compiled by Andy Mager
Where From Here?
For the last six months the Peace Council has focussed almost exclusively on
building a movement to prevent a US war against Iraq. While we were unsuccessful
at stopping the carnage and destruction of this war, we must remember that our
efforts were not in vain. The Bush regime was compelled to respond to a global
anti-war movement that many are calling the world’s new “Super Power.”
As a result, the “coalition of the willing” was tiny and there were
fewer civilian casualties. Washington’s assertions that the war had nothing
to do with oil and that there will be no US bases in Iraq are responses to our
pressure. We must hold them to these statements.
The need for a vibrant, powerful anti-war movement remains crucial here and
elsewhere. Please stay involved, or become active.The process of determining
the Peace Council’s priorities for the next few months is still underway,
but several key themes are emerging:
1) Challenging the legitimacy of the war against Iraq and supporting calls for
the UN to play the lead role in rebuilding and helping Iraqis create new governing
structures.
2) Educating people to understand and oppose the vision of US global domination
articulated in Bush’s National Security Strategy.
3) More actively linking US bullying abroad with the terrible consequences of
the Bush agenda at home.
4) Exploring an SPC role in local youth anti-violence efforts.
Come to the Peace Council’s Open Meeting on May 10 to participate in these
discussions. (See page 4 for details.)
SPC Birthday Celebration: Eyewitness Iraq
Celebrate the Syracuse Peace Council’s 67th birthday and hear Ed Kinane’s
eyewitness report from Baghdad on Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 pm at St. Andrews
Church, 124 Alden St., Syracuse (south of Manley Fieldhouse). Ed recently returned
from two months in Iraq, including the entire period of US bombing.
The celebration features dessert, coffee, tea and inspiring music. Admission
is $0-$67 (sliding scale), and childcare is available. Come celebrate over six
decades of peacemaking with a vibrant commu-nity of concerned folks.
“Get Your Priorities Straight”
Despite media reports that the “war is over,” 125 people marched down
James St. into downtown Syracuse on Saturday, April 12 behind the banner: “Get
Your Priorities Straight: Fund Human Needs Not War.” The event focussed
on the connection between the Bush administration’s war-making abroad and
people-hurting at home. Speakers along the march route addressed the ways that
education is being defunded, the media is providing biased news, how working
people are being hurt and the dangers of the Patriot Act(s). (See page 18 for
details on the economic impacts of the war.)
Visiting our Representatives
On March 28, peace demonstrators engaged in acts of civil disobedience at the
federal building in Syracuse. Six people delivered indictments to all three
federal representatives for supporting war on Iraq in violation of international
law. Five of them met directly with Congressman James Walsh, and demanded that
he hold a public meeting to address the concerns of his constituents. He refused.
Four of the demonstrators refused to leave and were arrested by federal security.
Two weeks later, the Peace Council organized 10 more delegations to visit all
three federal representatives’ offices, with one arriving every morning
and every afternoon during the week of April 14-18. About 50 people participated
in this effort. Each group repeated the demand for a public meeting. Senator
Schumer refused our request. Congressman Walsh’s aide in Washington responded
that their policy is not to participate in town meetings due to “time”
constraints and “control” issues. Clinton’s office has still
not responded, despite follow-up phone calls from SPC staff to the Syracuse,
NYC, and Washington offices, and re-sending our request by fax. We will continue
to address this appalling lack of democracy in our community and nation.
Weekly Peace Vigils
Every Tuesday from 4:45 – 5:45 pm.
• May 6: Teall Ave. & Rt. 690
• May 13: Adams St. & Rt. 81
• May 20: James St. & Thompson Rd.
• May 27: Rt. 57, Liverpool (near outdoor skating rink)
Refusing to Be Enemies:
An Israeli Peace Perspective
The May Peace Council potluck, Thursday, May 15, will feature Israeli peace
activist Jessica Nevo. Jessica has been active with peace, human rights and
feminist groups in Israel since 1984. She is a founding member of Women in Black
in Haifa, and part of New Profile, an organization devoted to alternatives to
the war culture and the militaristic values that are so dominant in Israel.
The potluck begins at 6 pm and the program at 7 pm at the Westcott Community
Center, 826 Euclid Ave., Syracuse, and is free and open to the public. Jessica
will also be speaking on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 pm at Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse
University.
$$$
Historically, money flows into the Peace Council when our nation is actively
at war. When the fighting dies down, funding slows as well. To prevent future
wars we need organizations like the Peace Council to be even stronger. Please
consider making a contribution or becoming a monthly or quarterly pledger.
SPC & Nonviolence
On Friday, March 28 over 400 people responded to the Peace Council’s call
to “Encircle the Federal Building and Contain the Warmakers,” surrounding
the building to say that the US war against Iraq must end. Unfortunately, the
demonstration will be remembered by many for the “scuffle” which ensued
at the very end, rather than for the power of the gathering.
The scuffle, which was highlighted in media coverage of the event, involved
provocative counterdemonstrators and some anti-war activists. One of the activists
involved in the scuffle was arrested along with one of our “mediator/peacekeepers.”
They were arraigned in City Court on April 1 and will return to court in May.
The Syracuse Peace Council is sorry that such an incident occurred at a demonstration
we organized.
SPC supports free speech, even that of people who disagree with us, and we ask
our co-workers in the peace movement to please be respectful of that at our
events. We do understand, however, that counter-demonstrators can be provocative
and will schedule trainings on creative and nonviolent responses to such potentially
volatile situations.
We ask that everyone consider the impacts their individual actions can have
on an event, both positive and negative, and what those actions might mean for
the movement locally.
SPC Open Meeting—May 10
Please join us for an Open Peace Council Meeting on Saturday, May 10 from 1:30–3:30
pm at the Westcott Community Center (corner of Westcott St. and Euclid Ave.,
Syracuse).
As a community-based organization, the Peace Council needs broad input and participation
to make our work effective. Learn more about specific projects and talk about
how you can plug into the Peace Council’s work. Refreshments and door prizes
will be provided.
Volunteers & Interns Sought
With summer approaching, some folks have a lot more time on their hands. The
Peace Council welcomes additional summer help. We need regular office volunteers,
people to work on specific projects and folks to help paint the outside of the
house. Internships for high school or college students are also available. Get
in touch. The next volunteer orientation is Tues., May 13 at 7 pm at the office.