Action Proposal -- Action Points

Submitted by the Continuations Body of the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations

 

1. G-20 Protests

 

Support and actively build demonstrations at the third G-20 summit being held in Pittsburgh, PA September 24-25, 2009, focused on advancing antiwar demands. Constitute a National Assembly contingent to march holding banners and signs with its immediate withdrawal and end to war funding demands

 

2. October 17 Local and Regional Actions

 

October has several dates with significance for the peace movement.  October, 2009 will mark the eighth year of the U.S. war in Afghanistan and seven years since Congress passed the resolution authorizing war against Iraq.  In addition, October commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam Moratorium that brought hundreds of thousands into the streets to protest the war.

 

Designate October 17 as a day for mass rallies, marches, coordinated local and regional demonstrations and other forms of protest with unequivocal antiwar demands:

  • Immediately and unconditionally withdrawal all U.S. troops, military personnel, bases, contractors and mercenaries from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan!
  • End U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine! End to the siege against Gaza!
  • U.S. hands off Iran and North Korea!
  • Self-determination for all oppressed nations and peoples!
  • End war crimes, including torture!                                                                                                  

 

3. Two Weeks of United Mass Actions October 3-17

 

In addition, we support and endorse a two-week period of united mass actions beginning October 3 and culminating on October 17. This includes Monday, October 5, as the date for a national mass march and non-violent civil resistance at the U.S. House of Representatives office buildings and the White House.

 

 

4. Campaign for October 17 Endorsers

 

Launch a campaign to secure endorsements for the October actions from the broadest possible array of forces in the United States and internationally.

 

5. Speaking Tours

 

Initiate a series of national and regional speaking tours of prominent antiwar and social justice activists to help lay the basis for coordinated mass protests in the spring.

 

 

 

6. Week of Student Antiwar Activities

 

In consultation with student antiwar groups, project a week of coordinated student antiwar activities – featuring rallies, teach-ins, slide shows, petition campaigns, debates, film-showings, and class presentations -- aimed especially at deepening the involvement of youth in building a united, mass action antiwar movement. Include actions protesting a military presence in our schools and all forms of the economic draft primarily directed at youth from the poorest communities, especially immigrant youth.

 

7. Support Other Forms of Protest

 

While the National Assembly strongly believes that periodic mass demonstrations are the antiwar movement's most effective way of building the movement and conveying its “Out Now!” position, the Assembly recognizes that many movement activists believe in combining mass action with lobbying. The Assembly supports a wide range of strategies and tactics to create a broad, inclusive movement in order to reach its goals. Accordingly, the Assembly will help publicize lobbying initiatives aimed at disseminating and highlighting its immediate withdrawal and end to war funding demands. The same with standouts, vigils, non-violent direct action and related activities.

 

8. Free Palestine Working Committee

 

Constitute a working committee to help ensure that the antiwar movement stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and integrates the issue of Palestine in the broader antiwar struggle.  The movement should promote efforts to break the siege of Gaza, oppose attacks and incursions in the occupied territories, actively support the call of the Palestine Civil Society movement for boycotts, divestments and sanctions, and call for an end to U.S.  support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

 

9. United National Mass Demonstrations Spring, 2010

 

Continue and expand the National Assembly's efforts to engage all organizations and constituencies currently involved in the antiwar movement and other formations that can be involved to unite in nationally coordinated mass demonstrations in selected sites, including Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco, in the spring of 2010, marking the 7th year of the war on Iraq.

 

10. Emergency Actions When Needed

 

Maintain readiness to help initiate and organize emergency actions, as occurred January 10, 2009 when 20,000 demonstrated in Washington and thousands more did so in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and other cities across the country and across the globe to protest the horrific Israeli bombing of Gaza. The U.S. antiwar movement must be especially vigilant with regard to North Korea and Iran, currently in the U.S.'s cross hairs, the “justification” being that the one has nuclear weapons and the other is allegedly trying to develop them. Mindful of the fact that the U.S. is the world’s most threatening and dominant nuclear power and the only country to have used nuclear weapons -- killing hundreds of thousands of people -- we reject threats of war and intervention against any nation, regardless of their nuclear status.