War IS A @#!$ Women's Issue Planning Conference Call Recording

December 9, 2018

 

This month's Community Conference Call mostly centered around updates about (W)MOP's #IlluminateYemen Campaign Updates and planning for

 

War IS A Women's Issue!

(Great resources)

 

Click the Image of #BadAssBillie above to listen to a 59 minute recording of the call.  

 

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(Women's) March on the Pentagon

The Bonnie and Cindy Show (Soapbox Podcast December 8, 2018)

Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox

December 8, 2018

Guest: Bonnie Caracciolo

Bonnie Caracciolo: National Co-Coordinator for Women's March on the Pentagon

Topic:

 Women's March on the Pentagon

Past: the March and Rally on Oct 21

Present:  #IlluminateYemen Campaign

Future: March on Pentagon Movement

(Women-led, anti-imperialist)

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 (W)MOP Muse: Badass Billie

(W)MOP UPDATES:

Statement: On the Death of War Criminal George H.W. Bush 

 

Statement: SJR 54 Will Not End the War in Yemen

 

Statement: We Refuse to Pay to Protest

 

#IlluminateYemen 

PHOTOS/VIDEOS OF 

OCTOBER 21, WOMEN'S MARCH ON THE PENTAGON 

 

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CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX 

 

 

(W)MOP Calls for a National Day of UN-mourning on December 5, 2018

Statement on the Death of War Criminal George H.W. Bush

We at (W)MOP are vehemently opposed to wars and war criminals and, with few exceptions, every US president falls into the latter category.

We are also vehemently opposed to the lionization of each war criminal as they finally pass from this mortal coil and we are also opposed to the fact that most of them die prosperous and peaceful and not rotting in Guantanamo or Ft. Leavenworth.

Donald Trump has declared Weds, December 5th as a "national day of mourning for George HW Bush," the 41st War Criminal in Chief. (W)MOP is not calling for a day of rejoicing, as we just plan on going on with our normal lives, trying to end war and the calumny of the US Empire.

So we at (W)MOP are declaring a National Day of Un-mourning on December 5th, 2018.

George HW Bush's record is there for anyone to see, and to us it's appalling and we mourn each and every one of the US Empire's victims during his reign of terror, most particularly as Director of the terrorist organization called the Central Intelligence Agency; Vice Present and President of the USA, and as the father of at least one more War Criminal in Chief and many other criminals.

The interesting thing about the "legacy" of George HW Bush, though, is that we look at his record with horror, while the rest of the country looks at it with respect and honor.

We are sure there are millions of people around the world, in Panama and Iraq, for example, who agree with us and are not mourning GHWB, either.

We have to make it NOT NORMAL to be a war criminal, and not honor them by naming airports and roads after these thugs. 

One thing we can sadly agree with about the rhetoric around the death of GHWB: He was a "great American," and we need to make that phrase stand for something different: peace for all, prosperity for all, good health for all and a sustainable planet where these things can happen. 

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(Women's) March on the Pentagon

SJR 54 Will Not End the War in Yemen (Statement from March on the Pentagon)

 For Immediate Release

As the Senate prepares to debate Senate Joint Resolution 54, March on the Pentagon encourages Americans to read the text of the resolution and consider its actual implications.

On November 28th, the Senate voted 63-37 to discuss the resolution on the Senate floor. In March, the same resolution was not approved. While November’s vote can be considered progress on the topic, the most important thing to note is that this resolution, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), does not call for an end to U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen and may very well only serve to pacify Americans that are only slightly aware or concerned about the issue.

The bill has been falsely lauded as a potential end to U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen. The conclusion of the bill says it all, quite plainly:

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS.

Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–329; 90 Stat. 765), Congress hereby directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen, except United States Armed Forces engaged in operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces, by not later than the date that is 30 days after the date of the adoption of this joint resolution (unless the President requests and Congress authorizes a later date), and unless and until a declaration of war or specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces has been enacted.

We know full well what this means. “Operations directed at al Qaeda” are under the “war on terror” umbrella - the vague war on a moving target that has resulted in the ruin of entire countries and the loss of millions of innocent lives since 2001.

The situation in Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The best way for the United States to move forward at this point is to cease all military operations in Yemen, regardless of target, and all support for the murderous Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the United Arab Emirates. This means an end to the sale of weapons used against Yemen, an end to sharing intelligence, an end to providing midair refueling assistance, etc.

The passage of SJR 54 will not stop the war in Yemen and Americans need to know the truth. If anything, it will lead to a false sense that “we” won and that significant progress is being made while the genocide continues.

March on the Pentagon rejects SJR 54 as the means to an end to the war in Yemen.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MARCH ON THE PENTAGON'S YEMEN CAMPAIGN

(W)MOP Community Conference Call: War IS a Women's Issue (Sunday, December 9, 2018)

(W)MOP Monthly Community Conference Call

WHEN: Sunday, December 9

(Second Sunday)

TIMES: 4pm Pacific

5pm Mountain

6pm Central

7pm Eastern

Agenda

War IS A Women's Issue and our

next event:

Joining local Women's Marches in January with 

"War IS A Women's Issue" Contingents

#IlluminateYemen

 

Email Cindy Sheehan for an invitation to the monthly call.

CindySheehan@MarchonPentagon.com

Note: If you signed up for last month's call, you will be getting an invitation for this call.

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Irene and Matt's Soapbox Guest: Amoja Sumler (December 2, 2018)

Matt and Irene's Soapbox

December 2, 2018

Guest: Amoja Semier

Amoja Sumler is a nationally celebrated poet, essayist and one of the preeminent emerging voices of leftist intersectional social advocacy. From his essay’s discussing the role of law enforcement to capitalism he is best known for fusing the art of the intellectual into the familiar. Amoja has headlined poetry festivals such as the Austin International Poetry Festival, the Bridgewater International Poetry Festival, Write NOLA in New Orleans and Rock the Republic in Texas. As a resident artist of several southern Arts in Education rosters, Amoja lectures at schools and literacy nonprofits, while teaching creative pedagogy and keynoting at social advocacy conferences like Long Beach Indie Film Pedagogy Conference and Furious Flower, throughout the nation.

  

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CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX 

#IlluminateYemen: Rolling Hunger Strike for Yemen

  
The humanitarian crisis (genocide) in Yemen is worsening, despite some weak, toothless bill proposed in the US Senate. 

We, the people who can think outside of our own borders and immediate circles of concern need to step up our efforts!

 

So, this is my final day of my hunger strike for Yemen---after I got really ill during the toxic air bombardment of Northern California, it became more of a very low calorie fast, then a liquid fast, and one I will continue indefinitely. 

There are still many wonderful humans fasting and India Weeks pledged to take over from me on December 1st and she is still going to. She and others have asked me for tips on what to do while on the hunger strike.

 

TIPS FOR HUNGER STRIKE

I have sent $50/week (grocery savings) to aid the Yemeni and (Women's) March on the Pentagon is collecting money throughout the month of December to send for Yemeni aid at the end of the year.

 

(Women's) March on the Pentagon has very informative page on our website about the situation in Yemen that you can use to share with friends, family, contacts, enemies, etc.

 

(Women's) March on the Pentagon has a petition to sign (even though we think petitions are the least of what we can do, we feel this issue is very important) that can be shared.

 

Most people have gone on juice only/clear broth hunger strikes. Also, add a pinch of sea salt to your water for essential minerals.

 

Be gentle with yourself and take some food if you feel your health is being compromised. In any case, we honor your commitment to the people of Yemen, and your compassion for those being harmed by the actions of the US Empire and its lackeys. 

 

We are not medical providers, so we take no responsibility for health issues--if you are concerned, check with your health practitioner.

 

(Women's) March on the Pentagon will be sponsoring a rolling fast for Yemen in December and we are encouraging people to each take one day and during that day, share articles, information, and the link for people to donate to aid for Yemen.

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We REFUSE to Pay to ProtestStatement from (Women's) March on the Pentagon (edited December 5 with ACPD response)

We REFUSE to Pay to Protest

UPDATE: RESPONSE FROM ARLINGTON COUNTY PD: WE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY!!

 





Statement from (Women's) March on the Pentagon

 
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Cindy Sheehan:
CindySheehan@MarchonPentagon.com

What: The day before Thanksgiving, Cindy Sheehan, co-coordinator of the recent Women’s March on the Pentagon* (WMOP) was presented with a $540 bill for “police escort” by the Arlington County (Virginia) Police Department (ACPD).

Background: Beginning in July, leadership of WMOP began taking steps to secure permits from the two jurisdictions that the WMOP would take on October 21st (51st anniversary of the March on the Pentagon during the Vietnam War): Arlington County (brief march) and the Pentagon. Although WMOP eventually obtained a permit from the Pentagon, WMOP was never able to obtain a permit from Arlington County and many phone messages left by DC area Co-ordinator Malachy Kilbride were never returned by the ACPD.
 
On the day of the March, about 1500 people gathered at the Pentagon City Metro station (for a 12pm March start) in front of the mall and at about 10:30am, to the surprise of March organizers, ACPD showed up and did stop traffic for the brief March through Arlington County.
 
The organizers of the WMOP are outraged and appalled by this obvious violation of our First Amendment rights to gather “peaceably” and demonstrate one of the sacrosanct rights to our Freedom of Speech.
 
The DC area co-ordinator for the WMOP Malachy Kilbride had this to day upon receipt of the bill:  “As a former resident of Arlington County of over 20 years I am disturbed that the county is following in the footsteps of the Trump Administration which wants to charge people for First Amendment activity. Shame on Arlington County! The First Amendment is priceless and shouldn't be monetized.” 

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF)* the D.C. based non-profit legal organization that works to protect and advance the constitutional rights of protestors has issued the following letter to the ACPD on behalf of the Women's March on the Pentagon:

Chief Jay Farr

Lt. John Feden


Arlington County Police Department


 1425 North Courthouse Rd
. Arlington, VA 22201

Dear Chief Farr and Lt. Feden:

We are writing on behalf of Cindy Sheehan in response to Lt. John Feden’s e-mail correspondence dated November 21, 2018. 

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) has issued an invoice to Ms. Sheehan seeking to charge her for engaging in constitutionally protected First Amendment activities. Specifically, the invoice is stated to be “for the police services we provided October 21st during the March On the Pentagon,” and demands $540.00 for what is described as “police escort for The Women’s March on the Pentagon.” 

This attempt to tax free speech is without lawful basis and violates Ms. Sheehan’s constitutional rights. We request that this invoice be immediately withdrawn.

Ms. Sheehan did not request police “services,” nor was she given prior notice that the ACPD intended to send police to the demonstration and charge her for their time.  At no time did Ms. Sheehan agree to pay for any such charges. 

Indeed, the ACPD actually refused to respond to Ms. Sheehan’s efforts to coordinate the First Amendment activities with them. An application for a permit was submitted for the March and thereafter, Arlington Country was nonresponsive to follow up efforts. After failing and refusing to return phone calls regarding the March, the ACDP appeared at the Pentagon City mall in front of the metro stop entrance at the starting point for the march, well before the march was scheduled to step off. At that time Ms. Sheehan expressed her surprise at their presence given their refusal to communicate with the March organizers. 

The ACPD may not charge demonstrators for First Amendment activities at its own discretion. We are requesting that the ACPD provide all policy documents, guidelines, and criteria that the department relies upon in assessing charges on demonstration activities as well as any notice it believes was given to Ms. Sheehan of such policies and procedures. 

We further request that the ACPD issue instructions to personnel consistent with constitutional obligations to ensure that organizers of demonstration activity are not improperly charged in the future.

Sincerely,



                                

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard (PCJF)      

 The Women's March on the Pentagon adamantly refuses to pay for this appalling violation of our constitutional rights.

 

                    

*The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is a free speech and civil rights organization that has defended First Amendment rights for over 20 years in Washington, D.C. and around the country. It is currently challenging the Trump Administration's proposed anti-protest rules that would levy potentially bankrupting fees and costs on demonstrators who engage in constitutionally protected free speech on public parkland in the nation’s capital. More information at www.JusticeOnline.org

*(Women's) March on the Pentagon is a women-led coalition of activists, professionals, military veterans, and everyday citizens of the world with one thing in common: we are anti-imperialist. More info can be found at: www.marchonpentagon.com

Cuba Por Vida by Cindy Sheehan

An Exclusive Report on her recent inspiring trip to Cuba
 

Cuba Por Vida by CINDY SHEEHAN

First appeared in ROL, USA Newsletter #111

At Gates of Gitmo Torture Camp: 2007

2007 was the first time I went to Cuba—the timing was around the anniversary of the U.S. (under the Bush regime) opening the prison/torture camp at Guantanamo Bay. My traveling companions included an Arab woman whose son was currently detained at Guantanamo; a man who had been detained there; and a mother whose son was killed in the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. We were quite the group of people whose lives had been fundamentally changed by the actions of the demented U.S. Empire. Despite promises to the contrary by the Obama regime, Guantanamo Prison Camp is still open for torture business all these years later.

For my first trip, I recall having to “sneak” into Cuba via Cancun on a very rickety plane of Cubana Airlines. During our visit there, we stayed at hostels and guest houses and we ate very simply of beans and rice and vegetables most of the time. We traveled to Guantanamo from Santiago de Cuba in a very old school bus with springs that had seen better days during the Nixon regime. It was a heavenly trip and I fell in love with the people, culture, and revolution!

After that trip, I have been to Cuba several times more—always “illegally,” but always with varying degrees of what we would call “Western comfort.” Toilet seats, door handles, food choices, and building supplies are at a premium because of the U.S. blockade, but what’s always in abundant supply in Cuba is the friendliness of the people and the revolutionary spirit.

Recently in June of this year, I had another opportunity to travel to Cuba and, for the first time, I took a regularly scheduled U.S. flight from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Havana! Incredibly, I flew Southwest Airlines and even earned miles for future trips! It was very easy to obtain a visa at a special counter and, even though it was much more simple to get to Cuba, part of the delicious feeling of disobeying the U.S. regime was missing. Although there are still restrictions for U.S. citizens going to Cuba, we are now allowed to bring back Cuban cigars and Cuban rum and souvenirs (up to a certain dollar amount). With this new situation, I would encourage everyone to travel to Cuba and see for themselves about how we have been lied to and lied to our entire lives about the “oppressive” society.

I was watching a mainstream show recently and the host was in Cuba to find “buried treasure,” and he said that despite living under “authoritarian rule,” the people of Cuba were always singing and dancing and have huge smiles on their faces! Perhaps, this is because there is not an over abundance of oppression, but a not-so-buried treasure of human kindness in Cuba? How could a people feel oppressed when their basic needs are recognized and fulfilled by the Cuban government? The people of Cuba and the non-authoritarian authorities that I have been in contact with along the path of my journey, recognize that their enemy is U.S. imperialism and the rotten, decades long U.S. blockade of Cuba, not their own government or leaders.

Even though the inhuman blockade has done its job of blocking, or severely limiting essential goods, food, medicine, and other products, the people of Cuba have made do for all these years because of their will. We asked a woman who was the president of a farming co-op in Villa Clara province how the blockade affected her and her community and her answer was simply, “the U.S. does what the U.S. does, but our job is feeding our community and we will do that despite the U.S.”

Our tour group encountered that kind of spirit all over Cuba.

Again, in Villa Clara we met with some English students at a gathering at La Universidad Marta Abreu. I spoke at an exchange with the students. They were appalled and a little skeptical of what I shared with them about higher education in the U.S.: basically, as we all know, it’s prohibitively expensive and USAian youth either go into life-long debt, join the military, or are born into families that profit off of war, so they don’t have to worry about the cost.

In Cuba, education is compulsory to the 9th grade. After that, students can choose to go three ways: into university prep, an apprenticeship, or to vocational school depending on their test scores and desires. The university students we met at Marta Abreu (from Santa Clara, a heroic figure in Cuban history; a supporter of Cuban independence from Spain and “benefactor” to the early efforts) told us that once they are accepted to university, the requirements are strict, but there is no cost for school, supplies, lodging, or food. We all know about the famous medical school Cuba maintains for free for students all over the world, and I have been there. However, to be in the provinces to see how “oppressed” (read healthy and happy) university students really are increased my resolve to expose the lies of the U.S. empire about Cuba. I wish my son Casey didn’t feel he had to join the military to get a university education, or even that my daughter Carly didn’t owe around 50k for her degrees. Poor (monetarily) Cuba, unlike the wealthy U.S., recognizes that education is a human right, not a privilege for the few.

Another aspect of Cuban society that is so contrary from what we experience in the U.S. is the way that labor relations are handled.

Our tour group visited a factory in Cuba that made plastic bags. While most of us were not in favor of the product, that was not the point of the visit. What we were to get out of this exchange was that there is no tension between worker and management. There are no “sides” in the traditionally adversarial relationship because even managers are workers in Cuba and everyone in the factory is working towards the same thing: the most efficient and safe way to mass produce their product. I have observed that here in the U.S., (with notable and rare exceptions) even some union executives seem to work against the workers for the bosses and mostly the Democrat party.

One thing about Cuba that is so impressive to me is that while it is a very poor country, most of the resources go to the people and not to funding a huge military and cancerous empire all over the world. Fidel is almost universally loved in Cuba because the people there know that he devoted his life to them and despite hundreds of assassination attempts by the CIA, he stood firm in his revolutionary ideals and never wavered in his service to not only the people of Cuba, but by sending doctors and teachers all over the world (where they would be welcomed), he shared the true wealth of Cuba.

Finally, our week of traveling to have our faith in the people of Cuba (after the death of Fidel and retirement of Raul) confirmed, was “crowned” by a ceremony that was hosted by the living mothers of the Cuban Five.

In 2013, I traveled to Holguin Cuba to participate in a colloquia around the international efforts to Free the Cuban Five … I think readers of this newsletter are familiar with the case, but the Cuban 5 were five anti-terrorist agents who came to the USA and infiltrated counter-revolutionary organization against Cuba to prevent further acts of terrorism against their country. In an effort to be transparent with the U.S., Cuba passed some sensitive information to the U.S. government, and the five were promptly arrested and after trumped up charges and a truly kangaroo court, the five were convicted of spurious charges and sent to various U.S. prisons for various lengths of term.

That year in Holguin, as a pledge to do everything I could to help secure the Freedom of the Five, I presented the mothers: Mirta Rodríguez (mother of Antonio ), Magali Llort (mother of Fernando) and Irma Sehwerert (mother of René) my most precious treasure, a necklace that Casey gave me when he was in the Army and obviously before he was killed in Iraq. I also promised to return to Cuba to retrieve my necklace when their sons were home.

Cindy with Mothers in Holguin

Well, lo and behold, on December 17, 2014, we awakened on the West Coast to the news that in a “prisoner exchange” the remaining members of the Cuban Five were back in Cuba!

To make a long story short, I was able to finally receive my necklace back in a very emotional ceremony that was attended by four of the five Cuban campaigners and their three living mothers! In true Cuban style though, there was much dancing, singing, eating, and laughter along with the free-flowing tears!

Cuba is a paradise, but it is not a perfect paradise. In my humble opinion, the return of limited “free enterprise” there is not a positive development. This is the first visit where I witnessed many examples of a growing income inequality (mostly in Havana). However, I cannot imagine that the people of Cuba would be very interested in returning to the days before their beloved Che and Fidel helped to liberate them from U.S. imperialism, the cancer of capitalism, and the Batista dictatorship.

Cindy receives her necklace back from Cuban 5 and their mothers

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As a child of the Cold War, my experience with Cuba and its lovely people, has done more than almost anything, except Casey’s murder, to highlight the treachery and viciousness of the U.S. Empire that killed Casey and has oppressed, or killed millions more over the years.

Always question, never surrender!

Viva, Cuba, y hasta la victoria, siempre!

CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX