A Great Day! We Filled Fed Plaza and the Streets!

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Fill the Streets! Bring Someone New!

Click Graphic for Larger View of Speakers and Details...Even More Groups and Individuals Are Signing On, See Left Column. It's Going to Be a Great and Powerful Day!

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Oct 27: Bring Someone New!

Billboard on 1-80-94 near Cline Exit

The Home Stretch,
Seven Days to Go…

Now is the time for all peace and justice activists to get into high gear: outreach, organize and mobilize.

The watchwords of the day: EVERYONE BRING SOMEONE NEW, someone who has never marched before. The 49th Ward, for example, met a few days ago, in a public meeting, and is aiming for a bus of newcomers from Rogers Park

We’re hitting the airwaves. We’re holding a major press conference in the Loop Monday featuring some of our labor, community, congressional and city council leaders. They will call Chicago to join us on Oct 27 under the banner, ‘STOP THE WAR NOW, BRING ALL OUR TROOPS HOME!. Other themes stressed are ‘Fund Human Needs, Not the War!,’ ‘Defend Our Civil Liberties, Defend Immigrant Rights!’ and ‘Stop the Violence at Home and Abroad, No Wider Wars!’ Several Congress people and community leaders also recorded Oct 27 radio ads which are being broadcast this week.

We have a terrific lineup of speakers and performers. To the list posted last week, we’re adding Rosemarie Slavanas, Gold Star Families Speak Out; Rep John Conyers, (D-MI); and Rep Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

Our logistical plan is solid. Two good stages with excellent sound, seating for the older folk, plenty of room for assembly, a good line of march, space for tables, buses parked near Federal Plaza, everything down to portapotties. We need about 50 more volunteers to lead chants and serve as guides and peacekeepers. We also need to borrow all the bullhorns people can lend us.

We have new contingents. Chicago-Area Educators for Peace and Justice, Chicago Layers against the Iraq War, Healthcare Not Warfare Contingent, ‘No War, No Warming’ Contingent, as well as new neighborhood groups have formed. Connect to these or create your own.

We’re still growing. This week we pulled in groups like Illinois Volunteers for Richardson, National Organization for Women – Chicago, the Buddhist Peace Fellowship-Chicago, Greater Chicago Ron Paul 2008 Campaign, Stop the War on Iraq –Terre Haute, and a number of new local unions, and youth and community groups.

Go Grassroots! Is your neighborhood covered with posters? Are you speaking up at the meetings, services, concerts and events you go to? The night before Oct 27, get on your phone and nudge all your friends one more time, not only to come, but to bring someone who has never come to one of these before.

Now is also a good time to write a check or hit the ‘donate’ button on the website to help all those who are already into high gear.

To volunteer call us or use the ‘volunteers’ link on the website.

If you have a ride to offer, post it to the ride sharing forum on the web site.


ALL OUT Oct 27!

[Donate online at: http://oct27chicago.org Make checks to CAWI/Oct27, 3411 W Diversey, Suite 4, Chicago IL 60647. 773-384-5799. Email queries to: oct27chicago@gmail.com]

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Initial Speakers & Program Confirmed

Photo: War for Oil

Less Than Two Weeks To Go!

We’re pushing ahead on the planning for the Oct 27 mobilization here in Chicago—and making important breakthroughs nearly every day.

Most important, the program committee has come out with its initial list of confirmed speakers, and the lineup is terrific, and is listed below. There is still work to be done, however, confirming a few more, and working on gender parity and key constituencies, such as students and youth. An Iraq Vet and a Gold Star Mother are definite, but we don’t have the names yet. Some speakers may share a single slot. Some groups may appear in front of the stage, with one spokesperson.

Oct 27 supporters can still make recommendations for speakers—but practically, don’t send us the names or bios of any more males.

Radio and Cable TV ads were made by Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis and Bobby Rush, all Member of Congress from Chicago. Congressman Gutierrez has also signed on, and the media buys are out.

New endorsements are coming in—the Chicago Federation of Labor's Dennis Gannon, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 33 (all the city’s CTA workers), Father Michael Pfleger of St Sabina’s, the ‘Protestations for Peace’ Network of Yoga Centers, the Local School Council of Waters School on the North Side, the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County, and many more. The efforts from other states are underway.


New groups have formed—Educators for Peace and Justice, Lawyers Against the Iraq War, Irving Park for Peace & Justice, and more.

Three presidential campaigns have approached us for involvement—Sen. Mike Gravel’s and Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s of the Democrats, as well as Ron Paul’s of the Republicans. Several local Democratic and Green Party campaigns are on board. None of these have been accepted as speakers, but they may help and take part in other ways. The three local prominent invitees—Daley, Obama, and Durbin—haven’t responded and are long shots.

We have a great range of choices on the cultural front, but so far only ‘Raging Grannies’ from Wisconsin and a Latino youth chorus from Little Village are confirmed.

Here’s the lineup of speakers so far, in alphabetical order:

Rally EmCees:

Cliff Kelly, WVON Radio
Alynne Romo, Oct 27 Staff, VVAW

Speakers:

Rev. Ra Chaka, African-American Alliance for Peace & Justice, Project Organizer,
Rep. Danny Davis, 7th CD, IL, Congressman
Joan Davis, VVAW, Member
Rev. Leon Finney, The Woodlawn Organization, President
Dennis Gannon, Chicago Federation of Labor, President
Sheilah Garland-Olaniran, National Nurses Organizing Committee, Midwest Collective Bargaining Coordinator
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, 4th CD, IL, Congressman
Stacey Hafley, Military Families Speak Out-Midwest (MO, KS, OK, SIL), Chairperson
Rick Harris, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308, President
Raed Jarrar, Iraqi Journalist, Iraq Consultant for AFSC
Emma Lozano, Familias Unidas, Centro Sin Fronteras, President
George Martin, United for Peace & Justice, National Co-Chair
Michael McPhearson, Veterans for Peace, Executive Director
Joe Moore, 49th Ward, Alderman
Imam Malik Mujahid, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Chairperson
Jorge Mujica, March 10 Immigration Rights Mobilization, Organizer
Rick Munoz, 22nd Ward, Alderman
David Newby, AFL-CIO State Council, Wisconsin, President
Camille Odeh, Southwest Youth Collaborative, Executive Director
Jorge Ramierez, Chicago Federation of Labor, Secretary-Treasurer
Anita Rico, Zocalo Urbano
Cynthia Rodriquez, SEIU Local 73, Vice-President
Chris Schwartz, Campus Antiwar Network, Iowa
Lynn Talbott, UNITE-HERE, International Vice-President

Everything we do in these final two weeks is critical to our success.

Neighborhood, workplace and schools groups need to tell us how many leaflet and poster they need from us, or what they can make themselves. If you’re looking for a part of the city to work in, we can assign an area to you.

Finally, our canvassers are reporting that they have never seen such enthusiasm and positive responses from people getting leaflets. ‘I covered every business on six long blocks,’ said one. ‘I figured a few would take them for display, but every one of them did, and were glad to have them, except for one cranky guy in a bar. As I was posting them on the street poles, people would ask for some. People are ready to hear this.’

So if you want to raise your spirits, hit the streets and help us end the war.

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Three Weeks to Go and Counting!

More Outreach, Leafleting,
And Fundraising are
Critical Right Now...

Get Out The Word

We have new materials, online or printed, and NOW IS THE TIME to get them out—at your school, workplace, El Stop , favorites clubs, Laundromats, supermarkets. If you want an assignment, we have a huge map on the wall with places to go. Special thanks to our new publicity committee and those who helped with plan.

We also have key outreach events on our calendar, down on the right hand column of the website, http://oct27chicago.org Pick a program you like, take a batch of leaflets, and get a progressive audience in concentrated numbers. Here are just a few, on our Outreach Calendar, http://tinyurl.com/39wfx6 plus, posted at the end of this message, a list of all the meetings and activities in the upcoming week

Get Out Your Checkbook…

But bills, big ones, are coming in. $7500 deposit on two stages with decent sound, not to mention needed media buys and printing. We’re doing everything we can to make the budget here from the office, but we need help from EVERYONE. If your group has signed on and you haven’t sent your check, it’s needed NOW. We have special cards to hand to friends telling them how to give money. Special thanks to Crossroads for a $3000 grant, and their help with more leads. AND KEEP USING THAT DONATE BUTTON ON THE WEB SITE – that money goes to printing and leaflet distribution first.

More Endorsements

We added County Clerk David Orr, three Members of Congress and six More Chicago Aldermen as endorsers, plus the Sisters of Mercy in Iowa, the DuPage Greens, Chicago’s Bread and Butter Forum from Second City, ANSWER, the International Socialist Organization, Tikkun Chicago, Rogers Park Community Action Network, and World Can’t Wait.


We have a bus coordinator, Brett, at the office. 773-384-5799. Keep her informed, including the suburban buses, vans and Metra plans, as well as those from out of town. Just today we learned of a 15-person van coming in from Traverse City, Michigan we didn’t know about, and more student buses from Iowa.

It's probably the broadest coalition of forces seen in the peace movement in this town since the Vietnam period--120 groups and growing, not even counting most of the out-of-state groups. Labor, community, faith, immigrant rights, women, youth and students, peace & justice, elected officials and others--all are stepping up to the plate.


But it's now three weeks to go, and we're counting down, challenging each and every one of you to get personally engaged in this historic organizing drive. Believe us, it a great opportunity, and you'll make a difference.

Here's more things from last week that need still need attending to right away.

New Groups

--'Chicago-Area Educators for Peace and Justice' was launched today. Check with Jerry Harris, gharris234@comcast.net for details. If you are a faculty member, please join in. If you know a faculty member, pass this on.

--'Lawyers Against the War in Iraq' has also been launched. Check with Ann Breen-Greco at annrun@sbcglobal.net

--A 'Health Care, Not Warfare' contingent is forming. Contact Marcia Rothenberg at marciarn@igc.org

--A 'No War, No Warming' contingent of environmentalist and green energy groups is forming. Contact Ed McCullough at edwinmcc@earthlink.net

--A community youth contingent is forming in Pilsen-Little Village. Contact Rudy and Pepe Lozano, rlozanojr@gmail.com & plozano@pww.org

--Labor is organizing a sizable effort, with groups and buses coming from many union. If your union has yet to sign on, get in touch with Elena Marcheschi, UNITE-HERE and US Labor Against war, at emarcheschi@unitemidwest.org to get some help and advice. If it has, push to expand the effort.

--Neighborhoods and churches on the South and West Sides are forming contingents and new groups, some quite significant. Contact Ra Chaka of the African American Alliance for Peace and Justice, aaapj_2006@yahoo.com to connect with this.

--A 'Cities for Peace' contingent of elected officials from city councils around the midwest is forming. Get in touch with alderman Joe Moore at Aldmoore@aol.com

Once Again, the money…

Send a check to CAWI /Oct 27 at 3411 W Diversey, Suite 4, Chicago IL, 60647, or use the donate button on the web site, http://oct27chicago.org

Your Oct 27 Project Office Staff

Carl Davidson
Alynne Romo
Brett Knobel
Ra Chaka

********

Events and Meetings to Get Leaflets and Posters:


Oct/10 WED
Joseph Gerson and Helen Caldicott (Details)
Sponsors: AFSC, North Suburban Peace Initiative
Unitarian Church of Evanston - 1330 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Oct/11 THU
End the War, Bring the Troops Home (Details)
Central Avenue at Port Clinton Plaza,, Highland Park, IL
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Oct/11 THU
OPCTJ planning meetings (Details)
Sponsor(s): Oark Park Coalition for Truth and Justice
Oak Park Public Library, second floor book discussion room, 834 Lake St.,, Oak Park, IL
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Oct/11 THU
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition Meeting (Details)
Sponsor(s): A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
3334 W Lawrence, Room 202,, Chicago, IL
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Oct/11 THU
Evanston Neigbors for Peace Meeting (Details)
Sponsor(s): Evanston Neigbors for Peace
806 Ridge Ave,, Evanston, IL
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Oct/11 THU
CANTV Veterans call in show
Sponsored by: Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Chicago
Date(s): 2007-10-11 through 2007-12-27
Description: Every Thursday at 6:00 PM starting Oct. 4, Ray Parrish will be hosting a live, weekly, call-in, half-hour show on Chicago's CANTV, Channel 21. It's called "Veterans Helping Veterans".

Oct/12 FRI
In Defense of Academic Freedom, Noam Chomsky, etc.
Sponsor: AFSC Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Oct/13 SAT
NWCPJ Monthly Meeting
Sponsor(s): Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice Presents
Riverside Public Library, One Burling Road,, Riverside, IL
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Oct/13 SAT
Families For Peace Peace Vigil
Arlington Hts Rd & Northwest Hwy, Arlington Hts, IL
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Oct/14 SUN
Progressive Fest Illinois
Sponsored by: Progressive Democrats of Illinois
Progressive Fest Illinois - a festival for Progressives from around Illinois to gather, network, share stories and resources, and just plain have fun. Modeled after Wisconsin's Fighting Bob Fest. Events and speakers TBA. The Fest will take place at the Marvel Davis Farm - about one mile south of Denny Hastert's place on Jericho Road in Kane County, IL. Admission is free, but please register via the URL provided to let us know you're coming.
More Information: http://www.illinoisprogressives.org/pdi/index.php?topic=123.

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The Countdown Begins, Get Organized!

Prove the Intensity of
Antiwar Sentiment on Oct 27

Robert Naiman & Susan Chenelle

The Huffington Post

Oct 2, 2007

A clear majority of the people of this country want decisive steps to end the Iraq war now, not years from now, as the Pentagon is planning. As the Christian Science Monitor noted recently, the public reached its verdict on the Iraq war long ago, and hasn't been swayed by President Bush's speeches or the proclamations of his generals that success is around the corner.

Unfortunately, that majority opinion has not yet translated into effective action by the Congress. As has become abundantly clear, poor poll numbers and approval ratings are not enough to bring about the end of an illegal, immoral war and occupation. September, which was supposed to be the big turning point for Congress on Iraq, is looking a lot like July and March, when near-unanimous Republican congressional opposition and the lack of unanimous Democratic congressional fortitude prevented effective action. To force a decisive change in government policy, we have to make the antiwar majority more active, more visible, more difficult to ignore. We have to stand up vigorously against the cynicism that says: there is nothing we can do.



On October 27, people across the United States will step forward to do just that. Gathering in 11 cities - Boston, Chicago (www.oct27chicago.org), Jonesborough, Tenn., Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle -- the people will demonstrate that opposition to the Iraq war's continuation and Congress' failure to end it is strong and ready to take action in every corner of the country.

Regional demonstrations are a key tool for making participation more accessible to the many. They don't require a huge commitment of time and resources to participate. A substantial proportion of the U.S. population lives within a few hours of these 11 cities by train, bus, or car. Fifteen percent of the U.S. population - more than 40 million people - live in the "Northeast Corridor" that includes Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. Some 25 million, another ten percent, live in the vicinity of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Another 10 million live in the Chicago area. More than 10 million live in eastern Texas, within a day's drive of New Orleans. Many of these folks can attend a regional demonstration on October 27 without taking off work, making child care arrangements, finding a place to stay or shelling out a lot of money.

Regional demonstrations are also more likely to generate diverse media coverage.

But the main issue is participation. Most of the anti-war majority is not active, and may have never attended an anti-war demonstration. We need to turn them on and turn them out. Attending a public rally is an entry-level political activity. It doesn't require confidence in public speaking, facility with writing, familiarity with political events. It just requires an ability to stand or sit, walk or roll, hold a sign or wear one - something most people know that they have.

So, check your calendar. What are you doing on October 27? If you're not planning to attend a regional demonstration against the war, what's holding you back? A bus from your community may already be organized - check the links above. If not, organize your own carload or rent a van and split expenses. Talk your best friend into going. Recruit someone you know who has never attended a demonstration, or who hasn't been to one in a while. Get the social concerns committee of your religious institution or your labor union political action committee involved. It might be easier than you think - your national denomination or labor union may already be a sponsor.

Participating in public demonstrations is good for you. It's fun, it's satisfying, you meet wonderful people, it improves your physical and mental health. It's a great adventure. And mounting effective public demonstrations against the war is our moral responsibility.

[Robert Naiman is Senior Policy Analyst and National Coordinator at Just Foreign Policy. Susan Chenelle is Internet Coordinator at United for Peace and Justice.]

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Mobilization on the Move - Chicago Update

Over 120 Groups and
Coalitions have joined so far

Next Planning Meeting for Endorsing Groups:
This Thursday, Sept 27, 8:30 a.m. (morning) at UNITE Hall, 333 S. Ashland.

Latest Developments:

RALLY AND MARCH TIMES:
11am-1pm: Local feeder marches
1:30 p.m.: The first rally begins in Union Park (Ashland & Lake)
3:00 p.m.: March toward the Loop
4:00 p.m.: Second rally begins in Federal Plaza (Adams & Dearborn)
6:00 p.m.: Rally ends

[Note: Out-of-town buses will drop off on Ashland, but be parked near second rally site (probably Columbus Drive) within easy walking distance, for departure.]

Program Plans (subject to additions/changes)

In addition to music, the following speakers will be invited:

Mayor Richard Daley, Senator Richard Durbin, Senator Barak Obama from Illinois. (Acknowledging that two city council resolutions and the antiwar ballot referendum in the last election put both this City and State solidly in the 'Out Now' camp, and they will be asked to speak to and represent the views of the antiwar majority.)


Other politicians to be considered at this point:

Representatives: Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Luis Gutierrez, and John Conyers.

Senators: Russ Feingold, Chuck Hagel and Richard Lugar.

Aldermen Joe Moore and Rick Munoz will be asked to represent and acknowledge the aldermen and council members from the 'Cities for Peace' who endorse and participate in the demonstration.

Finally, all presidential candidates and their campaigns, critical of the war and ready to bring it to a rapid end, are encouraged to lend their support and the participation of their activists, but without a commitment to inviting any of them to speak. We are nonpartisan and non-endorsing.

Community and Faith leaders suggested:

Rev. Leon Finney, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Cardinal George, and Imam Malik Mujahid, as well as other Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious leaders.

Iraqi journalist Raed Jarrar
Palestinian poet Gihad Ali

Labor leaders suggested:

Nurses union leader Sheila Garland, and national and local labor leaders from both Change to Win and the AFL-CIO, including Dennis Gannon of the CFL.

Peace and Justice leaders:

Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence
Zaki Baroodi of the Greens
George Martin, co-chair, United for Peace & Justice

Speakers from Iraq Vets Against the War, Military Families Speak Out (as well as acknowledgements to Vets for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War)

Further discussion needed:

Representatives from immigrant rights groups, the National Organization for Women, and students and young people

Contingents:

Labor unions, healthcare workers, disability rights organizers, faculty, lawyers and legal workers, business people, teachers--everyone is encouraged to march in their work uniform (be it a labor jacket or business suit) and to march with their group and/or carry a sign identifying them as a "Faculty for Peace and Justice," "Environmentalists for Peace" or whatever their calling may be. You are welcome to contact us to have a special place designated for your contingent.

Feeder marches are being planned from other nearby parts of Chicago. If you would like to organize or be a part of a feeder march, please contact us.

Outreach/Endorsements:

Word is getting out and support is being widely organized, even outside the network of groups that have officially endorsed. Buses or trains are coming from Iowa, Missouri, and several places in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan. In Milwaukee, the NAACP has endorsed and is sending its own buses, as have immigrant rights groups from Wisconsin. Small towns across Wisconsin are getting enough interest to get their own buses (a first for them.)

Endorsements continue to arrive. There have been very positive efforts to reach out to those concerned with community issues like police brutality, health care issues, as well as churches. New organizing materials have been printed and efforts to distribute them are under way.

Fundraising

So far we have raised about one-third of what we need. No sooner than we've raised it, we've had to spend it or earmark it for the city permit fees. We were in a pinch this week just to print out the new flyers that we'd developed over a week ago, and still need funds to print the new poster. Your contribution would be a great help in closing the gap for direct expenses of the march and generating publicity. We will have considerable expenses putting up stages, sound, and seating.

Getting the Word Out

If your group can pay for advertising in your community, we have talented people who have volunteered to generate ads for you. We also have new documents that you can take to your neighborhoods including "Why Support Peace in Iraq", a report on the war's impact on civilians; "Antiwar Iraq Vets Are Telling Us the Truth, on the war's impact on soldiers and youth, and other new flyers.

Volunteers

We need people to help get the word out: phone calling from our office, calling on your own constituents, data entry in our office, taking flyers to events, etc.

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