April 23^rdAction Conference and Teach-in

Over 50 anti-war activists from the Boston area met at Roxbury Community College on April 23^rd, 2005. Participants held a teach-in/panel discussion around the question: “Why Troops Out of Iraq Now?” followed by workshops and an open wrap up discussion.

Conference Decisions:

1. For a united summer-fall action plan

Proposed by summer-fall actions workshop

Antiwar activists gathered at Roxbury Community College in Boston on April 23, 2005 agree to work together in the summer and fall to oppose

the occupation of Iraq and are committed to participating in the campaign for the immediate withdrawal of all troops. The war makers in

Washington channel the resources at their disposal in a campaign of war, racism, and oppression. We are committed to

participating in a campaign to promote the redirection of resources to further justice, equality, and human needs

here at home, not death and misery. We support the following significant activities:

· The September 10 mobilization at the United Nations, against the war in Iraq, sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and built locally by United for Justice with Peace

· There is massive opposition to the war. The challenge before us is to unite, plan, and then mobilize this opposition into a strong mass movement. All too often activists are caught

trying to meet deadlines for actions without having enough time to plan effectively and include the broadest array of forces out there opposed to the war. We need a local action for immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, yet to be called, which we suggest be held in late October or early November. This action should be peaceful and legal, able to mobilize soldiers and their families, youth, immigrants, workers, communities of color, and activists of all kinds. It is important that we recover the right to march against the war in the streets of Boston, which was denied us on March 20^th. We encourage antiwar organizations and individuals in Boston, those that built March 20 and others, to discuss the best date for a local fall action and to begin a planning process this spring. A follow-up meeting will occur in mid-May to discuss summer and fall actions.

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2. Military Recruitment

· A city-wide campaign to oppose military recruitment, ROTC, military research, and the BU bio-terror lab, with coordinated protest actions against military recruiters, ROTC,

and military research facilities with activities on campuses, in high schools, and in the city at large. Hold a meeting to plan this ASAP.

· A rally at the recruiting center on Tremont St. in late May or early June.

· Also, leaflet local military bases to win soldiers to oppose the war.

· Finally, a protest at the military recruiting station on Tremont St. during the fall antiwar action.

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3. Networking

· Motivate the organizations that we belong to and network other existing organizations sothat we can all get to each other's actions and avoid conflicts. This could be through

an agreed-on email server such as Act-MA or a cross-group listserv.

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4. Oppose the “War on Terror”

Proposed by the workshop which discussed the “War on Terror”

· Organize forums discussing the "War on Terror" involving broad forces in the community.

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5. Seek collaboration with other campaigns such as Fund the Dream

· Reach out to and collaborate with local groups not necessarily focused on antiwar work, but groups working on budget cuts, housing, youth, etc. -- to support them in their

protests and win them to participation in antiwar work.

· Hold a forum in the fall on the war and its social consequences in Boston.

For more information contact:

jgonzal@fas.harvard.edu

john.r.harris@verizon.net.

or

Call: (617) 407-9433 or (617) 230-9382

Links to Conference endorsers:

Boston Mobilization

Chelsea Uniting Against the War / Chelsea Uniéndose en Contra de la Guerra

Framingham State College Human Rights Action Committee

Socialist Alternative

International Socialist Organization

United for Justice with Peace

International Action Center – Boston

Tufts Coalition Opposed to the War in Iraq

Educators to Stop the War – Boston

UMASS Boston Antiwar Committee

Harvard Initiative for Peace and Justice

Boston University Peace and Justice Project

Bolivarian Circle, MLK Jr., - Boston

Permanent Committee for Peace in Colombia

April 23rd Action Conference and Teach-in

Over 50 anti-war activists from the Boston area met at Roxbury Community College on April 23rd, 2005. Participants held a teach-in/panel discussion around the question: “Why Troops Out of Iraq Now?” followed by workshops and an open wrap up discussion.

Conference Decisions:

1. For a united summer-fall action plan

Proposed by summer-fall actions workshop

Antiwar activists gathered at Roxbury Community College in Boston on April 23, 2005 agree to work together in the summer and fall to oppose

the occupation of Iraq and are committed to participating in the campaign for the immediate withdrawal of all troops. The war makers in

Washington channel the resources at their disposal in a campaign of war, racism, and oppression. We are committed to

participating in a campaign to promote the redirection of resources to further justice, equality, and human needs

here at home, not death and misery. We support the following significant activities:

· The September 10 mobilization at the United Nations, against the war in Iraq, sponsored by United for Peace and Justice and built locally by United for Justice with Peace

· There is massive opposition to the war. The challenge before us is to unite, plan, and then mobilize this opposition into a strong mass movement. All too often activists are caught

------

2. Military Recruitment

· A city-wide campaign to oppose military recruitment, ROTC, military research, and the BU bio-terror lab, with coordinated protest actions against military recruiters, ROTC,

and military research facilities with activities on campuses, in high schools, and in the city at large. Hold a meeting to plan this ASAP.

· A rally at the recruiting center on Tremont St. in late May or early June.

· Also, leaflet local military bases to win soldiers to oppose the war.

· Finally, a protest at the military recruiting station on Tremont St. during the fall antiwar action.

------

3. Networking

· Motivate the organizations that we belong to and network other existing organizations sothat we can all get to each other's actions and avoid conflicts. This could be through

an agreed-on email server such as Act-MA or a cross-group listserv.

------

4. Oppose the “War on Terror”

Proposed by the workshop which discussed the “War on Terror”

· Organize forums discussing the "War on Terror" involving broad forces in the community.

-------

5. Seek collaboration with other campaigns such as Fund the Dream

· Reach out to and collaborate with local groups not necessarily focused on antiwar work, but groups working on budget cuts, housing, youth, etc. -- to support them in their

protests and win them to participation in antiwar work.

· Hold a forum in the fall on the war and its social consequences in Boston.

or

Call: (617) 407-9433 or (617) 230-9382

Links to Conference endorsers:

Subsequent Meetings

April 23^rdAction Conference and Teach-in

Over 50 anti-war activists from the Boston area met at Roxbury Community College on April 23^rd, 2005. Participants held a teach-in/panel discussion around the question: “Why Troops Out of Iraq Now?” followed by workshops and an open wrap up discussion.