Anti-War Spring Rising

Spring Rising: An Antiwar Intervention in DC http://SpringRising.org “Spring Rising” is four days of creative resistance; theater, teach-ins; rallies and marches marking the anniversary of the United States’ "shock and awe" attack on Iraq and its invasion and occupation in a completely illegitimate, immoral war.  Together we will use this time to oppose the plans and calls for growing military intervention. As we send this invitation to you the Congress is calling for more war. The President has just told us a new global “war on terror” may be unlimited in space and time.

• Are you, like us, stunned and enraged by more war on the world?
• Did you or your organization join in the protests against police violence and murder, because Black Lives Matter?
• Are you with the Dreamers working for rights for all people to live without fear?
• Are you one of the many who have dropped everything to protest the global destruction of the environment because of our dependence on fossil fuels which is also a reason for our wars?
• Are you agonized over the ongoing U.S. military support for Israel, the recent killing of 2,000 Arab men, women, and children last summer in Gaza?
• Are you furious about the killing and terrorizing of Muslims in the U.S?

Then, join us! Your participation in Spring Rising is urgently needed now to organize protests, participate in teach-ins and to put your art and performance on mass display. Together we can create the vibrant resistance needed to show that terrorizing the world is not in our interest and “not in our name.” These days together will be vitally important for building the movement we need to oppose war and the violence and oppression of empire at home and abroad. Here's the schedule so far: Wednesday March 18 Meet & Greet 5-8 pm Plymouth United Church of Christ 5301 N. Capital Street NE Thursday March 19 "Challenging Congress" – a morning of lobbying 9am - 1pm Meet in the Rayburn Senate Office cafeteria. Organized by Code Pink. "People’s Uprising Tour: From Empire and War to Justice with Peace" – a bus tour organized by the Peoples' Soapbox Network & Cindy Sheehan to visit offices of those who plan, profit from and are complicit in war crimes of empire. Meet 1pm at U.S. Capitol. Get you seat on the Peace Bus: Details Teach-In Part One: "U.S. Military Aggression – A Key Part of Global Ecological Destruction"; with presentations by members of the Veterans for Peace Advisory Board including Marjorie Cohn, Ray McGovern and Matthew Ho. Location TBA Friday March 20 Friday morning will be devoted to the creation/assembly of signs, banners, puppets or other visual displays for the rally and march the next day. Please bring your own materials; a limited number of blank, white poster boards and markers will be available. Teach-In Part Two 3 – 10pm  University of the District of Columbia Law School 4200 Connecticut Avenue Northwest

• "What are the connections and challenges for those working to stop targeted killing by the U.S. and those working to stop killing with impunity by U.S. police?"
• A discussion by Veterans for Peace and Military Families Speak Out.
• World Beyond War: An Alternative Global Security System. Speakers:David Swanson, Leah Bolger, Matthew Hoh. Details
• "U.S. Wars of Aggression and Islamic Jihad: What is the Bigger Danger, and How Should the Anti-war Movement Respond?

Saturday March 21 The morning will be devoted to last minute work on signs and creative displays. Noon Rally at Lafayette Park in front of the White House 1pm March from the White House, through Chinatown to the Capitol Spring Rising will comprise a number of events including a large rally and march, a teach-in, and lobbying. Its goal is to increase opposition to wars and militarism, and in particular to U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, as well as all U.S. drone attacks and surveillance worldwide. Spring Rising advocates the closure of U.S. military bases overseas, and the dismantling of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. We urge the demilitarization of police forces and a halt to their targeting of minority communities. We seek to increase understanding of and resistance to U.S. military operations' acceleration of climate chaos. This nonviolent intervention was originally proposed by Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox and theSoapbox People's Network. It has been endorsed and will be supported by Amnesty International Charlottesville, the ANSWER Coalition, Antiwar.com, the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, theBaltimore Pledge of Resistance, Center on Conscience & War, Washington, DC,  Chelsea Neighbors United to End the War,  Citizens for Peace,  CND CYMRU,  CODEPINK, Courage to Resist, FIST, Frack Free Nation, the Granny Peace Brigade of New York City, International Action Center,  KnowDrones.com, Maryland United for Peace and Justice, Military Families Speak Out,Minnesota Peace Action, National Association Against Police Brutality, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare, The No Fear Coalition, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation,  Pax Christi Metro DC-Baltimore,  Peace Action in Staten Island, Peace Academy at Liberty,  Peace Action Montgomery, Peace Fresno, Popular Resistance, Revolutionary Organization of Labor USA,  SOA Watch, Syracuse Peace Council,United for Peace and Justice, United National Antiwar Coalition, Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars,  US Foreign Policy Activist Cooperative, Vegans for Nonviolence,Veterans For Peace, Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, WarIsACrime.org,  Washington Peace Center, Witness Against Torture, Women"s International League for Peace and Freedom,  World Beyond War, and World Can't Wait. Pax Christi Phoenix To endorse, volunteer, get involved or learn more, go to:  http://SpringRising.org  Contact Dede at dede4peace@gmail.com  Join and share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/430232700485435