Upcoming anti-war plans
January 27, 2003--We are now in a countdown to a US war against Iraq. The next few days - and possibly weeks -- are crucial. The people of the world are organizing with great energy to prevent a needless catastrophe. What each and every one of us does right now to stop the looming war takes on vital importance.
On January 18, 500,000 people marched in Washington DC and 200,000 demonstrated in San Francisco. There were coinciding anti-war activities in over 35 other countries that day called in solidarity with the anti-war movement in the U.S.
What all of us achieved on January 18 is without historical precedent. That such a massive anti-war movement could emerge before or prior to the outbreak of full-scale war is a sign that something new is happening. No demonstration of similar magnitude occurred during the Vietnam war until 1969, five years after the Gulf of Tonkin resolution and after thousands of U.S. GI's, and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese, had been killed.
The outpouring of the January 18 demonstrations is a measure of the depth of opposition to a war of aggression and it is a global reaction. The limitless arrogance of Bush's foreign policy has created a whirlwind of opposition in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and right here at home. Governments around the world have not been able to ignore the anti-war political climate created by our global movement for justice and peace. Let us not hesitate for a moment as we mobilize public opinion into a powerful political force that can restrain the warmakers.
The mass media cheerleaders of the administration's war drive were unable to ignore the January 18 demonstrations because of their size. As we mentioned in our last e-mail message, the anti-war movement itself is now recognized as the single biggest obstacle confronting the Bush Administration. Even the New York Times, which has a declared policy of support for the Bush Administration’s goals in Iraq, cannot deny the breadth and strength of the movement that you and so many thousands have built ("A Stirring in the Nation," editorial, January 20, 2003).
VoteNoWar members can be proud of the important role they have played in giving birth to this new movement. Now we must turn up the heat.
We hope you will continue to support and participate in the work of this movement. On January 29th, the day after Bush uses the State of the Union Address to prepare the American public for war, the voices of peace will be rallying in cities around the country to say No War Against Iraq. From February 13-21, thousands of grassroots antiwar activities will take place in cities, towns, high schools, college campuses, religious organizations and workplaces. On February 15, millions of people in Europe will take to the streets with the same message and they have asked the people of the U.S. to join in a display of international solidarity. There will be mass action that day in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and hundreds of other cities. Visit http: //www.VoteNoWar.org for a downloadable pdf flyer with a calendar of events on the back.
VoteNoWar's People's Anti-War Referendum will be a vital presence in all the those actions -- not just in the U.S. but around the world.
We have heard from thousands of VoteNoWar members about their experiences. Gathering signatures on the People's Anti-War Referendum has led to important interactions with neighbors, coworkers, and fellow students that has helped start anti-war discussion and organizing in local communities. Many members have also let us know about their participation in demonstrations on January 18. Many were able to come to Washington and San Francisco, and many others who could not make the trip engaged in peace activities in their own communities.
We want to encourage all of the VoteNoWar members to send in the signed petitions you have gathered as you continue to collect more while organizing for peace in your local areas. The pdf version of the People's Anti-War Referendum is available at http://www.votenowar.org/referendum.pdf .
We want to thank all those who have volunteered time and provided financial support to make the January 18th demonstrations and upcoming activities powerful and undeniable expressions of a demand for peace on the part of the people of the United States. If you can volunteer time to help stop this war drive, visit our volunteers' web page at http://www.votenowar.org/volunteer.html . If you can make a financial contribution, please help out. Visit http://www.votenowar.org/donate.html to make an online credit card donation through a secure server, or for address information if you wish to write a check. It is your support that is making the anti-war movement a political force that must be reckoned with.
In solidarity,
All of us at VoteNoWar.org
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