A Statement of Opposition to the War in Iraq

The war that is now raging in the nation of Iraq, a war that has claimed between 30,000-and 100,000 innocent Iraqi lives, and over 2,000 U.S. servicemen and women, that has not been justified by either weapons of mass destruction, terrorist ties, or efforts to “establish democracy,” that has bred such atrocities as the London and Madrid bombings, that has galvanized the entire world against the imperialist United States government, must come to an end. Not in six months. Not in one year. But now! The actions currently being undertaken by your government are criminal on an international level. The use of napalm in Fallujah, the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, and the violation of our cherished Constitutional rights here at home are all products of an aggressive, militaristic, power-hungry regime that will not be stopped until the people who have so far remained silent, obedient, or even patriotic, stand up and resist. The criminal acts of the Bush regime have only been allowed to exist through a systematic propaganda campaign exercised by all major media outlets, liberal and conservative. Furthermore, the silence and passivity of the Democratic party, who voted to give war powers to the current regime, has contributed to the destruction of the sovereign nation of Iraq, and they are thus equally responsible for each and every death that has resulted from this illegal war. We, the people, as democratic citizens, as proponents of human dignity, as upholders of the natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, raise our voices over the lies and say No to imperialism, and yes to freedom. Yes to justice. Yes to democracy. Democracy, the rule of the people. Not the rule of corporations. Not the rule of the rich. Not the rule of the white male. But the rule of you and me. The rule of the dispossessed. The poor. The oppressed. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis have vocally called for the immediate removal of U.S. troops from their country. The fact that our government refuses to do so can then only be viewed as a direct and blatant violation of the intrinsic liberties that all Iraqi’s possess. This violation cannot go unpunished. We, the people, the lovers of equality and solidarity, the advocates of a free and peaceful society, demand the end to this war through the direct action of the people. However, most importantly, we recognize a need for a change of tactics. The time for silent vigils and sign-holding, for writing letters to representatives, for holding hands and candles and staging symbolic protests is over. The only thing that will stop this war is direct, militant, disciplined action. Whether you are a proponent of violence or non-violence matters not. If we are serious about fighting against this war, we must all make sacrifices. We must break the law if it is necessary. We must be willing go to jail. We must prepare ourselves for the types of brutality that all heroes for peace endured (King, Gandhi, Malcolm, the students of Kent State, etc.) We must move ourselves off the sidelines and into the streets. We must move our bodies out of darkness and into the spotlight. We must raise the volume of our voices above the repetitive chants of yesterday so that they may hear us in the offices of the warmakers. We must frighten those in power who profit from our apathy and conformity. We must lay waste to the society that discourages the democratic action of the people. We must step outside our comfort zone so that those who have never felt comfort can sleep one night in peace. We must fight for each other, for our lives and others, our brothers and sisters all around the world. Not until we cross that line, not until we dedicate ourselves to a noble life of democratic revolution, will peace ever be won. There are millions around the world ready to take that step. Will you be with us?