We’re happy to repost right here this well timed name that our board member Rick Sterling first printed at Antiwar.com
We urgently must spark a mass mobilization antiwar motion in North America. There have been good antiwar demonstrations in latest months, however they’ve been very restricted. We have to quickly increase tenfold.
The Feb. 19 Rage Towards the Conflict Machine initiative, which is organized by a various group of antiwar forces, might do exactly that. The calls for and total speaker listing are excellent.
For instance Demand 1 is “Not another penny for Conflict in Ukraine.” They clarify “The Democrats and Republicans have armed Ukraine with tens of billions of {dollars} in weapons and army assist. The conflict has killed tens of hundreds, displaced hundreds of thousands, and is pushing us towards nuclear WW3. Cease funding the conflict.”
Demand 2 is “Negotiate Peace.” They clarify, “The US instigated the conflict in Ukraine with a coup on its democratically-elected authorities in 2014, after which sabotaged a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine in March. Pursue an instantaneous ceasefire and diplomacy to finish the conflict.”
The audio system listing comprises many eloquent voices for peace and towards a militarist international coverage. There are former members of Congress together with Cynthia McKinney, Tulsi Gabbard, Dennis Kucinich, and Ron Paul. There are peace activists comparable to Anne Wright and David Swanson. There are journalists comparable to Chris Hedges, Garland Nixon, Scott Horton, Max Blumenthal, and Kim Iversen. Former Inexperienced Social gathering candidate Dr. Jill Stein will probably be there. So will Dan McKnight from the veterans group “Deliver our troops residence.” And there are many extra audio system.
Most of those that help the Rally imagine it’s essential to broaden the motion and meaning allying with others who might have totally different views on different points.
The Rage rally focus is on ending the Ukraine conflict, disbanding NATO and stopping the slide towards nuclear Armageddon. Ought to they’ve included different points comparable to abortion, trans rights, homosexual rights, immigrant rights? I’ve helped set up rallies the place these points had been included, however imagine it’s a mistake to insist on this. The antiwar motion must rapidly attain method past the Left. Meaning vastly broadening our attain and uniting with some individuals who suppose in a different way about different points.
The capitalist system is versatile. Having ladies, folks of coloration and nonconforming gender people in key positions doesn’t threaten the system. The conflict machine continues, as does the grotesque revenue inequality, extreme poverty and institutional racism.
To problem the conflict machine, we’d like a mass motion that’s broad and inclusive. Agreeing on all points shouldn’t be required. To make this a requirement, and to de-platform anybody who doesn’t agree, is counterproductive. It weakens the antiwar motion and retains us remoted.
We have to advance our widespread trigger by working along with individuals who suppose in a different way on some points. We are able to in all probability study from them as they study from us.
The ruling elite is content material when the mass of working persons are divided and preventing over racial, cultural and social points. What threatens the ruling elite is the opportunity of a mass motion demanding a change in US international coverage of aggression, sanctions and wars. What threatens the ruling class are calls for for enchancment within the lives of all working folks.
The Occupy Motion demand to help the 99% towards the 1% was clear, correct and uniting. Equally, the demand to alter US international coverage and dramatically cut back the army price range has the potential to attraction to a broad majority of Individuals.
The present slide towards a catastrophic conflict between the US and Russia makes it pressing to construct a broad motion to oppose militarism and the conflict machine.
There must be a resurgence of vitality and activism throughout the nation. Let’s make this weekend’s Rage Towards the Conflict Machine as massive and profitable as doable and do extra within the coming months.
