The following call may be of interest to some in the US. Please do not
respond to the list. Thanks.
Mark.
-----Original Message-----
From: Shelley Tremain [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 18 September 2001 08:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: National Student Day of Action (US) Sept. 20
Mark,
This call for action was circulated to me through an Anti-Interventionist
mail-out I receive. Please consider posting it on the Disability-Research
list.
Best regards,
Shelley Tremain
************************************************************************
Dear friends,
Have you been feeling helpless in light of Tuesday's events? HELP US OUT.
Students at Wesleyan University, CT have been meeting the last couple of
days to discuss the following theme:
In response to the events of September 11th, we affirm our commitment to
THOROUGH and PEACEFUL JUSTICE, as opposed to retaliatory violence.
-WE KNOW that most colleges around the nation are also having this
discussion. In light of the Bush administration's focus on retaliation, we
feel a DIRE NEED FOR THIS SENTIMENT BE HEARD.
-Because of this we are calling for a NATIONWIDE ACTION ON CAMPUSES for
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20 from 12pm-1pm to show our commitment to thorough and
peaceful justice, as opposed to retaliatory violence.
-WE NEED YOUR HELP. The more schools involved, the more media coverage we
get. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HELP SET UP THIS ACTION AT YOUR SCHOOL. Even if
you are personally not able or willing to organize an action, please spend a
few minutes to find out who at your school WOULD be willing to and forward
this to them. (also forward any friend you have at other schools. spread the
word!!!)
specifics:
1) We are in the process of setting up a web page which will have Wesleyan's
statement and plan of action to use as an example, and a list of schools who
are also planning actions and how to contact them. This web page will
probably be up by late Saturday/Sunday. The address will be:
http://www.peacefuljustice.cjb.net
2) Once your school has received this e-mail and begun to plan an action
please CHOOSE A CONTACT PERSON AND E-MAIL US at [log in to unmask]
with the info of the contact person. You can also e-mail if you have any
questions. We will e-mail you back ASAP.
3) The idea is to have solidarity in the time and message of the action.
What you would like to do is up to each campus. WE ARE RELYING ON YOU TO
PLAN IT. vital things to be done when planning your action:
a) Contact the media! This is of paramount importance. Local and National
media. Let them know about this day of action (sep. 20) and our message.
your school's media contact person should get in touch with Sarah at
[log in to unmask] or 860.344.8782 to work on coordinating media messaging.
b) make the message clear. We will be posting Wesleyan's mission statement
on the web page. You can adopt your own, but it would be nice to have
conformity on
the following issues: -GLOBAL/ international Peace and unity -consideration
of underlying reasons why/examination of US foreign policy -set a precedent
of International action/our position is important and consequential/ALL
civil liberties need to be enforced -use rationality and compassion, not
hate and haste/avoid reliance on emotional manipulations -do not alter the
event at hand to infer a need for star wars, unlimited military spending or
oil drilling in arctic -the long term choice at hand is NOT about security
OR civil liberties, it is the opportunity for prudence and caution based on
the 'sanctity' of all life and peaceful justice. - react to the needs of the
precise situation- terrorism is an act of terrorism, not an act of war/not
evidence of a country's attack -appropriate channels of law for those
directly responsible (reasonable alternatives to war) -opposition to
backlash against any people -condolences/ "correct" form of justice
wanted/needed -"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
MLK Jr.
*It is important to keep in mind, with the present state of fear and anger,
that we ARE NOT saying that the peoples responsible for Tuesdays events
should not be punished, but that they should be punished according to the
channels of law. And furthermore we SHOULD NOT PUNISH groups of innocent
people (i.e. whole nations) for individual crimes. *while we ARE against
terrorism and terrorists, our focus is on being anti-terror *include what
we are doing: ie. student solidarity, voice, opposition, affirmation, and
hope in your mission statement
c) We feel it is also very important that we reach out and INVOLVE EACH
SCHOOL'S
LOCAL COMMUNITY in this action.
d) Involve the faculty.
TIPS:
1) At Weslyan we are using Monday-Wednesday to have smaller actions
(tabling, speak out/music at the campus center) to inform the campus about
Thursday.
2) We are creating a resolution/ petition for all students to sign. A goal
for the future is to put pressure of the administration to adopt this
resolution
3) We are setting up stations at Thursday's action where people can send
this resolution/ petition to their individual representatives. It is
important to have addresses available: **Go to
www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm to find your state senator's address.
4)We will be wearing armbands with words of non-violence, rationality and
compassion written on them.
FINALLY -Remember to let us know your school is involved by e-mailing
[log in to unmask] -Forward this to everyone you know, high schools
should be involved too -Any questions? e-mail [log in to unmask]
________________End of message______________________
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