This Saturday. March on Washington. Week of action

Starting this Saturday, there will be a week of antiwar protests and actions in DC with events being organized by multiple coalitions and groups.

There are over 100 transportation centers mobilizing for the September 15 antiwar march in D.C. Buses will be rolling from dozens of cities. You still have time to sign up for a seat. (Here in Connecticut, buses will be leaving Hartford, New Haven, and New London. Full details at AnswerCT.org.)

The ANSWER Coalition, who called the protests, is facing $30,000 in fines for putting up antiwar posters in D.C. in what is obvious politically motivated selective prosecution. The fines may well go much higher. ANSWER has filed a lawsuit claiming freedom of speech. Three antiwar organizers were arrested at a completely legal press conference last week for putting up one poster.

Let’s all make it to D.C. to protest these outrageous, heavy-handed attempts to stifle legitimate protest. The Petraeus report will be released on Sept. 15, and there will be a full week of action in D.C. organized by multiple groups to protest the war.

Schedule for Sat Sept. 15 – 21

Sat. Sept. 15 – March on Washington and Die-in. The march will be led by Iraq War veterans. The Die-in will be civil disobedience. Lead organizer for march: ANSWER Coalition. Lead organizer for Die-in: Veterans for Peace.

Sun. Sept. 16. National Training Session for the other Days of Action.

Mon. Sept. 17. People’s March inside Congress. Lead organizer: Code Pink.

Tue. Sept. 18. Congressional Occupation Day. Lead organizer: Grassroots America.

Wed. Sept. 19. Direct action. Details coming.

Thu. Sept. 20. Veterans lobbying day. Lead organizer: Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Fri. Sept. 21. National Moratorium Day. Actions will take place around the country. Information: IraqMoratorium.org.

This will be an historic week of protest in D.C. Be there.

PS. Some thoughts on the war and organizing.

From Global Guerillas

For all intents and purposes, the US isn’t at war. The use of a professional military in combination with corporate partners has pushed warfare to the margins of political/social life. A war’s initiation and continuation is now merely a function of our willingness/ability to finance it. Further, since privatization mutes moral opposition to war (i.e. “our son isn’t forced to go to war to die”) the real damage at the ballot box is more likely to impact those that wish to end its financing. To wit: every major presidential candidate in the field today now gives his/her full support to the continuation of these wars.

The candidates assume the decision to withdraw will be made if and when the U.S. is ready to, when in reality it may be forced by events, as in the Vietnam War. They are blinded by their arrogance that the U.S. is still in control of events there.From Louis Proyect

I can’t tell any real difference between moveon.org and Code Pink. They both trust the Democratic Party to respond to the wishes of the American people, an act of credulity that can best be likened to sending your social security number to one of those email pitches on behalf of the estate of a deceased Nigerian oil millionaire.

The Democrats, is a stunning act of cynicism, are using the war to attack Republicans and install themselves in the White House without y’know, actually opposing the war or worrying much about all those Americans and Iraqis getting killed and maimed. It’s just political calculation for them, and little else.

That’s why we need to get in the streets and protest the wars. Mass protest does have an effect. Richard Nixon pretended it didn’t, but when he saw a million people in the streets of D.C., protesting the Vietnam War he knew he was screwed – this from memoirs of his aides.

I’ll be there. Hope you will be too!