Not One More Year of JROTC!

Contact the Duluth school board today! All out to the 4/21 board meeting!

It's official: Duluth's JROTC program is on the agenda for next week's Duluth school board meeting. The good news is that several members have changed their minds and will vote to cut the program. The bad news is that we expect a proposal to keep JROTC for one more school year (and another $170,000), so that current JROTC juniors can graduate from the program. You see where this is going: the board could use the same excuse next year and the year after that and...

The vote could be close. We need to send a clear message to the board: not one more year of JROTC. Here's what you can do:

1. TUESDAY, April 21: we need a big turnout for the board meeting! It starts at 6:30 pm in the Old Central building downtown (Lake Ave & 2nd St). Get there early if you want to speak.
2. Contact members of the board and administration by email or phone.

Duluth School Board
Mary Cameron (At Large): mary.cameron@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 341-8893
Laura Condon (District 4): laura.condon@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 624-7045
Gary Glass (At Large): gary.glass@duluth. k12.mn.us; 525-2384
Tim Grover (District 3): tim.grover@duluth. k12.mn.us; 722-5961
Nancy Nilsen (At Large): nancy.nilsen@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 628-2125
Judy Seliga Punyko (District 2): Judy.SeligaPunyko@ duluth.k12. mn.us; 525-4688
Ann Wasson (District 1): ann.wasson@duluth. k12.mn.us; 728-1931

Assistant Superintendent
Joe Hill: joe.hill@duluth. k12.mn.us; 336-8739

JROTC talking points:

1. JROTC violates the independence of our educational system. We expect schools to encourage critical thinking, but as a marketing program of the US military, JROTC instills pro-military points of view about history, military spending and democracy. For example, JROTC textbooks suggest that citizenship means following the chain of command, even when we disagree. They instruct students that a huge military is necessary for our defense and that the Vietnam war was lost because the US military was "weak."

2. JROTC discriminates. The Pentagon reserves the right to vet JROTC instructors for sexual orientation and certain disabilities, meaning they are the only district employees not fully protected by state human rights law.

3. JROTC is dishonest about its motives. Peter Palen wrote in the Duluth News Tribune that JROTC "is not a recruiting activity." But his former boss, then-Secretary of State William Cohen, told Congress in 2000 that JROTC "is one of the best recruiting devices we could have." Congress and the Pentagon expect the Duluth schools to keep a minimum number of "physically fit" students enrolled in JROTC.

4. JROTC is not an effective use of community resources. JROTC costs the district an astounding $170,000/year while hardly attracting enough student interest to keep the military itself from axing it. 56 students are enrolled in JROTC this year, out of nearly 10,000 students in the district. In the face of a multi-million dollar deficit, keeping JROTC would mean that the district would have to make up the savings by slashing $170,000 from other - likely more popular - school programming.

For more information, contact the Truth in Recruiting committee at truthinrecruiting(at)riseup(dot)net or call Joel at 218-340-4356

Terrorism Charges Dropped Against the RNC 8

GAERTNER DROPS TERRORISM ENHANCEMENTS, CONTINUES CRIMINALIZATION OF DISSENT
April 9, 2009 Contact: Celia Kutz, press@rnc8.org, 612-886-4565

In the surest sign yet of the power of post-RNC court solidarity, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner has dropped two of four unfounded charges against the RNC 8. Caving to months and months of public pressure, Gaertner dropped one count of Conspiracy to Commit Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property in Furtherance of Terrorism.

“We are heartened by the fact that our supporters have won this concession,” said defendant Nathanael Secor. “It’s taken a tremendous show of strength and solidarity over the past seven months.”

Originally facing a single charge–Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism–Gaertner’s office added three additional charges against the eight defendants in December of last year. Now, two of those charges have been dropped, clearly demonstrating that all the charges are a matter of political maneuvering, not a reasoned look at the evidence.

On March 28, supporters delivered to Susan Gaertner’s office a stack of over 3,000 petitions urging her to drop all four charges. Among other statements, a resolution from the 17,000-member Duluth Central Labor Body in support of the RNC 8 was also delivered. National media attention, including an appearance on MSNBC on Wednesday morning, has drawn significant attention to the case at the same time as Gaertner is accelerating her campaign for Governor–having just hired full-time staffers, opened an office on University Avenue, and planned appearances at several DFL events in the next month. Additionally, the broad-based RNC 8 Defense Committee has succeeded in calling widespread attention to the Minnesota PATRIOT Act, and played an instrumental role in applying the pressure that led to this reduction of charges.

In removing the controversial MN PATRIOT Act from the debate at this moment, Susan Gaertner obviously hopes to defray the costs of this unprecedented prosecution on her campaign for Governor, and to mitigate the overwhelmingly negative public opinion of Ramsey County’s repressive behavior during and since the RNC.

“Make no mistake,” said defendant Luce Guillen-Givins, “This change to the complaint against us is a token gesture meant to placate our supporters and bolster a floundering political prosecution.”

As defendant Eryn Trimmer pointed out, “This move only focuses attention more acutely on the outrageous nature of the two remaining charges, Conspiracy to Commit Riot and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property.”

In the months leading up to the RNC, the defendants were involved in open, public organizing with a broad coalition of Twin Cities activists and community members. We continue to assert that the only “conspiracy” committed by the RNC 8 was to provide basic and necessary infrastructure for people who wished to engage in their fundamental right to dissent.

“We’re relieved and gratified that the most sensational part of the charges has been dropped,” said St. Paul peace and justice activist Betsy Raasch-Gilman, member of Friends of the RNC 8. She continued, “We hope that the conspiracy charges will also be dropped. If planning a protest can be called conspiracy, the right to free speech is in real danger.”

Friends of the RNC 8 asks Susan Gaertner to continue in the direction of justice by dropping all the remaining charges, thereby saving enormous financial resources for the people of Minnesota in this time of rampant foreclosures, unemployment and economic turmoil. We also remind supporters that while we should rightly celebrate this small victory, the time for increased action to defend the RNC 8 is now. Political organizing is not conspiracy. Dissent is not a crime.

Screening of the Anti-War Film "Madison"

Brent Notbohm, UW-Superior Associate Professor/Filmmaker, is screening his anti-war film, Madison, at the Teatro Zuccone at 222 East Superior Street in downtown Duluth this weekend (Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th). Tickets for Madison can be purchased at the door and cost $8 for adults/$6 for students and seniors.

Twin Ports Young Activist Summit

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

Sponsored by: UMD Students for Peace & the Northland Anti-War Coalition
Location: University of MN-Duluth Rafters
Cost: free

10:00 - 10:20 -- Gathering
10:20 --Welcome
10:30 -- Keynote Address by Jack Nelson-Palmeyer
11:30 -- First Round of Breakout Sessions
12:30 -- Lunch Break (Provided by Food Not Bombs)
1:15 -- Second Round of Breakout Sessions
2:30 -- Round Table Discussion for the Future of Youth Activism in the
Twin Ports

*Breakout Sessions*

Title TBA
Conducted by SPAT (Students Promoting Awareness Through Teaching)
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Title: "Effective Organizing With Diverse Populations and Marginalized Groups"
Conducted by Elizabeth Fuerst

Description: This workshop will use restorative justice facilitation
techniques to raise awareness of privilege and barriers to solidarity
in social justice work. We will discuss the individual impact of
oppression and discrimination in activist organizations and solutions
for working toward inclusivity.
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Title TBA
Conducted by Joel Kilgour
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Title: "Building a Healthy Organization: Tools for Conflict Resolution"
Conducted by Dr. Emily Gaarder

Description: This interactive session will introduce conflict
resolution and "circle" processes for use in social activist groups.
Learn some easy exercises designed to build respect and support.
Discover ways to deal with active and "hidden" conflicts that drive
people away or divide your group's membership.
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