In pdf format (to print brochure, use legal sized paper)
The New Year began early for the
IAC. On Thanksgiving eve we were confronted with
the danger of renewed U.S. war on the Korean peninsula. We initiated an
emergency protest for December 3, together with other peace and solidarity
organizations.
Here’s what happened: The U.S. government
made it seem as if the North Koreans were the aggressors in an artillery
exchange. But the facts came out: Joint U.S.-South Korean “war
games” had hit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea first,
provoking a sharp response. Then the U.S. announced plans for even more
provocations, sending a huge aircraft carrier battle group immediately off the
coast of China and the DPRK.
Where it goes from here is hard to know. What is
known is that we will need alert, quick-response actions. In this case we sent
an emergency email blast on Thanksgiving eve, saying “Stop the
U.S.-South Korea War Provocations – Know the Facts!” We said
“It is urgent that all who stand for peace and justice make plans now
for immediate protest actions in the days ahead.”It added that
“the U.S. military has been involved in war maneuvers … going back
to the 1950-53 war, and has occupied South Korea since the end of World War
II.”
The IAC also joined with “Flash Mobs
for Jobs” and others, in a Nov. 30 protest at the holiday
tree-lighting ceremony at New York’s Rockefeller Center. That date was
“cutoff day” for 2 million unemployed people, who lost all
benefits. This action was the start of a campaign to take back the trillions of
dollars lavished on the war profiteers and spent on unjust wars. Future actions
will focus on jobs, housing, children’s needs, seniors’ benefits
and more.
During this “jobless recovery” the
military contractors don’t suffer – but workers and young people
do. Working people lose their jobs, many never to return, while young people
have a choice of the military, prison or the streets.
These are good examples of how the IAC responds
to endless crises: quick, careful, independent assessment of the
reality, rapid distribution of information, and strong, decisive
action.
These actions capped a year of intense
effort and mobilization for the IAC. Here are some other
highlights:
A dangerous upsurge in anti-Islamic bigotry
required a firm and massive answer. The IAC called for a rally for
unity and solidarity, not war, racism and anti-Muslim bigotry on September
11. Before the rally, a poll showed that 70% opposed an Islamic
Cultural Center. The reality that day in lower Manhattan near the World Trade
Center told the truth: Those who stood for unity and solidarity far outnumbered
their opponents, with a steadfastness that made history! On the day of the
rally the emotion was palpable.
Orchestrated anti-Muslim campaigns and attacks
on mosques are now a national rightwing scourge. The solid relationships and
deep experience that made this action successful will be needed again and again
in the coming year.
Raids against immigrant workers have intensified
nationwide:
The horrifying Arizona legislation that
legalizes racial profiling is spreading like a plague to other
states. The IAC was protesting in Arizona
right after this racist law was passed. We mobilized strongly on May 1,
especially in New York and Los Angeles, saying We Are All Arizona, and
Boycott Arizona.
At the same time – supposedly in the name
of “peace” – there has been a surge of U.S. attacks against
civilians in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. And the so-called
"end of combat operations" in Iraq has become a cruel
joke.
On the international stage the role of
the IAC is more crucial than ever. Endless new
terror threats are hyped in a media blitz, supposedly coming from Iran,
Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan or Palestine.
Now the threat of war against Iran is
intense. On the eve of the Nov. 2 elections,
Washington Post political correspondent David Broder suggested how President
Barack Obama could deal with his changed situation. “The solution
is obvious and unavoidable,” he said: “War with Iran.” (He
could have added Venezuela, Cuba, Korea, etc.)
The future is not pre-ordained. The war
fever can be stopped. Many are completely fed up with the so-called
“war on terror.” But it will take bold and determined – and
tireless – organizing and mobilizing to stop the march to war.
That’s why we need the International Action Center.
Now more than ever we must help people see the
connection between stopping the Pentagon’s wars, getting jobs at home,
and fighting racism. This is the approach that IAC brings to its anti-war
work.
We are also vigilant in defense of Venezuela,
conscious that the U.S. 4th Fleet is poised
in the Caribbean prepared to attack at any moment. Our solidarity with all the
anti-imperialist governments and peoples of Latin America is strong as ever
– from Cuba and Venezuela to the heroic leaders and people of Bolivia and
Ecuador. After last January’s disastrous earthquake in Haiti, the IAC
joined Haitian communities across the U.S., to demand food, housing, sanitation
and medical care, not troops and occupation.
The IAC’s mobilizing strength is best seen
in crises – like last May 31, when Israeli commandos descended on the aid
ship Mavi Marmara in international waters as it headed to Gaza
to deliver much needed survival goods. We sent email blasts to more than 80,000
contacts nationally and internationally, helping to launch
flash protests globally.
The response was immediate. Israel’s
brazen attempt to blame the victims of its assault fell flat. In the battle to
explain what had happened, this time truth won. The IAC joined with Arab,
Muslim and other progressive forces across the country to protest the massacre
and U.S. funding for Israeli aggression.
The progressive movement has come to rely on
the IAC’s agility and strength: a powerful and up-to-date website, with
links to high-quality videos produced by its People’s Video Network.
Timely, well-crafted email notices when needed to alert us to any
emergency.
Our volunteer computer specialists have
learned to manage Internet-based communication –
using our websites and large scale email campaigns – so we can
communicate very quickly and effectively. That’s the good
news.
But the bad news is that the
computers constantly need to be replaced and updated.
The same is true of the video equipment that allows the
IAC to broadcast videos globally. It’s amazing how far we have stretched
the equipment we have, and the paltry amounts of money expended on it. But
everything has a limit, and this equipment needs a renewal: That’s one
theme of this year’s appeal.
Barely a week passes without front-page coverage
of the new prosecution of Muslims in cases of entrapment, like the Newburg 4
and the Ft. Dix 5. Some are frameups, like the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The
charges of “terrorism” and “aid to terrorists” are now
enough to drop all pretense of "innocent until proven
guilty."
The recent raids and subpoenas in Chicago and
Minneapolis of antiwar and solidarity activists are an attack on the free
speech rights of every social justice and human rights activist and
organization in the U.S. This is a dangerous national effort to shut down
growing opposition to U.S. wars. It cannot be allowed. We are fighting it along
with those who were subpoenaed, and with all others who are threatened by these
attacks on freedom of speech and association.
The struggles for freedom for Mumia
Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, the Cuban 5, Lynne Stewart and other political prisoners, go on.
It’s crucial that these campaigns continue as strong as ever.
It is critical that organizing grow on every
front. Real change takes mobilizing and independent action, but it needs your
participation and help.
We invite you to join in the new year
of activism with the IAC and to support its vital work. You can make a
difference!
Three major initiatives for
2011 deserve our full and whole-hearted
support:
· March 2: National Day to Defend Public
Education. Student-led protests around the
country will demand more not less public funds for K-12 and
post-secondary education: Schools – Not Bombs or
Prisons!
· April 9: Stop the Wars, Bring the Troops Home, Fund People’s Needs,
Not War! The IAC is a member of the
United National Anti-War Committee, and will be mobilizing nationally for this
protest.
· May 1 Mobilization for Immigrants’ and Workers’
Rights. Now more than ever we must mobilize
with immigrants who are under attack as never before.
Now, in this crucial time of economic
crisis and hardship, the IAC plans to merge its anti-war and anti-racist
efforts with the national campaign it has launched for jobs, and against home
foreclosures and evictions, utility shut-offs, mass transit rate increases, and
for health care.
Our New Year's Resolution for 2011 must be to organize
together tirelessly on all these fronts. We must work to promote international
friendship and respect for humankind and to oppose the policies of domination,
globalization and war.
We also invite you to visit us at the
Solidarity Center in New York, or use the center for your own organizing work,
as so many groups in the metropolitan area do.
IAC organizers have produced many books –
translated into several languages. This year a new edition of Haiti: A
Slave Revolution was released, as an expression of our solidarity in
the wake of the hurricane there.
Many IAC supporters helped make this book
possible by their financial contributions.
It includes crucial coverage of the tragic earthquake in January and the
aftermath, as well as the kidnapping by the U.S. of President Aristide. We
encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to receive a copy in
exchange for your contribution.
We are also thrilled to announce a new
book: GAZA: Symbol of Resistance, soon to be published. IAC
activists played a special role in this book, as organizers and participants in
many of the struggles and solidarity actions covered in support of the
Palestinian people.
Remember: the IAC is only as strong as the support it receives, and the commitment
to justice, solidarity and peace that all of us can bring to the
struggle.
We look forward to working with you in the year
ahead!
International
Action Center
55
West 17th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011 / 212-633-6646
www.iacenter.org
/ iacenter@iacenter.org
