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Brief Report
on the
June 28-29
National Assembly
by Barry Weisleder
Efforts to unite the U.S. anti-war movement in mass protest
actions received a big boost at a conference held in Cleveland, Ohio on the
June 27-29 weekend. Stats tell part of the story of the National
Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation: over 500 organizations
and individuals sponsored the gathering; 416 registered participants
converged from across the U.S. -- which was double the anticipated
attendance. (Four people from Toronto were there too.)
The guest speakers at the conference included:
Donna Dewitt, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO, Co-Chair, SC
Progressive Network
Greg Coleridge, Northeast Ohio Anti-War Coalition, Economic
Justice & Empowerment Program Director, Northeast Ohio American Friends
Service Committee
Jonathan Hutto, Navy Petty Officer, Author of Anti-War Soldier,
Co-Founder of Appeal for Redress
Fred Mason, President, Maryland AFL-CIO; Co-Convenor, U.S. Labor
Against the War
Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star Families for Peace (by satellite)
Phil Aliff, Iraq Veterans Against the War, formerly of Fort Drum
active duty chapter
Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, United for Peace and Justice
Jesse Diaz, Organizer of the May 1, 2006 immigrant rights boycott
Marilyn Levin, Member, Coordinating Committee, Greater Boston United
for Justice with Peace; Founder, Middle East Crisis Coalition
Brian Becker, National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Colia Lafayette Clark, Richard Wright Centennial Committee
Jorge Mujica, Chicago March 10 Coalition
Jeremy Scahill, Author, of “Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most
Powerful Mercenary Army”
Clarence Thomas, Executive Board Member, ILWU Local 10, the
trade union that initiated the May 1 one day antiwar strike that closed all
U.S. West Coast ports from Canada to Mexico.
Ahmed Shawki, Board Member, Haymarket Press (note: he was
unable to attend)
Riham Barghouti, Adalah, New York City
Josh Davidson, Shaker Heights High School Students for a Democratic
Society (SDS)
Larry Holmes, Troops Out Now Coalition
Jeff Mackler, Coordinating Committee, National Assembly to End the
Iraq War and Occupation
Sixteen workshops took place on Saturday afternoon,
covering a wide range of topics: from the cost of the war, lessons of
Vietnam, resistance in Palestine, and climate crisis, to the situation in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
Plenary sessions featured plenty of time to debate the
direction of the US anti-war movement. The National Assembly aims to
unite the existing coalitions, not to start a new one.
It represents the mass action wing of the
movement. It stands on five principles, which the conference endorsed
unanimously: unity, mass mobilization against the war, the demand for
immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. troops and military
bases from Iraq, a democratic inclusive anti-war movement based on open,
one-person-one-vote decision-making conferences, and the independence of
this movement from any political party.
Participants debated dozens of amendments to the plan of
action presented by the National Assembly Coordinating Committee. You
can view the action plan, and all the proposed amendments on the web
site: www.natassembly.org
A detailed report and political assessment of the
conference will appear in the July edition of Socialist Action newspaper.
Suffice it to say, for now, that the deliberations of
the conference were marked by a high degree of democratic exchange, a
number of close votes, and several changes made to original proposals.
Opposition to the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan
is now part of the National Assembly basis, including its title. The
conference adopted a call for an end to U.S. support for Israel and its
occupation of Palestine; and it voted to support the right of return for
all refugees, and for boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Zionist
state until it complies.
The National Assembly endorsed a number of protest
actions already scheduled for the coming months, including those set for
the upcoming conventions of the Democratic and Republican parties, as well
as on October 11.
But its key initiatives are for coordinated,
cross-county anti-war actions, December 9-13, as a lead up to united,
bi-coastal mass demonstrations in Spring 2009.
Crucial will be how the existing anti-war coalitions
(UFPJ, ANSWER, TONC and USLAW) respond to this call. There are
grounds for cautious optimism. Coalition reps expressed agreement
that U.S. election fever will subside, and illusions in politicians will be
dashed, as the wars and occupations continue regardless which ruling class
party controls the White House and the Congress.
It's good to know that the mass action wing of the peace
movement is getting its act together. It will be a factor, a catalyst
perhaps, in bringing together the popular movements necessary to stop U.S.
interventions in the Middle East.
A fund appeal collected thousands of dollars, but much
more is needed.
The conference concluded by adopting a Structure
Proposal, which was amended to expand the membership of an Administrative
Body from 9 to 13, which is linked to a broad, ongoing Coordinating
Committee of over 60 delegates from many of the participating organizations.
National Assembly initiators Jerry Gordon, from Ohio,
and Jeff Mackler, from California, topped the poll for the Admin. Body.
Now it's time for the entire movement to unite in mass
action, this Fall and next Spring, to end the wars and occupations in Iraq
and Afghanistan, and bring all the troops home now!
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