[A-List] Sept 22: Encampment to Stop the War/ Sept 29: March on the White House

["Charles Brown" <cbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

_

Subject: Sept 22: Encampment to Stop the War/ Sept 29: March on the White
House



A Draft Proposal from the Troops Out Now Coalition--
>From Protest to Resistance

Troops Out Now!
Put the Antiwar Movement
Back on the Streets 

September 29 -- March on Washington D.C.
Assemble at the Capitol -- March on the White House

September 22 - 29 --Encampment in Washington D.C. 

Stop the War Abroad and at Home

In the spirit of unity, and for the purposes of taking the movement away
from politicians and putting it back into the streets, the Troops Out Now
Coalition submits this proposal to all antiwar forces:

Our proposal is for an Encampment to Stop the War at Home & Abroad, starting
on Saturday, September 22 in Washington D.C., culminating in a mass march in
Washington on Saturday, September 29. 

This proposal is open to change. TONC welcomes and encourages discussion and
suggestions for modifying and improving this proposal. Please endorse the
proposal if you are in agreement. All are invited to an Antiwar Strategy
meeting in New York City on Saturday, June 16 where there will be more
discussion of this proposal, as well as others.

In the fall, (and summer) we must all be focused on jump-starting the mass
movement against the war again. Our movement will not be a factor unless we:

* demonstrate our independence from the major political parties;
* make every effort to connect the fight against the wars abroad with the
war on the people here in the U.S.; and
* continue to shift from protest to resistance. 
Can we not only have a march on Washington, but also occupy the occupiers
for a week?  The time has come to try it, and that is why our proposal is
not only for a march but also for an encampment prior to the march.

It was always clear to some of us, and it's becoming more and more clear to
all of us that Congress is not going to stop the criminal war and occupation
in Iraq.  Congressional calls for phased withdrawals have done little more
than provide a cover for Congress to continue funding the war.

The greater problem is that the political posturing between Bush and
Congress has reduced the demand for immediate and unconditional withdrawal
of all troops from Iraq to arguing about establishing "benchmarks".  The
phony antiwar politicking in Congress has to a large degree diverted and
usurped the mass movement on the streets.

It's absolutely critical that we take the struggle against the war out of
the halls of Congress and put it where it needs to be -- back on the
streets.

Congress is giving Bush and his generals until September to succeed in Iraq.
The Pentagon should not be given another hour to wage their criminal,
colonial war and occupation. The only significance that time should have for
the movement is the time that it will take to organize so that the next
phase of the antiwar struggle will be massive, militant and decisive.

It is essential that we acknowledge and fight Bush's plans to expand the war
into Iran. It's also critical that we call for an end to the occupation of
Afghanistan and an end to the Pentagon's plans for endless war against the
peoples of Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Latin America.  We must demand an end
to the occupation of Palestine, and support the Palestinian people --
including their right to return.

However, it is just as critical that our movement against the war fully
embrace the struggle against racism right here in the U.S.  Where
undocumented immigrant workers are under attack, we must be with them
fighting back. Whether fighting for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal, or
marching in New York City against the murder of Sean Bell, we must fight
racist police and judicial terror.

The Troops Out Now Coalition encourages all of the antiwar coalitions on the
local and national level to engage each other and where communication has
broken down, to open new lines of communication so that our combined efforts
will make us stronger.

Let us join forces with the movements struggling for:

* No War against Iran
* End all occupations now - from Iraq to Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti,
Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan
* No to U.S. intervention - Hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the
Sudan
* Stop the raids against immigrant workers -- Full rights for undocumented
workers
* Justice for Katrina survivors - End racist police terror
* Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners
* Money for health care, jobs and education, not endless war 

Together let's unite to demand:

* Immediate withdrawal of all troops
* Cut off ALL war funding'
Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 :
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center :
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml




Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 :
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center :
http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml