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Filibuster Roberts and Anti-War Events
This post was originally about the DC protest to End the War on Iraq the weekend of 9/24/05. I'm interrupting it to bring news.
The progressive grassroots are aggravating the heck out of the Capitol this month. Hooray!! First the protest now they've taken down the toll-free number, 877-762-8762, because too many Americans are calling their Senators and telling them to filibuster Roberts. This is an outrage; similar to when my Secretary of State had the State Police shutdown his fax because we were jamming it with our concerns over election practices.
The reaction for taking down the 877-762-8762 number is:
1. Get the news out on all blogs
2. Tomorrow morning call the alternative Capitol numbers to ask your Senator to fight the Roberts nomination: 888-818-6641 (I checked it at 10:30 PM and it's still operating) and 888-355-3588.
3. Call your local radio station and draw attention to the fact that so many Americans recognize that Roberts is not the person to be leading the Supreme Court that we have the government running.
4. Thank Thom Hartman for devoting most of his radio show today in opposition to Roberts.
We resume with the previous post......................
MViMV participated in this weekend's End the War on Iraq events. One Board member was in DC for the weekend events and one Board member marched in Montpelier, VT, on Saturday.
MViMV is a member group of United for Peace and Justice and their push this weekend to "End the War on Iraq." As a member group, we were asked to provide two volunteers to help for a few hours in DC this weekend. Thanks to Dan who helped UFPJ on our behalf.
Posted by Charlene Johnston on September 22, 2005 at 04:12 PM | Permalink
Comments
PEACE AND JUSTICE FESTIVAL TENT SETUP
FRIDAY 9 AM
We need 15 able-bodied people to help set up tents on the Washington Monument grounds. Other set up work will also be available. No need to RSVP. Just show up at the stage area on the northwest end of the Washington Monument Grounds, near 17th and Constitution Avenue. Ask for Jose or Adam. Click here for a map: http://unitedforpeace.org/downloads/UfPJ-monument-map.pdf
POSTER ASSEMBLY BEGINS
FRIDAY 11 am through late Friday night
We have ONE day to attach thousands of posters to cardboard tubes. This is key to getting out our message on Saturday. If you're available for even an hour on Friday, we need you to help with this. Come to the basement of the Communication Workers of America offices, 501 3rd St (between 3rd and E). 1 block from Judiciary Square Metro stop on the Red Line. Tell the security guards you're there for "UFPJ Poster Assembly."
IMPORTANT GENERAL VOLUNTEER TRAINING MEETING
FRIDAY 7PM
If you are in the DC metro area Friday night, it's vital that you attend this meeting. We need to know how many people we can count on for Saturday, provide you with some important training, and plug people into volunteer teams. At the Communication Workers of America offices, 501 3rd St (between 3rd and E). 1 block from Judiciary Square Metro stop on the Red Line. If we are not done assembling posters by 7pm, we'll need as many people as possible to stay after the meeting to help finish the job. So make plans to stay late with us.
FINAL SECURITY TRAINING SESSION
FRIDAY 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Those participating in security/marshalling must attend one of these two trainings if they did not attend a training in NYC. You should have already been contacted by Steve Sherman, one of the security coordinators. Come to the Fleming Center 1426 9th Street NW between ³O² and ³P² Streets. NOTE: This session will NOT be held at the Communication Workers of America offices. The Fleming Center is 3 blocks north and 1 block west of the Mt. Vernon Square Mt St-Convention Center metro station (at 7th and M Streets) on the Yellow/Green Line.
OPERATION CEASEFIRE CONCERT VOLUNTEER TRAINING
FRIDAY 6PM
If you haven't already signed up for another task with UFPJ, consider coming to the stage area on the northwest end of the Washington Monument Grounds, near 17th and Constitution Avenue. Email dc@nikolasschiller.com for details.
VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN SATURDAY
AT THE UFPJ MAIN INFORMATION TENT
WASHINGTON MONUMENT GROUNDS
7:00AM Early Birds - Help set up the Peace & Justice Festival
** 8:30AM Money Collection Training ** We need more volunteers for this than any other job, so if you didn’t make Friday night’s volunteer training, please come to this.
** 8:30AM General Volunteer Check-In and Orientation ** this is when our need for volunteers is most critical
Volunteers also needed throughout the day - check in with one of our volunteer coordinators at the information tent at any time from 9:00AM to 5:00PM
** All volunteers should bring food and water to last them throughout the day. **
The UFPJ information tent will be located on the north end of the Washington Monument Grounds, near 17th and Constitution Avenue. Look for large United for Peace and Justice signs. Click here for a map: http://unitedforpeace.org/downloads/UfPJ-monument-map.pdf
Those who have already been trained should report to their team's volunteer coordinator. Those who have not been trained (including volunteers who haven't registered yet) should check in with a volunteer coordinator to get an assignment. Please note that we may need to reassign people to jobs other than what they selected on the volunteer form depending on where people our needed.
Posted by: Charlene | Sep 23, 2005 10:35:39 AM
Everyone who is going to DC, please travel safely.
Posted by: Jessica | Sep 23, 2005 11:19:01 AM
Locals head to Washington for massive protest rally
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050924/NEWS/509240347/1002/NEWS01
Posted by: Jessica | Sep 24, 2005 9:27:56 AM
When I got back from attending the Montpelier, VT, rally, my husband told me that CSPAN appeared to be the only one covering the DC protest and that it seemed to him that too many people were speaking about topics other than the Iraq War. I told him the main focus in VT was the Iraq War but that one speaker did seem to use his moment at the mike to list all unjust situations going on. After hearing that Jessica also felt that the coverage was showing many folks talking about things going on other than the War on Iraq, it makes me wonder if CSPAN chose to highlight what wasn't on message or if the organizers let too many issues get in the way of the event's focus.
BTW, 1500 protesters reported in the Burlington Free Press--not bad considering the numbers traveling to DC and the fact that VT is a small state.
I was very proud of my Mom, niece and sister for joining me in their first protest. Just goes to show you that the news coverage of these things is often so bad that they were all a bit nervous not knowing what to expect, i.e. my bright politically savvy 13-year-old niece was worried that I'd get arrested. It's quite funny to think of me getting arrested for something...me, who would be too chicken to pirate software or even steal cable.
There was one emotional moment for those of us who noticed a very young woman standing with two children by her side on the steps as we marched down the street. I first noticed that she was giving us the thumbs up sign, then I noticed that she was sobbing. It was impossible to hold back the tears after recognizing that she was probably one of the 19 families in Vermont that has lost a loved one to the War on Iraq.
Posted by: Charlene | Sep 25, 2005 7:19:01 PM
Since our national media did a great job of ignoring the voices of over a hundred thousand Americans this weekend, check out TomDispatch.com for a great account of the protest.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=24319
Posted by: Charlene | Sep 26, 2005 8:09:57 AM
Thank you for marching Charlene.
Posted by: Jessica | Sep 26, 2005 7:45:17 PM
Charlene,
I can't post on the CrossLeft thread for some reason...
Posted by: Jennifer | Sep 26, 2005 9:08:53 PM
That's an interesting comment. I think people trying to say that they want seperation of church and state may be being misinterpreted as hating religion.
Like Charlene, I feel strongly that there should be a seperation, but I don't *hate* any religion.
Posted by: Jessica | Sep 26, 2005 9:26:13 PM
don't know what happened to the blog; maybe it's the right wing jamming us. : )
I want to post something on our blog but don't want to interrupt Kety's thread because it's a great discussion.
I'll post here and then probably edit this original post.
They've taken down the toll-free number, 877-762-8762, because too many are calling their Senators and telling them to filibuster Roberts.
The reaction:
1. Get the news out on all blogs
2. Tomorrow morning call 888-818-6641 (I just checked it and it's still operating) and 888-355-3588
3. Call your local radio station and draw attention to the fact that so many Americans recognize that Roberts is not the person to be leading the Supreme Court that we have the government running.
4. Thank Thom Hartman for devoting most of his radio show today in opposition to Roberts.
Posted by: Charlene | Sep 26, 2005 10:55:59 PM
Our DC March
My husband and I went to DC for the March. It's been entertaining to see and hear the perspective that has been promoted in the media. They seem to imply that the march was a disorganized mess on a mish-mash of issues, a perspective based strictly on the speakers.
Well, I can tell you it's an inaccurate picture of the situation. The speakers were in a small area of the ellipse, using a fairly inadequate loudspeaker system, which meant that (a) not many people could fit in the area where the speakers were speaking, and (b) even fewer people could actually hear the speakers. I'd wager that only 2,000 - 3,000 people actually heard more than a few syllables of any speech. The rest of us were lining up and waiting to march about Iraq and Iraq alone. There was a contingent of folks concerned about Israel/Palestine and another contingent of Socialist Workers, but both groups were small and kind of annoyingly wormed their way through the march crowd. You could hear them coming and going, but they were pretty-much self-segregated.
This is not to say the march was well-executed. It wasn't. At the very start, we spent about 20 minutes marching one way, only to be told to turn around and go the other way. This led to a long delay as the newly invented chant "Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! Turn around and Go! Go! Go!" worked its way through the crowd. We took the delay as an opportunity to eat lunch and meet some very nice folks who had brought the sweetest little puppy along.
After the turn-around completed, we got back in line and ... well ... stood still ... for about 45 more minutes. This led to yet another new protest chant, "No more talking, let's get marching!"
But eventually we did start moving, and the march went fairly smoothly from that point on. We met many people from all over the country, sharing smiles, jokes and stories about where we were from and why we were there.
Since we returned, I've seen and heard all sorts of snide remarks about peace marches being old school and ineffective; that numbers don't matter; that without the media, marches are ineffective. All of these complaints seem to focus on one aspect of marches: publicizing the cause.
While publicity is important, there's another aspect that I believe is much more important: energizing one another. There's a sense of renewal that comes from spending time with others who share your concerns. There's a sense of hope that you take home with you, helping you to carry on, because you have confirmed beyond any doubt that you are NOT alone. It's NOT just you and a few of your friends, it's a mass movement. There's a "there" there, and you are part of it.
That's what the marches are good for. And that is why, with all its flaws, the September 24, 2005 March in Washington was a success. Somewhere between 100,000 and 300,000 people have headed home with renewed hope and the energy to continue to fight against an unjust immoral war against the innocent population of a country that posed no threat. You can't ask for much more than that.
Posted by: Liane | Sep 29, 2005 11:37:06 AM
