On Wednesday May 9th, nine New Hampshire residents committed civil disobedience at Senator John Sununu’s Manchester office in protest of the Senator’s continued support for the war in Iraq. About 30 other antiwar protesters from Seacoast Peace Response and other organizations throughout the state demonstrated outside in support. Read More & Photos | NH Making Waves Radio

REPORT on COUNTER RECRUITMENT ACTIONS and ARRESTS -- I wasn't able to make the actual action, but joined in later in solidarity at the jail to hear first hand accounts and monitor the legal situation. Spencer Crowl and Sylvia Benini were arrested yesterday in conjunction with a small, but impactful antiwar protest on campus. Following a lunchtime rally on the east mall, demonstrators marched to the Dobie to engage the army recruiters in dialogue. The Dobie is deemed "private property" despite the recruiting stations housed there being funded publically. The Army station was locked down upon arrival, with APD ordering protestors outside of the mall. Not content that their first amendment rights were being honored, that they couldn't adequately challenge the recruiters message, Crowl returned to ask why he wasn't allowed to engage the system in which he has no choice but to financially support. He was promptly arrested and following, Benini entered the building (after donning a pink apron in reference to CodePink who is well known to law enforcement as unafraid to seek justice via such risk) in an attempt to deliver a pamphlet; only to be arrested as well. The Austin People's Legal Collective provided legal support and maintained vigil out front of the jail, while activists came and went, a few lingering into the wee hours. Crowl was released at approximately 11:15 pm, but sheriff's held up Benini's final paperwork, despite having been processed at the same rate as Crowl, and was not released until 3:25 am.

The same hour the revised war supplemental was passed by the senate a dramatic action took place in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building yesterday.

Following a brief rally in front of the Portland World Trade Center, where Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith has his offices, six of his constituency were stopped by building security at the foot of the escalator and arrested for trespassing. Their only "crime" was wishing to speak to their elected Senator, or one of his aides concerning the Iraq War. This is the ninth time since the first of the year that Oregon citizens have been denied access to their elected official, and there have been numerous arrests over this time period.

The group, Defund the War have made a commitment to pressure Sen. Smith to stand behind the speech he made early in this year, condemning the war and withdrawing his support for it. Quoting Sen, Smith, "I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day."

Should the fact of private ownership trump a citizens right of access to their elected officials? As Peter points out in the video, it is against the law to pass any law denying a citizen this access.

[ Posted to Google at: ]  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7343996950553706849

homepage:  http://www.PhilosopherSeed.org
 http://www.defundthewar.com

Over the weekend, I received an email from a colleague that advertised of a rally at Senator Gordon Smith's offices in several cities around Oregon on Tuesday. The topic was the War in Iraq. Interested in the topic and needing to get my political photography fill for the week, I decided to attend the one in Portland.

Upon arriving I saw a calm crowd of about twenty or so people. Many were older than I -- mostly in their 40's, 50's, and 60's -- maybe older. According to one gentleman, the majority of the faces I was seeing were those of parents and grandparents of soldiers fighting in Iraq.

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6 Peacemakers Arrested - Videos from the Protest

Smiths Office On Private Property has 6 arrested for requesting "NO WAR FUNDING". 6 Brave Peacemakers are joined by 60 people outside Smith Office. After a few speeches they are peacefully arrested for trying to access Smiths Office on the 11th floor of the WTO building. They were walked un-cuffed to the Justice CXenter and booked.

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About 6 brave people were arrested at Gordon Smith's office today. My son called me from the Persian Gulf yesterday. He urged me to keep the pressure on our elected officials to stop the occupation of Iraq now! Despite what the right-wing pundits say, we are the majority. Call, write or fax your represenative and bring all the armed forces home now. Here is a brief speech by one of the people arrested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmoNk4KLtas

"On Thursday of last week, Oregon's 2nd district had its biggest collective victory to date! It took place in Medford, but it was the result of months and years of building our peace and justice infrastructure in every corner of the district through local groups in small towns from Madras to Jacksonville and Mosier to Ione."--Amy Dudley, Rural Organizing Project (ROP)

"We were astonished to learn that we would soon be meeting with Walden himself using teleconferencing equipment that had just recently been installed."--Allen Hallmark, Citizens For Peace & Justice (CP&J)

As most of you know, a group of us went to the offices of Oregon District 2's notoriously absent congressman, Greg Walden, yesterday (April 5, 2007) expecting to meet with his staff to negotiate a date & time for a teleconference with Walden, instead we got Walden himself via Internet teleconferencing equipment for a little more than one hour.

Our group included Mary (our fearless leader), Arlene, Linda, Jill, Marilyn, Mori, Bronson, Lynn, Wes and Allen.

Bottom line: We did get Walden to commit to holding a town hall meeting in our area during the August recess of Congress and that he will try to give us at least one week’s, possibly two-weeks’ notice of the scheduling of the town hall. But no firm date was set and none is likely to be set until late July at the earliest.

All of the individuals arrested were demanding that the Senator follow the wishes of the people of Minnesota. A clear majority no longer support the war or occupation of Iraq, as Senator Coleman continues to support the Bush administration's 'surge'.

Charges of criminal trespass against Tom Palumbo, arrested while attempting to deliver a petition of signatures against funding for the troop "surge" to Representative Thelma Drake's Virginia Beach office on February 22nd, are dropped after the plaintiff fails to appear in court. Following the dismissal, Palumbo and his supporters respond with successful, second attempt to deliver signatures with media in attendance.

--Medford, Oregon / 3/30/07

Here are some photo's I took today along with a brief report of events outside the office of Congressman Greg Walden, R-OR, in Medford on Friday afternoon. Other Rogue IMC volunteers contributed including "comments" to this story which have some good photos... Check out video clips, too.

A group of about 30 people from several different peace & progressive groups protested the Iraq occupation and sent a delegation of about 15 women into Walden's office to request a meeting with the congressman. The women came out about 30 minutes later and reported that Walden's staff had not yet been able to arrange a conference call with Walden for the group, but invited them to return at 11 am next Thursday, April 5, at which time they expect to be able to schedule a conference call with the congressman.--Allen Hallmark

On March 29, 2007, at noon, Peace advocates occupied the Hart Senate Office Building, in Washington, DC. Their purpose was to protest the Democratic Supplemental Bill that will prolong the Iraqi War for another year, "costing thousands of additional lives." Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ttLP25VsSM

Three Anti-War Visitors Arrested in Gordon Smith Eugene Office
three protesters, identified as Carol Melia, Karla Cohen, and Michael Wiliams, were arrested in Smith's office for quietly sounding a pitch pipe and clicking two sticks, known as "clives, every four minutes to mark another death in Iraq.

In Eugene, Smith's office is on public property. There is no "trespass" in Oregon on any public property including federal property, basically, unless you are committing another crime, or the whole of the public is barred for established reason (such as a closed court proceeding). The three were taken from the building about 2:30 PM, about two and half hours before the building closes to the public. They were cited on highly suspect charge of "failing to comply with lawfull direction." Whatever statute this charge is based on, it probably doesn't pass Oregon constitution's protects for free speech. [read more]

Meeting with Senator Smith, No Assurance on ending War
After 2 weeks of calls and faxes I was allowed a short meeting in the office of Senator Smith. They could give me no solid deails on his future plans to end or defund the war. If you want details sooner call and get your own meeting (503) 326-3386 Senator Smith in Portland, Oregon - Print the petition attached. [read more]

Constituents of Smith receive much more respect from police than they do from the Senator
Marci Dennison (Director of Pacific Rainforest Wildlife) and Alexandra Ryan (Social Worker) were arrested yesterday [March 29] when they were not able to get assurance from Senator Smith that he will stop funding that continues the Iraq war. Alexandra described her experience; "Yesterday was my first experience with taking that kind of stand against the war and I am so glad I did it! I found it empowering to be able to take more direct action and feel like I have some sort of voice, which I felt has been lost during this administration. Yesterday I was able to reclaim my voice and make my stand and see that one person can stand up. It matters and I believe is not a fruitless labor, but makes an impact.

WHY: Whereas Senator Smith said, "I, for one, am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day. That is absurd. It may even be criminal (he now prefers "nuts"). I cannot support that anymore", we are asking Senator Gordon Smith to agree to defund the Iraq war. We are simply asking him to walk his talk.

PLEASE HELP US. ON APRIL THE 10TH AT 12 NOON, CIVIL RESISTERS AND SUPPORTERS WILL BE AT SEN. SMITHS OFFICE TO ASK THAT HE DEFUND THE IRAQ WAR. HIS OFFICE IS AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER. 121 SW Salmon Street, Suite 1250

www.defundthewar

We arrived at the Broadway recruitment office at 11:00 this morning and Bonnie Tinker was already in her rocker by the front door. People of all ages stood on the sidewalk holding various signs demanding an end to the war and an end to funding the death it brings. Kay introduced herself and told me that she was holding the very same sign she held protesting the war in Viet Nam over 30 years ago. "War is not healthy for children or other living things." Colonel Ann Wright spoke and gave us all courage with her strong support. She then sat down in Bonnie's rocker, and while she was resting, the recruiter, who was trapped inside put his arm band up to the window behind her in some sort of macho display of his manhood, pointing to his "rank" insignia. A few of us demanded that he salute his superior officer, but the Colonel soon put a stop to all the fuss, saying to let him be.

The Surge Protection Brigade will close down the recruitment center at NE Broadway in Portland for the ninth time on Friday, March 30th at 11:00 a.m. The Brigade will be joined by Col. Ann Wright (ret.), a 29 year Army veteran and diplomat who resigned in opposition to the invasion of Iraq, and local members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. On Friday Col. Ann Wright (ret.) and local members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will be joining the Surge Protection Brigade in shutting down the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in NE Portland. This will be the ninth time the SPB will shut down the Recruiting Center, and prevent more young people from being lied to by the military.

Col. Wright explains why she will be joining the action on Friday, "Portland's Surge Protection Brigade represents tens of thousands of critical grassroots organizations all over the country that want the war ended now! Members of Congress tell us everyday that they could not have gotten timetables for withdrawal into their bills without the people of America telling them what we want. But now we have to tell them that 18 more months of war is too much! 1800 Americans will die in the next 18 months and 54,000 Iraqis. We must keep the pressure on to stop the war now, not 18 months, not 12 months from now, but now!!!"

If you are finally ready to stand up against this war, and seeing our brothers and sisters snatched up by the insatiable war machine, come to the Recruiting Center on Friday at 11:00am!!

Related: 3/23 - Three Grannies and a Gramps Arrested at Recruiting Office

CONTINUING A LONG TRADITION - GREG WALDEN SUPPORTS THE MILITAIRY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX WHILE IGNORING THE WISHES OF HIS CONSTITUENTS

Many fleas are jumping off the ship, but Oregon District 2's Greg Walden continues to stand with the listing shrubboat.

Below you will find the excuse that Walden sends to his voters in Oregon. It is as if Carl Rove wrote it for him. Take a look and judge for yourself...

SACRAMENTO - Five veterans - among seven people arrested at the office of Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) Thursday as they read the names of those killed in Iraq - said today they will fight those charges, and intend to subpoena the democrat as a witness in their trial.

Four members of the surge Protection Brigade were arrested while closing down the NE POrtland Army recruiting Center on Friday, March 23rd. It is the eighth time the group has closed the office. A total of ten people - and seven rocking chairs - have been arrested. Today the rocking chisrs were just cited and released.

This action is in opposition to continued funding for a war of occupation that is destroying the people and country of Iraq, tearing apart families of dead and injured U.S. soldiers and draining scarce financial resources from domestic programs. Sara Graham, one of the grandmothers arrested at the recruiting center on February 2nd, was back again on Friday. She says, "Congress is betraying us, our children and our grandchildren. We're here because we want no more funds for the war, no more troops for the war, no more war."

The group is taking direct action at this recruiting office because we are frustrated that our elected officials have not heard the people's voice that we want this war to end now. "We are appealing directly to young people - potential new recruits - please do not offer your life for this cause," says Bonnie Tinker, a spokesperson for the group. Read More>>

Six women (Code Pink & Rural Organizing Project) were arrested last night for trespassing in Rep. Greg Walden's office in Bend.

They took with them testimony from a Feb. Town Hall meeting on the "Cost of the War", showing that Walden's constituents are done with this war. Their "People's Resolution" calls for: troop withdrawal, no further $$ for the war, no expansion into Iran and coordination around the state to ensure the Or. Congressional Delegation acts in accordance with the Resolution.

Fran Davis of Crooked River Ranch, grandmother of a soldier serving his 3rd tour in Iraq says her grandson comments, "We are throwing money into a pit."

Are you pissed off enough yet to take it to the next level?? The Surge Protection Brigade / Seriously Pissed Off Grannies will return to the recruiting center on NE Broadway and 13th tomorrow, Friday March 23rd at 10:00 am.

We continue to protest the recruitment of our young men and women by the insatiable war machine. At this event, there will be opportunity for civil resistance. There is also need for support in the form of protesters and witnesses. Bring signs, or use ours. Bring rocking chairs! (however, know that they may be confiscated for "evidence").

Peace Action Staten Island and friends (including Movement for a Democratic Society and World Can't Wait) are inside the office of Congressman Vito Fossella.