Last week the Northland College Student Association voted to approve by a vote of 9 to 8 a proposal from NAWC that the school hold a campus referendum on the war. Since that vote, the Ashland chapter of the Northland Anti-War Coalition has met to solidify its plans for the referendum. While these plans are not set in stone, as of right now, it looks like the referendum will be held on Wednesday, May 2. The voting will take place by secret ballot at a talbe in the Ponzio Student Center from 11am to 6pm. The ballot will ask the simple question, "Do you support the current war in Iraq?"
This referendum will take place just days before the anti-war protest & peace festival, which will be taking place on Saturday, May 5. Check our activist calendar to the left for more info.
A planning meeting/potluck for the referendum will take place on Sunday, April 29 at 5pm at 1506 N. 19th St. in Superior, WI.
April 16, 2007
Hungry for Peace
Starting Monday, April 30th, and running through Friday, May 4th, UMD Students for Peace, and the CSS Amnesty International will be hosting a five day fast to raise awareness of the War in Iraq, are our country's need to end it!
We will be showing film screenings, having speakers, and various other activities. The schedule is not finalized yet, but we will have it done soon, so we'll update everyone.
Come out an check us out, even if you can't commit to fasting for the full five days, come out and pledge your support by fasting for a day, or even a meal.
We know you care about the 3,400 troops already dead, and the 500,000 Iraqis. Lets show everyone else that we want to end this useless bloodshed.
For more info email Erik Lund at lund1010@d.umn.edu
We will be showing film screenings, having speakers, and various other activities. The schedule is not finalized yet, but we will have it done soon, so we'll update everyone.
Come out an check us out, even if you can't commit to fasting for the full five days, come out and pledge your support by fasting for a day, or even a meal.
We know you care about the 3,400 troops already dead, and the 500,000 Iraqis. Lets show everyone else that we want to end this useless bloodshed.
For more info email Erik Lund at lund1010@d.umn.edu
April 12, 2007
Peace Mov't. Gains Momentum in Ashland
Last night the Northland College Student Association voted 9 to 8 to sponsor a campus referendum on the war in Iraq!
The Ashland chapter of the Northland Anti-War Coalition will be meeting this Sunday [April 15] at 2pm in the basement of the Northland College Dexter Library. We'll be discussing organizing the referendu, as well as our upcoming march and rally that'll be held in Ashland on Saturday, May 5 [as of right now, the plan is to assemble at 3pm on that day in the parking lot of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute for a march to the Band Shell - where there'll be a rally/festival].
All of this is the result of the solid organizing by activists like Reena Patel, Julia DeFranco and the rest of the Ashland NAWC crew who have spent the year organizing a series of forums, film showings, caravans to Duluth peace protests and a fall protest in Ashland. I tip my hat to you all - you rock!
But back to this Sunday's meeting - we need lots of bodies, ideas and energy to make this referendum and the May 5 rally a success. Whether you're a student or not, we could sure could use you!
If anyone from the Duluth/Superior area would like to attend, email me at antiwarmasses@yahoo.com and I'll give you a ride.
[The report above was written by Adam Ritscher.]
The Ashland chapter of the Northland Anti-War Coalition will be meeting this Sunday [April 15] at 2pm in the basement of the Northland College Dexter Library. We'll be discussing organizing the referendu, as well as our upcoming march and rally that'll be held in Ashland on Saturday, May 5 [as of right now, the plan is to assemble at 3pm on that day in the parking lot of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute for a march to the Band Shell - where there'll be a rally/festival].
All of this is the result of the solid organizing by activists like Reena Patel, Julia DeFranco and the rest of the Ashland NAWC crew who have spent the year organizing a series of forums, film showings, caravans to Duluth peace protests and a fall protest in Ashland. I tip my hat to you all - you rock!
But back to this Sunday's meeting - we need lots of bodies, ideas and energy to make this referendum and the May 5 rally a success. Whether you're a student or not, we could sure could use you!
If anyone from the Duluth/Superior area would like to attend, email me at antiwarmasses@yahoo.com and I'll give you a ride.
[The report above was written by Adam Ritscher.]
April 6, 2007
In Defense of our March 18 Rally
Recently the Transistor newsletter carried an article criticizing the Northland Anti-War Coalition for holding its most recent protest during the weekend. The article poked fun about how the Federal Building, the site of the rally, was closed, as well as how the protesters weren't sacraficing as much as Civil Rights protesters in the 1950s who were attacked by police dogs were. Below is a response written by Mike Rogge, one of the speakers at the March 18 rally.
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In response to the article about the anti-war rally on March 18th:
As the author of said article alluded to, the anti-war rally on March 18th was a way to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq. In hindsight, perhaps we should have had the text on our picket signs studded with blue topaz, the gemstone used to commemorate 4th year wedding anniversaries. I can imagine the words "no blood for oil" all the more powerful with a sparkly blue hue to it, as it blinds passers by. Gaudiness aside, it would have been incredibly relevant, as blue topaz is also the Texas state gemstone.
But then again, perhaps it is a good thing that we didn't. As it turns out, the federal building was closed that Sunday, as it is on every Sunday! All of that time creating those works of art would have been for naught, as there would have been no clerks, police officers, or judges on staff to see the fruits of our labor. Yes unfortunately, upon arrival at the federal building, the protestors only then realized that they had to wait until the next day, Monday the 19th, to pay their new found parking tickets nestled comfortably under their snow free windshield wipers. I'm certain that at the next anti-war rally, this tremendous oversight will be remedied.
The 4th anniversary of the invasion happened to be that following Tuesday, March 20th. We decided to hold the march on the preceding Sunday, because most people work during the week. The federal building was simply a symbol. We had no mandate to deliver to the clerk of court, we were simply excercizing our democratic right to assemble. I'd also like to point out that the details of these rallies are democratically decided upon by the rank and file of our organization at our monthly planning meetings (2nd Sunday [except Sunday the 8th] of every month, 2pm, at the Chester Creek Cafe). So, anybody who does have a strong sentimental attachment to any particular day of the week, could bring said sentiments to said planning meetings.
And the fact that we weren't clubbed to a bloody pulp by counter protestors certainly wasn't our fault.
-------------------------------------------------
In response to the article about the anti-war rally on March 18th:
As the author of said article alluded to, the anti-war rally on March 18th was a way to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq. In hindsight, perhaps we should have had the text on our picket signs studded with blue topaz, the gemstone used to commemorate 4th year wedding anniversaries. I can imagine the words "no blood for oil" all the more powerful with a sparkly blue hue to it, as it blinds passers by. Gaudiness aside, it would have been incredibly relevant, as blue topaz is also the Texas state gemstone.
But then again, perhaps it is a good thing that we didn't. As it turns out, the federal building was closed that Sunday, as it is on every Sunday! All of that time creating those works of art would have been for naught, as there would have been no clerks, police officers, or judges on staff to see the fruits of our labor. Yes unfortunately, upon arrival at the federal building, the protestors only then realized that they had to wait until the next day, Monday the 19th, to pay their new found parking tickets nestled comfortably under their snow free windshield wipers. I'm certain that at the next anti-war rally, this tremendous oversight will be remedied.
The 4th anniversary of the invasion happened to be that following Tuesday, March 20th. We decided to hold the march on the preceding Sunday, because most people work during the week. The federal building was simply a symbol. We had no mandate to deliver to the clerk of court, we were simply excercizing our democratic right to assemble. I'd also like to point out that the details of these rallies are democratically decided upon by the rank and file of our organization at our monthly planning meetings (2nd Sunday [except Sunday the 8th] of every month, 2pm, at the Chester Creek Cafe). So, anybody who does have a strong sentimental attachment to any particular day of the week, could bring said sentiments to said planning meetings.
And the fact that we weren't clubbed to a bloody pulp by counter protestors certainly wasn't our fault.
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