[imc-st.louis] [Fwd: Grassroots America Newsletter, Call to Actions and More]

[ben]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Grassroots America Newsletter, Call to Actions and More
From:    "Tina Richards" <tina at grassrootsamerica4us.org>
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Grassroots America
A Non-Profit
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Contents

Call to Action: Activist Needed in N.O.
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act
Activist Adam Kokesh and Tina Richards Face Up To 6 Months in Jail
New Years Eve Party in DC with IVAW
Make Your Call Ad
Call to Action: War Funding

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Computer needed
.
Have a computer you're not using?  Thinking of giving a gift  to GRA?
We are currently borrowing computers right now to get our newsletters and
action
 alerts out.
A computer is needed to continue our work.
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New Office Locations:
Grassroots America is relocating to it's new office:
Please update your records with our new mailing address;
Grassroots America
715 Princeton Place NW
Washington  DC  20010
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New Orleans needs you now!
Join the mass mobilization Dec. 10
Public housing residents passionately opposed the demolition of their
homes at a
 press conference Friday. HUD says the bulldozers will move on the St.
Bernard,
B.W. Cooper, C.J. Peete and Fisher developments Dec. 15 and Lafitte Dec.
17. Will
you be there to stop them?
For the holidays, HUD sends bulldozers to demolish
4,600 New Orleans families' homes
by Bill Quigley
Wednesday, 05 December 2007
On the 12th day before Christmas, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
(HUD) is planning to unleash teams of bulldozers to demolish thousands of
low-income
apartments in New Orleans. Despite Katrina causing the worst affordable
housing
crisis since the Civil War, HUD is spending $762 million in taxpayer funds
to tear
down over 4,600 public housing subsidized apartments and replace them with
744 similarly
subsidized units - an 82 percent reduction. HUD is in charge - one HUD
employee
makes all the local housing authority decisions. HUD took over the local
housing
 authority years ago; all decisions are made in Washington, D.C. (more)
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5VZTEeN289heb7bEO-Z6sGu9DfNI1F5J3z5m43ve20rIhqAt3qKU6BU_CeQFyNVd33zWgVwRV2onFl7VPs99qHzsi6_iv-YatFTbYq-RqNB55TQtvevEo_yZuT2O9ZsJi2j51s4Q2SFh1F53mB1Ib-mT3Tn27WtabCYZnkA6IMyPmzXS2wP1HI0fskViXNGmuC_uTjyhT9sJY2VJmOjTsM_ZceUIiNLIXfF5K7mPk-Y6UhA5PQbtc5V]
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Alert from Jacksonville FL Chapter
All,
Jim and I live on the St. Johns River, not too far north of Jax. Naval Air
Station...yesterday
and
today we have seen unbelievable air traffic of  Chinook and Gun Ships.  We
haven't
seen this
since just before the invasion of Iraq. Not sure what is going on but Iran
comes
 to mind.
Will keep you posted.

This morning in just two pass overs I counted over 30 gun ships.

Glenda
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Want to learn more about the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown
Terrorism Prevention
Act?
Thank you for responding so positively to the Call to Action I sent out. 
I received
many responses as to various aspects of this bill and the potential to
infringe
on our rights.  I felt a need to discuss this in further detail and share
with everyone.
 Please click on the link below to watch American Dream's show on ....
The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act 
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5XvDY1UmDKv7L2yxe06FzFQ62u0Yn5WWbbv9aQe6RhGSF4oy-CNFb4FuRi7qDkdOoS1x0XzytZeBhFZ8a06wwn_76R8QO62_EkT7nHn0I0cHs8kac6m2FivVtpYEGGMgnqwEiogQmFS05J9tllezvL9]
http://www.presstv.com/prg_detail.aspx?SectionID=3510502
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Activist Face up to 6 Months in Jail.....
At this time, Col. Ann Wright is being released from jail after receiving
the maximum
sentence the judge could give for disrupting congress.  Adam Kokesh, Ian
Thompson
and I have the same judge and face up to six months.  We could have chosen
to submit
to the government request and admitted guilt, admitted we do not have the
right
to freedom of speech, and we would face no jail time.  We chose to fight. 
Not for
ourselves, but for the constitution.  For all of us fighting for Freedom
of Speech.
I hope you will  support us as we fight this.  Time in jail without funds
to operate
will leave Grassroots America and myself unable to continue...Please
consider giving
during this time to ensure the fight will continue....
Mail checks to:
Grassroots America
715 Princeton Place NW
Washington DC  20010
or click here for a paypal donation.
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5WIG23ZDxc4rf84Qz3W1YnnZ9Uj5AAfKkn_L6fFhLGaq_S8YuJdkcs2Sh_IbM_TUkVkwcUcoSrZrAIwkCIG-J1aFnJ0xDlMH08jqLxpDTc26D2lALRNsVfCBvqviaWL0pehPBa2YAn3QA==]
In Case you missed it....
Press Release:
Washington, D.C.-- Three activists who were arrested at a press
conference near Lafayette Park appeared in Washington D.C. Superior Court
yesterday
where they were given a trial date of January 3, 2008 (reschedule to
January 17
due to conflicting trials of co-defendants due to arrest during the "No
War, No
Warming" demonstrations), and face a six-month prison sentence.
Adam Kokesh of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Tina Richards of Grassroots
America
and Ian Thompson of the A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
Coalition
where arrested during a press conference near Lafayette Park where the
National
Park Service deployed mounted police and a SWAT team to disrupt it. (See
URL for
 video below.) The press conference was called to display the lawful way
to apply
posters in response to almost $40,000 in postering fines levied against
the ANSWER
Coalition.
The posters advertised the September 15 March on Washington and
Die-In led by Iraq War Veterans that was attended by 100,000 people.Police
arrested
200 people at the Die-In on the steps of the Capitol.
"The Constitution gives me the right to freedom of speech," said Tina
Richards. "We lawfully applied the posters and we have the right to
freedom of speech." Adam Kokesh stated, "That the government has chosen to
pursue
these charges is indicative of at least the consent if not co-conspiracy
of the
Justice Department to the brutal actions taken by the police to silence
war critics."
"This prosecution is not only a waste of time, but also of taxpayer
dollars," said
Ian Thompson. "It is part of the Bush administration's plan to criminalize
dissent
and curtail the constitutional rights of people who speak out against the
illegal
war on Iraq."
The video can be viewed at:http://youtube.com/watch?v=5EAfPgX7gs0
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5WCNWd9Qt27SoUCVsaQW3hpBk9-YLd406sMHcs4WGmogWesmHfZWcXH0Jk40cvFylvbrc5vJH0gv5hZW-srLSiynorEQPRyL4veN7ANayI99kP0Gf85b8zJZoPVUdQBAw8=]
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New Years Eve With IVAW ....

Food, Champagne and more.....
$50 door charge...
All proceeds go to support the IVAW DC Chapter's House.....
Come hear the plans for this wonderful new resource for our veterans.
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The 5th Year Annivary is Coming
Where will you be?
What do you want to do?
What do you think is the best action we can take to deliver the message,
"End the
Occupation"
You Decide!
There is much discussion among various organizations as to the fifth year
anniversary
of the war.  Any action must come from the support of the grassroots. 
Below is
a list of ideas being discussed, please let me know what you want and any
additional
ideas that haven't been presented.
March 10 to the 14:  Congress is in session, discussions of Concert & Rally
March 15:  March and Rally
March 17 to the 19:  People's Congress--Congress is in recess--So the
people will
hold congress in the capitol.  We will hold judiciary hearings,
impeachment hearings,
ending the war and more.
Many of these options have plus and drawbacks.  Let me know what you want
to do.
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Winter Soldier
We Support the Troops Who Oppose the War
In 1969, the My Lai massacre helped fuel popular opposition to the Vietnam
War.
U.S. political and military leaders insisted that such crimes were
isolated exceptions.
Members of Vietnam Veterans Against the Warknew differently.

In January of 1971, over one hundred Vietnam Veterans gathered in Detroit
to testify
their
experiences
to America. Their testimony, called the Winter Soldier Investigation,
revealed that atrocities were systemic and responsibility laid at the
highest levels of government.
The U.S. Government lied to get us into war and continues to conceal the
true nature
of military occupation.
On the weekend of 13-15 March, 2008, Iraq Veterans Against the War will
assemble
 history's largest gathering of US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan,
as well as Iraqi and Afghan survivors. They will provide first hand
accounts of their experiences and reveal the truth of occupation.

We support Iraq Veterans Against the War and their Winter Soldier: Iraq &
Afghanistan
Investigation. Join us in supporting the effort to reveal truth in the way
that
only those who lived it can.

Click on this link http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldierstatmentofsupport
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5XxgEcUHd_MnlWfvl9NpFqzt1HCH49aMup-C24tigsQVteckOQsFkHTH8N2FVwc2zLoYOSoVoWei7GY8AfZdmQLB99-zWEoJJ1SubzCfBEcYrcDcszUZ12KfiZd5P0Q7WHqlD_t1PQ_Gg==]
to sign the statement of support below

Here is a brief intro to the statement

Support Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan Investigation
They saw it for themselves, now --with your support-- they'll tell it for
themselves.
On the weekend of 13-15 March, 2008 Iraq Veterans Against the War will
assemble
history's largest gathering of US veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as
well as Iraqi

and Afghan survivors. They will testify to their first hand experiences
and reveal
the
truth of occupation.
This investigation will help end the war because it will:
1. Embolden GI resistance by making the truth of their experiences an
acceptable
 part
of the national dialogue. Further, the DVD created at this conference will
be a
powerful
educational tool on the history of GI movements and will encourage
independent thought
and collective action.
2. Mobilize the anti-war movement by demonstrating the power of organized
opposition
and
providing the facts needed to confront the myths propagated by the
administration,
congress and the media. IVAW will also present its strategy of organizing
GIs to

encourage  the anti-war movement as a whole to support GI resistance.
3. Build solidarity between the common peoples of the US, Iraq, and
Afghanistan.
The people who suffer the most from this occupation will be given a voice
and a
view into
our struggle to end the unlawful occupation of their countries. Through
this event,
IVAW

hopes to build lasting ties with the common people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
4. Shape the way this history is told to future generations. Without a
concerted
 effort to
dispel the myths and sugar coated images of the U.S. occupations, future
generations
will never know the realities of war.
5. This project provides you with the opportunity to feel the deep
satisfaction
of contributing
to laying the building blocks of an extremely meaningful movement. The
best way
for us
to  prevent the wars looming on the horizon is for people to collectively
stay on
the
offensive against the current wars.
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Make Your Call | Do Something!
My name is Misty and my partner and I have made a commercial 
[http://ui.constantcontact.com/rnavmap/evaluate.rnav/pidHRS75avts38umqjLxCttlDs320]
we hope to get on TV and a corresponding website to ask the
millions of  disaffected Americans to call their members
of Congress to insist that they:
1) stop the war
2) restore the Bill of Rights and
3) IMPEACH Bush and Cheney
We know most Americans would like these things to
happen, but many don't think their actions matter or
don't know how to go about taking action. We think
this (Americans calling their respective
Congresspersons en masse) is best way to make these
things happen.
Please check out the website www.makeyourcall.org
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5UQsKXMDX1fWSy2t2VKImPkN7a2J5DLNZ_9BTLTKTHale-xmTDill0sfkCmsfJeojuVBY1tUmjSrQN9GZwiH_Nh8-lMqwSQBFbmw2VCbCL-xA==]
and
let us know what you
think. If you like it, help us in
our campaign for righting the wrongs in America by
posting this commercial, and perhaps a small exerpt
about what it is, on the front page of your  website.
We're already working together on the  same side,
but can work more closely perhaps.
We would be exceedingly grateful!
Thank you for what you do, and for considering what
we're asking.
Misty
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Call to Action
Congress to Vote on Iraq Funds Tuesday, Dec. 11

Dear Friends,
We are still trying to get details on this impending vote, but we
will probably not get them until Monday, but action is needed, so we
are sending you this notice now.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Senate will likely vote again on
funding for the occupation.  The funding will probably be tied to
crucial domestic spending bills, and include no restrictions or troop
withdrawal requirements. It is unclear whether the House leadership
will bring Iraqfunding to the floor also (after having promised not to).


Congress -- especially the Senate -- has to hear that we are fed up with
their capitulation
to Bush on funding for Iraq.  We understand time is short, but we urge you
to make
your voices heard.

Choose the tactic that works best for you and your district:

Send a delegation to the offices of your Senators or
Representative on Monday or Tuesday -- emphatically demand an end to
the occupation. Your peaceful visit can be brief, or last long enough
for your to read the names of every civilian and soldier killed in
Iraq, or it can last until the member of Congress agrees to oppose all
funding that is not tied to the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops
and contractors. If you are able to organize a visit (please
prioritize visits to your Senator(s) post notice of the visit here:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?sortby=&caltype=59
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0018B9pndeoP5VZb0065kV_Mv0dFCZmC5FMmFDEHDp4NRBPvAMdUcf2mc4Eb4PF8drGGreB-ykSZ0rJ0n7ZTj_6nFb23Q7zAv76iE5O4YGI8QkhEb3uXKbbcDnv7dtEdSpdCE-5CGbjg3eMvoaTmkYux8PgRu_XMkTJ5uhL5P4uswg=]
 UFPJ will send out an alert to our full list driving people to the
calendar to
join you in your visit.
Flood your Legislators with phone calls: Reach both of your
Senators and your Representative through the Capitol Hill switchboard:
202-224-3121
Message - vote NO to any funding for the occupation of Iraq that does not
require
the rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops and contractors.

Background
Congress has not passed most of the Appropriations Bills
necessary to fund the government and government services. The stopgap
funding measure ('Continuing Resolution') that they passed last month
expires on December 14, so they have to pass something before then in
order to prevent a governmet shutdown. Pro-war legislators see this as
an opportunity to force a vote on Iraqfunding without any conditions. We
are gettting
conflicting reports
from staff and the media about what is happening behind the scenes -
but it looks likely that the Senate will consider some Iraqfunding measure
along
 with an omnibus spending bill (that rolls all the
Appropriations bills for all Departments into one giant spending
bill). In the House, Democratic leadership had been promising that
they would not take up anymore Iraqfunding bills until next year. They
have made
 these statements
repeatedly in the press and to other members of Congress. We don't
know if they will keep this promise or not.
Sue Udry,
UFPJ Legislative Director
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"There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes
you so
sick at heart, that you can't take part, you can't even passively take
part, and
 you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon
the levers,
upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop! And you've got to
indicate
to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're
free, the
 machine will be prevented from working at all!" - Mario Savio
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Thank you for all your continued support.
Tina Richards
Founder, Grassroots America

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Forward email
http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101651668549&ea=westbywest@riseup.net&a=1101904879002


Grassroots America | c/o Institute for Policy Studies | 1112 16 St. NW |
STE. 600 | Washington | DC | 20036

-- 
Ben West
westbywest at riseup.net
http://savetheinternet.org
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