Not Your Soldier & National Stand Down Day
November 17 & 18, 2005
Take Action: No Militarization of Youth!
On the national “Not Your Soldier” Day of Action, November 17th, students will stand up to resist the presence of military recruiters on school campuses.
In solidarity, on November 18th, adults will unite with youth and declare a “National Stand Down Day” to protest at local recruiting stations. Join CODEPINK by organizing a contingent during these powerful days of counter-recruitment action
National Stand Down Day – Nov. 18, 2005
End The Iraq War – Demonstrations and Nonviolent Resistance at Recruiting Stations Across the Country
Young Americans sign on to go into harm’s way to defend their country if necessary, but instead they are being turned into harm’s ministers in a war that has claimed more then 100,000 Iraqi lives and nearly 2,000 Americans. The President and Congress have breached a sacred trust with our soldiers and abused their oath to defend the Constitution by leading young Americans to kill and die in a war based on lies.
As the Bush Administration refuses to make plans to bring our troops home, join us for “National Stand Down Day,” as we halt the machinery that takes young Americans off to this illegal and endless war in Iraq.
We welcome, and will provide coordination and support as possible, for all manner of protests and demonstrations at recruiting centers. We want to especially encourage and assist nonviolent resistance actions, such as civil resistance or civil disobedience. As we recognize and support soldiers who take great risks to refuse fighting in this unjust war, so it is our moral responsibility to share that risk to the extent that we can, by preventing even more young Americans from being placed in such jeopardy – particularly in light of the lies and abusive practices being used in the recruiting process.
Our violation of these unjust practices is undertaken in a spirit of nonviolence and love, with compassion and respect for all we encounter. But our nonviolence will not be mistaken for lack of resolve: we cannot stand by while our schools and communities are militarized by the “No Child Left Behind Act,” or as potential recruits are deceived by clauses that allow the armed forces to disregard the terms of their contract.
This call is also made in support of the “National `Not Your Soldier’ Youth and Student Day of Action” call for a youth and student led counter-recruitment day of action on Thursday, November 17. We encourage everyone who will participate in National Stand Down Day on November 18 to support the efforts of local students as well – you can find out more by going to www.nyspc.net/home.php
Please join us as we say NO to the war in Iraq, and NO to the recruitment of our fellow Americans into this war.
If your organization is interested in joining this nationally coordinated day of nonviolent action to end the war, please contact us.
National Stand Down Day is a project of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance’s National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance.
Endorsers (list in formation):
National Student and Youth Peace Coalition
United for Peace and Justice
War Resister’s League
Code Pink Women for Peace
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Progressive Democrats of America
Peace Action
Student Peace Action Network
Iraq Pledge of Resistance
Democracy Rising
Peace Majority Report
The Catholic Peace Fellowship, New Jersey
Raging Grannies of the Peninsula
N.C. Peace Action
(photo taken 9/25, Washington DC – Camp Casey)
[editor’s note, by Damnit Janet]
Thanks for the alert, DJ.
The National Guard is due to visit our high school on the 11th (I think) with a Hummer to convince the kids it’s just a hunky dory thing to do after you graduate and before you start your real life. This is in addition to the 2 or 3 times a month the Army or Marine recruiters mill about in the lunchroom, challenging skinny high schoolers to do as many push-ups as they can or otherwise prove their manhood and readiness for a military career.
Demand EQUAL time!!!!!
Ask that CodePink or Veteran’s For Peace have equal time!!!!!
most excellent suggestion DJ. Absolutely demand equal time… and if they don’t give it then start a media writing campaign.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/3/123338/987
Recommended there as here….great info DJ
Here’s what my son is doing: he is trying to get permission to print an opt-out form in the school newspaper (he’s the editor)that comes out shortly before the Hummer visit, and then set up a table in the cafeteria to collect the signed forms on the same day the recruiters visit.
We’ll see if they give him permission.
fantastic!!!! Double whoots and maple bars for him 🙂
Fun suggestions to PINK up your actions and events on November 17th
http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=549
CODEPINK calls on young women to form women’s contingents of the National Day of Action. Organize the young women on your campus and community to emphasize a women’s perspective on the war and military recruitment. This is your chance to resist militarism in your schools through your own voice and style. As always, we encourage you to come up with your own ideas for actions and events. Don’t forget to register your group at http://www.nyspc.net and to e-mail Jen at jpink@globalexchange.org so that others can join in on your action. Please also check out our Counter-Recruitment 101 Guide for some background information on counter-recruitment.
Here are a few suggestions for PINK actions and events for Not Your Soldier Day (more updates soon):
CodePINK Alert”
The term “code pink” was originally used in medical facilities to alert staff when a baby or child was abducted. As CODEPINK : Women for Peace, the term “code pink alert” has embraced a whole new meaning to end war. Have a CODEPINK Alert on your campus, poking fun at the way military recruiters are trying to “steal” teens to enlist for war. Lock down your school doors and caution tape a central area of campus called a “Military-Free Zone”.
PINK Peace Zone
Set up a PINK Booth at an “Alternatives to the Military” Fair
* Work with other student groups to organize an “Alternatives to the Military” Job and College Fair. Set up a CODEPINK Booth that focuses on alternatives for women in the military
Construct a Wall of Pink Peace
Give em’ a Pink Slip!
* On November 17th, deliver a pink slip to military recruiters on campus or at the nearest recruiting station. Fire them on the counts that they violate their code of conduct by lying to enlistees. Let them know that they are not needed on your campus.
Banner Drop
* Pink Slip banner drop- Get some butcher paper and cut out a large pink slip to hang up at the entrance of your school or in the place military recruiters often post. Write on the slips, “Military Recruiters Out of Our Schools” or “Military Recruiters, You’re fired”
All links can be used via CodePink’s site.
http://www.codepinkalert.org/article.php?id=549
and anyone else who might be interested…
i thought it would be a good thing to have a blog dedicated solely to issues on which our congresscritters need immediate prodding and events like this, so i made one. the intent was to share it and let people post whatever they want there.
maybe i’m defective, but my brain much prefers such things neatly collected in one place and action items often get lost in the jumble of other postings.
so if anybody would like to post action alerts, just give me a shout via email or aim for the login info.
Awesome post, Janet! Best of luck!
Thanks DJ. Printing this off and taking it to my peace group.
Great action Post DJ. Wish there was more I could do. These things are always held when I am working :(!
Hmmmm let me thinkeee… maybe you could encourage and support some students to become involved. Nudge them into activism.
And wear pink on those days 🙂 When I get settled up in Oregon, I’ll see about getting my mitts on a t-shirt for YOU 🙂
Will do girlfriend. Good points. WOuld love a shirt.
Thank for the info! I bookmarked Code Pink and the local chapter. I discovered that they regularly protest the recruitment station, which happens to be just a few short blocks from my work. I can see my daughter and I will have something to do after work and school on Wednesdays!
CodePink does wonderful things. I can’t help but smile when I think of them.
One can’t help but fall in love with those crazy ladies 🙂 They tug you in.
They do amazing work ALL the time. The founders were nominated for the Nobel Peace prize … and then our country calls them… subversive combatants. 🙁
They also, among other things, protect our libraries.
I love CodePink! (but not as much as I love you guys)