Fundraiser for Loaves & Fishes May 7/8

Faces of the Displaced in Colombia

by Witness for Peace--Upper Midwest

A Witness for Peace delegation, "Living with Hope in the Context of Violence," traveled to Colombia in February. We will share what we learned about the impact of the internal conflict on the people. We met with rural people - campesinos, indigenous people and Afro-Colombians - civic leaders and human rights defenders, who told us of their nonviolent resistance to displacement and their efforts to build sustainable communities. They also asked us to be in solidarity with them and to advocate for US economic and military policies that are just and peaceful. Come hear their testimony and join us in actions on their behalf.

1. Sunday, April 25th, 9:30 - 10:30 am, Adult Forum, Peace Church (1111 N 11th Ave E)
2. Thursday, April 29th, noon - 1 pm, UMD, Kirby Student Center, #268.

Minnesota Peace Project CD8 organizing meeting

by Minnesota Peace Project-CD8

Would you like to influence US foreign policy for the better? Are you ready to see your member of Congress listen to the anti-war majority for a change?

The Minnesota Peace Project (MPP) is a statewide network of citizen activists in every Congressional District who are trying to influence US policy through our Congressional Representatives. In its short life, the MPP has had remarkable success at building relationships with the Minnesota delegation to Congress. Among other victories, the MPP has convinced both Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to co-author a bill to ban cluster munitions -- a ban that is opposed by the Obama Administration.

MPP will be holding a District 8 organizing meeting in Duluth on Wednesday, April 28 from 6-8pm in the basement meeting room of the Chester Creek Cafe. MPP co-organizer Mary Hinz will be on hand to speak about the project and its history, and then we will discuss ways to organize an MPP team here in Representative Oberstar's district. The meeting is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the MPP or is interested in volunteering with peace lobbying efforts in District 8.

Report on the Tax Day Anti-War Protest

by Adam Ritscher

"Bring our war dollars home!" was the message of more than 120 people who participated in the Northland Anti-War Coalition's April 15 Tax Day protest. The event was held to highlight the fact that hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax dollars are being wasted every year on the unjust wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. At the same time this is going on federal, state and local governments are being forced to cut social programs due to budget shortfalls. The NAWC protest called for our tax dollars to be spent on human needs, rather than war.

The protesters who attended represented a broad swath of people - young and old, Black and white, white collar and blue collar workers. And in addition to the Northland Anti-War Coalition, a number of other local groups endorsed the protest and participated in it, including the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body.

The event began at 4:30pm with a rally at the MN Power Plaza. There were three powerful speakers at the rally - former Wisconsin State Assemblyman Frank Boyle, community activist Brandon Clokey, and FBI whistle blower Coleen Rowley. Singer and song writer Rachael Kilgour shared several songs, and student activists Margaret Nelson and Steve Wick were the co-chairs.


After the rally, the protesters set off on a long march through downtown over to the Bayfront Park - where a Tea Party rally was being held at the same time. Protesters held a 50 foot banner that illustrated the portion of tax dollars that goes to the military, and handed out fliers to the folks attending the Tea Party event. From the Bayfront Park the march continued on through Canal Park, and then back to the MN Power Plaza.

Other coverage of the rally:

• Dueling Duluth rallies target taxes -- Duluth News-Tribune
• Anti-war rally protests war spending on tax day -- Fox21
• War Protesters: Bring the money home! -- DNT and MichaelMoore.com
• Report on the Tax Day Anti-War Protest -- Perfect Duluth Day
• A common call from a divided nation: we can't afford war -- DNT

Also, following the protest, at 7:30pm, Coleen Rowley gave a presentation up at the University of MN-Duluth about her role as a whistle blower in the FBI who spoke out against torture and the invasion of Iraq. Thirty five people attended this event.

This Tax Day protest was the culmination of a Spring campaign by the Northland Anti-War Coalition to speak out against military spending. Each Wednesday at noon, for the past several weeks, vigils were held in front Congressman Oberstar and Senator Franken's offices, and activists delivered letters and petitions from local activists and organizations on the issue.

Thanks to everyone who participated in these events for helping to keep the issue of the war front and center. Special thanks to all of our speakers, co-chairs and to Rachael. Also, special thanks to Josie Johnson for leading the chants during the march, to Bob Kosuth for leading the collection, to Mike Solon for the sound system, and to Joel Kilgour and Adeline Wright for making the 50 foot banner (and for the 101 other things that Joel did for the protest!). We have a lot of wondering people in this area who have done a lot to keep the local anti-war movement alive and kicking! But the struggle continues, so I hope to see you all at the next NAWC planning meeting, which will be on Sunday, May 9 at 2pm at the Duluth Unitarian-Universalist Congregation. I hope to see you there!

April NAWC Meeting Notes

Attendance: Steve W., Joel K., Andy A., Ron M., Carl S., Margie N., Scott B., Josie J., Adam R., Bob K., Kathy A., Ellie C.

1. Free Democracy Summit: Carl reported on the Free Democracy Summit, which will be a week long series of events taking place on the last week of April, culminating in a picnic/rally on May 1st at 4:30pm at the Central Hillside Community Center in Duluth. NAWC will have a speaker at this event (Carl) and a table. Email Carl at northlandiguana@gmail.com for more info about the Summit.

2. DFL Convention: Joel reported that the Minnesota Democrats are meeting in Duluth on April 24. To take advantage of this situation there is going to be a healthcare for all rally on April 23 starting at 5:30pm at the MN Power Plaza, and on April 24 there is going to be a noon time press conference calling for a repeal of the Patriot Act. Email Joel at jrkilgour@yahoo.com for more info on these events.

3. March 19 Report: Adam reported that to mark the 7th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq NAWC held three pickets in different neighborhoods of Duluth. The morning picket in West Duluth drew 10 people, the noon time picket by the Coppertop Church drew 10 folks, and the evening picket downtown drew 40. Two TV stations covered our events. We also ran an ad in the Hillsider newspaper before hand.

4. Wednesday Vigils: Joel reported that NAWC has been holding weekly noon time vigils in front of Congressman Oberstar's and Sentator Franken's offices, and delivering letters from local groups and petitions calling on them to vote against the war supplementals. Attendance has been between 6-15 people. The Duluth Central Labor Body has endorsed this project.

5. Tax Day Protest: Joel reported that on Thursday, April 15 NAWC will be holding a protest against war spending starting at 4:30pm at the MN Power Plaza. At the plaza we'll have three speakers - Brandon Clokey, Patrick Doyle and Colleen Rowley. After the speakers we'll be carrying a 50 foot banner down Superior St. to the Bayfront Park, where the Tea Party will be holding a rally. From there we'll march through Canal Park, and then back to the MN Power Plaza. We plan on having drummers, chants, music and leaflets, petitions and collection cans to distribute. The Duluth Central Labor Body has endorsed the protest. That same evening, Colleen Rowley will be giving a presentation titled "Patriotism, Democracy & Common Sense" at 7:30pm at UMD in Room 120 of the Solon Campus Center.

6. Nuclear Disarmament: Kathy reported on the recent news regarding reducing the nation's nuclear weapons stockpiles. She proposed making nuclear weapon abolition a major, ongoing project of NAWC. A committee will be formed to work on this. Contact Kathy at (218) 724-1891 if you are interested.

7. UMD Report: Steve reported that Students for Peace is going to be holding its second annual Young Activist Summit on April 24 in the Garden Room on campus. It will run from 10am to 4pm. The keynote speakers will be from the RNC 8 and will be speaking from 10:30-11:30am. Activist workshops will be held at 10am and at 1:30pm. Students for Peace will also be holding a day long "Expressions of Peace" art exhibit on May 1 from 10am to 4pm at the Lincoln Park facilities of the Duluth Art Institute. Contact Steve for more info about either event at wickx079@d.umn.edu.

8. Strategy/Future Campaigns for NAWC: It was decided to postpone this discussion until a later date.

Announcements:

-The National Assembly is putting together a United National Antiwar Conference in Albany, NY on July 23-24. The website for it is www.nationalpeaceconference.org. NAWC will be sending a delegation. Mark you calendars, and email Adam at wainosunrise@yahoo.com if you are interested in attending.

-The Vagina Monologues will be hosted at UMD in Bohannon 90 on April 16th & 17th at 7pm. $5 for students, $8 for non-students.

-The Duluth City Council will be voting on Monday at 7pm on whether to support a project to get the state of Minnesota to put together a single payer health care system.

-The National Peace Project will be coming to Duluth to recruit local folks to help with their efforts during the last week of April. Email Joel for more info at jrkilgour@yahoo.com

-Jesus Sepulveda, the author of a "transforming" book/essay, The Garden
of Peculiarities, will be at the College of St. Scholastica on April
11-12. Jesus Sepulveda is a Chilean poet, philosopher, and anarchist,
currently a professor at the University of Oregon in Eugene. Email Margie at mnelson4@css.edu for more info.

*meeting notes taken by Adam R.

Labor says Bring Our War Dollars Home

Knowing that out-of-control military spending bankrupts our communities and kills jobs, delegates to the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body voted unanimously yesterday to endorse NAWC's tax day march and rally.

DCLB president Dan O'Neill and delegates from across the trades will be marching with us on Thursday. Will you?

BRING OUR WAR DOLLARS HOME
Thursday, April 15, 4:30pm
Gather at the MN Power Plaza
(Lake Ave & Superior St, Duluth)
Featuring FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley; Duluth Fathering Project's Brandon Clokey; singer-songwriter Rachael Kilgour and former WI State Assemblyman Frank Boyle

Join us and help NAWC and the DCLB bring a strong, progressive message to Congress and our neighbors on tax day:

YES to jobs, YES to education, YES to health care, NO to war.

Franken needs to hear from you!

Yesterday, 50 "Minnesotans for Peace" visited the St Paul offices of Senator Al Franken to ask him to vote NO on the new war supplemental. Franken's staff were courteous, and Franken himself called to speak with the activists. But his answer was disheartening: he supports the escalation of war in Afghanistan and Pakistan and plans to vote YES on the supplemental.

In the end, 6 people were arrested for peacefully refusing to leave his office, including Vicki Andrews of Grand Rapids.



"The common people," reflects Coleen Rowley after the meeting, "seem to be the only ones who remember Vietnam and know the awful truth of being in an 'unwinnable' quagmire."

But we don't have to give up. With a little people power, we can get our representatives on the right track and defeat this war bill. In the coming week, please take a moment to call the offices of your representative and senators. Be polite, and ask the person answering the phone to send a message to their boss to vote NO on the $33 billion war supplemental. Remind them:

--- $708 billion of our tax dollars are already going to the Pentagon in 2011. This is more than enough to keep our nation safe;

--- On the campaign trail, Obama pledged to end the practice of "back-door" war funding. After Congress passed his 2009 back-door war funding package, Obama swore it would be his last. Congress should hold him to it;

--- Our communities and families are suffering the effects of budget cuts and joblessness. We need this money at home, not buried in endless wars.

MINNESOTA
Representative James Oberstar (CD8)
(218) 727-7474

Senator Al Franken
(218) 722-2390

Senator Amy Klobuchar
202-224-3244

WISCONSIN
Representative Dave Obey (CD7)
(715) 398-4426

Senator Herb Kohl
202-224-5653

Senator Russ Feingold
202-224-5323

TIME Person of the Year headlines tax day rally

NAWC is honored to host FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley as the keynote speaker for our April 15 rally in Duluth.

Coleen Rowley worked with the FBI for more than two decades, assuming the position of Chief Division Counsel for the Minneapolis Division in 1990. In 2002, she blew the whistle on pre-9/11 intelligence lapses, sparking a 2-year Department of Justice investigation of the agency and propelling Rowley to the cover of TIME magazine. You might also remember her as the agent who rankled the Bush Administration in 2003 by repeatedly warning of the dangers of invading Iraq.

Rowley retired from the FBI in 2004, but continues to speak out for transparent and ethical government. On April 15, you'll have two chances to hear her in Duluth. She'll be the keynote speaker at our Bring our War Dollars Home rally, starting at 4:30 pm at the Minnesota Power Plaza in downtown Duluth. Later that evening, she'll give a more in-depth talk on Patriotism, Democracy, and Common Sense: Restoring America's Promise at Home and Abroad at 7:30 pm in room 120 of the UMD Solon Campus Center ("the Wedge"). The talk is sponsored by NAWC, UMD Students for Peace and the UMD Department of Sociology and Anthropology.