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

2009-02-27T23:37:00.002-05:00

By Max Obuszewski

In 2002, the Iraq Pledge of Resistance was formed to prevent a war
with Iraq. While we failed, we continued to engage in nonviolent
direct action to end the war and the occupation. Eventually, the
group, in expanding its focus, became the National Campaign for
Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR].

In light of the massive Capitol Climate Action on March 2nd, we would
like to take the opportunity to describe what we as a campaign have
committed ourselves to. We celebrate this opportunity to share our
thoughts with other progressive activists.

As a group with lots of direct action experience, NCNR has
consistently encouraged organizations and individuals to recognize the
difference between civil disobedience and civil resistance. We see
the difference as being important in the struggle for nonviolent,
positive social change.

The classic definition of civil disobedience, as practiced by the
civil rights movement, is the breaking of an unjust law with the
intent of changing it. In Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, Rosa Parks
broke an immoral law when she refused to give up her seat on a city
bus to a white person.

It is rare for today's actvists to do "civil disobedience," as it
removes the onus from the government to prove a defendant was engaged
in criminal activity. Doing CD can cause a majority of the people to
plead guilty and pay a protest tax. Doing CD eliminates the argument
that the government, or a corporate entity, is the lawbreaker.

Today, NCNR activists engage in civil resistance, which means taking
action to uphold the law. For example, we repeatedly challenged the
Bush/Cheney government which disavowed the rule of law.

Using the term civil resistance is important for several reasons.
First, in every statement about an action we point out that a
government, or a corporate entity, is breaking the law. Second, we
stress our Nuremberg obligation to act against the government's
lawbreaking. Finally, there is the matter of speaking in court after
the action. A defendant who states s/he was engaged in civil
disobedience not only is pleading guilty, but is letting the
government off the hook for its failure to prosecute the real
criminals.

If we are arrested, we encourage participants to go to trial and then
use the courtroom to state that the action was lawful since its intent
was to expose actual violations of the law—starting an illegal war,
torturing prisoners or destroying the environment.

In court, we point out citizens have a Nuremberg obligation. At the
Nuremberg trials, the court determined that citizens must challenge
the government when it breaks the law.

Using the term civil disobedience today can confuse activists new to
resistance. An activist would assume first that the rationale is to
get arrested in order to change the law, and second that one is guilty
as charged.

Reporters and prosecutors will make the case, you wanted to get
arrested. No, the intent of the person involved in civil resistance
was to end torture or to close down a nuclear power plant or to uphold
the Constitution. One reason a prosecutor asks such a question is
that most charges have a "mens rea" [guilty mind] component to the
charge. The government will argue that the defendant's intent was to
get arrested. No, the intent, for example, was to try to get a
meeting with a senator who voted to fund an illegal war.

On January 3, 2008 twelve activists arrested on September 15, 2007
outside the Capitol had their case dismissed. Over 180 people
arrested that day pled guilty and paid a citation fee. Once the case
came to court, it became evident that the police line was illegal. If
possible, activists should take these "open and shut" cases to court.
Not only did the Bush administration break innumerable laws, but
police consistently violate First Amendment rights. Even if one is
found guilty after engaging in an act of civil resistance, an
absurdity can become obvious: prosecute an activist who stated the war
is illegal, but ignore the criminality rampant in the Bush
administration.

In closing, we reiterate the importance of using appropriate language.
Those of us with experience have a duty to mentor those who are just
now contemplating acts of resistance. And when we act, we engage in
civil resistance.

Protesting AIPAC, their lair revealed

2009-02-12T23:39:00.006-05:00

Today we protested AIPAC at their Washington office building, 251 H Street NW. We were confronted by an FBI agent who apparently works at the building (had a pass card for the building). We were there to identify their location (no identification on or around the building) and to raise awareness about one of the 10 most influential lobbies. They continually press for war against the Palestinian people and the denial of their basic human rights, two good reasons to protest against this organization.

AIPAC has an annual budget of more than $16 million and lobbies Congress for militaristic policies in the Middle East, including the $3 Billion military aid sent to Israel every year. The powerful voice of people for peace is ultimately stronger than any lobby for war. Together we must call for an end to US aid to Israel and justice for Palestinians suffering under military occupation. We want our political leaders to create policies that support human rights and peace for all.

We will be returning soon...

National Call-In: Free the Uighurs in Gitmo!

2009-02-03T00:58:00.001-05:00

Hello friends,

Join us with Witness Against Torture's 100 Days Campaign in urging President Obama to take the first step in shutting down Gitmo and once and for all -- Free the Uighurs!

In September of 2008, the government formally conceded that none of the seventeen men is an enemy combatant. On October 7th, 2008, US District Court Judge Ricardo M. Urbina held that their continued imprisonment was unlawful and ordered the government to bring all seventeen Uighurs to his courtroom for release into the United States on appropriate conditions.

We join with the Uighurs' attorneys in calling on the government to release these innocent men in the only place they can be released – the United States. Bringing the Uighurs here is an important early step toward carrying out President Obama's executive Order. The executive should proceed directly with the transfer of the Uighurs by direct Executive action or by withdrawing the Bush administrations appeal of Judge Urbina's order.

Detailed resettlement arrangements, which include the provision of refugee services and reasonable release conditions, have already been put in place and submitted to the Court.

We urge President Obama to end these astonishing imprisonments, signaling to the American people, and to the world, that the administration is determined to act rather than merely speak, and begin, in some small way, to do justice for these men.

Use this information to call President Obama: 202-456-1111 And the new Attorney General at 202-353-1555. Thank him for his Executive Order to close Guantanamo and ask for the prompt release of these seventeen men.

Afghanistan: Calling a Time Out

2009-01-30T00:39:00.003-05:00

Washington Post
By George McGovern
Thursday, January 22, 2009;

As you settle into the Oval Office, Mr. President, may I offer a suggestion? Please do not try to put Afghanistan aright with the U.S. military. To send our troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan would be a near-perfect example of going from the frying pan into the fire. There is reason to believe some of our top military commanders privately share this view. And so does a broad and growing swath of your party and your supporters.

True, the United States is the world's greatest power -- but so was the British Empire a century ago when it tried to pacify the warlords and tribes of Afghanistan, only to be forced out after excruciating losses. For that matter, the Soviet Union was also a superpower when it poured some 100,000 troops into Afghanistan in 1979. They limped home, broken and defeated, a decade later, having helped pave the way for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It is logical to conclude that our massive military dominance and supposedly good motives should let us work our will in Afghanistan. But logic does not always prevail in South Asia. With belligerent Afghan warlords sitting atop each mountain glowering at one another, the one factor that could unite them is the invasion of their country by a foreign power, whether British, Russian or American.

I have believed for some time that military power is no solution to terrorism. The hatred of U.S. policies in the Middle East -- our occupation of Iraq, our backing for repressive regimes such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, our support of Israel -- that drives the terrorist impulse against us would better be resolved by ending our military presence throughout the arc of conflict. This means a prudent, carefully directed withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and elsewhere. We also need to close down the imposing U.S. military bases in this section of the globe, which do so little to expand our security and so much to stoke local resentment.

We cannot evade this reckoning. The British thought they could extend their control over Iraq even while pulling out their ground forces by creating a string of bases in remote parts of the country, away from the observation of most Iraqis. It didn't work. No people that desires independence and self-determination wishes to have another nation's military bases in its country. In 1776, remember, 13 little colonies drove the mighty British Empire from American soil.

In 2003, the Bush administration ordered an invasion of Iraq, supposedly to reduce terrorism. But six years later, there is more terrorism and civil strife in Iraq, not less. The same outcome may occur in Afghanistan if we make it the next American military conflict.

Mr. President, the bright promise of your brilliant campaign for the White House and the high hopes of the millions who thronged the Mall on Tuesday to watch you be sworn in could easily be lost in the mountains and wastelands of Afghanistan.

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz has estimated that the war in Iraq will have a total cost of more than $3 trillion. That war has clearly weakened our economy and our armed forces even as it has made the national debt soar. The Bush administration committed itself to Iraq before the recession. Today, with our economy teetering, does the Obama administration believe that it is time for yet another costly war in yet another Muslim country?
Washington Post
By George McGovern
Thursday, January 22, 2009;

As you settle into the Oval Office, Mr. President, may I offer a suggestion? Please do not try to put Afghanistan aright with the U.S. military. To send our troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan would be a near-perfect example of going from the frying pan into the fire. There is reason to believe some of our top military commanders privately share this view. And so does a broad and growing swath of your party and your supporters.

True, the United States is the world's greatest power -- but so was the British Empire a century ago when it tried to pacify the warlords and tribes of Afghanistan, only to be forced out after excruciating losses. For that matter, the Soviet Union was also a superpower when it poured some 100,000 troops into Afghanistan in 1979. They limped home, broken and defeated, a decade later, having helped pave the way for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It is logical to conclude that our massive military dominance and supposedly good motives should let us work our will in Afghanistan. But logic does not always prevail in South Asia. With belligerent Afghan warlords sitting atop each mountain glowering at one another, the one factor that could unite them is the invasion of their country by a foreign power, whether British, Russian or American.

I have believed for some time that military power is no solution to terrorism. The hatred of U.S. policies in the Middle East -- our occupation of Iraq, our backing for repressive regimes such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, our support of Israel -- that drives the terrorist impulse against us would better be resolved by ending our military presence throughout the arc of conflict. This means a prudent, carefully directed withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and elsewhere. We also need to close down the imposing U.S. military bases in this section of the globe, which do so little to expand our security and so much to stoke local resentment.

We cannot evade this reckoning. The British thought they could extend their control over Iraq even while pulling out their ground forces by creating a string of bases in remote parts of the country, away from the observation of most Iraqis. It didn't work. No people that desires independence and self-determination wishes to have another nation's military bases in its country. In 1776, remember, 13 little colonies drove the mighty British Empire from American soil.

In 2003, the Bush administration ordered an invasion of Iraq, supposedly to reduce terrorism. But six years later, there is more terrorism and civil strife in Iraq, not less. The same outcome may occur in Afghanistan if we make it the next American military conflict.

Mr. President, the bright promise of your brilliant campaign for the White House and the high hopes of the millions who thronged the Mall on Tuesday to watch you be sworn in could easily be lost in the mountains and wastelands of Afghanistan.

The Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz has estimated that the war in Iraq will have a total cost of more than $3 trillion. That war has clearly weakened our economy and our armed forces even as it has made the national debt soar. The Bush administration committed itself to Iraq before the recession. Today, with our economy teetering, does the Obama administration believe that it is time for yet another costly war in yet another Muslim country?

I'm aware that some of my fellow Americans regard me as too idealistic. But sometimes idealism is the best realism. And at a minimum, realism and idealism need not be contradictory. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has not only angered Iraqis who have lost family members, neighbors or homes; it has also increased the level of anger throughout the Muslim world and thrown up obstacles to our political leadership in that deeply important part of the planet.

Like you, Mr. President, I don't oppose all wars. I risked my life in World War II to protect our country against genuine danger. But it is the vivid memory of my fellow airmen being shot out of the sky on all sides of me in a war that I believe we had to fight that makes me cautious about sending our youth into needless conflicts that weaken us at home and abroad, and may even weaken us in the eyes of God.

As you have noted, Mr. President, we take pride in our soldiers who conduct themselves bravely. But as you have also said, some of these soldiers have served two, three and even four tours in dangerous combat. Many of them have come home with enduring brain and nerve damage and without arms and legs. These troops need rest, rehabilitation and reunions with their families.

So let me suggest a truly audacious hope for your administration: How about a five-year time-out on war -- unless, of course, there is a genuine threat to the nation?

During that interval, we could work with the U.N. World Food Program, plus the overseas arms of the churches, synagogues, mosques and other volunteer agencies to provide a nutritious lunch every day for every school-age child in Afghanistan and other poor countries. Such a program is now underway in several countries approved by Congress and the United Nations, under the auspices of the George McGovern-Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Act. (Forgive the self-serving title.) Although the measure remains painfully underfunded, with the help of other countries, we are reaching millions of children. We could supplement these efforts with nutritional packages for low-income pregnant and nursing mothers and their infants from birth through the age of 5, as is done here at home by WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

Is this proposal pie-in-the-sky? I don't think so. It's food in the stomachs of hungry kids. It would draw them to school and enable them to learn and grow into better citizens. It would cost a small fraction of warfare's cost, but it might well be a stronger antidote to terrorism. There will always be time for another war. But hunger can't wait.

William Thomas Dies

2009-01-24T09:41:00.004-05:00

William Thomas, dedicated peace and anti-nuke activist, passed away Friday morning at home. He was co-pilot of the 24-hour seven-day a week vigil at the White House for 27 years. He is survived by his wife Ellen and vigil co-pilot Concepcion. I remember Thomas from my high school years years early in on his vigil. Millions of people from hundred of countries visited Thomas as he kept vigiling, warning them of the dangers of nuclear holocaust and the ravages of war. He will be greatly missed by the peace and justice movement.

An excerpt from an article in The Washington Post by David Montgomery, published a couple years ago:

WASHINGTON — William Thomas first introduced fanny to brick on the White House sidewalk on June 3, 1981. His sign said, "Wanted: Wisdom and Honesty." He's been there ever since, still squatting, still wanting.

A few months after he began, he was joined by Concepcion Picciotto, who has remained similarly steadfast.

War is not over, but the peace protesters have won. Sort of. Lafayette Square, the oasis of green across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, is theirs.

Get rid of the shelter made of a battered patio umbrella, a weathered plastic tarp and those faded anti-nuke signs erected by Thomas and Picciotto?

It wouldn't be the same park.

Tourists from such places as Beijing and Chicago no longer would flash peace signs for digital cameras. School groups would make one less stop. Tour-guide shticks would shrink by a sentence or two.

Witness Against Torture praises Obama's initial steps toward justice during its 100 Days Campaign, demands rapid implementation

2009-01-23T08:48:00.004-05:00

WASHINGTON -- Witness Against Torture (www.witnesstorture.org), an organization formed from a march to Guantanamo in 2005 to protest the prison there, applauds President Barack Obama's executive orders to shut down Guantanamo and the CIA "black sites," and to end the "enhanced interrogation techniques" used by the CIA at Guantanamo and other prisons.

"President Obama has taken important first steps to undo much of what was the worst Bush administration policies," said Matthew Daloisio, one of those who marched to Guantanamo.
According to the Guantanamo order, "The detention facilities at Guantanamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than one year from the date of this order."

Witness Against Torture joins other human rights groups in insisting that the facility can be closed much sooner than one year. "While pleased with these developments, we are disappointed that Guantanamo will stay open another year, allows for a new system of detention without charge, and does not adequately address other facilities, such as that in Bagram, Afghanistan, that share the problems of Guantanamo," Daloisio said.

Today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Witness Against Torture will hold a vigil in front of the White House. It will feature reading of detainees' letters, and calling for their rapid release or initiation of fair trials in the Federal Courts.

Witness Against Torture also demands that the Obama administration live up to its promises of transparency and accountability. The group is asking that those responsible for authorizing torture practices be investigated and prosecuted for crimes, and applauds Obama's selection for attorney general, Eric Holder, for his statement that no government official is above the law.

"We need more transparency in holding the responsible parties accountable for the immoral and illegal policies that have, in fact, made America less safe," said Frida Berrigan of Witness Against Torture. "We cannot reliably prevent the crimes of the future unless we fully understand, account for, and appropriately punish the crimes of the past. We fear that efforts to move forward without a process of justice, truth-telling, and reconciliation are doomed to fail."

http://www.100dayscampaign.org/

A ‘terrible disease of the mind’

2009-01-19T08:49:00.002-05:00

By Zaid Nabulsi

I lost my gloves one day in a coffee shop in Geneva, and I tell you, it’s difficult to ride a motorcycle without them when it’s really cold. So as I was paying for a new pair with a credit card, the salesman - who I knew was from Israel - asked me what my family name means. I told him that it relates to the city of Nablus where my family is originally from. Suddenly, the most bewildered look got plastered on his face.

“Where is Nablus?” he asked, “I’ve never heard of it”. Then he pretended to remember. “Ah, Shkheim you mean?”

With my insistence not to learn these ugly sounding names that the Zionists have dug up from oblivion to erase our identity, that name certainly didn’t ring a bell.

Now it was my turn. Although I knew where he was from, I asked: “And you’re… from?”

As he smiled, I replicated the look on his face moments ago. “Israel? Where is that?”

Then after a brief pause: “Ah, the land of Canaan you mean. Palestine.”

You see, if you want to get biblical, there was never such a thing as Israel, and I made that very clear to this gentleman with obnoxious chutzpah.

So here we were all of a sudden; my family descended from a place called Shkheim, and this guy became a Palestinian. God does work in mysterious ways, but I still thanked Him for His small mercies; that at least my name was not Zaid Shkheimy.

While the gloves warmed up my grip on the bike, my heart was still frozen. I just cannot stand thieves who steal your gloves, or any other kind of thieves.

Then it finally dawned on me. Zionism is a sickness, for it takes much more than just a twisted ideology to make people think like that. It requires a profound leap of immorality of a higher order to instill this mentality in your followers. Zionism is not merely a political movement, but in its essence represents a deeply disturbed view of the world, resulting from a terrible affliction of the mind.

Indeed, to deny the existence of a vibrant community such as the Palestinian society in the early 20th century and describe Palestine as “a land without a people for a people without a land” is a serious blinding ailment.

To assert property claims over real estate after thousands of years with the same certainty of title as if one resided there yesterday is the essence of arrogance.

To describe the colonial immigration to Palestine of a European people with no proven historical link to the ancient Israelites - and whose great, great recorded ancestors have never set foot there - as some kind of a “return” to that land is a distorted misapplication of the verb to “return”.

To blame the Palestinians for being unreasonable in rejecting a partition plan in 1947 which gave the Jews, who only owned 7 per cent of the land, an astounding half of Palestine, is an arithmetical impairment.

To eventually grab 78 per cent of Palestine through war, evict the population through massacres and then live in their same houses is unashamed theft.

To deny the orchestrated eradications of hundreds of Palestinian villages in 1948 and then denounce the Israeli historians who later exposed this truth as self-hating Jews is compulsive forgery.

To claim that having escaped the horrors of the Nazis is a justification for the murder, expulsion and occupation of another, guiltless, people is moral incapacity.

To legislate that any resident of Poland, New York or Brazil, who happens to be blessed with a Jewish mother (yet cannot point to Palestine on the map), has a right to “return” and settle in Palestine, unlike someone who has been expelled from his own land, confined to a squalid refugee camp and still holds the keys to his house, is racism.

To blame God for the theft and occupation of someone else’s land by claiming that it was He who had pledged this land exclusively to the Jews, and to seriously promote the myth of a land promised by the Almighty to His favourite children as an excuse for this crime, is insanity.

To milk the pockets of the entire world for the atrocities of the Nazis, while stubbornly refusing a simple admission of guilt, let alone compensation or repatriation, for the catastrophe that befell the Palestinian people, is perverted conceit.

To keep blackmailing the world with expensive museums and endless movies of the plight of the Jews under Hitler 70 years ago, while at the same time inflicting on the Palestinians today the fate of the Jews of the Warsaw ghetto, is acute schizophrenia.

To impose collective guilt on the Western civilisation for the Holocaust and to criminalise all legitimate historical debate of the nature and extent of that horrific event is thuggery.

To incarcerate the Palestinian people inside degrading cages, destroy their livelihoods, confiscate their lands, steal their water and uproot their trees, and then to condemn their legitimate resistance as terrorism, and to exact vengeance on the innocent families of suicide bombers by punishing them with the dynamiting of their homes is sadistic cruelty.

To describe the offer of giving the Palestinians 80 per cent of 22 per cent of 100 per cent of what is originally their own land as a “generous” offer is macabre Shylockian humour.

To believe that you have the God-given right to continue to humiliate the Palestinians at gunpoint by making them queue for hours to move between their villages, forcing their mothers to give birth at checkpoints, is a predisposition to bestiality.

To flatten the camp of Jenin on its inhabitants’ heads and deny any wrongdoing is a severe delusional disorder.

To build a huge separation wall which disconnects farmers from their farms and children from their schools, while stealing even more territory as the wall freely zigzags and encroaches on Palestinian land is unrepentant immorality.

To leave behind, in the last 10 days of a losing war in Lebanon, more than one million cluster bombs which have no purpose except to murder and maim unsuspecting civilians is murderous depravity.

To believe that the entire world is out to get you, and to denounce any critic of the racist policies of the state of Israel as an anti-Semite, the latest victim being none other than peace-making Jimmy Carter, is hysterical mass paranoia.

To possess, in the midst of a non-nuclear Arab world, more than 200 nuclear warheads capable of incinerating the whole planet, in addition to having the most lethal arsenal of weaponry on earth, while continuing to demand sympathy, is the ultimate false victimisation syndrome.

And today, to blockade the world’s most densely populated strip of land for 18 months, suffocate its already displaced and miserable inhabitants by asking them to die a slow death, and then punish them for refusing to die silently by deliberately bombing their schools, mosques, hospitals and ambulances with internationally prohibited weapons and poisonous gasses in the ugliest televised massacre of children in modern history, all the while looking the world in the eyes and claiming that this is an act of self-defence, is a critical stage of dangerous psychosis, and is pure, unadulterated madness.

Yes, and for that salesman in peaceful Geneva to be as insecure as a common thief to refuse to acknowledge the name of the largest West Bank city under his country’s brutal military occupation is, sadly, more of the same infectious and ultimately fatal disease of the mind.

The writer is an attorney, partner in Nabulsi & Associates law firm. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.

I was arrested while mourning those killed with our tax dollars

2009-01-11T22:30:00.008-05:00

On Tuesday, January 6, about 80 anti-war protestors came to Capitol Hill to remind elected representatives of the death and destruction they continue to fund. Laurie Arbeiter and her colleagues in the Activist Response Team (ART) organized another performance of the March of the Dead on the first day of the 111th Congress, followed by dramatic banner drops and arrests for nonviolent civil resistance later that day.

The protestors did not gain much media attention, although plenty of cameras were on the scene. It appears at the end of the day their producers and editors only had time for Mr. Burris, the man appointed by a defamed governor to take the president-elect’s seat in the senate. However, Bill Moyers picked up on it and commented on it during his TV show. The rest of the media did not have time for the names of the dead slain by our military, or our proxies the Israelis.

I marched in this somber procession of remembrance that rainy day, and I took part in the nonviolent civil resistance afterward inside the Hart Senate Office Building. The action was powerful and poignant. In side the building, senate staffers came to the balconies overlooking the atrium and saw us in the death masks and saw the huge banners produced by our New York friends in ART.

I carried the name of Iman Muhammad al Aju. She was a four-month-old girl from Gaza killed in her mother’s arms. I was arrested minutes after calling out her name inside the atrium; inside these shiny halls of power. There were 17 of us arrested. Five for disorderly conduct because they hung the banners that read: “The audacity of war crimes,” “Iraq,” “Afghanistan,” and “Palestine,” as well as “We will not be silent.” Why were they disorderly? Because our message of truth caused some distress in those halls where truth is often not desirable?

On the ground floor 12 more of us were arrested because we would not be silent, we continued to read the names of those senselessly slaughtered. We were charged with unlawful assembly. I wondered what made our assembly unlawful? Surely we were not blocking anything, and we were not louder than most tourist or school groups. One arresting officer told us, through a bullhorn, “Cease your criminal activity.” What was the criminal activity – us honoring those tragically killed in wars of aggression, or those in the offices who continually fund them to the tune of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars?

Most of us arrested are planning to go to court. We hope to turn this around and place the real war criminals on trial. I know when I appear in court for my arraignment on February 5th, that when my name is called, I will respond: “My name is Pete Perry, I am representing Iman Muhammad al Aju, a four-month-old girl killed in her mother’s arms. I plead not guilty, because she was truly innocent.”

More Groups Than Thought Monitored in Police Spying

2009-01-04T17:03:00.003-05:00

New Documents Reveal Md. Program's Reach
By Lisa Rein and Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, January 4, 2009; A01

The Maryland State Police surveillance of advocacy groups was far more extensive than previously acknowledged, with records showing that troopers monitored -- and labeled as terrorists -- activists devoted to such wide-ranging causes as promoting human rights and establishing bike lanes.

Intelligence officers created a voluminous file on Norfolk-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling the group a "security threat" because of concerns that members would disrupt the circus. Angry consumers fighting a 72 percent electricity rate increase in 2006 were targeted. The DC Anti-War Network, which opposes the Iraq war, was designated a white supremacist group, without explanation.

One of the possible "crimes" in the file police opened on Amnesty International, a world-renowned human rights group: "civil rights."

According to hundreds of pages of newly obtained police documents, the groups were swept into a broad surveillance operation that started in 2005 with routine preparations for the scheduled executions of two men on death row.

The operation has been called a "waste of resources" by the current police superintendent and "undemocratic" by the governor.

Police have acknowledged that the monitoring, which took place during the administration of then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), spiraled out of control, with an undercover trooper spending 14 months infiltrating peaceful protest groups. Troopers have said they inappropriately labeled 53 individuals as terrorists in their database, information that was shared with federal authorities. But the new documents reveal a far more expansive set of police targets and indicate that police did not close some files until late 2007.

The surveillance ended with no arrests and no evidence of violent sedition. Instead, troopers are preparing to purge files and say they are expecting lawsuits.

The effort, made public in July, confirmed the fears of civil liberties groups that have warned about domestic spying since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Interviews, e-mails, public records and an independent state review reveal that police in Maryland were motivated by something far narrower: a query about death penalty activism directed to a police antiterrorism unit that was searching for a mission.

But some observers say Sept. 11 opened the door. "No one was thinking this was al-Qaeda," said Stephen H. Sachs, a former U.S. attorney and state attorney general appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to review the case. "But 9/11 created an atmosphere where cutting corners was easier."

Maryland has not been alone. The FBI and police departments in several cities, including Denver in 2002 and New York before the 2004 Republican National Convention, also responded to the threat of terrorism by spying on activists.

Sachs's review, released in October, condemned the Maryland spying as a severe lapse in judgment. No one has been reprimanded or fired, and the undercover trooper has been promoted twice.

To date, the activists listed as terrorists are not known to have experienced any related limits in their travel, employment or financial transactions.

State police officials have provided only glimpses of their intelligence-gathering and have defended some of it as necessary to ensure public safety at potentially contentious protests. Although they have provided related documents to the American Civil Liberties Union and Maryland lawmakers, they have not given the same records to The Washington Post under the Public Information Act.

The department declined to make the officers involved available to answer questions. Some sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the case's sensitivity. Ehrlich also has declined to comment; senior police officials say he was never briefed on the program. The newly discovered documents do, however, reveal for the first time the stated purpose of the operation: "To assess the threat to public safety by various protest groups, and identify high threat groups for continued monitoring."

* * *

The documents and law enforcement sources say the operation began in 2005 with a simple request from Maj. Jack Simpson, a field commander in special operations. In late February, he called Lt. Greg Mazzella in the intelligence division and asked for a threat assessment of protests expected before the scheduled execution dates for two men on Maryland's death row.

After trawling the Internet, an analyst reported a "potential for disruption" at both executions. Mazzella dispatched a corporal who needed experience in undercover work to the Electrik Maid community center in Takoma Park, where death penalty foes were organizing rallies.

At a rally to save Vernon Evans Jr. outside the Supermax prison in Baltimore a few weeks later, the woman who said her name was Lucy McDonald asked veteran activist Max Obuszewski how she could learn more about passive resistance and civil disobedience.

The activists recall that she had a genial disposition and refreshing curiosity, and she quickly became a fixture at meetings and rallies of death penalty opponents and antiwar activists. She used a laptop computer at meetings, but the activists say no one was alarmed. "Maybe I wondered what she was typing," said Mike Stark of Takoma Park. "But you always check yourself. In our movement it's very important to be outward and not paranoid."

The trooper provided weekly reports to her bosses, logging at least 288 hours of investigative time. She did not return phone calls seeking comment, and The Post is not identifying her because of concerns about compromising her cover in other possible operations.

The logs described silent vigils outside the prison and a ceremony of poetry and songs to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. The activists pledged nonviolence. Yet she closed several entries this way: "Due to the above facts, I request that this case remain open and updated as events warrant."

The woman's bosses considered her surveillance a low-risk training exercise; it quickly expanded to the antiwar movement as she met activists whose causes overlapped, police said.

Intelligence commanders discussed the spying at their daily briefings and made Lt. Col. Thomas Coppinger, then the chief of the intelligence bureau, and Superintendent Timothy Hutchins aware of it, law enforcement officials said. Coppinger and other officers involved in the case declined to comment.

The program emerged after the antiterrorism squad had been whittled from almost 65 to a dozen.

Hutchins's predecessor, Ed Norris, a hard-charging former Baltimore police commissioner, had built up the division after the Sept. 11 attacks to fight terrorist threats.

But when Norris was forced out by corruption charges in 2004, the unit was gutted. Most of the computers and other high-tech equipment for intelligence troopers were literally ripped out of the walls, law enforcement sources said.

"We concentrated on what we could do best, rather than a little bit of everything," Hutchins said.

When Simpson called, the unit finally had a mission.

Greg Shipley, a police spokesman, said the undercover operation spanned months as the death penalty cases saw their timelines grow and the executions delayed.

Other intelligence gathering was prompted by planned protests largely to ensure that no violence occurred, Shipley said. Investigators had concerns about the potential for "counter-demonstrations" to planned protests, he said.

Current Superintendent Terrence Sheridan said in a Nov. 25 letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) that police had a right to monitor activists in public forums.

"Presence at a rally, a demonstration, gathering information from open sources such as the Internet, etc. are all part of the collection of the knowledge and information crucial" to police work, Sheridan wrote.

* * *

The undercover trooper's early moves were sometimes clumsy. She sent e-mails from a domain linked to the state police that could easily have been uncovered with an Internet search. She sprinkled truth across her cover story, once revealing her home county. She suddenly changed her name to Lucy Shoup and offered a new e-mail address, claiming a change in marital status. She asked lots of questions but never shared her thoughts, activists say. She also tried to use her new friendships to learn more about other groups.

Then, with Evans's execution stayed, the woman disappeared. "Lucy was no more," Obuszewski recalled.

Meanwhile, the intelligence-gathering expanded in other directions, to activists in New York, Missouri, San Francisco and at the University of Maryland. Shane Dillingham's primary crime, according to the six-page file classifying him as a terrorist, was "anarchism." Police opened a file on the doctoral student in history a week after an undercover officer attended a College Park forum featuring a jailhouse phone conversation with Evans.

Investigators also tracked activists protesting weapons manufactured by defense contractor Lockheed Martin. They watched two pacifist Catholic nuns from Baltimore. Environmental activists made it into the database, as did three leaders of Code Pink, a national women's antiwar group, who do not live in Maryland.

PETA was labeled a "security threat group" in April 2005, and by July police were looking into a tip that the group had learned about a failing chicken farm in Kent County and planned on "protesting or stealing the chickens." A "very casually dressed" undercover trooper attended a speech by PETA's president that month and waited afterward to see whether anyone talked about chickens. Nobody did.

Police had turned to the database in a low-cost effort to replace antiquated file cabinets. The Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a regional clearinghouse for drug-related criminal information, offered its software for free.

But the database did not include categories that fit the nature of the protest-group investigations. So police created "terrorism" categories to track the activists, according to the state review. Some information was sent directly to HIDTA's main database as part of an agreement to share information.

Putting the activists into the database was "a function of nothing more than the insertion of a piece of paper in a paper file in a file cabinet," Sheridan wrote. But labeling them "terrorists," he said was "incorrect and improper."

The activists fear that they will land on federal watch lists, in part because the police shared their intelligence information with at least seven area law enforcement agencies.

HIDTA Director Tom Carr said his organization's database became a dead end for the information because law enforcement agencies cannot access the data directly. The database instead acts as a "pointer": Investigators enter case information and the database indicates whether another agency has related material and instructs investigators to contact that agency. The activists were not a match with any other data, Carr said, and their information has since purged.

"The problem lies in the fact that once [the state police] checked it out and found it was not accurate, they should have removed it from the system," Carr said. "And they did not do that."

* * *

The surveillance program became public largely because of documents released during a trespassing trial for Obuszewski, the nuns and another activist arrested during an antiwar rally at the National Security Agency. The documents showed that Baltimore intelligence officers were tracking them. The American Civil Liberties Union then filed public records requests with several law enforcement agencies. When the state police refused to release what they had, the ACLU sued.

O'Malley condemned the monitoring as a politically motivated mistake and moved quickly to seek answers. He appointed Sachs, who had prosecuted Catholic activists for raiding a Selective Service office in 1968.

Sachs called the spying a "systemic failure" that violated federal regulations and said police were oblivious to the activists' rights to free expression and association.

The Maryland State Police have changed their policies and plan to solicit advice from the ACLU, the General Assembly, prosecutors and police about regulations that would raise the bar for intelligence-gathering to "reasonable suspicion" of a crime.

Some activists have responded by redoubling their efforts.

Pat Elder, a Bethesda advocate who organizes a demonstration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the gates of Lockheed Martin's headquarters, sent a public message to police last month on a local Web site.

"Did it ever occur to you that we're on the side of the good guys and you're not?" Elder wrote in an open letter to the NSA, the Maryland State Police and Montgomery police. "How do you think it makes us feel to know you're looking over our shoulders this way?"

Staff researchers Julie Tate and Meg Smith contributed to this report.

Edumacation Secdatary Arne Duncan Wants Military Schools

2008-12-28T14:40:00.003-05:00

By Bruce Gagnon
Dandelion Salad
space4peace.blogspot.com
Dec. 21, 2008

Chicago teacher Jesse Sharkey writes:
“In the past couple years, Arne Duncan [Obama's pick for Secretary of Education who hails from Chicago] has been turning public schools over to private operators–mainly in the form of charter and contract schools — at a rate of about 20 per year. Duncan has also resuscitated some of the worst ’school reform’ ideas of the 1990s, like firing all the teachers in low-performing schools (called ‘turnarounds’). At the same time, he’s eliminated many Local School Councils and made crucial decisions without public input.”

“To me, the thing that made Duncan’s role clear came after three months of organizing at Senn High School, the community school where I teach, against the Chicago Board of Education’s proposal to install a Naval Academy.”

“After an inspiring campaign that involved literally hundreds of people in the biggest education organizing effort in the area in decades, we forced Duncan to come up to our neighborhood to listen to our case for keeping the military out of our school. More than 300 of us — parents, teachers, and community supporters — held a big meeting in a local church and, at the end of the meeting, we asked Duncan to postpone the decision to put the military school at Senn.”

“Duncan’s answer was a classic. He said: ‘I come from a Quaker family, and I’ve always been against war. But I’m going to put the Naval Academy in there, because it will give people in the community more choices.’ “

Arne Duncan is an advocate of Bush’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and is closely associated with the Daley family political machine in Chicago. Duncan has a market view of education – the business model of schooling. Many education experts claim that he made no real progress in the last 7-8 years in Chicago leading that public school system. Real education comes when we teach kids to play with ideas, to learn to think. This Duncan corporate model on testing, “reform,” teaches kids to take tests, to memorize, and to become automatons.

Educator Jim Horn, who has written extensively about Duncan at School Matters, notes:
“If Obama is committed to moving backwards to a time when the most that public schooling could do was to ‘rake a few geniuses from the rubbish,’ as Jefferson would have it then the stupidifying corporatization of public education is just the ticket ….. Arne is entirely capable of leading the charge.”

Greg Palast, who devoted part of his instructive book Armed Madhouse to NCLB, describes its workings :
“At the heart of the program is testing. And more testing. Testing instead of teaching. When tests go badly, the solution is to push the low-test-score kids to drop out of school. If the triage isn’t enough, then attack their teachers.”“Here’s how Duncan operates this program in Chicago at Collins High in the Lawndale ghetto. Teachers there work with kids from homeless shelters from an economically devastated neighborhood. Believe it or not, the kids don’t get high test scores. So Chicago fired the teachers, every one of them. Then they brought in new teachers and fired THEM too when, surprise! test scores still didn’t rise.”

The bigger view is necessary here. I have written and spoken extensively in recent years about the Pentagon saying that America’s role under corporate globalization will be “security export.” We aren’t going to have jobs making things in our country anymore. Our job will be building weapons and waging endless war to grab declining resources around the world. In order to pull that off you need a growing cadre of young people who have no ambition, no dreams, no ability to get into college — you need a dumbed-down generation.

My friend Richard Rhames, a vegetable farmer in Biddeford, Maine writes an award winning column for his local newspaper. He wrote about education last week and had this to say:

“The US educational system has, since working class kids gained entry in the early 20th century, functioned largely as a sorting mechanism, where children were indoctrinated, trained in docility, but sometimes, through the work of motivated teachers, exposed to a world of ideas, and perhaps the subversive minefield of independent thought.”

The days of teachers having the time and the ability to motivate and inspire kids to expand their minds is under frontal attack.
Obama has made another pick that benefits the corporatization and militarization of American culture. His children have always attended, and will continue to attend, private schools where the elite ensure their kids get a stimulating education.

Final outcome of the Ghosts of Iraq War: Judge suspends fines and jail time

2008-12-24T22:23:00.004-05:00

By Eve Tetaz

As was anticipated Judge Morin sentenced us to five days in jail(suspended as the prosecutor didn't think it was worth the expense to jail us), 6 mos. probation, and a heavy fine. He then allowed us to give our sentencing statements. After I gave mine, I told him that I would refuse probation and would not pay the fine. (Last time I refused, I was sent to jail.) Each of my codefendents gave his or her statement followed by the same refusal. After the last defendant spoke, the Judge gave a new ruling, as follows:

None of us would be required to be on probation, none of us has to pay a fine, and all of us were sentenced to one day in jail already served because we had spend the night and a day in jail waiting for arraignment.

It is apparent to me, that Judge Morin was moved to change his ruling because of the justice of our actions. I think I can speak for the others when I say, "We will not be silent." We will continue to speak truth to power.

Amen and Hallelujah.

Dixey Bosely-Smith Paul Fitch, and Ann Barnet, all from 8th Day, Bettina Del Sesto from Support Group 2, and Judith Kelley from Pacee Bene and Maria Allwine from the Baltimore Non Violence Center were present in court to support us. Thank you.

President Obama Shut Down Guantanamo : “Yes You Can!”

2008-12-11T23:13:00.004-05:00

Submitted by Malachy Kilbride on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 12:50pm

Next month in January the American people will joyfully celebrate the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama and the end to the criminal Bush Administration. Americans will celebrate the belief in our freedom, our vote, and the conclusion of eight years of an unaccountable regime that brought us into war and occupation on lies. We will celebrate the hope for much needed change. But how can anyone truly celebrate freedom and change when Americans know of the inhumane treatment and torture of the Guantanamo prisoners?

In one month Americans will also mark the 7th year the Guantanamo Bay camp received the first prisoners into that dark, tragic, and shameful place. By now, if Americans are unaware that hundreds of men and some boys have languished in Guantanamo for years without charge, without access to lawyers, without due process or the habeas corpus rights granted to prisoners by law-abiding civilized governments then these unaware Americans are some place much more tragic and dark than Guantanamo. But for Americans who do know what Guantanamo is and what it represents then January must be the time to commit to closing Guantanamo and places like it. We must take action because we are responsible for Guantanamo.

Keeping Guantanamo open will mean the celebrations and hope for change will be hollow and devoid of meaning. An open Guantanamo will continue to be one of America’s immoral hypocrisies. Just as in election year 2006 Americans in 2008 expressed their hope for change, an end to war, and the disgraceful undemocratic policies supporting torture, the elimination of habeas corpus, and operating places like Guantanamo. However, those elected to lead in 2006, for whatever reason, failed to lead us away from the continued criminality of the Bush Administration. This continuing type of unaccountable leadership must end starting this January under the new administration. Americans must actively pressure the Obama Administration to pursue real and meaningful peace measures, restore habeas corpus, and close the Guantanamo prison immediately.

“We’re going to close Guantanamo…We’re going to lead by example-by not just word but deed. That’s our vision for the future.” Barack Obama said on the campaign trail. What welcome words! Now let us all welcome the actions necessary to restore justice and accountability.

Electing and celebrating President Obama will not be enough to restore justice. The American people must accept their unique responsibility in restoring justice by closing Guantanamo. Americans must actively exert their influence and pressure President Obama to fulfill his promise to close Guantanamo. Guantanamo can be shut down within the first 100 days as one step in restoring accountability and justice.

But, can this really be done? “Yes, we can!” says Witness Against Torture a group of individuals and groups working to close Guantanamo and end torture. Witness Against Torture announced a 100 Days Campaign that begins on January 11, 2009. January 11 is the date the first prisoners were brought to Guantanamo in 2002. On January 11 a solemn march will process through Washington DC followed by a rally with activists, human rights lawyers, and others working to close Guantanamo and end torture. A fast will begin carried out by people of faith and conscience who will be in solidarity with the Guantanamo prisoners in an attempt to highlight the issue of their imprisonment. This will be the start of a 100 days campaign waged by Witness Against Torture in which Witness Against Torture will lobby on Capitol Hill, hold educational and cultural events, organize creative actions in Washington DC, in addition to a sustained presence in front of The White House.

Since Guantanamo first opened in January 2002 around 700 prisoners have been quietly released after years of imprisonment without any charges against them. Around 250 still remain in the prison indefinitely. Recently, 17 Uighur men from China were found not guilty by a US District court in Washington DC. They were ordered released. The Bush Administration’s Department of Justice has appealed this and effectively blocked these innocent men from being released from the Guantanamo prison. They are still there awaiting the appeal by the DOJ.. When their lawyer goes to visit them they are shackled to the floor treated by the US as guilty criminals if not caged animals. Is this what America will represent under an Obama presidency?

We cannot let the Obama Administration be unaccountable like the Bush Administration. We cannot give Obama a free pass like Bush was given for eight long years. We must actively call upon Obama to shut Guantanamo down within the first 100 days under his leadership.

Doing any less than actively calling upon the new American president to restore justice and accountability by shutting down Guantanamo as a first step is to betray the principles of our Bill of Rights and The Constitution of The United States. The Guantanamo prison eats away at America’s conscience because it is wrong. Keeping Guantanamo open makes our liberty a hypocrisy. Join Witness Against Torture’s 100 Days Campaign calling on President Obama to fulfill his promise for hope and change by shutting down Guantanamo.

Visit: WAT's 100 Days Campaign

Letter to the local peace and justice movement

2008-11-30T14:39:00.006-05:00

Our fellow DC area activist-organizers,

There has been much change during the last couple years within the local peace and justice movement. The changes we have witnessed have included dissolution of the DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) as a group but not the commitment of several of its participants, there has been an increase in levels of nonviolent resistance actions, the revitalizing of the Washington Peace Center as a dynamic force in the wider DC metro community, and most recently the founding of a capacity-building coalition for future mobilizations, known as Activist Coalition of DC (ACDC). However, there is an important and vital need to share resources, creativity, and skills to unite collective energies and move beyond being only somewhat effective to being successful in our peace and social justice struggles. This needs to be our highest priority.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that the U.S. Government was the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, and that a nation that continually spends more on military expenditures rather than human needs is approaching spiritual death. We are at that twilight moment now as our government spends trillions of dollars on war while witnessing a collapsing economy. We strongly urge our fellow activists and other concerned citizens to turn out for a peace witness at war profiteer Lockheed Martin in Bethesda on Dr. King's Birthday, January 19th. This national death Dr. King spoke of is very near, and while millions celebrate Barack Obama's victory, we are troubled by his choice of known warmongers as top-tier advisors and cabinet officials who are closely tied to those responsible for our dying economy and those who have profited from the illegitimate, illegal and immoral wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

We also call out and encourage everyone, followers and believers in King's dream and life of peace, to turn out early on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20th at McPherson Square for yet another witness for justice and peace. We will be handing out signs with President Obama's own most progressive quotes. President Obama must be held accountable to his own words and expressed promises. We must hold him responsible for the hope of real change he has instilled in millions. We cannot miss this opportunity. We must turn to hope and renewed life, and away from violence and death. This will be an important day for those of us working for peace and social justice to reach out to fellow citizens, encouraging them to join us in letting the new government know that we will not be silent.

We realize that different individual progressive activist-organizers have different foci, and the Washington Peace Center is interested in providing a home to all, possibly through official working groups and fiscal sponsorship. But there also comes a time when we must all come together, united in a common purpose. That common purpose is the end of war and occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the restoration of civil liberties and social justice at home.

We must be the change we wish to see. President Obama even said this election belonged to we the people, not him. With this victory comes responsibility. We cannot rely on politicians alone to bring the changes we wish to see in the world. This is why we are calling for a DC peace and justice unity meeting on January 29th, after the inauguration to set our priorities for the next year, and to help prepare plans for the major national mobilization being called for March 19th, the dreadful commemoration of shock and awe. Can you believe this will be six years of an aggressive and evil war on a nation, which never attacked us, and by our government's own information, never posed a credible threat to us? Let us get to work to accomplish small things separately, but together, united in a common purpose we can accomplish a great deal more. We believe we have the power to begin to galvanize the masses to bring about a more just and peaceful world in our time. Let us begin uniting and exercising that power now.

In peace and resistance,
Pete Perry & Malachy Kilbride
Board members of the Washington Peace Center

DC Unity Meeting
Jan. 29
7PM
Reeves Center (14th and U Streets NW)

Alice Walker's Message to The President-Elect

2008-11-22T20:44:00.001-05:00

I was one of the 53 spied on by the Maryland State Police

2008-11-18T18:26:00.005-05:00

The Maryland State Police spied on me, and placed me in a database. Despite being fully committed to nonviolence, I was categorized as a terrorist. This has been a pretty hot item with the press in Maryland. Apparently my Work with DAWN (DC Anti-War Network) and the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance attracted their attention. Below is one of the latest stories. Funny thing, I received a copy of my file and they didn't even have a physical description of me. Also, no photo, and about 80% of it was redacted. So I will most likely be part of the ACLU lawsuit against MSP.

Senators press for spying answers
Annapolis
By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer

U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski are pressing federal agencies for answers on whether they have any knowledge or information about the Maryland State Police's spying on anti-death penalty, anti-war, and environmental activists.

Mr. Cardin and Ms. Mikulski, both Maryland Democrats, were joined by Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin in a letter sent yesterday to federal law enforcement and intelligence officials. The senators urged the government to delete any information it has about the 53 protesters mistakenly classified by the state police as suspected terrorists.

The senators also are asking the agencies to identify how much of the information reached federal databases; the extent the information has been used, shared, or resulted in someone being placed on a federal terrorism-related watchlist; any plans to eliminate the data; and whether any federal officials told the state police the information was being improperly collected.

The state police did not use any federal funds for the surveillance and none of the activists were placed on any federal terrorism watchlists, said Greg Shipley, a spokesman for the state police.

"We did not take any overt, adverse law enforcement actions against any individual," he said.

The letter was sent to Michael Mukasey, the U.S. attorney general; Michael Chertoff, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Robert Mueller, the director of the FBI; Lt. Gen. Keith B. Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency; and Michael E. Leiter, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

"Anti-war protesters, environmental protesters, and anyone exercising their First Amendment right to nonviolent protests should not be unlawfully spied upon nor should they be grouped together with criminals and terrorists," Mr. Cardin said in a prepared statement. "The actions uncovered over the last month are unacceptable and need to be addressed before they happen again."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland released documents this summer that uncovered a covert surveillance operation of regional protest groups conducted by the state police during 2005 and 2006.

A report on the spying ordered by Gov. Martin O'Malley, who was not governor when the investigations were occurring, and compiled by former Maryland Attorney General Stephen H. Sachs, criticized the state police for "overreaching" by continuing to monitor groups when there was no evidence of criminal conduct.

A total of 53 people were mistakenly classified as terrorists in police databases, and some of the information was placed in the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, a federally funded database used to communicate between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Sachs' report states the police may have violated federal regulations by sharing data about individuals when there was no reasonable suspicion they were involved in criminal activity.

Although the covert operation originally appeared limited to anti-death penalty and anti-war groups, three staffers for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network revealed in October they were also on the list.

David Rocah, an attorney for the ACLU, said the state police have not been "terribly forthcoming" on how far the bad information was spread, and there are reasons to be skeptical about any positive assurances.

"We are thrilled that (the senators) are asking these important questions," Mr. Rocah said. "These are questions we have been asking since day one."

Action to Demand Indictment of Bush and Cheney

2008-11-13T10:20:00.000-05:00

Demanding Indictment of Bush and Cheney: Nov. 10th

2008-11-05T22:50:00.003-05:00

Dear friends,

By the time you read this letter we will likely know who our next president will be. But whether Obama or McCain wins the election, we need to continue our work calling for peace and justice. We must continue to demand that the new president ends the occupation of Iraq and does not escalate military action in Afghanistan. We also must call for justice and demand that Bush and others in his administration are held accountable for the murders of millions of innocent people from Iraq, from Afghanistan, and almost 4200 US soldiers.

Our work is far from over. I will be flying to Washington, DC to join other activists from around the country in an action on November 10 at the Department of Justice. This action is being organized by the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) www.irqpledge.org following the principles of nonviolence that we have learned from Gandhi, King, Day and others.

In September organizers from NCNR sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey (See letter below). In the letter we called for the indictment of Bush and Cheney for war crimes. We asked for a meeting with AG Mukasey to discuss this matter. We have not heard back from AG Mukasey, so on November 10 at 12 noon we will go to the Department of Justice in Washington, DC and demand a meeting, demand that Bush, Cheney and others are held accountable. If we are not granted a meeting, some of us will be led by our conscience to take action in the spirit of nonviolence where we may be risking arrest. We take this action knowing that we are doing what we are called to do, knowing that we are doing the only thing we can do as our leaders have continued to disobey the laws of the United States and to trample on and shred the U.S. Constitution for the last 8 years.

If possible, please join us in DC on November 10 for this action. If you are not able to make it to DC, we ask citizens all around the country to join us in solidarity through local actions on November 10.

First, call the attorney general’s office on November 10 to encourage him to meet with the citizenry outside who want to discuss the indictment of Bush and Cheney: Department of Justice Main Switchboard – 202-514-2000 and Office of the Attorney General – 202-353-1555.

Second, if possible, hold a solidarity demonstration at your local federal building on November 10. During the demonstration, you would have a copy of the NCNR letter requesting a meeting. You would emphasize that the AG must meet with these concerned citizens and must consider an indictment.

It is time, no matter who becomes our next president, to bring the criminals of the Bush regime to justice. Please, wherever you are, do your part in joining us in this call for justice and truth.

We, the people, have the power to make this happen.

For more information or to join this action, please contact:

Max mobuszewski@verizon.net or Joy jsfirst@tds.net

Ghosts of War on Trial

2008-10-21T12:49:00.001-04:00

Peace activists Eve Tetaz (DC), Maria Alwine (Maryland), Ellen Barfield (Marlyand), Tim Chadwick (Pennsylvania), Joy First (Wisconsin), Judith Kelly (Virginia), Art Landis (Pennsylvania), Linda LeTendre (New York), Max Obuszewski (Maryland), and Manijeh Saba (New Jersey) went on trial yesterday selecting a jury of their peers. All 10 of them face a maximum sentence of six months in prison for speaking out in the U.S. Senate Gallery on March 12, 2008. All 10 citizens of conscience were calling on their elected representatives to cease funding an illegal war and occupation to the tune of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.

Nine of the 10 defendants are pro-se defendants in this trial brought by the U.S. Government. The trial continues today, and likely Wednesday in courtroom 312 of DC Superior Court, Carl Moultrie Building, 500 Indiana Avenue NW. All defendants are affiliated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (www.iraqpledge.org).

For more info: Joy First, 608-239-4327/Ann Wilcox (attorney advisor), 202-441-3265

17 Uighurs in Guantanamo Released, Appear in Washington Friday!

2008-10-08T12:23:00.002-04:00

Today in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, 17 uighur men detained and imprisoned for seven years, first in Afghanistan and then in Guantanamo Bay were ordered to be freed and released to the U.S. Judge Ricardo Urbina rejected the government's argument that the men, all of whom were declared non-enemy combatants four years ago should remain detained against their wills in a state of legal limbo.

Judge Urbina ordered the immediate release of all the men, and scheduled a hearing for Friday at 10 a.m. to discuss the details of the men's acclimation to living inside the U.S.

Uighurs are an Islamic ethnic group residing in western China. Many want to separate from the Chinese regime and form their own homeland. For this reason, China does not want their return, nor do many of them wish to return due to the likelihood that they would be imprisoned and tortured for their beliefs. A small uighur community will house the men for a temporary period in the Washington Metro area. Attorneys presented a representative from Lutheran Refugee Services and others who will assist with a more permanent placement of most of the men in Tallahassee, Florida where a large and vibrant uighur community resides.

In his oral opinion, Urbina said the government failed to provide any logical argument for the men's continued imprisonment in Guantanamo. He also said that continuing to hold men no longer deemed enemy combatants and without charge was unlawful.

The Washington Peace Center co-sponsors an evening with Vincent Bugliosi

2008-10-01T11:04:00.004-04:00

Bugliosi: “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder”
Friday, October 17, 2008 at 6 p.m.
University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law
Building 38, 2nd Floor, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

Mr. Bugliosi, a highly successful prosecutor in Los Angeles and author of “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder” will appear at a Washington, DC law school to present a tight, meticulously researched legal case that puts President George W. Bush on trial in a courtroom for the murder of more than 4,100 American soldiers fighting the war in Iraq.

Bugliosi’s argument is simple. Bush wanted a war with Iraq. He had to show that preemptive invasion of Iraq was justified. To do this Iraq had to be an imminent threat to the United States. There were two major problems. Bush couldn’t prove any connection between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. More importantly, his own 2002 classified intelligence estimate findings of the National Intelligence Estimate (NEI) of 2002, classified the original document, and provided Congress with a doctored version to support his claims. By doing this, Bush pushed through an illegal invasion which he had to have known would cost U.S. lives.
That, Bugliosi argues, is an act of murder committed against each and every U.S. soldier killed in this war.

While he has not been on hand for any combat, should Bush appear before a judge and jury charged with the murder of thousands of U.S. soldiers, Bugliosi is confident that he's provided the arguments and evidence required for a first degree murder conviction.

“No man, even the president of the United States, is above the law,” said Bugliosi.

As a Los Angeles prosecutor, Bugliosi represented the state in 106 major cases and won 105, including each of his 21 murder cases. Since his first book, Helter Skelter, he's been one of the top true crime writers with three number one best sellers and numerous awards.

Moderators include Joe Libertelli, Director of Alumni Affairs, UDC Arthur D. Clarke School of Law, and Wilmer J. Leon, III, Ph.D., host of "On With Leon", a contributor to truthout.org, politicsincolor.com, and the Black Star News, and frequent guest on CNN's “Lou Dobbs Tonight”.

Along with the Washington Peace Center, the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, and Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice helped organize and co-sponsor this special event.
###

War and Poverty: Out of sight, out of mind

2008-09-26T12:03:00.004-04:00

This morning, I rolled out of bed and grabbed a bus downtown. I was determined to be bear witness to what many in our country have never seen, and seldom ever hear of... The last 50 homeless men were kicked out of Franklin Shelter at 13th and K Streets NW. Out of sight, out of mind.

I got to the front of the shelter at 6:55 a.m. There were a couple of the men standing out front with some young white folks, mostly students, some anarchists. One man, I had seen the evening before when we chanted and protested in the nearby intersection, was on the lower steps of the shelter loudly expressing himself. I thought of the Biblical figure of John, the voice crying out in the wilderness. Alone but full of truth.

"They don't care, they go about their business, they don't care about people like us," he shouted. "And for (Adrian) Fenty? He doesn't give a damn! Those in power, they are baby killers."

I was speechless, but I nodded in agreement. Those in power are baby killers. One of the white students thought the man's anger was being directed at him, and tried to reassure him that we were all there in support and solidarity. Part of the man's diatribe seemed a bit confused, but it was clearly full of disappointment and pain. "I know, I know you are here to support," he mumbles, and then a few minutes later he wanders off when he sees a few police approach the front steps and the main doorway. "I don't want to deal with them, they aren't civilized."

According to the law, and what the men from Franklin Shelter have in writing, is that the shelter was to be closed on October 1st. But over the last several days men have been pushed out and the beds have been disappearing. Many are being bused over to 801 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, but some are going straight back out to the streets. And hypothermia season is approaching quickly.

When I arrived there were already a small handful of police monitoring us and the shelter. By 7:05 about 30 more police arrive in squad cars, they seem unsure what to do, there's just a small group os us there. I overhear a shelter security guard talking into a walking talkie about a couple trucks coming to "move stuff." The crowd of police on 13th Street seem to be talking to each other and into cell phones. Terry, a shelter resident and I comment to a couple students watching, that's taxpayer money at work. After several more minutes and deciding that none of us were a direct threat, half of these police on 13th Street leave.

About then I see that Jane Zara, a fellow WPC board member and attorney arrives. She is interviewing a couple of the residents, and overhear something being mentioned about a last-minute legal maneuver.

Terry tells another attorney and some others standing by, "The men in Franklin are being dehumanized. We are not thought of as humans by the mayor or the city council." A little later I remark to Terry and some students he engages in a little DC history lesson, that the mayor first wants to move the homeless east of the river and then eventually out of the city entirely. Out of the sight of the corporations and upwardly selfish yuppies.

Baby killers. Out of sight, out of mind.

Meanwhile, as I type this I see on The National Priorities "Cost of War" Website, that the cost of the Iraq War has spiraled past $557.3 billion dollars. The number jumps another $10,000 every 4 seconds! And what does this grand sum of money earn us? Over a million dead Iraqis! And 4,173 Americans murdered by the Bush Administration.

But you know, we can't afford to provide basic shelter for 300 men in downtown DC. Fenty is closing Franklin Shelter, within earshot of the White House, ahead of schedule. He is acting in a preemptive manner. A preemptive strike, sending men to their death. Sound familiar?

By 7:45 a.m. the moving trucks arrive, they remove 6 large folded dining tables, lots of chairs, a TV, a microwave. Some of the young white guys have digital cameras and continue documenting this shame. Someone mentions that a nearby upscale bar on K Street was celebrating last night that the shelter was closing. Supposedly the men's lockers are going to be moved to 801.

Out of sight, out of mind. About 8:10 a.m. I wander off, thoroughly disgusted by my city and country. But then again, I am also responsible -- why didn't I act sooner? What could I have done?

As I use the pull down menu on The National Priorities Website, I check out a trade-off for the Iraq War. At the current total cost of the criminal and immoral war and occupation, we in the U.S. could have instead have had -- this is what it tells me:

For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided: 5,103,740 Affordable Housing Units.
Want to do something about this outrage? Come to Mayor Fenty's Office at the Wilson Building (1350 Penn Ave. NW) at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon.

VETERANS FOR PEACE END ARCHIVES OCCUPATION ON HIGH NOTE

2008-09-24T10:05:00.001-04:00

"We may be back again soon," Vets add

Washington -- Five military veterans, all members of Veterans For Peace, are breaking camp from their perch on the National Archives building this morning, taking with them their 22x8-ft. banner demanding “DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION. ARREST BUSH AND CHENEY: WAR CRIMINALS!” that has overlooked their 24-hour action on a narrow ledge 35 feet above Constitution Ave.

Tarak Kauff, 67, former Army Airborne, who provided ground support throughout, said in a phone interview, "We're always told to 'write your Congressman,' and we have. Only this time we brought a letter they couldn't miss. We've made our point writ large that Bush and Cheney are war criminals and must be arrested and prosecuted. Impeach them if we can, but we're not holding our breath for Congress to act. The kingpins of this criminal administration will be brought to justice, along with many of their lieutenants."

Elliott Adams, VFP president, by phone from his spot on the ledge overlooking the entrance to the Archives Building, said "This turned out excellent. We're very happy with the response we've gotten to arrest Bush and Cheney for war crimes. We considered staying longer this time but we are not prepared for longer than this...although we may be back again, soon."

VFP members participating in the Archives action are: Elliott Adams: 61, NY, VFP President and former Army paratrooper in Viet Nam; Ellen Barfield: 52, MD, former U.S. Army Sgt., full-time peace and justice advocate; Kim Carlyle: 61, NC, mountain homesteader, former Army Spec 5; Diane Wilson: 59, TX, shrimp boat captain, former Army medic; Doug Zachary: 58, TX, VFP staff, former USMC LCpl discharged as a conscientious objector; and Tarak Kauff (ground support) 67, NY, painting contractor, former U.S. Army Airborne.