Attorneys Bruce Fein and Liz Holtzman argue for impeachment
(Photographs: Thomas Good / NLN)

New York, NY – March 14, 2008. On March 9th a Townhall Meeting was held at Judson Memorial Church, on the southern edge of Washington Square Park…a short distance from the Arch which was built to honor George Washington. Washington established the tradition of willingly surrendering power so that despotism would never replace democracy in the United States. The speakers at the meeting, a collection of prominent attorneys, made the argument that despotism has indeed derailed democracy in the US. They laid the blame at the feet of the Bush administration.

Bruce Fein, a congressional scholar and former assistant director of the Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy, argued that the US went to war with Britain over the issue of the English Parliament insisting that it had the right to exercise military authority over its colonies. Fein noted that the Stamp Act and subsequent authoritarian actions on the part of the British sparked a revolution – and noted that Bush’s actions were reminiscent of King George and his parliament. Fein also noted that Bush’s actions have not made the US safer, despite the assertions of the beleagured executive. In fact, Fein argued, the actions of the Bush administration have exposed the citizenry to greater danger.

Former Congresswoman and NYC Comptroller Liz Holtzman
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

Elizabeth Holtzman, who served eight years in the Congress achieving national prominence for her role on the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate, admonished the crowd. She told the assembled that if they believed that a mere 2000 signatures on a petition, in a city of eight million people, was sufficient to sway Congress to move forward with impeachment, they were mistaken. She argued passionately for increased efforts to mobilize the citizenry to pressure their elected officials to move ahead with impeachment because an active constituency is the only precipitant capable of prodding a “pusillanimous” Congress.

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IVAW in Union Square NYC 2007
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)

Washington, DC – March 13, 2008. NLN’s Elaine Brower is in Washington, DC, covering Winter Soldier – she filed this report from Day One: In 1971 Viet Nam Veterans’ Against the War (VVAW) conducted a testimonial based on the atrocities and horrors they participated in during their time “In Country.” They called it Winter Soldier, inspired by Revolutionary War hero Thomas Paine’s call for patriots to act for their country in times of crisis.

Some of us remember the days when revolution was in the air, when we had a civil rights movement, women “burning” their bras, a sexual revolution, and a very powerful anti-war movement. Events such as the assassinations of prominently outspoken Americans, as well as students being shot at during Kent State protests, moved the masses of people into a state of upheveal.

Veterans returning from the war in “Nam” were joining in the loud voices to end the war. They did it by forming a strong organization, using their anger and throwing their medals over

Then came Detroit when they converged to speak about the horrors of the war. The testimonials were graphic, real and heartwrenching, but it went almost unnoticed. The pro-war right called them liars and cowards, and succeeded in almost destroying the validity of the statements made by returning vets.

Now, 37 years later, Iraq Veteran’s Against the war (IVAW) has decided to recreate in a style that is all their own, new and hip, a Winter Soldier II shining a light once again on the horrors and atrocities of war.

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(Image: War Resisters League NYC)

New York, NY – March 12, 2008. On March 19, a number of activist organizations committed to peace and progress will stage a nonviolent blockade at the national headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. The action is part of a day of protests on the fifth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Participants will assemble at McPherson Square (15th Street. N.W. and K Street, N.W.) at 7 am, before marching — with the Rude Mechanical Orchestra — on the IRS (1111 Constitution Ave., N.W.). The blockade is set to begin at 8 am. Some demonstrators will block access to the IRS building while others will pass out flyers explaining the intent of the action. Signs, banners and props will be utilized to illustrate the disparity between war spending and the needs of an economy crippled by five years of war.

“Just as military recruiters supply bodies for the war, the IRS supplies the funding,” stated New York City WRL organizer Ed Hedemann. “So, I’m doing my part in disrupting that relentless flow of money by standing in front of the IRS entrance and by refusing to send my taxes to the IRS.”

More than 20 organizations are sponsoring the event, including: the War Resisters League, Code Pink, United for Peace & Justice, Movement for a Democratic Society, Ground Zero for Peace, Granny Peace Brigade, and the Socialist Party USA. Members of the participating organizations feel the need to engage in civil disobedience in order to dramatize their vigorous opposition to United States government’s wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and President George W. Bush’s “global war on terror.”

Ruth Benn, long-time War Resisters League activist, argues “The bloodshed has already cost the lives of thousands of Americans, Iraqis, Afghanis, and others, and is hemorrhaging vast sums of money vitally needed to improve lives in this country and abroad. At the same time half the people in the U.S. feel less safe while the government has ignored calls from experts and activists for a foreign policy that rejects war.”

The blockade is part of a full day of creative, nonviolent actions and civil disobedience in Washington, D.C., and across the country. The protests are being coordinated by United for Peace and Justice in an effort to disrupt the business of war as usual. The actions will focus on the “pillars of war” — the military, war funding, war profiteering, the security state, and the mainstream media. Civil disobedience participants will have undergone special trainings in nonviolence.

For More Information: visit www.warresisters.org/IRSinDC.htm

Check Out These Video Public Service Announcements (NLN on YouTube):

Tom Good on M19

Carlos Dews (Spanish)

Bob Meola on M19

Thomas Good of Movement for a Democratic Society
on the cover of the March 2008 issue of Peacework

Cambridge, MA – March 12, 2008. Students for a Democratic Society features prominently in the March 2008 issue of Peacework Magazine. The cover photo was taken by 13-year-old SDS member Nathaniel Good. Nat is an intern at Next Left Notes who knows a bit about The Struggle – having been in the streets since he was 9. “How to Wage Peace and Justice” is the theme of the issue and it includes a piece by SDS organizer Joshua Kahn Russell on Athens SDS called “How Student Radicals Can Be Relevant”, an excerpt from a MDS speech by Mark Rudd on “How to Avoid Destroying Our Movements,” an article on organizing a Critical Mass bike ride, a howto on starting a Food Not Bombs chapter and a tribute to longtime War Resisters League activist Ralph DiGia who recently died after 80 years of struggle. The back cover of the magazine features a photograph of Pace SDS marching across the Brooklyn Bridge – taken by NLN contributor Donyal Svilar.

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New York, NY – March 4, 2008. Chapters of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other student and youth organizations from around the country, from the North East to the Mid West, from North Carolina and Alabama to Washington and Colorado, will be participating in a call to hold rallies, marches, walkouts, direct actions and other activities on campuses during the week of March 17th to 21st, marking the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war.

The SDS call to action says, “Every year, there have been protests marking the anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that was launched on the basis of lies and deceit. Students have historically had an especially important role in the struggles against racism and war, and we continue to do so today. Last March, over 80 high schools and colleges answered the call by chapters of Students for a Democratic Society to come together to send one loud resounding NO to the Bush administration and the Republican agenda, to the Democrats who refuse to carry out the mandate of their constituents, and to the University administrations that so often support war efforts.”

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(l to r):Alan Grayson, Cindy Jurie and Deidra Lynch

Orlando, FL – March 4, 2008. Members of CODEPINK – University of Central Florida, Central Florida Movement for a Democratic Society, UCF Students for a Democratic Society, Orlando Progressive Alliance, UCF Campus Peace Action and CODEPINK Orlando brought brooms and wore aprons to a “SWEEP the House” action – part of the 6th Iraq War Moratorium, observed on February 15, 2008. The action was held at Republican Congressman Ric Keller’s office at noon and again during the 5 pm rush hour.

In attendance at the action was Alan Grayson, the progressive Democrat who is seeking his party’s nomination to face off with Keller in November. Keller represents Orlando’s swing district – Florida’s 8th CD. Grayson, a 50 year old attorney, has spoken out against the War – and against the war profiteering that the Bush administration has engendered. His campaign website, www.graysonforcongress.com, is complemented by a youtube presence that features one of NLN’s favorite videos: Contractor Fraud In The Iraq War.

Grayson will speak at a UCF teach-in being held in conjunction with the upcoming SDS national anti-war mobilizations called for March 20th – the fifth anniversary of Bush’s invasion of Iraq. MDSer Jay Jurie, who helped organize the event, told NLN that Grayson will discuss his campaign against war profiteers.

View Photos From The Action…