Sit-out for Peace!
Below is info on an awesome action planned at the end of April and they’re asking others around the country to participate and plan events in your own communities in solidarity.
Students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) are planning a five-day fast and “sit-out” from April 30th – May 4th. Several students will be camping out in front of our University Center and fasting from food for the entire week without leaving the area (except to use the bathroom). Each day of the fast represents 100,000 Iraqi civilians killed from the illegal U.S. occupation of Iraq.
We’ll be distributing black arm bands to students, faculty, and staff members that wish to express their support for our cause. Furthermore, we will be encouraging others to fast with us in solidarity, even if only for a meal, a day, or several days.
We’ll also be hosting a different event each day of the week, most of which will be speakers such as Iraq veterans, military families, etc. Through our contacts with a statewide coalition of Maryland peace groups, we anticipate a great deal of media coverage for the event.
But We Need Help!
In order to make it the most effective action possible, we need as many schools as possible to join us in hosting their own anti-war action that week. It could be a fast, wearing black arm bands and distributing them to other students, holding a protest – anything! The more schools that participate in a simultaneous demonstration against this immoral war, the louder our message will be heard. We are already in touch with several other campuses that plan to host their own events that week, but we hope to have more!
For anyone interested in contributing, either by providing input for our action or by hosting an action at your own school, please contact Jonathan Williams at jonnycompliance@gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Jonathan Williams
UMBC Solidarity Coalition – www.umbcsoco.org
jonnycompliance@gmail.com
Update: find more info on actions already planned, the schools involved and ideas for action at www.peace-action.org/wiki
I am a teacher in Vermont. I want you to know that I am inspired by your plan and wish you the best. You may inspire other colleges to similar actions. I hope so!
Good luck and God bless all your efforts!
Pat Renner
Pat,
Thanks! Help us spread the word and direct folks to http://www.StudentPeaceAction.org
Peace,
Randy