Protest Potential War…But Don’t Leave Your Living Room
By Kim Forrest
WASHINGTON–For those who want to rally against the impending war on Iraq but are too busy (or lazy) to leave their homes or offices, the organization Win Without War has created the perfect protest.
Call it a protest for couch potatoes.
The “Virtual March,” as its sponsors call it, asked participants to phone or send e-mail and fax messages opposing a war to the White House and their senators’ offices from 9 AM to 5 PM Wednesday. The goal was to produce a steady flow of messages every minute of the workday.
“Political leaders need to know we are serious, we are organized and we are growing in strength,” former Maine Congressman Tom Andrews, national director of Win Without War, said in a statement. “On Feb. 26, we will let our fingers do the marching and demand that our voices be heard.”
According to Peter Schurman, executive director of Moveon.org, which monitors the online component of the protest, about 120,000 people have signed up to participate in the protest. Protesters could sign up for specific times to call the offices at the Moveon.org website and could receive tips on what to tell their senators as well. Interested people could still get involved Wednesday by logging on.
Schurman said that the main message of the campaign was to “let the inspections work.”
“It’s a simple fact that letting the inspections work is the best way to keep Americans safe,” he said. “It’s the best way to ensure that Saddam Hussein is disarmed.”
He added that Win Without War was sending gift baskets to the Senate offices to show thanks for senators’ efforts to maintain democracy.
Sean Donahue, co-director of New Hampshire Peace Action, said he has been informing members of the group about the march and hopes that New Hampshire residents will take part.
“I think at this point our lawmakers need to hear from as many people as possible about strong resistance to war in New Hampshire,” he said. “Our senators and representatives have a responsibility to listen to the will of the people, and they should take their responsibility seriously.”
Kurt Konietzko, a Keene retiree, said that he would probably be phoning in today. Calling a war with Iraq “immoral” and “unethical,” he said that it was important for local residents to get involved.
“If you don’t [take action], [the government] will think you agree with them. We need to stand up and say no,” he said. “We need to be heard.”
One of the organizations in the Win Without War coalition, the National Organization of Women (NOW), also was encouraging members to get involved with the Virtual March, said Kris Moody, NOW’s northeast regional director and former New Hampshire NOW president. She called the protest a good opportunity for those who wanted to be a part of protests in bigger cities but were not able to.
“This Virtual March provides an opportunity to be part of a large-scale action, to join together with many people to send a coordinated message of peace,” she said.
Moody said that New Hampshire members of NOW have received e-mail alerts on the Virtual March and that she herself would be calling New Hampshire Republican Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu as well as Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.).
Hollywood celebrities were also getting into the act through Artists United to Win Without War, a branch of Win Without War.
Kate McArdle, executive director of the group, said that about 140 actors and actresses as well as a few former members of the military were members of Artists United and that most of them would be participating in the protest.
She named actors Tony Shalhoub, Mike Farrell, Tyne Daly, and James Cromwell as some of the celebrities who phoned people Tuesday to remind them to call in Wednesday.
“To be really honest, I don’t know if we can prevent a war from happening,” McArdle said. “But the more people in Washington who feel that people are [against war], the better.”
The offices of the Senate delegation from New Hampshire said that they were prepared to handle tomorrow’s deluge of communication.
Gregg said in a statement that he encourages New Hampshire residents to call his office on issues important to them and that Wednesday would be no exception. “My office is prepared for the possibility of a high volume of calls, e-mails and faxes, and I value the opinion of every Granite Stater who expresses their point of view regarding the possibility of armed conflict in Iraq and all other issues.”
Barbara Riley, communications director for Sununu, said that the office was prepared for the large amounts of calls, faxes and e-mails. “On this issue and others, Senator Sununu strongly encourages New Hampshire residents to let him know their questions, concerns and comments. This input is forwarded directly to him,” she said.
Schurman said he is optimistic that the Virtual March will be successful and that politicians will hear the message loud and clear.
“We’re very confident that every senator is going to hear from their constituents constantly throughout the day,” he said, “and we’re hopeful that that will give the senators the courage to stand up and properly assert that war making authority belongs to Congress and Congress alone.”
Published in The Keene Sentinel, in New Hampshire.
