If you are part of a local Democratic Party or if you give money to the national Democratic Party, let them know: not another dime until impeachment. This is a crisis, and if we do not make changes, we will have at least 5 more years of the war of terror.
As you know, local and state governments can pass resolutions, and you can lobby them to do so. Local petitions can help, and you can make them part of a national petition at http://afterdowningstreet.org/petition You can also make impeachment an issue in the local elections this week.
Members of the media can contribute to a rebirth of democracy quite simply by doing their jobs.
Lawyers can help defend whistle-blowers.
Artists can communicate the crisis we face.
And there are many things that each and every one of us can do. We can try to influence all of the sorts of people I've just mentioned.
We can engage in media activism, pushing for coverage and polling. Last week the second poll ever done on impeaching Cheney was published. The first one was national and found 54 percent in favor. I suspect it's higher now. The new one was only in Vermont and found 64 percent in favor. Where's the California poll? Why not commission one? Why not harass pollsters until they do one? See http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/polling
You can also be the media. The best coverage I saw of the October 27th march in LA was not produced by the corporate media. It's good to hold events like this one, but be sure to videotape and post your events online immediately. There are tons of movies and books now that make for good events followed by discussion. But the best events are either debates (because they bring new people into the room) or events that plan serious actions.
You can also talk to a lot of people if you wear an impeach shirt or even an impeach bush and cheney bracelet: http://afterdowningstreet.org/bracelet
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
But the most effective things you can do involve a few people getting together and taking serious nonviolent action. If you saw a child drowning, wouldn't you jump in? Well, our democracy is drowning, and it wouldn't take much to save it. And you don't have to go to Washington. Start by visiting your congress member's local office and demanding a commitment to vote No on any more war funding and a commitment to vote No on tabling impeachment (or Yes on taking impeachment up). Then stand out front with posters that read “Honk to Impeach.” Then sit in their office and read the Constitution loudly and sing and do not leave. Just a few people are needed, but when they're forced out or taken to jail, have a few more do it the next day. Make it impossible for that office to function for a week. Make sure the media knows why. Make clear that you represent the majority of Americans.
Going to jail is usually painless when it's for a day or an hour. Pay your fine or go to court, it's up to you. Ann wright has done it more times than anybody can count anymore. On Friday in Washington Eve Tetaz, a 76-year-old woman was sentenced to 7 days for repeated nonviolent protesting and refusing to pay fines. If she can do that, what can you do?
A very few people, or even one, can also impact national news by creatively disrupting events, as when Desiree Farooz held bloody hands up to Condi, or Ray McGovern questioned Rumsfeld, or Texans on Friday protested Cheney. At http://afterdowningstreet.org click on Activism to find schedules of where big shots will be when.
As you know, local and state governments can pass resolutions, and you can lobby them to do so. Local petitions can help, and you can make them part of a national petition at http://afterdowningstreet.org/petition You can also make impeachment an issue in the local elections this week.
Members of the media can contribute to a rebirth of democracy quite simply by doing their jobs.
Lawyers can help defend whistle-blowers.
And there are many things that each and every one of us can do. We can try to influence all of the sorts of people I've just mentioned.
We can engage in media activism, pushing for coverage and polling. Last week the second poll ever done on impeaching Cheney was published. The first one was national and found 54 percent in favor. I suspect it's higher now. The new one was only in Vermont and found 64 percent in favor. Where's the California poll? Why not commission one? Why not harass pollsters until they do one? See http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/polling
You can also be the media. The best coverage I saw of the October 27th march in LA was not produced by the corporate media. It's good to hold events like this one, but be sure to videotape and post your events online immediately. There are tons of movies and books now that make for good events followed by discussion. But the best events are either debates (because they bring new people into the room) or events that plan serious actions.
You can also talk to a lot of people if you wear an impeach shirt or even an impeach bush and cheney bracelet: http://afterdowningstreet.org/bracelet
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
But the most effective things you can do involve a few people getting together and taking serious nonviolent action. If you saw a child drowning, wouldn't you jump in? Well, our democracy is drowning, and it wouldn't take much to save it. And you don't have to go to Washington. Start by visiting your congress member's local office and demanding a commitment to vote No on any more war funding and a commitment to vote No on tabling impeachment (or Yes on taking impeachment up). Then stand out front with posters that read “Honk to Impeach.” Then sit in their office and read the Constitution loudly and sing and do not leave. Just a few people are needed, but when they're forced out or taken to jail, have a few more do it the next day. Make it impossible for that office to function for a week. Make sure the media knows why. Make clear that you represent the majority of Americans.
Going to jail is usually painless when it's for a day or an hour. Pay your fine or go to court, it's up to you. Ann wright has done it more times than anybody can count anymore. On Friday in Washington Eve Tetaz, a 76-year-old woman was sentenced to 7 days for repeated nonviolent protesting and refusing to pay fines. If she can do that, what can you do?
A very few people, or even one, can also impact national news by creatively disrupting events, as when Desiree Farooz held bloody hands up to Condi, or Ray McGovern questioned Rumsfeld, or Texans on Friday protested Cheney. At http://afterdowningstreet.org click on Activism to find schedules of where big shots will be when.
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