Statements on the Tragedy
ACLU
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ISSUED THE
FOLLOWING STATEMENT FROM ACLU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANTHONY ROMERO IN REACTION TO
THE TERRORIST ATTACKS THAT STRUCK AMERICA THIS WEEK:
The American Civil Liberties Union joins the nation today in grieving over the
devastating loss of life resulting from the joint attacks against the World
Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of the airplane outside of Pittsburgh.
We strongly applaud the words of our national leaders who, in reaction to this
unparalleled tragedy, have promised to preserve the free and open society that
has made this nation great.
We welcome, in particular, the eloquent words of President Bush who told the
nation last night that, "America was targeted for attack because we're the
brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will
keep that light from shining."
Similarly, Attorney General John Ashcroft pledged that, "the determination
of these terrorists will not deter the determination of the American people.
We are survivors, and freedom is a survivor. A free American people will
not be intimidated, nor will we be defeated."
In the difficult days ahead, the ACLU will work with our nation's leaders to
help the nation achieve its goal of protecting the security and freedom of all
people in America.
We will urge our leaders to continue to uphold the principles of liberty the
nation holds dear as they pursue those responsible for this devastating attack
on American soil.
Finally, we take a measure of comfort in the fact that one of the greatest
symbols of freedom and democracy in our nation still stands: through the
billowing smoke of destruction in lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty lifts
her torch to freedom. Long may she survive.
People for the American Way
*** STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ***
Like all Americans, we continue to struggle with the aftermath
of the devastating terrorist attacks in New York City and at the
Pentagon. We grieve for the victims of these heinous acts. We salute the
courage and heroism of so many individuals, from passengers and
crew on the hijacked airliners to the police, firefighters, and
other rescue workers, many of whom have lost their lives in the
line of duty. We praise those political leaders who have acted
in ways that have drawn us together in the midst of overwhelming
loss. This is a time for bipartisanship. It is a time for
making a shared national commitment to bring to justice those
responsible and for acting appropriately to prevent future such
attacks.
But there are other dangers we must guard against, as well as
terrorists. While we seek to defend ourselves against future
threats, we must also guard against allowing our own anger and
fear to cause us to act against our own interests as a free people. We have already seen pundits and political leaders
suggesting that the fight against terrorism requires us to
sacrifice the constitutional liberties that are at the core of
what it means to be an American. That would be a victory for
our nation's enemies.
We have already seen acts of harassment and violence directed
against Arab-Americans and Muslim Americans. We call on all
Americans to reject that kind of scapegoating and to stand up
against it in their own communities. Targeting people based on
their ethnicity or religion was not the American Way when
Japanese-Americans were taken from their homes and shipped to
internment camps during World War II. It is not the American
Way today, when Muslim Americans are taunted or attacked on the
streets of the country that is their home.
People For the American Way's 500,000 members and activists are
guardians of the Constitution and the democratic values that sustain our free society. We will vigorously support the
government's efforts to identify those responsible for these
acts of terror and to bring them to justice. And we will just
as vigorously oppose efforts to exploit this tragedy in ways
that diminish the constitutional and civil rights for which generations of Americans - in the armed forces and social
justice movements - have fought and died. Now, more than ever,
we will act to promote and protect the ideals of the American
Way.
- Ralph G. Neas
President of People For the American Way
________________________________________________________________
Black Radical
Congress
Terror
Attacks of September 11, 2001
The Black Radical Congress (BRC) strongly
condemns the horrific terror attacks which occurred on September 11th, 2001.
The brazen murder of countless thousands of civilians cannot be supported or
condoned.
It is without question that US imperialism has brought
genocidal levels of death and destruction to people around the world. Whether
one looks at the situation in Iraq with the continual blockade and air
bombardments, the situation in Palestine where the US continues to give
virtually uncritical support to the Israelis in their national oppression of
the Palestinians, the economic blockade against Cuba which aims to undermine
its economy and weaken its population, or any number of other places, one
clearly sees the callousness and evil intent with which US imperialism treats
the lives and property of others, especially non-white peoples around the
globe.
Yet, even with a firm understanding of the causes of the
desperation, fury, and hatred of US imperialism, turning to terrorism to fight
global oppression and exploitation is not an acceptable strategy. A clear and
unambiguous distinction must be made between radical/revolutionary political
action on the one hand, and terrorism on the other, regardless of whether the
causes that *appeared* to inspire the terrorist action(s) are just. Open and
unmitigated attacks on civilian targets do not advance radical/revolutionary
causes and must be repudiated. Rather, such attacks inevitably antagonize the
populace, weaken any existing popular support, and help legitimize heightened
levels of repression by the imperialist state against *all*
progressive/radical/revolutionary political activity, including increased
restrictions on the civil rights of the people.
We already hear, in the voices of those in power, calls
for war and vengeance. War and vengeance without a precise target, but
striking out blindly, is nothing more than self-serving jingoism. Given the
track record of the US, this could include indiscriminate bombings or missile
attacks, such as the attack against the Sudanese pharmaceutical laboratory two
years ago, which was later found *not* to have been connected with any sort of
terrorist activity.
The dangers presented by the September 11th terrorist
acts do not restrict themselves to the external threat. We hear on television
and radio calls for changing the laws and regulations in order to make it
easier to conduct surveillance and to carry-out covert operations against
potential opponents of the US. Rather than accomplishing anything in terms of
reducing the threat of terrorism, such steps will eliminate basic civil
liberties and strengthen the existing tendency toward a racist and classist
police state. The police are already out of control and on the rampage in
communities across the country. We cannot afford to further unleash their
undemocratic and frequently murderous behavior in the name of national
security.
We should add here that the terrorist attacks have also
brought potential damage to the growing anti-capitalist globalization
movement. The ruling class has been making noise for months about the
demonstrations that accompany the gatherings of capitalist globalizers. They
have inferred that these demonstrations will get increasingly out of control.
There is no question that the events of September 11th will be used as a
pretext to both discourage activity, as well as to clamp down on any and all
popular outrage with neo-liberal globalization.
It is also critical in moments such as these that we as
human beings fight and resist popular impulses toward scape-goating and
racism. From almost the moment of the first attack on the World Trade Center,
there has been an assumption floated within the media that Arabs or Muslim
fundamentalists were behind the attacks. The reaction to the attacks is
reminiscent of what we witnessed immediately after the Oklahoma City bombings.
There was a widespread assumption that Arabs or Muslims were behind the attack
on the Federal Office building. Few establishment observers expected, or led
any of the public to expect, that the terrorist could be -- and was -- a
homegrown, white American right-winger.
Therefore, it is important to reserve judgment until a
more thorough investigation is conducted. This is particularly important given
the anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab/anti-Muslim bias of the media. The automatic
assumption of the US media is that Palestinians specifically, and Arabs
generally, are animals, or at best, fanatics with no concern for human life.
The just and righteous Palestinian cause is rarely given credible time, and
when offered, generally dismissed by allegedly objective (but really
pro-Israeli) commentators. Therefore, in the current situation of horror
following these criminal acts, we must actively oppose any and all witch-
hunting and stereotyping which is bound to emerge.
Yet another danger we currently face will be xenophobia
and, general anti-immigrant sentiment. This will almost inevitably be directed
at immigrants of color and particularly those who "look" like they
might be of Middle Eastern (North African) origin. The attacks on immigrants
and the condemnation of entire communities must be stopped before they
escalate out of control. We already see some of this happening with numerous
reports of anonymous death threats sent to Arab and Muslim institutions, as
well as the spray painting of racist slogans and direct, personal threats and
attacks on individuals who are assumed to be from the Middle East (North
Africa). We call on all clear-thinking people to be especially vigilant at
this time in making sure that in the aftermath of this tragedy, another
tragedy born of pain, anger, and hatred does not occur. True anti-racism may
require us to put ourselves at risk physically in order to defend Arabs and
Muslims from unwarranted attacks.
Lastly, Black America must not condone or be indifferent
to the horrendous loss of human life resulting from this tragedy, nor can we
allow these horrific acts to be used as an excuse to further repress
Arab-Americans, Muslims, or those perceived to be opponents of capitalist
globalization. As a people that has survived over 400 years of genocidal
oppression on these shores, we are all too familiar with the human suffering
caused by both terrorism and racial hatred. >From the amputations,
beatings, and rapes of Chattel Slavery, to the New York City Draft Riots of
1863, to the post- Reconstruction terrorism of the Klu Klux Klan, to the Tulsa
Race Riots of 1921, to the government sponsored Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO)
of the 1960s, to the contemporary state-sanctioned police murder and brutality
we are fighting today, we as Black people have lots of experience with the
horrors of terrorism in the US, as it has too frequently been directed against
us. That is why we must show our full and unqualified support and compassion
for all those suffering as a result of this horrible tragedy, most of whom
have come to experience terrorism for the first time, as we continue our 400+
year struggle to rid ourselves of this evil, both domestically and around the
world.
Democratic
Socialists of America
Statement on the September 11th
Terrorist Attacks
Nothing can justify the terrorist attacks that came
from the skies on September 11th. Democratic Socialists of America condemns
these brutal crimes. The victims of this tragedy require effective justice not
politically motivated hyperbole. Few have been spared the agony of some personal
connection to the pain and anguish caused to those who have lost family or
friends. Our hearts are with all who have lost loved ones and colleagues. All of
the perpetrators of these criminal acts must be brought before the bar of
justice. In the days and weeks ahead we will begin to learn the identities of
those who perished, compounding the shock of the terrible images that we all saw
time, and time again, on our television screens.
Our television screens have also been filled with the pundits of the right
pushing their agenda of increased military spending and diminished civil
liberties. Progressives and progressive elected officials must demand that all
proposals be based on proven need rather than emotional excess. Sadly such
excess has already resulted in attacks against Americans of the Islamic and Sikh
faiths. There can be no doubt that more effective anti-terrorist measures
including more effective intelligence gathering, better security measures and
policing of the skies are necessary. But we cannot allow these needs to be used
as fig leaves for wasteful and ineffective increases in military spending.
Nor should our response be unilateral. The Community of Nations has condemned
this heinous act. We should act with them to extradite these criminals and seek
justice through trial and punishment rather than the kind of ineffective
bombing and missile campaigns that our government has initiated in the past. The
apprehension of proven suspects in this crime against humanity should be carried
out through the international system of justice and international criminal
procedures. We must remember that the terrorists hope to provoke inappropriate
military responses. If force must be used, a multinational police action is the
most appropriate means. Indiscriminate aerial attacks or prolonged military
campaigns on foreign soil will breed more terrorists and further endanger the
security of the United States as well as the rest of the world.
We cannot pretend that the answer to terrorism is simply a matter of military or
law enforcement measures. We live in a world organized so that the greatest
benefits go to a small fraction of the world's population while the vast
majority experiences injustice, poverty and often, hopelessness. Only by
eliminating the political, social and economic conditions that lead people to
these small extremist groups can we be truly secure.
Approved September 16, 2001 by the
DSA NPC Steering Committee
Campaign for Labor Rights
Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001
During this intensely sad and traumatic time, we extend our sincere and
heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who lost
their life on September 11th. We also wish for the speedy and full recovery
of those who were injured, and we hope that in the aftermath of the attacks,
rescue crews can find as many people still alive as possible.
Campaign for Labor Rights condemns the horrific terrorist attacks of
September 11th, 2001 in New York and Washington, D.C. The brazen murder of
countless thousands of civilians cannot be supported or condoned. An
unknown number of our union sisters and brothers have been lost to the
combined attacks--Campaign for Labor Rights will rally support, beginning in
Washington, D.C. this weekend, for their families.
Here in Washington, D.C., we are experiencing something like nothing we've
ever felt before. It's as if the fabric of our community has been torn,
and the smaller tasks of normal day-to-day life no longer seem important. From
talking with some of you from across the country and around the world, we
know that many of you feel similarly. Yet we are sending this Labor Alert
to let you know that we see hope and potential in these painful moments.
We know that sitting on the subway or walking around on the streets, we have
something deeply in common with people we may never have spoken to before.
This newfound common ground provides an opportunity to reach out to each other, and to forge real, human connections with our neighbors and fellow
community members.
We also understand that there are many ways in which the tears in our
communities can be sewn back together.
Our communities could be put back
together in reactionary ways, demanding a violent response from the US
government. Communities could rebuild themselves exactly as they existed
before, largely unquestioning of the way the US interacts with (and acts
upon) the rest of the world. Or we could stitch the fabric of our
communities back together in a way that pulls us all closer together.
We could build something out of this moment. We could talk to our neighbors
and community members about how they're feeling, and we could create
something from this moment that won't allow us to simply fall back into "business as usual."
It is without question that US imperialism has brought genocidal levels of death and destruction to people around the world. Whether one looks at the situation in Iraq with the continual blockade and air bombardments, the
situation in Palestine where the US continues to give virtually uncritical support to the Israelis in their national oppression of the Palestinians, or
the low-intensity economic warfare against the vast majority of Central
America or any number of other places which perpetuates labor exploitation,
one clearly sees the callousness and evil intent with which US imperialism
treats the lives and property of others, especially non-white peoples around
the globe.
Yet, even with a firm understanding of the causes of the desperation, fury,
and hatred of US imperialism, turning to terrorism to fight global
oppression and exploitation is not an acceptable strategy. A clear and
unambiguous distinction must be made between radical/revolutionary political action on the one hand, and terrorism on the other, regardless of whether
the causes that *appeared* to inspire the terrorist action(s) are just. Open
and unmitigated attacks on civilian targets do not advance
radical/revolutionary causes and must be repudiated. Rather, such attacks
inevitably antagonize the populace, weaken any existing popular support, and
help legitimize heightened levels of repression by the imperialist state against *all* progressive/radical/revolutionary political activity,
including increased restrictions on the civil rights of the people.
We already hear, in the voices of those in power, calls for war and
vengeance. War and vengeance without a precise target, but striking out
blindly against civilians, is nothing more than self-serving egoism, and it
is exactly what has just happened in New York and Washington, D.C. Given the track record of the US, this vengeance could include
indiscriminate bombings or missile attacks, such as the attack against the
Sudanese pharmaceutical laboratory two years ago, which was later found
*not* to have been connected with any sort of terrorist activity. The dangers presented by the September 11th terrorist acts do not restrict themselves to the external threat. We hear on television and radio calls for
changing the laws and regulations in order to make it easier to conduct
surveillance and to carry-out covert operations against potential opponents
of the US. Rather than accomplishing anything in terms of reducing the
threat of terrorism, such steps will eliminate basic civil liberties and
strengthen the existing tendency toward a racist and classist police state.
The police are already out of control and on the rampage in communities
across the country. We cannot afford to further unleash their undemocratic
and frequently racist and murderous behavior in the name of national
security.
We should add here that the terrorist attacks have also brought potential
damage to the growing anti-capitalist globalization movement. The ruling
class has been making noise for months about the demonstrations that
accompany the gatherings of capitalist globalizers. They have inferred that
these demonstrations will get increasingly out of control.
There is no question that the events of September 11th will be used as a
pretext to both discourage activity, as well as to clamp down on any and all
popular outrage with neo-liberal globalization. Campaign for Labor Rights
has heard that this crisis will be used to push forward that neo-liberal
agenda. Specifically, we have heard that Republican leaders intend to pass
a "broad economic stimulus package," which will most likely include
some
form of Fast Track, giving President Bush the authority to negotiate trade
deals with other countries with nearly no input from congress.
This is undoubtedly a crucial moment. We must not let the atrocities that
have already occurred to continue. We must demand that there be no violent
retaliation on the part of the US, and also that there be no violent
undemocratic legislation pushed through in the haste to get "back on
track."
It is also critical in moments such as these that we as human beings fight
and resist popular impulses toward
scape-goating and racism. From almost the moment of the first attack on the
World Trade Center, there has been an assumption floated within the media
that Arabs or Muslim fundamentalists were behind the attacks. The reaction
to the attacks is reminiscent of what we witnessed immediately after the
Oklahoma City bombings. There was a widespread assumption that Arabs or
Muslims were behind the attack on the Federal Office building. Few
establishment observers expected, or led any of the public to expect, that
the terrorist could be -- and was -- a homegrown, white American
right-winger.
Therefore, it is important to reserve judgment until a more thorough investigation is conducted. This is particularly important given the
anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab/anti-Muslim bias of the media. The automatic assumption of the US media is that Palestinians specifically, and Arabs
generally, are animals, or at best, fanatics with no concern for human life.
The just Palestinian cause is rarely given credible time, and when offered, generally dismissed by allegedly objective (but really pro-Israeli)
commentators.
Therefore, in the current situation of horror following these criminal acts,we must actively oppose any and all "witch-hunting" and stereotyping
which is bound to emerge.
Yet another danger we currently face will be xenophobia and, general
anti-immigrant sentiment. This will almost inevitably be directed at
immigrants of color and particularly those who "look" like they might
be of
Middle Eastern (North African) origin. The attacks on immigrants and the
condemnation of entire communities must be stopped before they escalate out
of control. We already see some of this happening with numerous reports of
anonymous death threats sent to Arab and Muslim institutions, as well as the
spray painting of racist slogans and direct, personal threats and attacks on
individuals who are assumed to be from the Middle East (North Africa). We
call on all clear-thinking people to be especially vigilant at this time in
making sure that in the aftermath of this tragedy, another tragedy born of
pain, anger, and hatred does not occur. True anti-racism may require us to
put ourselves at risk physically in order to defend Arabs and Muslims from
unwarranted attacks.
Lastly, we must not condone or be indifferent to the horrendous loss of
human life resulting from this tragedy, nor can we allow these horrific acts to be used as an excuse to further repress Arab-Americans, Muslims, or those
perceived to be opponents of capitalist globalization.
As labor rights supporters, we understand the bloody history of the labor
movement in the US, and we understand that violent repression of workers and
organizers around the world persists today. Because we understand this
suffering, some of us more directly than others, we must show our full and
unqualified support and compassion for all those suffering as a result of
this horrible tragedy.
In Solidarity,
Daisy Pitkin and Zakiyyah Jackson
Campaign for Labor Rights
Bob Wing
September 14, 2001
Dear " ",
I decided to take you up on your suggestion that
I put some of the opinions I expressed at last night's meeting on paper. I am by
no means an authority on military or foreign affairs and these are just my
personal opinions, but for what they're worth, here are some notes.
I believe the Sept. 11 attacks are ushering in a
major right-wing offensive, both global and national. It is likely to be
sustained for some time and become a historical watershed. The right-wing of the
ruling class and its ultra-right allies could not have asked for a better
opportunity to aggressively move to reshape the world in their image. In the
absence of a major countervailing force, they have serious grounds to feel that
they will be successful. Appealing to the American psyche, which sees its
relatively peaceful surroundings as a birthright (when it is really a national
privilege), the right-wing seeks to capture the moral high ground, whipping up
patriotism and "anti-terrorist" fervor. Wielding its superior military
and financial strength, Washington will seek to rally its First World allies
into a world "anti-terrorism campaign," bring its erstwhile and
vacillating allies into line, and destroy or mortally cripple its enemies,
especially in the Middle East and South Asia.
In some ways, this is reminiscent of the late
1940s and early 1950s. But this time there is no socialist camp, no equivalent
revolutionary national liberation movements, and little domestic left
opposition. This means the ruling class has much greater maneuverability. They
can exert powerful military force abroad when necessary; and sugar coat the
undermining of democratic rights at home under the notion of national consensus
and the defense of democracy and freedom.
Although progressives have been thrown deeply on
the defensive, there are also openings to be part of the public discussion, if
we are bold as well as very careful. We must be bold in building extremely broad
coalitions, bold in attempting to enter the biggest media and political
platforms. If we craft our messages correctly, we have many allies, and we
should aggressively pursue working with them. We should not self-isolate. Peace,
international solidarity, religious, anti-globalization, student, and civil
rights groups should be approached. We should also use this opportunity to get
labor, women's, anti-racist, and community organizations that tend to eschew
international issues to get involved. This new situation will affect everyone to
the core. We should actively build broad coalitions, not be content to hang on
the left, hold "small but militant demonstrations" and expect others
to come to us. We should try to get to the forefront of the fight for peace and
basic democratic rights, spearhead large-scale education campaigns, and get
government bodies on record for peace and against unwarranted racist attacks on
Arabs and South Asians.
But we must be extremely careful about our
public messages (and our internal rhetoric), lest we isolate ourselves and even
make ourselves vulnerable to physical attack. We need to demonstratively express
deep grieving over thereat, destruction, and loss of security felt by most
Americans. Most of us genuinely feel this, but sometimes we do not express it
properly. Almost everyone in the country knows someone that was somehow directly
affected by the attacks, and all of us know in our hearts that life will never
be as safe as it once seemed. Symbolism and emotions tend to run higher than
rationality at times like this, and if we do not understand this, it will be
difficult to get a hearing on other issues.
We need to avoid leftwing rhetoric and
revolutionary posturing, be concrete and address actual issues on the public
agenda and not make premature anticipations or apocalyptic predictions.
Internally we need to try to see as far ahead as possible and try to go deep
analytically in order to be as prepared as possible, but externally we need to
speak to facts on the ground, avoid concepts or images that are adamantly
rejected by even peace-loving people, and avoid prematurely polarizing with
potential allies. All this while still drawing firm lines against the right.
I believe, at this time, we have two main
entryways into the broad public discussion. By far the most important is by
addressing the issue of why this attack happened and how to respond. Even the
mainstream media is increasingly addressing this question, in its own ways. I
believe our main message should be that U.S. life will become increasingly
insecure and dangerous unless this country improves its international behavior.
In theory of globalization, peace at home is linked to peace abroad. And
increased insecurity would likely result in lost civil liberties. We need to
oppose precipitous response by the government to the September 11 attacks and
urge restraint. We can no longer allow our government to make war on others
without expecting retaliation, whether one thinks that retaliation is fair or
not. Peace and freedom are increasingly globalized, or not. We need to oppose
U.S. isolationism and aggression. Our loss of life should lead not than eye for
an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but to join others who have experienced war in the
aspiration for peace.
In taking on these issues, we should studiously
avoid leftwing short hands like "chickens come home to roost" (which
will be read as a justification for the mass deaths of innocent people) and
"no justice, no peace" (which will be read as a justification for
further attacks). Peace, No Violence, etc. are much more directly to the point.
What we are talking about is a new kind of peace movement.
The second main entry way is through opposing
attacks on Arabs and South Asians in the U.S. Such attacks are already underway,
and are even being widely addressed by political leaders, civil rights groups,
and the mainstream media. Again, building broad coalitions and using popular
language is key. We should appeal for peace, fairness, and oppose violent racial
stereotyping. I actually think that the more farsighted sections of the ruling
class will want to stem these attacks so that their broader offensive does not
lose the moral high ground. Minimally, they must make a nod in this direction.
We should take full advantage of this opening.
While responding immediately to these huge
events, we also need to embark on deep thinking about the implications for the
future. Apparently, war, like capital and labor, has now been globalized. We are
into war without borders. New and readily available technology means that very
small groups, even individuals, can wreak mass destruction. The U.S. may be
relatively invulnerable to direct assault, but it is eminently vulnerable to
attack by small groups. And it has aggressively alienated millions of people, at
home and abroad, some of whom will surely take advantage of the new means at
their disposal. Israel is making the assassination of opposing political leaders
a central part of its war strategy-others are likely to respond in kind.
This is not an altogether new situation. Most of
us have known this for sometime and expected some kind of significant attacks
within the U.S. But now the genie is out of the bottle-and in a most spectacular
fashion. It is no longer theoretical. What are the implications of this new
situation for our attitude and strategies towards war and peace, how do we
distinguish between the government's overbroad definition of terrorism and
actual terrorism? How will the ruling class and public react and what platform
can we stand on? What about the copy cat lunatic fringe and ultra-right fanatics
who until now has confined themselves to comparatively small-scale shootings
(except for Oklahoma City)? How do we break the fragmentation, disorganization
and isolation of the left under these harsh conditions?
Finally, we should all be prepared for events to
move fast. In particular, when the U.S. mounts its counterattacks (which I
believe is likely to eventually include the murder of Saddam Hussein), a wave of
jingoism (and racism) is likely to sweep the country. We need to work hard ahead
of this wave, prepare to weather it without getting too terribly isolated, and
smartly fight our way through it. We're in for hard times, and our allies abroad
even more so. We will all be struggling to find our bearings. We will make
mistakes. Let's be tolerant of each other, keep our eyes on the real enemies,
and seek clarity and unity. Let's think big and get organized. Maybe we can
build something for the long run.I hope this is helpful to you in some way. Feel
free to share it with others if you deem it useful.
In peace and solidarity,
Bob Wing
Wichita September 11th
Coalition
(Drafted
September 17, 2001)
Amid the clamor of voices in this time of terror, we the undersigned share
four deeply held convictions:
· The September 11 attack that killed
and injured thousands of people was wrong.
We continue to grieve, and we offer words of comfort to those who have suffered
great loss.
· This is a time for our national
leaders to practice sober restraint as
we struggle to determine an appropriate response to the horror of recent days.
We too feel anger toward the perpetrators, and believe co-conspirators should be
held accountable. But there must not be retaliation in ways that feed the cycle
of violence and provoke even more bloodshed.
· We desire a nation that is a safe
place for everyone, especially those among us who are of Arabic descent and
those of Islamic faith.
· In the months ahead we must ask why
this happened, and how this could be
prevented, knowing that there are no easy answers. If we are to learn from what
happened September 11 we must listen carefully to our world neighbors and begin
a process of national self-examination.
We affirm a vision of community, tolerance, compassion, justice, and the
sacredness of human life. We pledge to work for global peace, human dignity, and
the elimination of injustice. Let us unite and make good choices during this
time of crisis.
Sincerely,
|
Pat Cameron |
Peace and
Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas |
Mary
McDonough Harren
|
Pax Christi-USA
|
|
Rev. Carol Rose |
Pastor,
Mennonite Church of the Servant
|
Donna
C. Engel |
Mother-to-Mother Ministries
|
|
Dorlan Bales
|
Friends of Jesus
Community |
Charles
F. Carney
|
Peace and Social Justice Center
of South Central Kansas
|
|
John McConnell
|
English Instructor,
WSU |
|
|
Feminist Majority
The Taliban, Osama bin Laden, and Afghan Women
The Feminist Majority joins our fellow citizens and people of good will all over
the world in mourning the deaths of thousands of women, men and
children on September 11 at the hands of terrorists. These terrorist acts are
crimes against all of humanity.
While law enforcement continues to collect evidence about Osama bin Laden's
involvement in the horrific acts of terrorism on September 11, the
relationship between the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, and the suffering of Afghan
women is very clear. We know that the Taliban militia has been
harboring bin Ladin and that, together, they have been leading campaigns of
terror against women, women's rights, ethnic and religious minorities, and
the Western world for many years. The Taliban and bin Laden are interdependent
and inextricable. Just as the Taliban is protecting bin Laden
from extradition, bin Laden is providing financial resources, equipment, and
highly trained mercenary fighters to bolster the Taliban regime's war
against the Afghan people.
Feminists were among the first to bring the atrocities of the Taliban to the
world's attention. Women have been the first victims of the Taliban.
Wherever the Taliban came to power, they banned women from working, prohibited
women and girls from attending school, and forbid women from
leaving their homes without being accompanied by a close male relative and
wearing a head-to-toe burqa shroud. Women who violate Taliban decrees are
beaten, imprisoned, or even killed. For the past six years, Afghan women and
girls have pleaded with the world to free them from the grips of the brutal
Taliban militia and have warned that the Taliban's threat to humanity would
extend beyond the borders of Afghanistan.
Our Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan has worked tirelessly to
bring to the attention of U.S. policymakers that the Taliban must be
stopped and that the war that they are waging against women and ethnic
minorities in Afghanistan poses a real threat to global security and our
national security. With the help of hundreds of thousands of supporters, we
played a major role in preventing recognition of the Taliban by the United
States and the United Nations.
We have argued that the United States has a unique obligation to end the
Feminists must now sound the alarm louder than ever because the stakes
are so high. For years, we have been urging a substantial increase in
humanitarian aid for Afghan women and girls, who are suffering from the ravages
of war, the worst drought in 30 years, and the Taliban's atrocities.
Some 3 million Afghan refugees are in Pakistan. Now, fearing military
retaliation from the U.S., many more are trying to flee, but the borders to
Pakistan and Iran are sealed. Worse yet, all foreign (non-Afghan) humanitarian
aid workers have evacuated Afghanistan since September 11. Some
5.5 million displaced Afghans, mostly women and children, have been left with
only a 3 week supply of food, according to the United Nations World
Food Program. To prevent a holocaust of innocent displaced people, humanitarian
assistance must not stop. Even if we cannot get aid to
Afghanistan, we can get it to the millions of Afghan women and children in
Pakistan who are bordering on starvation.
As steps are taken to eliminate terrorists and those who support them in
Afghanistan, we must make sure that the lives of women and girls are saved
and that the restoration of the rights of women and girls is not marginalized as
a side issue. As our government deliberates on the
appropriate measures to respond to the heinous terrorist acts committed on Sept.
11, we must urge that the plight of Afghan women and girls not be
forgotten.
We have learned from this horrific experience that what happens under the
dictatorial Taliban regime, which is holding the Afghan people hostage,
affects us all. A new society must be built in Afghanistan with human rights for
all restored. Afghan women must be at the center of this rebirth.
We need your help and support now more than ever before. When the constitutions
of Germany and Japan were written following World War II,
feminists in those countries and abroad fought and won the inclusion of women's
rights. But, rather than helping Afghanistan rebuild after the
withdrawal of the Soviets and assuring the restoration of human rights, the US
allowed extremist elements of the mujahideen to gain power. We cannot
allow history to repeat itself. The only way that Afghan women ever will finally
gain their freedom and that global security ever will be achieved
long-term is if constitutional democracy is restored in Afghanistan. At the same
time that terrorism is eliminated, the full rights of women must be
restored and commitments must be made to provide humanitarian assistance and to
help rebuild the economy and democratic infrastructure of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, we must urge support for Afghan women's organizations that are
providing humanitarian assistance, education and health care to Afghan women and
girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan to make sure that they have the necessary
resources to survive and to deal with the increasing need. The
future of a peaceful, stable, and democratic Afghanistan depends upon the Afghan
women with whom we work and to whom we are trying to provide
assistance and educational opportunities.
In addition, we must remember the Taliban was never voted into power by the
Afghan people. The Taliban militia took power. They have ruled by brutal
force, with the help of bin Laden and with the support of Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, which are the only three countries that
have granted official recognition to the Taliban. The Taliban has held the
Afghan people hostage. The Afghan people are not our enemy. In removing the
Taliban, the U.S. and its allies must rescue and liberate the people, especially
women and children, who have suffered so terribly under the
Taliban's rule.
Just as we must not condemn the Afghan people for the acts of terrorists, we
also should not condemn Arabs and Muslims, the vast majority of whom do not
support this so-called religious fanaticism. This extremism, which has now taken
the lives of so many American citizens, Afghans, and others, is not
about Islam, but is about the use of violence to achieve a political end.
The link between the liberation of Afghan women and girls from the terrorist
Taliban militia and preservation of democracy and freedom in America and
worldwide has never been clearer.
Eleanor Smeal
President
Washington
State Jobs with Justice
Washington State Jobs with
Justice joins the nation, and indeed the world, in mourning the devastating
loss of life resulting from the vicious attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon, as well as the crashed plane in Pennsylvania. We condemn the
criminality of those attacks and those responsible.
Many of those killed were union members and
other workers killed on the job. Our hearts go out to our sisters and
brothers and their loved ones. We particularly honor the
firefighters, police and other rescue workers who continue to risk their
lives to save others.
No one, in this country or anyother, should
suffer the fate of the victims in these attacks. We demand that the
perpetrators of these crimes be brought to justice.
We understand that an endless cycle of
revenge can only bring the deaths of more innocent civilians, both here and
around the world. We reject the ideat hat entire nations should be punished
for the actions of a few.
Within our own borders, we call upon all in
our communities to join us in immediately confronting any anti-Arab,
anti-Muslim or other anti-immigrant hate speech or acts of
violence, whether in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, or in the media. We
will stand in solidarity withour neighbors to defend immigrant communities,
religious minorities and their houses of worship. We strongly oppose
efforts to curtail the rights of immigrants and refugees, including expulsion
of suspect foreign nationals without due process.
Our national policies must support working
people. Just as we insist that economic recovery aid benefit workers and
not only corporations, we stress that while me may oppose specific war
policies, we insist on adequate support for the working men and women in the
armed services.
Militarization of our society inevitably
leads to erosion of civil liberties and workers ’ rights. We must remain
vigilant in the defense of our democratic principles, including
the protection of our civil liberties. Already proposals have been put
forward to allow increased federal surveillance of private activities, and
there is a strong push for greater use of racial profiling. In the past,
national security has often been used to justify interference with
our rights to freedom of association, to organize, to strike and to picket.
We must redouble our efforts to fight for justice, and must not allow those
who oppose our goals to use a national crisis
as an excuse to assault our civil and
economic rights.
We encourage open discussion as to the most
appropriate response to the atrocities that have taken place. Congress must
vigorously participate in all decision-making on our foreign policy, and
must not abdicate that responsibility to the Executive Branch. Our foreign
policy must be based on pursuit of global justice, and not on an endless
cycle of civilian slaughter.
A century ago, Samuel Gompers, first
President of the AFL, said that labor wants "more justice and less
revenge." Our greatest memorial to our fallen sisters and brothers will be
a world of peace, tolerance and understanding, underscored by the
solidarity of working people.
UE
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) are
devastated by the mind-numbing loss of life caused
by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We share the sense of loss and
violation, despair and
outrage. We mourn as our nation mourns.
The horror visited upon our nation that Tuesday morning should never have
happened; it should never
happen to another people again, anywhere. Innocent people suffered deaths more
horrific than could be
imagined in nightmares. Many of the slain were union members, murdered at their
place of work and on the
job. With profound sorrow, we mourn our fallen brothers and sisters and express
our solidarity with
the families of the victims.
We condemn unreservedly the hidden, unseen, faceless killers who are responsible
for this crime against
humanity. We demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
We are resolved not to yield to terror or to terrorists’ designs. Democracy is
too precious. We
continue with plans for our convention — the highest expression of our union
democracy — with renewed
commitment to freedom and solidarity. We shall not be stopped by cold-blooded,
calculating killers. And we
shall not allow our grief and righteous anger to be polluted by hatred and
bigotry. We recall with pride
that weeks after Pearl Harbor, as UE mobilized to win the war for freedom, our
union condemned anti-Japanese
racism as fundamentally opposed to that great cause.
Today’s war against the terrorism of an evil few must not be confused with
attacks on an ethnicity or
religion. Verbal slurs and physical assaults against our Arab-American and
Islamic neighbors and co-workers
must be countered, condemned and stopped.
As we mourn and as we rage, we also declare our resistance to efforts to use
this tragedy to curtail
our civil liberties or to engage in military adventures that can lead only to
more carnage and
senseless loss of life. Our greatest memorial to our fallen brothers and sisters
will be a world of peace,
tolerance and understanding, underscored by the solidarity of working people.
NEW
YORK CITY LABOR ACTIVISTS
September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City's
working people. We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of
all colors, nationalities and religions-a thousand of them union
members. An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers will lose
their jobs.
We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished. We
are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor support for victims'
families. We want justice for the dead and safety for the living.
And we believe that George Bush's war is not the answer.
No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11. Yet war will
inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American
alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global poverty-just as the
United States and its allies have already inflicted widespread suffering
on innocent people in such places as Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied
Territories, the former Yugoslavia and Latin America.
War will also take a heavy toll on us. For Americans in uniform-the
overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color-it will
be another Vietnam. It will generate further terror in this country
against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color and immigrants,
and erode our civil liberties. It will redirect billions to the
military and corporate executives, while draining such essential
domestic programs as education, health care and the social security
trust.
War will play into the hands of religious fanatics-from Osama bin Laden
to Jerry Falwell-and provoke further terrorism in major urban centers like
New York.
* * *
Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade unionists
believe a just and effective response to September 11 demands:
NO WAR. It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes of
individuals-peace requires global social and economic justice.
JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE. An independent international tribunal to
impartially investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the
September 11 attack.
OPPOSITION TO RACISM-DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES. Stop terror, racial
profiling and legal restrictions against people of color and
immigrants, and defend democratic rights.
AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY. Government aid for the victims'
families and displaced workers-not the wealthy. Rebuild New York City
with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for new threats
to worker health and safety.
Signers (all affiliations listed for identification only)(list in formation)
Larry Adams, President, NPMHU Local 300
Barbara Bowen, President, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local 2334
Arthur Cheliotes, President, CWA Local 1180
Michael Letwin, President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325
Brenda Stokely, President, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707
Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199
Sylvia Aron, Rehab Committee Co-Chair, NYC CLC & Past President,
AAUP, Adelphi Chapter
Stanley Aronowitz, University-Wide Officer & Executive Council,
PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Harold Bahr, III, Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
Thomas Barton, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37
Chris Butters, AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37
Hugh English, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Samuel Farber, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Pam Galpern, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101
Gary Goff, Recording Sec'y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA Local 1180
Lucy Herschel, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
Ed Hilbrich, SSA/SEIU Local 693
Carol Hochberg, Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
Norman Hodgett, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
David Kazanjian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Dian Killian, Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981
Lisa Maya Knauer, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
Ray LaForest, Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME
Julius Margolin, IATSE Local 52
Florence Morgan, ALAA/UAW 2325
Matt Noyes, Education Coordinator, AUD & NWU/UAW Local 1981
Tony O'Brien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Paul Peloquin, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
Andy Piascik, Program Coordinator, AUD & NWU/UAW Local 1981
Carol Pittman, Coordinator, Jobs With Justice/NYC Pride at Work, NY
Mike Quinn, High School Delegate, UFT
Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802
Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169
Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320
Gibb Surette, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
Sean Sweeney, Director, Cornell Labor Studies
Terry Taylor, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
Miriam Thompson, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Marilyn Vogt-Downey, UFT
Kit Wainer, UFT
Ron Washington, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
Corinne Willinger, PEF
JoAnn Wypijenski, TNGNY/CWA
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