From the War Stops Here: Join DC SDS on March 19th for mass direct action in protest of the Iraq War!

From The War Stops Here blog… 

A nationwide call has been put out by United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ), as well as the No War No Warming coalition, to converge in Washington DC on the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq to take nonviolent direct action against the war machine.

This is NOT a march.

For the first time, UFPJ is calling for autonomous direct actions on a weekday, so instead of chanting at empty congressional buildings, we’ll be interrupting business as usual for those promoting and profiting from war in Washington DC.

Let us know you’re coming! If you are an SDS member, or want to be involved in our action, Sign up here on the UFPJ website , make sure to put “SDS” in the space for “Organization” and it will come straight to DC SDS. Also, be sure to fill out this form so that DC SDS can best meet your needs in March.

Need help with transportation?
A group of students from colleges all over the country have formed a group called Our Spring Break to bring students to DC and help protest the war. They are offering to help arrange and pay for transportation. Email Ashley Casale at acasale@wesleyan.edu to join the Our Spring Break Coalition and maybe you’ll get some help!

Also, DC SDS is committed to providing housing and logistical support for any SDSers coming to DC for March 19th and the days leading up to it.

Working with United for Peace and Justice:
UFPJ is supporting direct action aimed at dismantling the pillars of support for the War in Iraq. They even hired a DC SDS member as the organizer for the M19 action – so this is movement building work and a great opportunity for SDS! Our unique action will be fully supported by logistics, media, etc!

Action Info
DC SDS has put together a framework for SDS actions on March 19th. Beginning with an unpermitted street march/dance party, various affinity groups will break off to do actions. This will provide space for those who don’t want to risk arrest, as well as space for those who want to organize their own affinity group actions, or take part in a more mass arrest scenario. We encourage you to form an affinity group for this action! We will be in doing actions in the K St corridor, home to war profiteers, corporate lobbyists, oil companies, and media outlets (a little something for everyone). We’ll be announcing conference calls shortly to give people further information and provide space for discussion about the actions, support roles, etc.

We will make an effort to provide financial support for people who would like to take on roles with a possibility of arrest, but could not do so otherwise for financial reasons.

For more info about any of this, please email Jon from DC SDS at jaberger1213@gmail.com

Tentative Schedule:

March 7th - 9th
National Conference on Organized Resistance (NCOR) at American University in Washington, DC. Come for a weekend of trainings and workshops to better prepare for March 19th, including nonviolent direct action, blockades, arts & activism, and much, much more. Go to www.ncor2008.org for more info

March 9th, 7pm
1st Action Spokescouncil Meeting for March 19th at American University
(this spokescouncil will take place at the end of NCOR)

March 13th - 16th
Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan
This event will feature testimony from U.S. veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who will tell the hard truth about what is really happening, day in and day out, in Iraq and Afghanistan. For more info, go to www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier

March 16th
Noon-5pm SDS strategy session, arts, and hang out time
6-8pm Spokescouncil Meeting at the Warehouse Theatre

March 17th
All day trainings & workshop at the Warehouse Theatre

March 18th
All day trainings & workshops at the Warehouse Theatre
6-8pm - Final Spokescouncil Meeting

March 19th
Nonviolent Direct Action & Civil Disobedience

Tell your friends! Organize! Come take advantage of this incredible SDS opportunity, and build the Anti-War Movement!