There are all manner of activities out there which deserve attention and support. Generally I post actions which are close to home in some sense -- geographically near to me, organized by people I know, affiliated with groups or networks that I am involved with myself, or connected to who and what and where I am by a cord of political responsibility. This is an example of the last one. Even though it is taking place in the U.S. South, I feel strongly that it should at the very least receive endorsements and donations from far and wide, including Canada. We all need to get involved where we are, but I think one of the most potent things to create change in the heart of empire would be renewed social movements grounded in the U.S. working class, particularly in working-class communities of colour. This action is one small peek into a whole lot of largely invisible-to-us activity and ferment among both anti-war veterans and communities of colour devastated by the double-barrelled attack of Hurricane Katrina and a state that didn't care if they died then and doesn't care what happens to them now. It is significant that privileged radicals from out of town are not invited; this is by, for, and about veterans and survivors standing up for themselves. It will be a powerful, material way to link empire abroad with inequality at home. And if movements with this social base and this orientation are able to build serious momentum, oppressed peoples throughout the entire world will be the better for it.
Here are the details:
“WALKIN’ TO NEW ORLEANS”
Veterans’ and Survivors’ March for Peace and Justice
Mobile to New Orleans
March 14-19, 2006
Friends and allies:
Antiwar veterans groups and Katrina survivors are planning a very politically significant action this coming March 14-19. They need your endorsement and support.
Hurricane Katrina is in the news again, as thousands of hurricane survivors who were housed at hotels in New Orleans and other cities are now being summarily evicted. In New Orleans, evictees were not even allowed to collect their belongings. The National Guard, which was sent in at night almost as a surprise attack in conjunction with police, was tasked to collect people’s meager possessions, as these serially-displaced residents were herded aboard buses to be shipped off to overcrowded shelters in other cities, or left to fend for themselves as homeless people.
Concurrently, the lunatic-right that advises the Bush administration is not only stubbornly adhering to the disastrous course of militarily occupying Iraq, the same clique is now advocating military action against Iran (Perle), and publishing enemies lists (Horowitz) of antiwar activists even in the midst of a domestic spying scandal.
The colonial treatment being meted out to poor people and people of color on the Gulf Coast is mirrored in the viscious neo-colonial war the Bush administration is continuing against Arabs and Muslims. It is hard to decide whether Iraqis are being treated like African Americans by the Bush administration, or African Americans are being treated like Iraqis.
March 19, 2006 is the 3rd anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, and hurricane survivors’ organizations (SOS, PHRF, Common Ground, United Peace Relief, MS Immigrant Rights Alliance, and others) are organizing a five-day march along Gulf Coast Highway 90 to demand:
(1) the immediate return of our troops from Iraq, and to call for U.S. tax dollars to be spent on human priorities and
(2) rebuilding of the devastated Gulf Coast, under the democratic direction of the residents of the Gulf Coast, instead of the illegal occupation of Iraq.
HERE ARE FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP.
1. ENDORSE the march as an individual or organization. Click here and type in your information. If you have difficulty (the web site is not quite finished.), email your endorsement (name, occupation, location) to stan@stangoff.com.
2. SUPPORT the march. Click here and find how to DONATE financial support (donate button on page) or in-kind support. We still have a substantial amount to raise, so this is very important.
3. PUBLICIZE the march, by sending this along to as many individuals and lists as you can.
4. HOST events (house parties to public venues) to raise support for the march. Contact Iraq Veterans Against the War or Veterans For Peace to determine if there are vets available to speak at your event. Also contact The Empowerment Project to obtain a copy of “Soldiers Speak Out” (a 28-minute film featuring Iraq Veterans Against the War) to use in conjunction with your event.
5. IF YOU ARE A VETERAN, A MILITARY FAMILY MEMBER, OR A GULF COAST SURVIVOR, you are encouraged to JOIN part or all of THE MARCH. See details here.
Please endorse and/or donate.
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