8-3-07: Updated discussion here.
Happy Sunday, fellow blog mates! My goal in The Blogging Actionist is to periodically post updates and alerts to help keep us informed, stay connected, and continue communicating with each other at TPM Cafe. The hope is that these briefings will help us to stay vibrantly engaged with the latest political actions happening in both blog space and in real space. As always, your tips, suggestions, comments, and collaboration are welcome. Following is my first briefing.
July 23, 2007: The Orange Revolution Begins: START IMPEACHMENT and STOP THE WAR Background:
On July 23, 2002, the head of British intelligence reported that Bush and Cheney were intent on invading Iraq and planned to "fix the intelligence and facts around the policy".
Five years later a million people have died in Iraq as a direct result of these lies with no end in sight. Torture has been institutionalized, habeaus corpus eviscerated, and illegal spying made routine. New Orleans lies devastated along with the Constitution and the rule of law. And Bush and Cheney are making a mockery of the Democrats' gestures towards accountability. What's Happening: Tomorrow, Monday, July 23rd, 2007, launches a new phase in the movement for peace and justice called the Orange Revolution.
What We Can Do: Starting that day wearing orange will signify that you want Congress to START IMPEACHMENT and STOP THE WAR. Anything orange will do: a t-shirt, a wristband, a ribbon, your shoelaces. Get creative -- tie a bow of orange yarn around your front door knob, tree, car antennae, office chair and more. Add to our idea bank.
Organizers say that wearing orange will be our signal to each other--and to the world--about where we stand. The majority of Americans want to see Bush and Cheney impeached and want an immediate end to this war made effectively invisible by a complicit media. What Others Are Doing: The Orange Revolution will be launched with acts of civil disobedience in Washington D.C. and elsewhere to show Congress that we are serious.
In Washington D.C., Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Zeese, Tina Richards, and others will march from Arlington National Cemetery to the office of Congressman John Conyers.
These non-violent actionists will sit in Conyers' office reciting the U.S. Constitution until they are either arrested or he agrees to start impeachment. For time and location see After Downing Street.
Similiar actions will take place in the offices of Rep. Howard Berman in California, Rep. Pete Visclosky in Indiana, and Rep. John Conyers' district offices in Detroit.
If you are willing to go to jail for justice you are encouraged to come to Washington to participate in the civil disobedience, or to stage a sit-in at your congress member's district office: http://www.democrats.com/sit.
Bloggers Recap: Spread the word online. Wear/Display Orange. Contact John Conyers' Office on July 23. Email: John.Conyers@mail.house.gov FAX: (202) 225-0072
Keep it Simple, Sweetie: KISS -- Invite people who cannot join the actionists in D.C. to please wear/display something orange in solidarity with them tomorrow, and to phone Congressman Conyers' office on July 23 asking him to move forward on impeachment. Phone: (202) 225-5126.
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Future Planning at the Cafe
Following are TPM Cafe blogs where you can stay tuned, stay active, and stay in touch in the days ahead. All are welcome to become part of the conversations!
September 17: Get informed and contribute your ideas and updates to our Constitution Day Redress Campaign.
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Actionist Blogs to check out, shout out, and cross post:
Tom Wright: Where's the Shame?
Debra Morgan Pardee: What I will Ask of Congress on Constitution Day
Ticia: As I See It
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Education Center: Wear Orange pajamas and browse updated resources, organizations, and archives at Impeachment Watch.
More soon,
Tish
