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Tag(s): Activism; Antiwar; Arrest; CODEPINK; Citizens; Community; Demonstrations; Iraq War; Justice; March Madness; (more...) Obama-Barack; Occupation; Peace; Protest; Protest- Civil Disobedience; Repression; Veterans; Wars (less...)
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March 19, 2008 at 13:17:42

Headlined on 3/19/08:
The True Colors of America

by Kevin Gosztola Page 2 of 3 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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Anti-war protests were scheduled in Washington, D.C., where demonstrators vowed to block the entrance to the Internal Revenue Service and to disrupt the offices of lobbyists who represent military contractors and oil companies profiting from the war.

College students from New Jersey to North Dakota planned walkouts, while students at the University of Minnesota vowed to shut down military recruiting offices on campus. Barron geared up to participate in a protest in Hartford, Conn.

"This is the first time coordinated direct actions of civil disobedience are happening," said Barbra Bearden, communications manager for the group Peace Action. "People who have never done this kind of action are stepping up and deciding now is the time to do it."

This is the day for people to resist. And whether it is in peacefully assembling for a permitted march tonight or not, Americans should be out in the streets speaking against this occupation of Iraq.

DC IndyMedia has a posted report on protests which have occurred.

More than 30 people have been arrested in the District while protesting the the fifth anninversary of the war in Iraq.

Protesters opposing the war are targeting business, government, political and media groups that they said are responsible for the continuation of the war.

Demonstrators targeted the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service and the K Street corridor. Other events were held at the Department of Veterans Affairs, McPherson Square, and outside the White House.

World Can’t Wait, a group that is set to mobilize today and tomorrow, offers insight into their orientation and message, which they will voice in their actions across the nation.

OurSpringBreak, a group led by students, and Resist in March will be out in force in D.C. and have already engaged in actions blocking streets, etc.

Leslie Cagan, from United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of peace groups that has led dozens of antiwar protests in the past five years, weighs in on March 19th in a posted article and says of these demonstrations that:

"It is time to end this war and bring all the troops home…"We don't want to be back here next year," she added in a statement ahead of the protest in Washington, DC. "We don't want there to be a sixth anniversary."

No doubt, we do not wish to return next year and hope we will not have to. After all, Obama will be elected and a withdrawal will begin immediately, right? Let’s table that thought for the moment and keep this article limited to upholding the power of the people today.

As you go out on the street and pull people who did not intend to act out today into marches and actions, engage in discussion. Or, walk away from these actions prepared to return tomorrow and the day after with answers to these questions in mind:

Is this not an illegal and criminal war?

What does “support our troops” mean? When considering that this war violated our Constitution and is now no longer a war but an immoral occupation, what do we do? Do we allow the occupation to continue or do we take action to make it stop?

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Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral system, its military-industrial complex, its foreign policy of American exceptionalism, its media which has become the Fourth Branch of government,etc.)
His ambitions have him currently organizing and raising money for a Chicago Conference for Media Reform in April or May of 2009. It will be organized by college students to promote youth involvement in media reform and justice. Those interested in attending or helping with the organization of the program should contact him.