Grassroots Action

Common sense has prevailed, at least momentarily, in Madison, Wisconsin's municipal court.

Trespassing charges were dropped today against three peace activists who had entered an Army recruiting station to discuss the Iraq war with recruiters.

The Army apparently decided to cut its public relations losses. When the officer who was to testify on the Army's behalf failed to show up (was AWOL, in other words), the judge dismissed the charges against the trio.

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) held hearings in Seattle on May 31, 2008. While the mainstream media has still ignored the hearings for the most part, the stories told by these brave veterans are being heard. On May 15, members of IVAW testified before a hearing convened by the Congressional Progressive Caucus in Washington DC.

As was reported here back in March, 250 peace activists brought the costs of the war to their local mall, and 2 of them were arrested.

IRAQ VETERAN KRISTOFER GOLDSMITH FROM LI TESTIFIES AT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON MAY 15, 2008

Congress has heard from politicians, pundits, and generals, but not, up to this point, from the average boots-on-the-ground soldier.

In Arkansas there are many miles between peace groups, though there may be some hiding out there in the hills we haven't found yet. Last week a racial justice worker from Pine Bluff told me "Arkansas gets lonely for this kind of work."

Rutgers students and community activists packed the city council meeting last night, demanding that it pass a resolution against the war in Iraq, and that use its influence to get the charges against the Rutgers 3 (Suzan Sanal, Erik Straub, Arwa Ibrahim) dropped. The resolution was passed unanimously, and New Brunswick thus became the fourth city in New Jersey to stand against the war.

This morning, the Chicago City Council considers a resolution against war with Iran and in favor of real diplomacy. I'll be following the proceedings here. The meeting started at 10 AM Central.

The proceedings are streamed on the web.
mms://chicago-city-council.wm.llnwd.net/chicago_city_council

The actual hearings have begun. See below:

This is a live blog of the Chicago City Council hearings on the proposed resolution against a US attack on Iran and in favor of real diplomacy. The proceedings begin with a press conference at 10:30. The actual hearings are to begin at 11:30 (Central time.)

Press Conference

10:41 Alderman Joe Moore, sponsor of the resolution opposed to a US military attack on Iran and urging the US to engage in real diplomacy.

5years ago the council made history passing a resolution against war in Iraq.

With Senator Obama the presumptive Democratic nominee, the question facing America, increasingly, boils down to this: intensify the "clash of civilizations," at the continued expense of domestic needs, or turn to diplomacy to resolve international conflict, so we can re-orient our national priorities to health care, education, economic recovery, and protecting the environment.

New York citizens are currently marching across the state to bring support to our active duty soldiers and Iraq Veterans Against the War. This 10-day march is an act of re-birthing civic duty and responsibility to defend our Constitution and strengthen our resolve to stop the damage this unjust, illegal, and immoral war is doing to our families, communities, the world and most of all, soldiers.