Antiwar Movement
Maps Next Steps
by Bob Wing
The antiwar movement is readying to continue the struggle for peace and
justice.
A recent University of Maryland survey found that only 35 percent of
respondents said Washington should feel "more free to use force without
U.N. authorization in the future," while almost two-thirds disagreed.
A large majority said that the U.N., rather than the White House, should
take the lead in dealing with perceived threats from Syria, Iran and North
Korea.
When asked whether the U.S. "has the right or even the responsibility
to overthrow dictatorships," 57 percent disagreed, while 38 percent
agreed. And, when polled about what role the U.S. should play in the world,
only 12 percent though the U.S. should be the preeminent world leader,
while 76 percent said, "The U.S. should do its share in efforts to
solve international problems with other countries."
"This shows that the Bush administration failed to convince the
public that its policies are sound. The antiwar movement retains a powerful
base of support from which we can build," said Hany Khalil of United
for Peace and Justice.
NEW PEACE INITIATIVES
To mobilize this continuing opposition to Washington's militaristic policies,
the antiwar movement is transforming its tactics from emergency street
protests into proactive organizing for peace and justice.
United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), the coalition that mobilized more
than half a million in New York City on Feb. 15, held its first national
conference in Chicago from June 6-8. It attracted 550 delegates representing
more than 325 organizations from 32 states, the widest and most diverse
antiwar meeting in decades. About 15 percent of the delegates were people
of color.
After an energetic airing of different points of view, the group agreed
on a unity statement, strategy, a structure and an action plan. "I
was amazed at the spirit of unity throughout the conference," remarked
Leslie Cagan, the interim national coordinator. (See www.unitedforpeace.org)
The delegates concluded that, "UFPJ's over-arching goal in the coming
year to 18 months is to impact and mobilize public opinion in order to
force a shift by the U.S. government away from its present policy of permanent
war and empire-building, and to address the ramifications of that policy
both abroad and at home."
Key campaigns will expose the Bush administration's lies about weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq, the cruelty and undemocratic character of
the occupations and the racist detentions and undermining of civil liberties
within the U.S. Major mobilizations are scheduled for the fall.
The UFPJ delegates elected a national steering committee of 35, including
half people of color and half women. [War Times is represented on the
steering committee.] "Our ability to unite diverse constituencies
on a program that combines peace with justice, opposes racism and militarization,
and opposes the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine are a landmark
for the U.S. peace movement," remarked Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth
Congregational Church in Washington, D.C.
Two other major nationwide antiwar groups, Win Without War (WWW) and
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), also have developed new plans
for ongoing activities. WWW's current campaign demands a full investigation
into how President Bush concluded that Iraq possessed weapons of mass
destruction. (See winwithoutwarus.org.)
ANSWER is planning several fall demonstrations--www.answer.org.
UFPJ agreed to initiate a liaison committee to coordinate work among
the various antiwar coalitions.
Bob Wing is the managing editor of War Times.
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