Troops Out Now! Put the Antiwar Movement Back on the Streets September 29 - March on Washington DC

A Draft Proposal from the Troops Out Now Coalition—
From Protest to Resistance

Troops Out Now!
Put the Antiwar Movement
Back on the Streets

September 29 — March on Washington D.C.
Assemble at the Capitol — March on the White House

September 22 – 29 —Encampment in Washington D.C.

Stop the War Abroad and at Home

In the spirit of unity, and for the purposes of taking the movement away from politicians and putting it back into the streets, the Troops Out Now Coalition submits this proposal to all antiwar forces:

Our proposal is for an Encampment to Stop the War at Home & Abroad, starting on Saturday, September 22 in Washington D.C., culminating in a mass march in Washington on Saturday, September 29.

This proposal is open to change. TONC welcomes and encourages discussion and suggestions for modifying and improving this proposal. Please endorse the proposal if you are in agreement. All are invited to an Antiwar Strategy meeting in New York City on Saturday, June 16 where there will be more discussion of this proposal, as well as others.

In the fall, (and summer) we must all be focused on jump-starting the mass movement against the war again. Our movement will not be a factor unless we:

* demonstrate our independence from the major political parties;
* make every effort to connect the fight against the wars abroad with the war on the people here in the U.S.; and
* continue to shift from protest to resistance.

Can we not only have a march on Washington, but also occupy the occupiers for a week? The time has come to try it, and that is why our proposal is not only for a march but also for an encampment prior to the march.

It was always clear to some of us, and it’s becoming more and more clear to all of us that Congress is not going to stop the criminal war and occupation in Iraq. Congressional calls for phased withdrawals have done little more than provide a cover for Congress to continue funding the war.

The greater problem is that the political posturing between Bush and Congress has reduced the demand for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all troops from Iraq to arguing about establishing “benchmarks”. The phony antiwar politicking in Congress has to a large degree diverted and usurped the mass movement on the streets.

It’s absolutely critical that we take the struggle against the war out of the halls of Congress and put it where it needs to be — back on the streets.

Congress is giving Bush and his generals until September to succeed in Iraq. The Pentagon should not be given another hour to wage their criminal, colonial war and occupation. The only significance that time should have for the movement is the time that it will take to organize so that the next phase of the antiwar struggle will be massive, militant and decisive.

It is essential that we acknowledge and fight Bush’s plans to expand the war into Iran. It’s also critical that we call for an end to the occupation of Afghanistan and an end to the Pentagon’s plans for endless war against the peoples of Asia, Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. We must demand an end to the occupation of Palestine, and support the Palestinian people — including their right to return.

However, it is just as critical that our movement against the war fully embrace the struggle against racism right here in the U.S. Where undocumented immigrant workers are under attack, we must be with them fighting back. Whether fighting for the freedom of Mumia Abu-Jamal, or marching in New York City against the murder of Sean Bell, we must fight racist police and judicial terror.

The Troops Out Now Coalition encourages all of the antiwar coalitions on the local and national level to engage each other and where communication has broken down, to open new lines of communication so that our combined efforts will make us stronger.

Let us join forces with the movements struggling for:

* No War against Iran
* End all occupations now - from Iraq to Palestine, the Philippines, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan
* No to U.S. intervention – Hands off Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the Sudan
* Stop the raids against immigrant workers — Full rights for undocumented workers
* Justice for Katrina survivors – End racist police terror
* Free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners
* Money for health care, jobs and education, not endless war

Together let’s unite to demand:

* Immediate withdrawal of all troops
* Cut off ALL war funding’

Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

Endorse the call for Sept 22 - 29 : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207encampmentmarchonwashendorse.shtml

Volunteer : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Become an Organizing Center : http://www.troopsoutnow.org/sept2207volunteer.shtml

Donate : http://troopsoutnow.org/donate.shtml

NYC: June 16 — Antiwar Strategy Meeting - Planning for the next "Surge" of Antiwar mass action - Summer and Fall