Seven Ticketed at Ron Kind's La Crosse Office

From Anita:

On the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, about 50 people gathered outside Ron Kind's La Crosse office to demand no more money for war and to bring the troops home now. A majority of the crowd were college students. Inside, seven people talked with the aide to Kind and stayed until the police came in to issue trespassing tickets. It was a useful dialogue for ourselves, if not the aide. When one hears others talking for an hour on the subject with such intensity and passion, looking the police in the eyes and refusing to leave is not that difficult. Read more below - including how you can help!
Two twelve year olds stayed until asked to leave by the police...they almost decided to remain but saw upfront what it was like to sit in .... they say next time they may not leave.

We have been highly conditioned to obey the law, yet we allow Congress and the President not only to break the national, international and moral laws, but Constitutional laws as well.... and, how many of us have had a few too many and drove home? or inhaled? or sped down the highway? All these acts are breaking the law and put one's self at risk of arrest and having a record. To occupy the office of an official and demand accountability at the risk of one's arrest was much easier this time.

The fine of $90 or two days in jail (which a possible outcome) feels insignificant when considering 650,000 Iraqis have died at the hands of the US and $2,000 a SECOND is being spent for the invasion and occupation...with no end in site!

The aide said that the phone has been quiet at the office about the war during the last few months.

We know how frustrating it feels to just talk to the staffer, but I highly encourage everyone to call...again and again and again as you hear new bills being proposed. Kind needs to know what you think.

Please mark your calendars and attend the following if possible:

April 11 is a town hall listening session with Kind in La Crosse.

April 25 is our first court appearance for the trespassing charge. Keith Belzer has graciously consented to represent us again as most of us will probably go to trial on the issue.

Peace,
Anita

STOP THIS WAR (and the next one, too)

March 17 is the fourth anniversary of "Shock and Awe," the military horror show that was supposed to be the ultimate Rumsfeldian conquista.

Well, here we are, four years later and the shock and awe have worn off. What we have here is a major mess, complete with thousands of dead and maimed; a country contaminated by depleted uranium; children faced with a bleak future of prostitution, drugs, missing limbs and more; a "new" army where women soldiers have as much to fear from their fellow soldiers as from the "enemy" and where veterans are getting a big one-finger salute from the "support the troops" crowd; a military budget that is soaring out of control, and a White House that doesn't give a flying fuck what the Congress, the American people, the Iraqis, the world or anyone thinks. By the way, the cost TO LA CROSSE for this debacle so far is just about $45,000,000.00. (That's Million with an M.)

Representative Ron Kind, fence-sitter esquire, has not helped. He voted for the war but then he signed a letter asking the Decider to "let the inspections work," he says he wouldn't have voted for it, he says we can't just leave, he says, says, says ... but no action.

We want action. So we will take action. Monday, March 19 at 4:00 p.m. at the Exchange Building, 205 Fifth Ave. S. (Fifth and Jay) please come to let Rep. Kind know that we want action now on ending the occupation of Iraq. No more money for war. Bring troops home. NOW.

Also, if you can sign up to stand at Kind's office ONE OR MORE HOURS PER WEEK at a regular time, please contact Cathy. We may put up an online sign up form but for now, please contact Cathy to reserve your one hour a week, every week, contribution to bringing an end to the Iraq occupation.

And, don't forget on Tuesday, March 20 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. visit the Eyes Wide Open exhibit at the Cartwright Center, UW-L. And at 7 p.m. there will be a Veterans' Forum on the True Cost of War. The public is invited; it's free.

There are several other actions planned for March 17. Read more below.

Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice has an extensive list of Wisconsin and other events.

There will be a march and vigil in Winona from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, on Gilmore Avenue at the entrance to the Winona Mall which is nearby the military recruiting station. Sponsored by Winona Area Peacemakers, the protest rally is part of a national mobilization to oppose a war that has lasted longer than the American Civil War or U.S. involvement in World War II. The theme of the protest rally is: "NOT ONE MORE DEATH - NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR".

There's also March on the Pentagon.