Week of Resistance, Jan 13-20

(From a NION email, with my revisions and additions)

Not In Our Name is joining with other groups in calling for a nationwide week of resistance starting Jan 13 and ending on MLK day. Each day will have a different theme and message. (Ok ok, it’s actually longer than one week!)

Mon., Jan. 13 - Mass flyering all across the country - morning and evening rush hours and noon with all groups and organizations using their own materials.

NION encourages all to incorporate the Million Globe Campaign, which is a push to get ”one million little globes, globe flags, and stickers nationally, and have them displayed all around the country in windows, on car antennas, on any surface that holds a sticker, anywhere visible.“. The globe flag is meant as a counterpoint to the American flag one oftens sees symbolizing support for the war. (Note to the rest of the planet: Here in LA, car flags flying from holders on car windows are common. It may be a Lakers flag or it may be an American flag, but we have LOTS of car flags here, so a globe flag is a great idea).

Tues., Jan. 14 - A day focused on high schools across the country - as many college campuses will not be back in session, college students are encouraged to join up with high school students to develop plans in their area.

Wed., Jan. 15 - MLK’s birthday - a demonstration is being planned by Black Voices for Peace in D.C. to demand the resignation of Trent Lott; the Iraq Pledge of Resistance has called for Nationally Coordinated Days of Action on Jan 15-18.

Thurs., Jan. 16 - A fast called for by religious leaders, also possible civil disobedience that day.

Fri.- Sun., Jan. 17-19 - ICUJP (a L.A. faith-based coalition) is considering calling on religious congregations to focus services on the legacy of MLK - perhaps integrating his Riverside speech.

Sat. Jan. 18 - ANSWER rally in DC and San Francisco. Possible candlelight vigil in DC called for by United for Peace after the rally.

Mon., Jan. 20 -MLK Day. Black Voices for Peace conference and workshops in D.C. and call for decentralized actions across the country. Possible call for mass CD (either Sun 19 or Mon 20) in D.C. Anti-globalization forces may be planning direct action in DC that day. NION and ANSWER participation in MLK Day parades.

This week could involve actions that point toward the kind of ‘no business as usual’ approach that will be called for to really have an impact on the war-makers’s plans. Perhaps it could culminate in actions at the same time and on the same day across the country - one hour when people stop their ‘normal’ business, when students gather at a particular spot on campuses for debate and expressions of outrage at the looming war, when workers gather in their cafeterias or union halls, when clergy of different faiths speak out against this unjust immoral war with one voice.

L.A. NION: lanotinourname@hotmail.com 310 980-5708. Next meeting Wed. Dec. 18, 6:30 p.m. Peace Center 8124 W. 3rd.

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Reich: The Death Of Opposition.

“Robert Reich dusts off his “Democratic Party is dead” thesis once again: “The Republicans have a network of conservative think-tanks, which produce ideas that are marketed and sold by a boatload of money and spokespeople… Contrast this with the Democrats’ mixed message leading up to the recent elections, where they were unclear on whether to support Bush on Iraq; they fulminated over social security privatisation and health care policy. Although they managed to agree that last year’s giant 1.3 trillion Bush tax cut was wrong, they failed to offer a coherent, alternative suggestion. If the emerging presidential candidates do not produce clear policies they can kiss goodbye to victory in 2004.” [Taegan Goddard's Political Wire]“

Reich is only partly correct. There’s plenty of opposition, however it’s not coming from the Democratic Party “leadership”, (and I use that word advisedly, as the absence of genuine leadership is one of the Dems major problems). The peace movement is growing daily. Many people with mainstream political views are deeply disaffected, both by Bush and by what passes for Democratic opposition.

Fertile ground for third parties indeed. Especially for the Green Party.  And if you think about it, much of the Green platform now is what Democratic platform used to be. Pro-union and working class, populist, critical of concentrated financial and business power, wanting to help the disadvantaged and minorities, plus prison reform, civil rights, and - oh yeah, strongly pro-environment! Not unlike liberal Democrats in the 60’s, and quite similar to New Deal Democrats. As a friend, Denise Robb says, “If Eleanor Roosevelt was alive today, she’s be a Green”.

Al Gore, who was actually making populist noises of late, has decided not to run in 2004, thus leaving the race open to uninspiring corporate-centric candidates like Joe Lieberman. What the Dems need is someone with fire, not a Lieberman who runs to the right of Bush on some issues.  Someone who will get the Black, Latino, union, working class voting for them again  as many of whom have stopped voting as the Dems give them no reason to vote. The Dems have blown off and ignored their traditional  constituency, and are now paying the price.

However, nature abhors a vacuum, so the void will be filled.  The Green Party will certainly fill some of it. 

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