I thought you folks might enjoy this one. It is from a list that I stumbled
on.
Esther Ewing
The Change Alliance
Toronto Line: 416-209-0481
New York Line: 212-661-6024
Assisting Individuals and Organizations to Grow Capability
--- Begin Message ---
On the evening of September 12, a coalition of Boston area progressive groups
held a hastily called vigil at Harvard Square in Cambridge. Its message was
mourning, peace, opposition to counter-terror against the innocent, support for
the Arab-American community, and a plea to address injustice globally
(expressed in a leaflets, on placard blowups, and speeches by peace
community, African-American, and Arab-American activists). The event drew some
remarkably accurate and sympathetic media treatment.
The vigil was shifted at 2:30 P.M. from Copley Square in downtown Boston to
Harvard Square because of a police assault and barricade in the Copley area
(which netted 3 people of Middle East descent who were later released, having
no connection with the WTC horror). Despite the late switch of the site, more
than 500 people showed up at Harvard Square while another 200 who did not get
the word, held a vigil at Copley. At the University of Massachusetts. in
Amherst, 4000 turned out to mourn and to demand no retaliatory violence against
innocent civilians at home or abroad. In Montpelier, Vermont, a vigil over 300
organized by the local peace movement was addressed by the state attorney
general. Events of this nature are happening around the country and it is
reasonable to assume that such sentiments can play a significant role in
pressuring Bush, et. al., to refrain from a precipitous escalation as well a
providing support at home for besieged Arab-Americans.
In the Boston area and other locales around New England, coalitions of
progressive, left, and socialist forces are meeting to plan ways to deepen and
expand the process, including newspaper ads, teach-ins, and the galvanizing of
prominent voices for peace and justice -- seeking to mobilize broad opposition
to counter-terror contribute to fostering a collective understanding of the
underlying issues.
Mark Solomon
_____________________________________________________________________
Candlelight Vigil
"Mourn the Victims, Stand For Peace"
New York
Union Square
Friday, September 14
6-8 pm
Islam is not the enemy, war is not the answer
Work for Global Justice and Peace
___________________________________________________________________
From: Peter Franck
Statement of the San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter of the National
Lawyers Guild on Events of September 11, 2001
The National Lawyers Guild is shocked and saddened by the acts of
terrorism which today have claimed the lives of untold numbers of
people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and other sites. We
oppose terrorism, whether by individuals, organizations or by states
and armies. Acts such as this always victimize the innocent, and
escalate world violence and the risk of war, and cannot lead to
peaceful resolution of the world's conflicts.
The National Lawyers Guild is a 64 year old national organization
committed to the principle that human rights shall be regarded as more
sacred than property interests. Our sympathies and condolences go out
to the families of people whose lives have been destroyed by today's
events.
The people of the United States have the right to rely on our
institutions to provide accurate information and rational and lawful
responses. We insist that no actions be taken by our government that
may lead to military escalation and the sacrificing of more civilians
anywhere in the world. We urge all in authority to draw upon our
democratic and legal principles.
We are opposed to any form of retaliation unless sanctioned by
international law. U.S. military and foreign policy have already
created a climate for hatred and violent attacks
against the US and its people.
As we mourn, we also urge all people to recognize that scapegoating is
a misguided substitute for accountability. It is unfair and unjust to
single out or try to punish any group of people as some have already
done towards Arab and Muslim communities worldwide. At times of
national crisis and anguish we must be particularly vigilant to
protect dissent and freedom of speech. In these times of crisis we
call upon all levels of government and society to respect the civil
liberties of all people.
Groups and individuals who believe their rights have been threatened,
can contact the NLG in Northern California at (415) 285-1055.
The Guilds National Office is 212.627.2656
___________________________________________________________________
September 12, 2001
South African Communist Party Statement on the New York World Trade Center
Attacks
The South African Communist Party (SACP) is shocked at the attacks
on the World Trade Centre in New York. These attacks have led to the
unnecessary and unjustified loss of civilian lives and the maiming of ordinary
working people. We condemn the use of violence against ordinary civilians
particularly in soft targets such as public buildings. Such
violence can never be acceptable or justified.
We express our condolences to the families of the deceased and all
the people of the United States of America.
We endorse the sentiment expressed by the Secretary General of the
United Nations, Kofi Annan, that this tragedy calls for cool and calm
minds in working hard to find and bring the perpetrators to book.
Therefore we caution against reprisals from the US government based
on stereotype and anger. Such reprisals are most likely to affect
ordinary and innocent civilians in other countries.
Most of South African and international media are also laying the
basis and justification for such stereotypical reprisals by throwing up a
whole range of unfounded conspiracies. The focus of the whole world now should
be on a fair and thorough investigation as the only basis for justifiable
legal action against the perpetrators of this ghastly act.
__________________________________________________________________________
Press statement issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
To receive future press statements go to
http://gate.cosatu.org.za/mailman/listinfo/press
COSATU condemns the attacks, using hijacked planes, on buildings
in New York and Washington. All peace-loving people will be
shocked and outraged at such senseless mass murder. There can be
no conceivable political justification for such acts. The federation
sends its condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and
wishes all those injured a full and speedy recovery.
Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo
Acting COSATU Spokespersons
__________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
September 12, 2001
JCP condemns brutal and sinister synchronous multiple terrorist attacks in the
U.S
Regarding the series of terrorist attacks in the U.S., Japanese Communist Party
Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on September 12 published the following
statement in condemnation:
Hijacked civil aircraft on September 11 crashed into the World Trade Center
building in New York and the U.S. Department of Defense Building (Pentagon) in
Washington D.C. These incidents, in which many people were killed and many
more injured, are brutal acts of terror without precedent. Whatever the
reasons, such indiscriminate killing of people is a crime which is absolutely
unjustifiable. With anger and in the name of international justice and
humanity, the JCP condemns the terrorist attacks.
The JCP wants to express its condolences to the many people who fell victim to
the terror and their family members, and our prayers are with those who are
injured, and the people who are engaged in rescue work.
The JCP demands that the full truth behind the incident be revealed after
thorough investigations and that the issue be settled not by sanctions or
retaliation by military force but based on law and reason so that further acts
of terrorism can be prevented. (end)
__________________________________________________________________
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