Hundreds arrested in week of anti-war actions

Demonstrations, marches, rallies, vigils and prayer meetings continued to take place in dozens of cities across the United States last week as part of a nationwide campaign aiming to force the administration of President George W. Bush and Congress to end the US occupation of Iraq. Since Sept. 21, when more than 500 anti-war groups and religious organizations signed on to the "Declaration of Peace," some 250 activists have been arrested in various cities for taking part in nonviolent actions. In addition to demanding a "prompt timetable" for the withdrawal of the 130,000 US troops currently stationed in Iraq, the Declaration calls for the closure of bases, a peace process for security, reconstruction, and reconciliation; and a shift of funding from the military to meeting human needs. Organizers conducted more than 375 actions of civil disobedience and protest in all parts of the country, including Lincoln, NE; Houston, TX; Des Moines, ID; Little Rock, AR; Cincinnati, OH; and Fayetteville, NC–which is home to Fort Bragg, the largest US Army installation in the world. Though the campaign is heavily dominated by faith-based groups, many lawmakers, former military veterans, women's groups and immigrant organizations are also actively participating in the ongoing protests, which were scheduled to wind down on Sept. 28 but will probably continue throughout October. The first arrests took place in Washington two weeks ago when activists tried to deliver copies of the Declaration to officials in the Bush administration as part of their pledge to get involved in actions of civil disobedience. Other actions that involved arrests were organized at the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as at Congressional offices, military bases and military recruitment centers. On Sept. 27 the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building was transformed into a chaotic scene when dozens of war protesters filed into the lobby, formed a prayer circle, shouted scripture and eventually were arrested as Senate staffers hung over railings and crammed glass-walled offices to watch. Employees in the building and longtime area activists said they had never seen police allow such a demonstration in a government office building, with activists one and two stories up reading the names of the Iraq War dead, civilian and military. The names rang loudly through improvised megaphones into the building's open center. Dozens of police streamed into the atrium and arrested about 36 people. Thirty-five additional antiwar demonstrators were arrested on Sept. 27 around the US Capitol in related protests. Two Presbyterian ministers from Baltimore were among the 71 people who were detained in DC as they protested the war in Iraq. The Rev. Andrew Foster Connors remained calm as a police officer put his hands in white plastic handcuffs and searched his pockets after he crossed a police line outside the US Capitol. Less than an hour later, the Rev. Roger Scott Powers was also led away in handcuffs from the interfaith demonstration against the war in Iraq in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building. The arrests also included Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Director Rick Ufford-Chase, who served for two years in the denomination's highest office, moderator of the 216th General Assembly. He sent a letter to Presbyterian congregations nationwide explaining his decision. "If God opens the way for me to do so, I will risk arrest to make it clear that I believe the War in Iraq is a violation of my most fundamental beliefs as a Christian," he wrote. "Whether or not such a witness is effective, it is clear to me that I must do everything in my power and in keeping with my values as a follower of Jesus Christ to stop this war." Aware that many politicians are reluctant to join the campaign because they do not want to be branded as unpatriotic, religious leaders are hoping that their call for peace might give the government moral courage to set a firm deadline to end the occupation of Iraq. "As citizens and people of faith, we must be our country's conscience," said Rev. Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus, one of 34 activists arrested for taking part in the White House action that kicked off the campaign two weeks ago. As part of the campaign, many activists are staging sit-ins outside the residences of their elected representatives who have not voiced opposition to the Bush policy on the war in Iraq. "We are spending billions of dollars a week on the occupation of Iraq. This money can be spent on health and education," said Molly Nolan, a 62-year-old activist who joined others in a protest outside the home of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Despite protests and growing criticism of the war from various quarters, including several retired generals and prominent intelligence analysts, there is no sign of any flexibility in the administration's policy towards Iraq and its military strategy in the region. Just a few weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed a motion backing the president's handling of the war and rejecting a deadline for recalling US forces. With the Senate having already rejected the troop withdrawal plan, the House motion was passed 256-153 on a party-line vote. The House also endorsed a resolution rejecting "an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment" of troops. Signers of the peace declaration have said if their demands are not met by the administration and the Congress towards the end of this phase of civil disobedience, they will organize another round of nonviolent actions beyond September. "The breath and depth of actions taking place this week is a testament to the growing sentiments of the people of this country," said Leslie Cagan of United for Peace for Justice, a national antiwar coalition, who was arrested in Washington last week. "They are against the occupation of Iraq." Meanwhile, over 100 Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders have planned other actions to prevent a possible attack on Iran. They said they will be calling on the US Congress this week to assert its "oversight function" to prevent such an eventuality