Highland Park becomes second town to support de-federalization of the NJ National Guard

On Tuesday, December 6 the borough council of Highland park voted to support SRJ55, the bill before the state legislature to de-federalize the New Jersey National Guard. The vote was a culmination of a 6 month long pressure campaign and a large town hall meeting.

Several groups attempted to pass an antiwar resolution and a de-federalization resolution in July. After repeated delays, the council passed a weaker version calling on the president not to call up the guard. This was toothless and after several more months we finally succeeded in achieving a council vote calling upon the governor to de-federalize our guard.

A better explanation of the meeting and the text of the resolution can be read at: http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=10016

NJ STATE ANTIWAR CONFERENCE

Description: We are currently organizing a conference on December 6, 2008 in New Brunswick for students throughout New Jersey in order to create a unifying strategy on how to successfully end the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to propose a day of action across college campuses in the region. The conference will involve student speakers, educational and organizational workshops, and an environment in which students and student groups throughout New Jersey will be able to share opinions, ideas, etc. We've gotten a very positive response from students here at Rutgers and we're expecting a great turn out.

Location:Rutgers University in New Brunswick
milledoler 100, and scott 102, 104, 105, and 106(on college avenue)

The schedule for 12/6 is as follows:9:00-10:00 AM:
Registration at Milledoler Hall
10:00-10:45 AM: Current State of the Student Movement: SDS, YDS, CAN speakers
10:45-11:45 AM: Building the NJ Student Antiwar Movement open discussion12:00-1:30 PM: Break into student-led educational workshopsIraqi Refugees- The Economy and the War- Organizing on college campuses
1:30-2:30 PM: Lunch
2:30-4:00 PM: Break into student-led organizational workshops- Divestment- Working with veterans- Counter-recruitment-
4:15-6:15 PM: Re-group for discussion on state-wide NJ action in March 2009 (Rutgers presentation of proposal)
6:15-8:00 PM: Dinner (on your own)
8:00- 10:00 PM: Plenary (Iraq Veterans Against the War)
10:00 PM- 2:00 AM: Socializing/Partying

In addition to students taking part in the conference, we would also like to invite any members of your organization that are interested in helping out or organizing workshops! If you are interested, or know someone who is interested, please email us at studentantiwar.njconference@gmail.com. We?ll put you on the listserv so you can send us your ideas.

RUSA, RAW rock message of ‘drop beats not bombs’

RUSA, RAW rock message of ‘drop beats not bombs’
Daily Targum
Jared Khan / Contributing Writer
Published: Sunday, November 16, 2008


The house band Toad played rock music that sounded throughout Room 101 in Hickman Hall on Douglass campus and trailed into the hallway as students, city residents, poets and activists, young and old, filled the auditorium. The band stopped playing as poets took the stage to begin a night of spoken word.On Friday night, Rutgers Against the War and Rutgers University Student Assembly hosted the public event Drop Beats Not Bombs featuring the poet, writer, musician and actor Saul Williams.RAW and RUSA worked with the Justus League, Combat Paper, Verbal Mayhem and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer and Questioning People of Color Alliance to organize the event, said Tiffany Cheng, a School of Arts and Sciences senior and a main administrator for the event.

Money from the Rutgers University Student Association helped to fund this event but organizers tried to stay with the lowest budget possible, Cheng said.Cheng said she estimated a total of 19 poets listed to perform along with Williams. This number included but was not limited to poets from RAW and members of the Combat Paper Project, an Iraqi veteran mission that encourages reconciliation for their overseas military experience.The event attracted more than 200 people. This was about three times the amount since last year, said Ian Khadan, a spoken word poet who attended last year’s event.Cheng said the event was located in a smaller venue last year, but this year they expected a larger turnout with Williams speaking. “I’m impressed … I don’t know how they got Saul Williams,” said Annalise Leonelli, a Douglass College senior. “The band’s pretty good, too.”

Cheng said Williams’ appearance was done at the last minute.“We were trying to combine someone who became successful with someone with a socially conscious message,” Cheng said.Williams brought his books “Said the Shotgun to the Head” and “The Dead Emcee Scrolls” to the event and they were available for purchase along with some “Drop Beats Not Bombs” T-shirts near the entrance of the lecture hall.Williams held a question and answer period, where he welcomed attendees to inquire about anything on their minds, including asking for advice.The questions varied in topic, going so far as one student’s question on a conflict of interest between romance and her art.Williams answered that romance is integral to the art experience and without his romances his art would be lost.“It’s a mixture of culture and a political message,” said James Mona, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences sophomore and member of RAW. “Being an activist isn’t all about marches and stuff. You can have fun too.”

Rutgers Against the War puts on Drop Beats Not Bombs

"DROP BEATS, NOT BOMBS"--

It means dissent through words, not violence; it means creating not destroying; it means expression not repression.

Come out to a night of politically and socially conscious spoken word and poetry from Saul Williams, Iraq war veterans, and student orgs.

Featuring:SAUL WILLIAMS--world renown poet and musician--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_Williams--http://www.saulwilliams.com/

Readings from Warrior Writers of the Combat Paper Project--http://www.combatpaper.org/--Warrior Writers of the Combat Paper Project with members of Iraq Veterans Against the War share their writings

JustUs League--Your friendly neighborhood poets Ion, Ian Khadan, Assasin, and Nate Kostar--http://www.myspace.com/justusleague0

with Rutgers Against the War,Verbal Mayhem, Native Tongue, Radigals, CASAA, Tent State University, and more to come..

Location: Hickman 101 on Douglass Campus at Rutgers University Street: 89 George St City/Town: New Brunswick, NJ at 7:45 PM
More Information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33139682950

Rutgers should cut ties to war profiteers

Home News Tribune Op/Ed
November 6, 2008
By: Ryan Olander

Rutgers students and community members involved with the student organization Rutgers Against the War, or RAW, have undertaken the arduous task of pressuring the Board of Governors to divest from those companies who profit from the illegal and unjust occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

RAW members obtained the list of companies in which Rutgers is invested. It should dismay everyone to know that the state's educational institution paid for its computers, chalk, microscopes and faculty salaries with money that was soaked in the blood of many innocent Iraqis, Afghanis, Pakistanis and Syrians. These companies include: Raytheon, DynCorp, Halliburton, and L-3 Communications.

After the discovery of Rutgers' profits from the above-named companies and eight other war profiteers, RAW members wasted no time. They began drafting a proposal to present to the Board of Governors imploring the university to divest all monies in these companies, disseminated many petitions for divestment and networked widely with other student unions and organizations, garnering many endorsements for the divestment campaign. It should be noted that the current campaign is modeled after the successful Rutgers South African divestment campaign that gained notoriety in the 1980s. I was astounded to find out that this divestment campaign recently tripled in size with Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark also beginning active divestment work on their campuses.

New Jersey residents should show their disgust for our state university's value of profits over justice, life and liberty — a sad trend engulfing the American political system and its policies and now creeping into its great beacons of learning. Please be prepared to stand in solidarity with Rutgers students throughout their struggle to make their university live up to an ethical standard to which its students and American citizens at large adhere with steadfast dedication.

In defense of divestment

In defense of divestment
Rutgers Daily Targum
Allie Graham

Published: Sunday, October 26, 2008
Updated: Sunday, October 26, 2008


The Targum published an editorial last Thursday that expressed hesitation at Rutgers Against the War’s divestment campaign. The editorial objected that some of these 12 companies targeted by the campaign, specifically General Electric and Caterpillar are not strictly “military contracting firms.” While these corporations do have many and varied subsidiaries, the editorialists seem to say that this makes the corporations not responsible for their subsidiaries. General Electric builds engines for military aircraft, drones, tanks and ships on a scale that makes it one of the world’s largest arms manufacturers. Caterpillar produces a wide array of military vehicles including the specific adaptable bulldozers that are used in Iraq and Palestine for reprisal attacks on homes. We don’t accept that the people responsible should be able to hide behind complex ownership arrangements, as Haliburton has attempted to do.Not all of these corporations have been consistently profitable. Stock in Boeing, a self-described military contractor, recently fell 38 percent, and Caterpillar has seen its growth slow. We would like very much to be able to give a more definitive answer to this very important question regarding the specifics of divestment, but our hands are tied by the lack of transparency in Rutgers University’s financial arrangements. While we have written a proposal that explains our requests and reasoning, we can’t make concrete proposals without more detailed information and making this information available to the University community and ourselves is also a key element of our campaign. Rutgers has a history of divestment. In the 1980s, Rutgers was one of the first universities to divest from South Africa, and in 2006, Rutgers divested from companies that do business in the Sudan. We think that this experience shows that divestment is a useful and affordable option, and that the situation in Iraq makes it morally imperative as well.

Allie Graham is a School of Communication, Information and Library Studies graduate student and a member of Rutgers Against the War.

Campus Antiwar Network Offers An Alternative Education For Students and Youth In The Streets Of Sector 6

The Republicans have conveniently decided to hold their convention during the first week of school. So to take advantage of the amazing learning opportunity, CAN wants students and youth to converge on Sector 6 of the RNC Welcoming Committee's map to receive an alternate education in a wide array of topics.

Politics: What happens when a large amount of committed young people act as a catalyst for change?

History: Living History on September 1, 2008: The day the Republican National Convention was shut down

Urban Planning 201: Identify infrastructure failings in St Paul and strategically assess them; hands on experience blocking roads. What happens when traffic comes to a stand still?

Engineering: Construction of semi-permanent and permanent structures Drivers Education: yielding to pedestrians in the streets

Theater 101: Guerilla theater Home Economics: Making effective household compounds to nullify pepper spray and other police weapons

Spanish: Discover the meaning of "Ya Basta" Physical Education 101: "Giving the pigs a workout". Make sure to bring your running shoes!!!

Music: Recitation of the "Teargas Song"

Cinema 101: Direct your own film on Police Brutality and People Power

Psychology: Teach the meaning of "Ochlophobia"

Many of these classes are taught through the use of group work, so come ready to learn and participate!

-----------------------------------------------
On Labor Day, the Campus Anti-war Network (CAN) will be sending a mobile blockade brigade to the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. We are coming to demand an end to the wars waged on Iraq, Afghanistan, and our futures. We are coming to demand that student voices for peace be heard in a political system that excludes us. We are coming in solidarity with the RNC Welcoming Committee. We are coming to crash the convention. Business cannot continue as usual while our futures, and the futures of our brothers and sisters, are condemned for us.

These are their wars-- But We Will Show That We Control the Streets!

We recognize the damage to our futures the current wars are causing and we recognize that both political parties are complicit in them. We refuse to be cannon fodder for the wars of the rich. As tuition and the cost of the wars rise, so do our voices. As our job prospects and the reins on US imperialism fall, so does our patience decline. We encourage all students and youth to join us. The disruption of the RNC is only one part of what we do. We recognize the need to build up as the war machine tears down.

http://www.campusantiwar.net/

http://www.nornc.org/

The National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and occupations

By: Ian Chinich

I thought that the conference was a complete success in that we came out of it with the knowledge that there is a broad consensus that we will have local demonstrations in the fall and 2 massive national demonstrations (east and west coast) in the spring. We agreed on the basic tenets of “Troops Out Now”, massive united action, and non subjugation to the Democratic Party. There were obviously disagreements on a lot of other issues (political and structural), but we affirmed out understanding on some very key principles and strategies.
The heads of Answer, UFPJ, and Troops Out Now coalitions were there and spoke Saturday night about working together for a massive mobilization in the spring. The head organizer of the west coast longshoremen who was responsible for the may day strike was also there as was one of the head organizers of the Los Angeles immigrants march in 2006 and the 5 million person general strike of undocumented workers and others in solidarity. Iraq Vets Against the War, Vets For Peace, and Military Families Speak Out had reps there. There was a number of different socialist parties (in addition to a bunch of wackos from the sparticus youth and the internationals). Pro Palestine groups were there as were people from war resisters league, Campus Antiwar Network, Students for a Democratic Society, 3 State AFL CIO leaders, some reps from national unions in Canada, as well as many groups from across the country.
It was also good to see Son of Nun perform for the millionth time.
Over the course of the weekend, we talked to many leaders in the movement. Found that there was One interesting story was we came across a former black panther from Chicago. When asked if he knew Fred Hampton, he replied “Yeah I knew him, I am the one that recruited him….. And if he had listened to me and not picked ______ for security minister, he would not be dead right now.
I met the heads of the March on the RNC group. They are really energetic and confident. The workshop was very informative and I interesting enough sat next to leslie cagan (the head of UFPJ). According to her, they are mobilizing for both the RNC and the DNC.

There was a huge debate about when to do a massive mobilization. A vote for fall local demonstrations are set to happen on December 9-14 (after a vote of something close to 94-112). The debates about mobilization questions took a large part of Saturday. Sunday had all the controversial questions (Palestine and Afghanistan being central demands in the antiwar movement.

Palestine came first. The conferences coordinating committee brought a proposal about educating about Palestine. There was another proposal to include it in central messaging. The central messaging resolution won consideration. Afterwards, there was a proposed amendment to take out the mention of “Christian and Jewish Zionist lobbies and the military industrial complex” it failed by 3 votes. The vote was then taken on the resolution and it passed.

There was then a contentious argument on modifying the name of the group as well as the central joint principles to include Afghanistan in every mention of Iraq. It passed. Lastly there was a debate over taking steps to prevent an assault on Iran. Some argued that this would take away energy from Iraq, but it was eventually agreed upon.
A continuation body was then proposed with member groups being given one vote and an administrative council being made to organize the next conference and to do administrative things during the next meeting (not related to points of principle).

The thing that probably saved the day is that the crazy groups/parties didn’t make proposals or argue for amendments. Though I am not sure their changes and ideas would pass, they still didn’t do that.

Criticism: Though CAN and SDS both had speakers, neither came in much force and were unable to largely influence the tone and debate (causing most of the non youth character of the conference in general)
We spent too long with speeches and not enough time actually debating. This became the most clear on the short amount of time we spent debating structure at the end and the fact that we had to vote in the last 5 minutes before the hotels turned people out.
The staff wasn’t strong enough in holding to the rules (allowing once instance where someone from the Internationalists made a point of order and went on a long speech….refusing to get off the mic and pretty much had to be taken out and the mic seized. Another time happened when someone else made a point of order and demanded that the conference was a bourgoise conference and that to prove him wrong we would need to establish that the structure opposed capitalism.
Criticisms aside, it was still really productive, but I guess we will need to see if groups actually do what they said at the conference.

Anti-war activists and Obama supporters show up at McCain rally

Earlier today, several members of RAW traveled down to Pemberton, New Jersey, where a McCain rally took place at Burlington County College. A small demonstration took place at the side of the road prior to the event, with people holding signs such as "Obama '08," "NJ Says Troops Out," "Hey MCain, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," and a giant banner reading "We Stand Against Imperialism." There were some honks of support from passing motorists.
The rally then wrapped up, and several of us managed to make our way inside the rally with our signs. The event was billed as a "town hall," but it was in essence a McCain rally, rather than an opportunity for people of diverse views to show up and ask tough questions of the candidate. McCain answered only about six or seven questions, none of them particularly challenging. He did, however, stumble a bit on questions about energy policy and disability rights legislation. But they were all essentially softballs. A few of us raised our hands many times, planning to grill McCain about his support for the bloody imperial project in the Middle East, but were not called on. When the "town hall meeting" concluded, a lot sooner than we expected it to, we held up our signs and banner and started chanting "troops out now!," and "end the occupation!" People reacted with much hostility. One man angrily shoved RAW member Brian Williams. A pro-McCain student told us to "go fuck [ourselves]." Various people tried to grab our signs and rip them up. We stayed in the room for about twenty minutes after the rally ended, being interviewed by reporters and having some discussions with McCain supporters. One man said that he didn't like anti-war demonstrators because they propose no "realistic" solutions to the problems in the Middle East; I responded that if by "realistic" he means a continued U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, things will only get worse, and that self-determination and human rights for the people can only be advanced when the troops are withdrawn.
-Alex




















photo by John O'Boyle/Star Ledger

Dershowitz Welcomed by Protests at Rutgers University

A group of protesters gathered on May 8 in front of the Rutgers University auditorium where Alan Dershowitz was scheduled to speak. He was invited to Rutgers to deliver the key note for the celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary. The protesters, many of whom were involved in Rutgers Against the War/ Campus Antiwar Network, held signs such as "Jews Against the Occupation", "Settlements = Ethnic Cleansing", and "End Israeli Apartheid". Several of the attendees took literature, but many were hostile. After one Jewish protester tried to hand literature to an attendee, the attendee threatened to spit in his face. Likewise, one of the Palestinian protesters encountered racist comments; a woman referred to Palestinians as "those damn Arabs." The highlight of the night was when Dershowitz came out to speak to the protesters. He approached with the police watching and said "Its good you are bringing up the Nakbah because I am going to mention it in my speech. The Nakbah is a self inflicted wound!" Dershowitz then refused to respond to incredulous replies. When asked about his statements supporting torture he offered, "I dont support torture. I believe the government should get a warrant first." He then started to walk away. One of the protesters replied, "Should they get a permit before they bomb Palestinian villages?" Though many of the attendees were old enough to remember the establishment of the state of Israel, they could not ignore the growing size of university-based protests against the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the involvement of an increasing number of supportive American Jews.

New Brunswick City Council Passes Anti-War Resolution

Rutgers students and community activists packed the city council meeting last night, demanding that it pass a resolution against the war in Iraq, and that use its influence to get the
charges against the Rutgers 3 (Suzan Sanal, Erik Straub, Arwa Ibrahim) dropped. The resolution was passed unanimously, and New Brunswick thus became the fourth city in New Jersey to stand against the war. None of us had expected the council to actually pass the resolution; this was an incredible victory and the perfect culmination of a year of activism against the occupation.
Link: Home New Tribune article

Text of Resolution:

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick unequivocally supports the men and women in uniform from New Brunswick and the whole of the United State who are stationed overseas in Iraq. These individuals are making unimaginable sacrifices for their country; and

WHEREAS, The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by the US Congress on October 11, 2002, and that Public Law 107-243 cited Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, On January 12, 2005, President Bush officially declared an end to the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, This March marked the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The City Council of New Brunswick expresses its deep opposition to the Bush Administration's continuation of the war in Iraq after its mendacious and deceptive methods of garnering initial support ; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick mourns and honors the approximately 4,000 Americans who have given their lives; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick recognizes that the physical, psychological, and emotional injuries inflicted on over a million service people who have served in Iraq cannot at this time be adequately quantified; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick mourns the indescribable suffering inflicted on the people of Iraq, and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick, like cities throughout the nation relies on support from the federal government to adequately provide for the basic needs of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has appropriated over $400 billion to fund military operations and Iraqi reconstruction, while a steady decline in Federal Housing and Urban Development grants has been experienced since 2002, the year before the war began; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick recognizes the necessity of maintaining the basic constitutional rights of its citizens, especially in a time of war.


BE IT HERE BY
RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick will continue to support the troops currently serving in Iraq and their families; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick will do all it can to help care for those who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and support those who are grieving at the loss of a loved one, and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick communicates its desire to the members of Congress to end the war in Iraq and draw down the combat troops stationed in that country, and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick urges the Federal government to pursue solutions to our country's domestic issues with the same zeal it pursued the invasion of Iraq; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the city Council of New Brunswick will do what it can to support any city residents working to end the War, and be it further

RESOLVED, That Freedom of Speech and freedom of assembly will be staunchly upheld in all cases of peaceful protest in opposition to the War; and be it further

RESOLVED, That at each meeting of the Council, after the Pledge of Allegiance, time is taken to suitably honor those Americans and Iraqis who have lost their lives in the conflict and
communicate information about the continuing fiscal and humanitarian costs to the City of New
Brunswick.
















Erik Straub of Tent State/SDS addressing the council (Photo by Tiffany Cheng)

















RAW member Suzan Sanal reacting to false claims by the city's lawyer about the events leading up to the March 27th Walkout (Photo by Tiffany Cheng)

RAW Updates

This blog hasn't been updated in a while, so here's a summary of things RAW is involved in these days.

Divestment Campaign

Rutgers University's endowment fund is invested in eleven war profiteering companies: Boeing Co., Caterpillar, Inc., DYNCORP International, FMC Tech. Inc., Forster Wheeler, General Electric, Halliburton Co., Honeywell International Inc., L-3 Communications Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., and Raytheon.
RAW is circulating a petition among the student body, and has gathered hundreds of signatures. The petition demands that Rutgers divest from these military contractors, because it is socially irresponsible to invest in companies that profit from a war that has created a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq. The university has in the past committed to the principle of socially responsible investment; it divested from South Africa in 1985, and recently divested from Sudan. The second demand of the petition is for an open endowment, readily available for public scrutiny. Rutgers currently has no known policy on disclosing its endowment holdings, making it difficult to access the information. RAW members are also drafting a proposal on divestment that will be submitted to the university's committee on investments.

Campaign to Defend the RU 3



Three Rutgers students, Suzan Sanal (a RAW member), Erik Straub (Tent State/SDS), and Arwa Ibrahim were issued summonses for their participation in the march onto Route 18, which took place during the Rutgers Walkout Against the War on March 27. They have been charged with disorderly conduct, and if convicted could face up to 30 days in jail, a $500 fine, and a record of an "offense" that would take several years to expunge. The complaint states, "Did engage in conduct which caused a physically dangerous or hazardous condition, specifically by organizing and participating in a protest march onto Route 18 disrupting traffic in violation of N.J.S. 2c: 33-2A(2)."
The Rutgers Walkout Coalition is protesting these charges for several reasons. Arwa Ibrahim did not attend a single planning meeting for the Walkout, so it is ludicrous that she is charged with "organizing" it. Also, the Coalition did not plan the march onto Route 18; it happened on the initiative of the crowd. Furthermore, the law on disorderly conduct states: "A person is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, if with purpose to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof he creates a hazardous or physically dangerous condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor." A protest to end an unjust war is certainly a "legitimate purpose."
Here are some links related to the RU 3:
Rutgers Walkout Coalition blog
Daily Targum article
Star Ledger article
Home News Tribune article
MichaelMoore.com press release
An article from the Targum stating police were pleased with the rally's nature

Upcoming Winter Soldier Event

In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

In 1971, a courageous group of veterans testified about their eyewitness accounts of the Vietnam War in an event called Winter Soldier. On March 13-16th, 2008, service members and veterans once again demanded that the voices of those who actually fight and prosecute the war be heard:

"Once again, we are fighting for the soul of our country. We will demonstrate our patriotism by speaking out with honor and integrity instead of blindly following failed policy. Winter Soldier is a difficult but essential service to our country."

Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan featured testimony from U.S. veterans who served in those occupations, giving an accurate account of what is really happening day in and day out, on the ground.

Two veterans who testified at Winter Soldier will be coming to speak at Rutgers at two times, 3:30pm at Beck Hall Auditorium and 9pm at the Graduate Student Lounge:

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

James Gilligan:
US Marine Corporal (promoted to Sgt on IRR). Served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay.

Iraq 2003 initial invasion, 2nd CEB H&S Co (Combat Engineer Battalion), Corporal E-4, NBC Recon Team Member for CEB Main (Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare).

USNBGTMO Cuba 2003, 3/6 Wpns Co CAAT Plt (Combined Anti-Armor Team), Cpl E-4. Served on the fence line and in the JOC (Joint Operations Center). He has seen Camp X-Ray from the outside and was called to a stress team doctor once there. He has also spoken with several MP's who worked with detainees.

Afghanistan 2004, 3/6 Wpns Co CAAT Plt, Cpl E-4, 240 Gunner on a CAAT truck. He also worked as a tunnel rat.

You may contact James at gilligan007@gmail.com

Kristofer Goldsmith:
US Army Sergeant Kristofer Goldsmith served in Iraq in 2005 as a forward observer.

Unit: 1-30 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
Rank: Sergeant
Served in: State Side Duty OSUT- Jan-May 2004: Ft Sill, OK Permanent Duty Station- May 2004 - August 2007: 3ID Ft Stewart, GA Deployment- OIF III Jan 2005-Aug 2005: Sadr City, Baghdad (FOB Hope) Aug 2005-Dec 2005: Central Baghdad (Camp Liberty)

Walkout Targum Op/ed by Suzan Sanal

To the Editor:
The 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq approaches on March 19th. We will move into the 6th year of a war in which US forces have incurred close to 4,000 fatalities and 30,000 wounded. Estimates of Iraqi fatalities, causalities, displacements and refugees are in the millions, from a pre-war population of 25 million. Projections of the cost to the US treasury are over $2 trillion. What can the Rutgers community do at this moment to express our opposition to the continuing devastation of this war that should have never been started?

WALK-OUT ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27TH AT 1:23PM

Last year, a coalition of student organizations organized a university-wide demonstration that included a walk-out, rally, protest, and march. With little over a month to get it together, the Rutgers community held the largest East Coast action on the anniversary of the war and the second largest in the entire nation. Students, faculty members, and staff walked out of their classes, jobs, dorm rooms, and dining halls and joined a rally at the Vietnam Memorial in the center of Voorhees Mall on College Ave. We listened to fellow students from organizations involved in the coalition, members of the faculty, an Iraqi-American student, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War and Rutgers alumnus, and the mother of Rutgers alumnus U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Seth Jeremy Dvorin who was killed in action in Iraq.

After our rally we took to the streets of New Brunswick and marched to the Marine Recruiting Station on New Street to protest the use of Rutgers resources to attract students into the armed forces with empty promises of tuition coverage and benefits. We chanted to the beats of drums, “One! We are the Students! Two! This is our Movement! Three! We will not join the mil-a-tar-y!” We voiced that military recruiting should be honest, with full disclosure of risks and benefits to prospective recruits, and until then, we refuse to view joining the military as an option.

We followed that rally with an unexpected march on Route 18, which resulted in shutting down the highway for 15 minutes. Construction workers flashed peace signs and gave us thumbs-up and drivers honked in support. Members of the New Brunswick community joined our rally. All along we chanted, “Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” We hit the Associated Press wires and drew national attention across college campuses.

We ended the Walk-Out back at the Vietnam Memorial, inspired to continue our actions against the war and to continue supporting veterans and Iraqi civilians.

And we’re doing it again…

The Occupation of Iraq is still going on and we need to continue to insist on full and immediate withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq. Our government needs to listen to Americans, U.S. troops in Iraq, and Iraqis, who all overwhelmingly oppose the continued war and occupation and want it to end soon.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Our coalition has grown, but we need the Rutgers community’s support to organize this year’s Walk-Out. We are holding a mass meeting in the Graduate Student Lounge on College Ave. next to the Rutgers Student Center behind Au Bon Pain at 9pm tonight. We want your input. We need your help getting the word out and planning. We are confident that that this year’s Walk-Out will be even bigger and bolder than last year’s. You won’t want to miss it…

5 YEARS TOO MANY! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

Rutgers Against the War Solidarity Statement for the Princeton High School Walkout

Your walkout is an inspiration to all of the students in NJ and across the country who have been struggling for years to bring an end to America’s quest for empire. Like Rutgers, Princeton High School turns over records of its students to military recruiters and preys on them with promises for college tuition assistance. Your walkout is a statement that the youth of America are standing up, they aren’t giving up. It is a statement that we are not passive, but that we are disrupting our lives and the institutions that silence and control us. You are not alone in your actions, but are part of a bigger movement that is culminating in walkouts, marches, and civil disobedience across the country and the world. Rutgers Against the War is fully committing to supporting our brothers and sisters at Princeton High School in their walkout and in the struggle for human rights, justice, and peace.

Divestment Rosetta Stone

Divestment Rosetta Stone

By: Ian Chinich

After 6 months of investigating, talking to numerous administrative staff, and having dozens of emails go unanswered, Rutgers Against the War was able to acquire a list of mutual funds and companies where Rutgers University is investing funds. Though the endowment investment information was supposed to be readily acquirable under the public records act, Rutgers lacked a systematic approach of acquiring the information. Through cunning and guile, RAW members were able to still achieve their goal of opening up the endowment to scrutiny.

The list includes 11 prominent military contractors who are contributing to human rights violations (and often being outright murderous).

The companies of particular note are:

Boeing Co.

Caterpillar, Inc.

DYNCORP International

FMC Tech. Inc.

Forster Wheeler

General Electric

Halliburton Co.

Honeywell International Inc.

L-3 Communications Inc.

Northrop Grumman Corp.

Raytheon

It also includes Exxon Mobil Corp. which has made billions of dollars in profits as the disruption of Iraq’s oil supply led to dramatically increased oil prices.

Rutgers Against the War will use this information to conduct a divestment campaign in the mold of the anti-apartheid divestment campaigns of the 80s. If you are interested in learning more, come to a RAW meeting at 9:10 pm on Thursdays in Scott hall rm 101.