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)