Stop War

We Can Stop the War

The struggle for peace was given new momentum when over a million marched in New York City, San Francisco and cities and towns around the country Feb. 15-16. Millions marching worldwide spoke in one voice opposing the Bush administrations drive to war in Iraq and for the United Nations weapons inspections to be given more time.

The Bush administration arrogantly dismissed the protests, but news reports continued for four days after about the pressure that the massive protests has not only on the Bush administration but on governments involved in the debates in the UN. The New York Times called it the “new power” in the streets. It is a new more vocal power that must be taken into the halls of Congress and city halls across the country.

POLITICAL ACTION

Now we have to shift gears while continuing the street heat. Win without War (www.winwithoutwarus.org ) a national coalition of groups and Moveon.org are organizing a Virtual National March on Washington, D.C. on Feb. 26. They are mobilizing e-mails, faxes, and calls to Congress people in support of the UN inspections and to give peace a chance. They say you don’t have to leave your living room. Organize lunch-time e-mailing, send out the info to listservs, do a phone tree to get the Capitol flooded with voices for peace.

Moveon.org has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for antiwar media ads and now is moving people into the streets with downloadable PDF formatted leaflets and helping people link up with others in their area code.

The drive to support Senate legislation sponsored by Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Robert Byrd (R-W.Va.) as well as House legislation sponsored by Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is being spearheaded by Peace Action ( www.peace-action.org ) and the Friends Committee on National Legislation ( www.fcnl.org. )


The most important message the people can send is support the UN inspections! We encourage you to become a part of this effort and help spark visits with others to your congressional representatives at home as well. The possibilities are endless for invoicing the urgency of

CITY COUNCIL ACTION

City Council resolutions are being worked on now with over 90 cities having passed them. If your city has not already passed a resolution this initiative can be an invaluable tool in organizing the popular sentiments for a peaceful solution to the crisis. Cities for Peace ( www.citiesforpeace.org )


LABOR ACTION

The labor movement continues to also lend it’s voice to stopping the war drive with local union resolutions and central labor councils continuing to pass resolutions in support of the UN inspections and for action to take care of the well being of working families at home. Working in your unions to help pass resolutions in support of the UN inspections can become an important impetus in moving the labor movement to exert their political power to challenge the right-wing agenda abroad and at home.

STUDENT ACTION

On March 5, the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition ( www.NYSPC.net ) is organizing campus actions for peace on over 300 campuses. The Young Communist League ( www.yclusa.org ) is working full steam ahead on it along with youth and student groups who began work after Sept. 11 to organize for peace. The coalition is moving quickly to provide materials on line for organizing in your area.

NATIONAL ACTIONS

United for Peace and Justice is making plans for the next national actions to follow-up on Feb. 15/16 mass actions. Stay tuned in the next few days for an announcement or go to their website for updates and continuing information of the local activities of the over 200 organizations in the network.

COMMUNIST PARTY CLUBS

Though many activities are being called during this moment of a peace movement upsurge our focus is on helping to move ever-broader circles of people into action in the political arena through resolutions and congressional action as well as keeping the street activities/organizing going on the local level.

Every member can be involved in the building of the grassroots movement that can stop this war. We can plug into activities or spark new actions. The choices are endless and the creativity for moving people to become a part of stopping the war is endless.

Please let the National Organization Department know about your activities.