May 24-26, 2008 Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, and there is evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War.

The first official Memorial Day was commemorated in 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves by over 5,000 volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery. This Memorial Day, we ask you to take time to remember and honor those who gave their lives, take time to reflect upon the sacrifices they and their families made in our name.

Last year, Cindy Sheehan left the Democratic Party on Memorial Day stating that "I do not have any hope in them... but I have a lot of hope in the American people".
Cynthia McKinney said in her speech, Dreaming of a True Memorial Day, "We, the American people, have been lied to. Our young men and women are dying in a far-off land; those of us who dissent are spied upon by an Administration that violates the Constitution. Our economy has been wrecked by massive theft occurring in the guise of war and disaster profiteering. Our tax money has been used to fly people to places around the world so they can be tortured-whether they're guilty of anything or not. And innocent people all over the planet die as a result of policies carried out in our name that include subversion, sabotage, terrorism, torture, death squads, and drug trafficking. " [http://www.counterpunch.org/mckinney05292007.html]

Even John Edwards, in his 2007 Memorial Day Video challenged us:
This Memorial Day Weekend,
Don't stand quietly,
Don't just go to picnics,
Don't just gather with your friends.
Engage in an act of Patriotism,
Show how much you love this country
and speak out in support of our troops and bring an end to this war.


This Memorial Day Weekend, a national call has been heard to not just decorate the tombs of the fallen but to decorate the highways of America! All across the country, CODEPINK and impeachment groups will hang banners calling for impeachment on highway overpasses during the Memorial Day weekend of May 24 through May 26.
In the Bay Area, CODEPINK and an alliance of impeachment groups will join forces to banner on Memorial Day in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose, Palo Alto. With thousands of motorists on the highways for this long weekend, it's a perfect time to get the message across with freeway blogging.

Freeway Blogger Video: Bright sun shiny day IMPEACH


Here's some great videos of the freeway blogger [http://www.freewayblogger.com] if you need some inspiration! 300,000 cars go by every 24 hours in one location of this video, how many cars go by your closest freeway? Prepare and Get your banners ready! The Revolution Starts Now.
Freeway Blogger Video: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND A HOW TO


SLOGANS FOR SIGNS
Honor our Veterans/No More WAR
Honor our Veterans/IMPEACH the War Criminals
Honor our Veterans/IMPEACH NOW!
No more Memorial Days!

HOW TO for Highway Signs
From AustinImpeach.org
1. Find cardboard (any old box will do).
2. Cut it to the size you want.
3. Paint it white (cheap gallon of white paint - $4-$8)
4. Paint your message in large black letters (at least 9 inches tall to read from freeway). I use an overhead projector to make it look professional - no need to do this.
5. Attach to visible overpasses, telephone/electrical poles, guardrails, parking garages - BE CREATIVE... but remember safety first always!!
6. REPEAT!! And don't forget to take lots of photos!

From Beachblogger http://www.beachblogger.net/bwtm/index.php?title=Freewayblogging_workshop#classic:_cardboard_mining.2C_white_paint.2C_black_paint.2C_brushes.2C_projector
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
Some highway bloggers prefer to make a permanent banner and hold it instead of attaching and leaving the scene. Here's a how to make a fabric banner but remember to sew sand into the bottom if it's going to be windy. There are also some good tips here if the police arrive: <http://codepinkalert.org/downloads/L.A.BannerDropping.pdf>

• Be respectful, but unafraid. We pay the police to protect us. We are patriotic Americans giving up our free time to defend the Constitution, which is under attack by this band of corporate thugs who have been stealing our money to pay for their wars for profit, causing us to be hated around the world, and putting us in danger of further terrorist attack at home.
• If the police order you to remove the attachments you must do so. The law says you are allowed to hold the banner with your hands.
• If they decide your banner is a traffic hazard, you will have to remove it.
• Try to negotiate, citing the huge billboard ads and use of cell phones by drivers. Ask if it would be ok to stay a few minutes longer... just ten or fifteen minutes, and then do as they say. This way you maintain good rapport and they might even look the other way the next time they see you.

MORE POLICE TIPS:

• Is it Legal? NO & YES! http://freewayblogger.com/legal.htm
• Think carefully about your words, movement, body language, and emotions.
• Don't get into an argument with the police.
• Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you.
• Keep your hands where the police can see them.
• Don't run. Don't touch any police officer.
• Don't resist even if you believe you are innocent.
• Don't complain on the scene or tell the police they're wrong or that you're going to file a complaint.
• Do not make any statements regarding the incident.
• Ask for a lawyer immediately upon your arrest.
• Remember officers' badge and patrol car numbers.
• Write down everything you remember ASAP.
• Try to find witnesses and their names and phone numbers.
• If you are injured, take photographs of the injuries as soon as possible, but make sure you seek medical attention first.
• If you feel your rights have been violated, file a written complaint with police department's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board.

OTHER Memorial Day IDEAS

• Impeachment Barbecue! Serve Cheney & Bush Shiskabobs with M-Peach-Mint Pie.
• March in your local Memorial Day parade.
• Decorate your local Memorials for Veterans and hold a silent vigil at 3pm on Monday.
• Honor the women who have died in Iraq serving our country
  For those who want to read the names, see List of Casualties by STATE:
• Have a Teach In for IMPEACHMENT
• Collect signatures for IMPEACHMENT
• FLY your US flag upside down as a sign that our country in is distress

OTHER RESOURCES:

IMPEACHMENT
Charges and Evidence: Impeachment of George W. Bush from http://www.impeachforpeace.org/evidence/

• 1. Illegal War
• 2. Illegal Spying *Update - Recently Found Guilty by District Court
• 3. Geneva Convention Violations *Update -Found Guilty by the Federal Supreme Court
• 4. Illegal Detention *Update - Found Guilty by District Court
• 5. Illegal Release of Classified Information
• 6. Illegal Freezing of accounts and restriction to freedom of assembly *Update - Found Guilty by District Court
• 7. Illegal use of signing statements

Bush Iran Mobile touring thru Florida!

Keep an eye out for it!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 6:30 PM
Iraq Veterans Against the War UF Winter Soldier Forum
Presbyterian Disciples of Christ Church
1402 West University, Gainesville, adjacent to UF


Iran Mobile in Lake Worth, FL Sunday, April 4, 2008

We had a great last minute HiGH NOON missile sighting on Lake Worth Beach today! Three of us diehard Pinks plus a couple of women from Lake Worth Dem Club and Beverley's sister and aunt joined us spur of the moment after she called them at ten to twelve!
Beautiful sunny day and we got quite a few signers on their way to the beach and lots of attention. ~ Hillary [Not Clinton]

By the way, anybody got a smoke machine? Aaron has burned out two of them.

In St. Augustine Friday, April 4, 2008

Iran Mobile Launches Bush Bomb to Stop Attack on Iran

If you get the chance to see this, you will love it! I helped to stop traffic so it could park in front of Bus Boys & Poets in DC on Sunday March 16 during the CODEPINK party and boy did it draw a crowd! We got lots of signatures and some good street discussion.

Aaron still has some available time slots open if you want him to show up at your action so email him your requests. He's soon heading northwest to Tampa, over to Orlando, north to Gainesville and then to Tallahassee. Email Aaron: aaron@truemajority.org or 917-273-0406 Keep checking http://www.codepinkalert.org/florida for the latest updates for the rest of the Bush Iran Mobile Florida tour.

video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKBlz_6Y-U4

http://www.truemajority.org/ and http://www.notanotherwar.org/

5 Years Too Many

Several members of CODEPINK Orlando and CODEPINK UCF travelled to DC for the 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War. On 3/18/08, we marched down the National Mall with a 14 x 30 foot long replica of the Constitution to visualize the restoration of this document and what peace would like if we were able to stop the war.


Dressed in Colonial clothing, our students did a great job of carrying this symbolic paper and rang the bell loudly for Democracy!


They also participated in the STOP-LOSS congress action, Winter Soldier, the CODEPINK party at Bus Boys & Poets for our vets and the St. Patricks Day parade.

see http://www.codepinkorlando.blogspot.com for more photos.

4000 Deaths ~ 170 in Florida

Last year on this day, we all had hoped that we would not be gathering again. After 5 years of the War in Iraq, we have now arrived at the sad milestone of 4000 American soldiers killed in Iraq. Regretfully, the time has now come to mourn and share our heartfelt sorrow at this agonizing loss to our nation and our people once again.

Many CODEPINK chapters will host memorial vigilS this Monday, March 24.
For more information about vigils in your area, contact these coordinators:
GAINESVILLE ~ jacque@codepinkalert.org

ORLANDO ~ www.codepinkorlando.blogspot.com or email codepinkorlando@gmail.com

SARASOTA ~ bellaespana@verizon.net and/or lcmitch78@yahoo.com

SOUTH FL WPB ~ spiderhill@usa.net
The vigil will be at the Mall at Wellington Green, 7:00pm Corner of West Forest Hill Blvd and 441, Wellington, FL the evening after the PB Post announces the 4000th death

SW FL Ft MYERS ~ hrauen@comcast.net
TALLAHASSEE ~ codepinktally@yahoo.com
TAMPA BAY ~ codepinktampabay@yahoo.com and/or tarotlaydee@gmail.com
UCF University of Central Florida ~ xofashionkillaxo@aol.com
VOLUSIA/FLAGLER ~ RSVP: cassydoan@aol.com

Please bring flowers, candles and signs. You are also welcome to bring any other items or props to this vigil. Some cities are doing chalkings of the bodies with the numbers of the US and Iraqi casualties on the sidewalks outside their congressional offices. Some women are dressing in black and wailing in the streets. Some are wearing black armbands with the number 4000, some will be wearing pink tape with the number 4000, some are marching and closing down intersections to draw attention to this travesty and some will be reliving the day they were informed that their loved one was dead.

Regretfully, 4,000 is just the tip of the iceberg. According to CBS, we currently have 120 veterans committing suicide every week or an average of 17 every day. One third of our soldiers have reported to being raped or had an attempted rape during their service. Over 40,000 Iraq veterans have returned home with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, loss of limbs and/or severe head trauma. Their families now bear a heavy burden and are suffering from physical and mental abuse, loss of their homes, jobs and loved ones.

Nobel Laureate Stephen Stiglitz of Columbia and Harvard University public finance Professor Laura Bilmes estimate War costs to be 3 trillion now and the service (interest) on the debt alone will amount to $900 billion. Gas, Bread, Milk and eggs have risen to all time highs in our country and the dollar is pitiful in the world markets. It is not going to get any better, any time soon. In fact, most experts are predicting even worse economic times to come.

Yet the national media has all but ignored the peace movement and entirely ignored testimonies last week of the Iraq veterans who spoke at Winter Soldier. The Washington Post only covered this event in the local section of their paper and none of the major television stations even bothered to show up to hear OUR veterans speak! Testimony by Vets at WINTER SOLDIER: http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/testimony/video

We do not know accurately how many lives have been devastated in Iraq but the chaos and constant trauma has left no one untouched or unaffected. It's possible that over a million have now died and we know that millions more have been displaced and/or had their daily lives destroyed. I hope that YOU will hear this call to action and let your voices be heard.

5YearsofWar.com Event in Tampa 3/19

http://www.5yearsofwar.com
(PICS ARE COMING!)

Tampa streets right around the Federal Courthouse Building came alive this afternoon with the people that the US and our government controlled media can no longer consider "fringe." The majority of American people don't support the war, but they support the troops by insisting that our government bring them home from Iraq. After 5 years of war, it was again, time for this message had to be heard by our leaders since we are not seeing the real cost of this war on our TVs during the evening news and the War is largely ignored by our printed mainstream media.

This event began at 315PM this afternoon with several of the protesters who were veterans gathering together early to meet with the representative from Senator Bill Nelson's office. The meeting was scheduled to let the Senator know that his decisions and his votes do not represent the will of the people. The Senator's assistant was fully engaged in the conversation, took notes, asked questions and assured us that she would make sure that the Senator would know what we discussed and that the questions we had for him would be followed up.

People started to gather on the corner of Florida and Cass Streets, people from many peace groups, faiths, old, young, college aged, kids, families, even doggies for peace (one had a sweater embellished with ALL WE NEED IS LOVE!). "V" was there, a Bush-masked protestor with blood on his hands, Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, members of CAIR and the Bhuddist Peace Fellowship, Pax Christi, USF students, WMNF people, interviewers from the network affiliates, interviewees, and peaceful children, a few with signs they made themselves.

Some of the young people had sidewalk chalk and started drawing on the sidewalk in front of the federal courthouse, then moved across the street to chalk up a huge wall, the length of the city block with some very cool graffitti. There were singers and guitarists, chanting, drumming and people just communing with one another in peace, love and fellowship. Photographers dashed in and out of the crowd trying to get their perfect shots. Organizers chanted on the bullhorns and got the others chanting back and forth. At one count there were 350 people lined up on both sides of the street. The Federal Courthouse security officials watched from the top steps of the building and the police were on the corner observing everyone. As the offices in the downtown area closed for the day, the traffic increased to the rush hour surge, and many people waved and honked their approval of what we were doing as they drove by.

Some of the older children, covered in fake blood, laid down as if dead on the makeshift memorial of shoes that had been displayed on the sidewalk in front of the Courthouse to demonstrate the human cost of war, the death of the innocents. The real numbers of the dead and the real cost of war needs to be noted on this 5th year of the war! Citizens for a Legitimate Government states the following today in their latest report: "...no one knows how many Iraqis have been killed in the five years since the invasion. Estimates put the toll at between 100,000 and one million. 19 Mar 2008 The British polling firm Opinion Research Business (ORB) asked 1,720 Iraqi adults last summer if they had lost family members by violence since 2003; 16% had lost one, and 5% two. Using the 2005 census total of 4,050,597 households in Iraq, this suggests 1,220,580 deaths since the invasion."

That is not even counting the almost 4,000 American soldiers as of this writing and that is the count of those that died in battle, not the numbers of the wounded who died later, at hospitals in Germany or the US, and others that committed suicide later as a result of the emotional and mental trauma they suffered from or those that have suffered and later died from Depleted Uranium and it's disastrous effects. The numbers of the dead the mainstream media give us are skewed!

You and your family are paying dearly for this war! As of right now, this war has cost EACH AMERICAN $16,000! This is as if you opened your checkbook and wrote the check yourself! It is time that the truth about this war is told to the American people. If the media will not do it, WE WILL by becoming the media ourselves. Get up off of the couch, find a local peace group, get active, be engaged, write, call, email, your representatives, ask questions, find out their take on the issues, ask them why they are not representing YOU, after all YOU are paying them with your tax dollars. Spread the word about this unjust war to your family, friends, colleagues, and blog, email, join online forums and stay busy expressing your views to anyone that will listen. Never give up! We can DO THIS!

Florida State Wide Actions in March

Upcoming Events:
Bartow, FL
5 Years Peace Vgil- 03/19
Big Pine Key, FL
5th Anniversary of the Iraq War Vigil- 03/19
Boca Raton, FL
Eyes Wide Open Exhibit - 3/18/08- 03/18
Brooksville, FL
5 Year Iraq War Action- 03/19
Daytona Beach, FL
5 Year Anti-War Demonstration Against the Iraq Occupation- 03/19
Deerfield Beach, FL
Deerfield Vigil- 03/15
Delray Beach, FL
Stand Where You Are- 03/19
Delray Beach, FL
"5 Years Too Many" Vigil Against the War- 03/19
Doral, FL
Witness to Human Cost of US Occupation- 03/19
Gainesville, FL
5th Anniversary of the War- 03/19
Jacksonville, FL
Walk Through the Parks- 03/16
Melbourne, FL
5 Years Too Long- 03/19
Miami Beach, FL
Arlington South Beach: Honor the Fallen- 03/19
Miami Beach, FL
Arlington South Beach: Honor the Fallen- 03/15
Naples, FL
5th anniversary invasion of Iraq- 03/19
Ocala, FL
Vigil to mourn 5 years of war- 03/19

Orlando, FL

Sunset Vigil- 03/19

Orlando, FL
All out against the War- 03/20
Orlando, FL
CODEPINK "Walk in their shoes" Exhibit- 03/20
Pensacola, FL
Protest 5 Years of War- 03/19
Port Charlotte, FL
OUT OF IRAQ- 03/19
Sanibel., FL
Silent Peace Vigil- 03/19
Sarasota, FL
5 Years Too Many- 03/19
Satellite Beach, FL
EYES WIDE OPEN FLORIDA- 03/15
South, FL
Stand where you are- 03/19
St. Augustine, FL
Anti-War Protest and Street Theater- 03/15
St. Augustine, FL
5 Years Too Many Protest & Vigil- 03/19
Tallahassee, FL
Reading of the Names and Candle Light Vigil- 03/19
Tallahassee, FL
5 Years TOO Many- 03/19 Hosted By CodePINK Tallahassee & Tallahassee Network for Justice and Peace
Tampa, FL
5 Year Iraq War Action- 03/19
Wellington, FL
5 Years Too Many, No More Wars- 03/19
Your Town!, FL
Stand where you are- 03/19

To Find ALL Florida events:
http://events.unitedforpeace.org/5yearstoomany/calendars/show

Nelson for Vice President?

Vice President Bill Nelson?
Sen. Nelson says that decision
would have to come this summer.
Watch the interview

Bill Nelson a vice president candidate?
Saturday, February 23, 2008

Vice President Bill Nelson? Sen. Nelson says that decision would have to come this summer.
(AP) -- Florida Senator Bill Nelson says he would consider the Number two job in Washington. The two-term Democratic lawmaker is traveling the state while the Senate is on a short recess. He fielded questions from about 65 people in DeLand Thursday, including one about whether he would consider being a vice presidential candidate. Nelson laughed and noted that decision would have to come after the Democratic National Convention in August.

Nelson also spoke to Bay News 9's Al Ruechel and Howard Troxler from the St. Petersburg Times about the VP possibility. That interview will be broadcast Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Political Connections. He noted the importance of winning Florida if a candidate is going to win the presidency. Watch the interview

Counter-Protesters 101

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster." ~ Nietzsche

1. BE PEACE KEEPERS
If we want our leaders to be ambassadors of peace then we must take the lead and be role models. Role Model Peaceful behavior prior to, during and after the action! On September 15th 2007 the Iraq Veterans Against the War led a 100,000 strong march of anti-war protesters from the White House to the Capitol building. They were supported by the Veterans for Peace. Along the way the marchers were harassed by a pro-war gathering. "Their own actions speak louder than words", watch this video and see if you don't agree: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YlbU5ubDy30 A classic CODEPINK video showing how we truly model peaceful behavior and encourage all to do the same!

And Words from Medea Benjamin:
Be nice. Take the high road. Give peace signs. Blow kisses. Don’t yell.

2. KNOW THY ENEMY
The Gathering of Eagles [GOE], Rolling Thunder and other groups can and will do many things to try and upset a peaceful action but they look like total fools with their bulging eyeballs and their mouths screaming obscenities at beautiful smiling [pink] women and men who are emitting love, peace and tolerance.

So who are these counter-protester people? Well, I suspect that many of them are white supremacists. In this video the guy actually says "like one guy at OUR Nazi's march" so This video is only 3 minutes and it is very weird listening to a KKK talk about how to handle the hippies at a march. The Nazi comment is at the 1:45 mark. http://youtube.com/watch?v=mUD9RTtmkyM&mode=related&search

3. ORGANIZE TRAININGS
Prior to Oct 27, 2007 in Orlando*, we held three trainings regarding non-violent action and peace-keeping, one conference call, one meeting centrally located and one meeting at the University of Central Florida for the many students who were planning on attending our rally and march. We also sent emails to all 85 groups involved and hardly any one on our side of the barricades acted out or was aggressive. We also had Peace-Keepers walking throughout the march. These trainings proved to be very important and effective.

4. PUBLICIZE AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!
Are you expecting counter-protesters at your event? Let the media know that many of these Pro-War folks are very nasty and have specifically targeted CODEPINK and FRIENDS (Quakers) in recent months in many cities around the country. They have screamed and cursed at us, ripped up peace signs and photos of our loved ones who have died in Iraq, even spit on the Veterans for Peace. Let them and everyone know that you intend to show the world a different way to protest! Let the media know that you will not engage these people in argument or word-slinging, that you respect their right to be there and will only act in a peaceful and powerful way to lift up your voices and Stop the War NOW. It's imperative for you to encourage the media to be responsible and get this message out BEFORE your event!

5. BRING IN THE CLOWNS
Invite everyone to join your group including the Clowns (especially the clowns!), artists, anarchist, activists and green groups to creatively and nonviolently confront these Pro-War supporters. Invite Artists to bring chalk and fill the sidewalks with Peace talk and to be part of your banner making, costumes and any other creative visuals you plan on relating to the war.

And don't forget street theater groups! Below is a part of an article about the "Bride Power" clowns that performed at the Nazi rally in Tennessee. Take a look and see if your group has any inspirations for a similar type of public response to the "Gathering of Eagles" or whoever is planning on crashing your party. From http://asheville./indymedia.org/article/107Clowns:

• White Power! the Nazi's shouted, White Flour? the clowns yelled back running in circles throwing flour in the air and raising separate letters which spelt White Flour
  
• White Power! the Nazi's angrily shouted once more, White flowers? the clowns cheers and threw white flowers in the air and danced about merrily.
  
• White Power! the Nazi's tried once again in a doomed and somewhat funny attempt to clarify their message, ohhhhhh! the clowns yelled Tight Shower! and held a solar shower in the air and all tried to crowd under to get clean as per the Klan’s directions.
  
• At this point several of the Nazi's and Klan members began clutching their hearts as if they were about to have a heart attack. Their beady eyes bulged, and the veins in their tiny narrow foreheads beat in rage. One last time they screamed White Power!
  
• The clown women thought they finally understood what the Klan was trying to say. Ohhhhh... the women clowns said. Now we understand...
  
• WIFE POWER! they lifted the letters up in the air, grabbed the nearest male clowns and lifted them in their arms and ran about merrily chanting WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER!

6. BE PEACE KEEPERS**
On Friday September 14th, the evening before a mass anti-war mobilization in Washington DC, the Rolling Thunder pro-war motorcycle veterans showed up at the CODEPINK house IN DC. What began as threatening posturing, turned into an engaging dialog between the two groups who are political polar opposites. See Video below ~ CODEPINK DC ROCKS!

"Rolling Thunder" Pro-War Vets Group Visits CODEPINK at Home! http://codepinkdc.blogspot.com/2007/09/rolling-thunder-pro-war-vets-group.html



*For the Oct27 rally here in Orlando, the GEO announced that they would be coming out strong. Since we have so many retired and x military here in Florida, we were expecting 1,000 to 2,000 of them. On the day of the event, the 25 to 35 GOEs hung out on their corner but by the time the march reached that location, it was pouring down rain and they all looked like a bunch of drowned rats. We ignored them, literally and smiled at the cops in full riot gear, waiving our peace signs and telling them "thank you" for keeping the peace. It was almost a let down for some but not for me. A beautiful march it was!

**It's doubley important!

For Tampa Pinks--check out the new MySpace page..

...for St. Pete for Peace.
http://www.myspace.com/stpeteforpeace
On it there is a flyer for March 19 PEACE ACTIONS in Tampa and Brooksville!
For more info and/or details, contact me here:
codepinktampabay@yahoo.com
You can find us Tampa Pinks at the following listserv and MySpace profile page:
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/codepinktampabay
or
http://www.myspace.com/codepinktampabay
C U in the streets!

Peace Ribbon Project

If you have never seen the Peace Ribbon Project...


This panel was made for Cindy's son.

No More War for Oil!

No more murder of innocent human beings

Bring the Troops Home Now!

As we near 4,000 troops dead, consider making the trip to

see this beautiful and inspirational installation.