Call For International Protests on the NATO War Makers
Chicago, May 15 and 22, 2012
An alliance of Chicago area peace and justice organizations, together with the United National Antiwar Committee (UNAC), are jointly calling for a united mass mobilization to protest the NATO and G8 Summits to be held in Chicago May 15 to 22. Permit applications were submitted for:
* Tuesday, May 15 – a national assembly to put the warmakers on trial.
* Saturday, May 19 – a major international demonstration to express broad outrage at the gathering of war makers wasting trillions of dollars on war and devastation during a time of enormous economic hardship and crisis for millions.
Several Chicago area groups have co-sponsored this call. The initial list is below. To add your group to the list of endorsers, emailUNACpeace@gmail.com.
NATO is the US-commanded and financed 28-nation military alliance. There will also be a summit of the G-8 world powers. The meetings are expected to draw heads of state, generals, and countless others.
At a day-long meeting in New York City on Saturday, June 18, the United National Antiwar Committee’s national coordinating committee of 69 participants, representing 47 organizations, unanimously passed a resolution to call for action at the NATO meeting.
UNAC will mount a massive united outpouring in Chicago during the NATO gathering to put forth demands opposing endless wars and calling for billions spent on war and destruction be spent instead on people’s needs for jobs, health care, housing and education.
Initial List of Chicago Area Endorsers
Hatem Abudayyeh, *US Palestinian Community Network, Chicago
Bill Chambers, Committee Against Political Repression
Sarah Chambers, Executive Board Member, Chicago Teachers Union
Mark Clements, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Vince Emmanuelle, *Iraq Veterans Against the War
Randy Evans, Global Reach, Inc.
Chris Geovanis, Hammerhard Media Works
Pat Hunt, Chicago Area Code Pink, Chicago Area Peace Action
Joe Iosbaker, Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Dennis Kosuth, *National Nurses United, union steward
Kait McIntyre, Students for a Democratic Society, University of Illinois – Chicago
Jorge Mujica, March 10th Immigrant Rights Activist
Eric Ruder, *Chicago Network to Send US Boat to Gaza
Newland Smith, Episcopalian Peace Fellowship
Sarah Smith, Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Students for Justice in Palestine at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, *Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign
Andy Thayer, Gay Liberation Network and Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism
*for identification purposes only
RESOLUTION TO CHALLENGE THE NATO WAR MAKERS
Whereas, the U.S. is the major and pre-eminent military, economic and political power behind NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and
Whereas, the U.S. will be hosting a major NATO gathering in the spring of 2012, and
Whereas, U.S. and NATO-allied forces are actively engaged in the monstrous wars, occupations and military attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, the Middle East and elsewhere,
Be it resolved that:
1) UNAC, in conjunction with a broad range of groups and organizations that share general agreement with the major demands adopted at our 2010 Albany, NY national conference, initiate a mass demonstration at the site of the NATO gathering, and
2) UNAC welcomes and encourages the participation of all groups interested in mobilizing against war and for social justice in planning a broad range of other NATO meeting protests including teach-ins, alternative conferences and activities organized on the basis of direct action/civil resistance, and
3) UNAC will seek to make the NATO conference the occasion for internationally coordinated protests, and
4) UNAC will convene a meeting of all of the above forces to discuss and prepare initial plans to begin work on this spring action.
Passed unanimously by the National Coordinating Committee of UNAC on June 18, 2011
The following groups were at the UNAC meeting that endorsed this resolution:
Action for a Progressive Pakistan
Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition – NY
Bayan-USA
Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace
Bail Out the People Movement
Black Agenda Report
Black is Back
Boston Stop the Wars
Code Pink
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
Ct. United for Peace
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Green Party
Haiti Liberte’
Hampshire Students for Justice in Palestine
Honduras Resistencia – USA
International Action Center
International Support Haiti Network
International League of People’s Struggle
International Socialist Organization
Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan NY
Jersey City Peace Movement
May 1st Workers and Immigrant Rights Coalition
Mobilization Against War and Occupation – Canada
Metro West Peace Action
Middle East Crisis Committee
Muslim Peace Coalition
New England United
Nodutdol Korean Community Development
Pakistan Solidarity Network
Philly Against War
Project Salam
Rhode Island Mobilization Committee
Rochester Against War
SI – Solidarity with Iran
Socialist Action
Socialist Party USA
Thomas Merton Center Pittsburgh
United for Justice and Peace
Veterans for Peace
Voices for Creative Nonviolence
West Hartford Citizens for Peace
WESPAC
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Workers World
World Can’t Wait
For more information: Joe Lombardo, 518-281-1968, UNACpeace@gmail.com
Joe Iosbaker, 773-301-0109, joeiosbaker@gmail.com
