"Bringing it Home:" Local Action to Stop the Iraq Occupation

author : Tom Crawford topic : Conscientious Objection | Iraq occupation | Military Recruiters

by Tom Crawford

Some issues loom so large and foreboding on our political and mental landscapes, we seem powerless in the face of them. The dark storm clouds of war, official lies, abandonment of our most needy citizens, and politicians' illegal behavior loom so large it seems the only thing we can do is hunker down and wait (pray!) for them to pass. As Bob Dylan puts it, "High water everywhere."

Over the past six months, a group of Thurston County citizens has looked at the U.S. occupation in Iraq, and said, "Nonsense! There is something we can do about this!" They have recognized that a government can pursue violent and oppressive policies only with the cooperation of its citizens. Especially in the U.S., the government is ultimately accountable to the people. We can effectively resist immoral and illegal policies using local citizen action and nonviolent resistance.

The power of this kind of local non-cooperation and non-violent resistance has been demonstrated throughout the last century and into this one. Non-violent movements in Russia, India, Denmark, the Philippines, El Salvador, Chile, and South Africa resulted in major changes in governments and government policies. Our own civil rights movement has been the inspiration for non-violent movements throughout the world.

Non-violent resistance and non-cooperation goes beyond the occasional protest march and letter to the editor. It goes to withdrawing energy and resources that those pursuing the Iraq occupation depend on. For example, the military depends on recruits into the regular military, reserves and national guard. Without contractors and subcontractors to make military equipment, it would be impossible to continue the occupation. State governments must cooperate with calling up the National Guard. Local port authorities must allow the shipment of military goods and equipment to the front lines.

So a group of Thurston County citizens are working toward getting our community to cut off some of these local support channels.

Since July of 2005, some of those involved in Iraq-related resistance efforts have met to share insights about non-violence, to plan and organize their efforts, and to coordinate work with one another. Under the title, "Bringing it Home," local organizers Emily Lardner and Tom Crawford have brought folks together in July, August, and October. Participants have numbered between 20 and 50 people, and represent both existing and new efforts to oppose the Iraq occupation.

Here are some examples of actions undertaken over the last six months:

Stopping the abuses of military recruiting, especially in schools. The "Know All You Can Know" campaign has raised the awareness of school administrators, teachers, parents and students about a number of issues related to military recruiting in schools. In particular, this group has focused on the provision in the No Child Left Behind Act that requires high schools to provide student information to a military recruiting database. Students have a right to "opt out" of having this information shared with recruiters, but in the past some schools have not spent much time or effort letting students and their parents know about this option. The "Know All You Can Know" campaign has worked hard to improve information available to students, make the "opt out" forms easier to read, extend school district deadlines for submitting forms, and support students in organizing themselves to counter military recruiting efforts on campus. In addition, the group has used mainstream media, running a 60-second radio spot during October on KXXO FM, to let students and parents know about their opt-out rights.

Questioning military shipments destined for Iraq handled through the Port of Olympia. Since 2004, a dedicated group of citizens has challenged the port's agreement to handle military shipments to Iraq. Citing the illegality of the US war and occupation of that country, they have used protests and testimony at port commission meetings and hearings to make their point. Although the commission has not formally adopted a policy against these shipments, in fact no military shipments have left Olympia for Iraq since May of 2005, though shipments bringing equipment back from Iraq have continued.

Helping local governments and school districts demand a change in budget priorities. The use of taxpayer money to fund war and occupation rather than education and community services does not make our communities more safe or secure. A group is examining the impact of these priorities on our communities, and planning to contact city councils, the county commissioners, and other local political office holders and policy makers.

Getting Gov. Christine Gregoire to formally request the return of Washington's National Guard troops from Iraq. Although the National Guard reports to the Governor of the state, National Guard units can be mobilized at any time by presidential order to supplement regular armed forces. This is what George Bush did to supplement regular Army troops for the Iraq invasion and occupation. At the same time, since September 2001, the duration of active service was increased from 6 months to 18 months, then to 24 months. This deployment is affecting the Washington Guard's morale and its ability to respond to local disasters and emergencies. A local group just completed a fast to gain attention for this issue; in December they plan a daily vigil on the steps of the state capitol building.

Reaching out to individuals, to help them take some small action against the occupation. This campaign has conducted a series of seminars, to provide skills for talking about the Iraq occupation in ways that lead to dialogue and support rather than creating polarized opposition. In addition, this campaign has carried on a unique petition campaign, gathering hundreds of signatures in support of ending the occupation.

Other groups are organizing themselves around the following aspects of the Iraq war and occupation:

Convincing local companies that provide equipment, materials or services which support the Iraq occupation, to stop doing that.

Undercutting the racism and religious intolerance that feed this war.

Helping local religious congregations foster honest discussions of the moral questions connected to this occupation.

As you can see, important local efforts are taking place to stop the Iraq occupation. At the same time, on the national scene, resistance is growing. Even politicians are taking up the call. The days of US military presence in Iraq are growing fewer. Is there a connection? Are we having an impact? Without a doubt. We are part of a growing nationwide movement to stop the war and occupation in Iraq, and to bring our troops home.

At the same time, it is important that the local work on this issue continue. If you oppose the occupation, and want to be part of the movement that actually stopped it in its tracks, now is a great time to join the effort!

The next meeting for "Bringing it Home" will be held on the morning of Saturday, January 21st. The event is being co-sponsored by the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, and the Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace. The agenda will feature a review of progress to date, discussion of organizing strategy, time for individual groups and campaigns to plan their next steps, and vocal chord exercises (aka singing fun songs!). The exact time and place will be posted on the Olympia FOR web site. If you want to join local efforts to end the Iraq occupation, show up on January 21st, be part of creating a new direction for our nation -- and have some fun while you're doing it!

For more information, check the Olympia FOR website, at http://www.olyfor.org/, or contact the organizers: Tom Crawford, tcpraxis@comcast.net, 280-0242; or Emily Lardner, lardnere@hotmail.com, 705-3678.