What Now for the Peace Movement?

[whatever]

I'm gonna read every word of this


What Now for the Peace Movement?
By Amy Quinn
TomPaine.com

Wednesday 09 March 2005

Polls in recent weeks show a full 59 percent of Americans are now in favor of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. But they're not acting on this view, in part because they worry about the potential for even greater chaos following a U.S. exit. The task for the peace movement-responsible for the huge public demonstrations against a war in Iraq in the days prior to March 19, 2003-is speaking to these concerns as it mobilizes untapped public sentiment against the occupation.

In the six months leading up to the invasion of Iraq, the United States erupted in a display of citizen dissent not seen since the Vietnam War era. Now, almost two years later, the majority of the American public view Iraq as a train wreck. Yet public outrage about this war's seemingly endless tragedy has remained largely under the radar.

To turn up the volume and power of voices calling for an end to the U.S. war and occupation, the same organizations behind the massive rallies of 2003 and 2004 are planning a fresh strategy for engaging the public in constructive action on Iraq.

With the backdrop of an escalating war that's ravaging Iraq, destabilizing U.S. communities, and sowing seeds of resentment against the United States around the world, United for Peace and Justice-the nation's largest peace coalition-assembled 500 delegates over President's Day weekend in St. Louis to chart a roadmap for the next year to bolster and build the U.S. peace and justice movement. The assembly whittled dozens of proposals from member groups down to a powerful action plan to bolster the movement to end the war. A set of priorities emerged that maximizes the White House vulnerabilities generated by the Iraq War and sets a proactive agenda of alternatives to the Bush administration's belligerent policies.

Building A Plan
First, the assembly affirmed that we must broaden and deepen our base to catalyze public sentiment for...

[maylily]

March 20th, Forest Park, Art Hill...peace rally. 1,500+ tombstones will be planted on Art Hill - each inscribed with the name of a US soldier killed in the war and an Iraqi civilian. St Louis Instead of War

[whatever]

maylily said:

March 20th, Forest Park, Art Hill...peace rally. 1,500+ tombstones will be planted on Art Hill - each inscribed with the name of a US soldier killed in the war and an Iraqi civilian. St Louis Instead of War

I think we'll be going to that. Even if I get to be a teary mess, I probably won't be the only one.