October 26th Student Walk Out Worker Sick Out Day!

Who are they kidding? Everyone in Washington is blaming someone else for the debacle in Iraq. Bush and the Republicans blame “terrorists and extremists” (al Qaeda). The Democrats blame the Republicans even though they are in the majority. In fact, we have been lied to. Millions of Iraqis just don’t want their country to be a client state taking orders from Washington, pure and simple. This is the root cause of their debacle which can only be resolved with the immediate withdrawal of all occupation forces. This war has nothing to do with defending our safety or security or “spreading democracy”. The war makers in Washington seek to privatize the oil resources of Iraq and dominate the politics of the Middle East.

There is a growing awareness throughout the country that if we wait for the politicians, the war and occupation will never end. Funding the war is killing the troops and Iraqi people. A vote of 50% plus one in just one branch of Congress could end funding for the occupation and force the evacuation of all U.S. forces. They want to continue this war and over time we can force it to end if all of us who oppose it take united mass action. This is their war, not ours!

As students, so many of us face the prospect of dead end “McJobs” when we graduate. We are conditioned to feel a sense of powerlessness in the face of the real problems that exist in the real world. The mercenary values promoted by all the leading social institutions teach us to “get ahead” and “look out for number one”. For college students facing a lifetime of college debt, ROTC is offered as a "cost-free" alternative. For high school students, the military is offered as a career option for “serving the country”. With the realization that Congress will act to continue the war, the time for us to act is NOW! Grassroots strategies are being discussed to bring students out of their classes and into the streets this Fall. We are making a difference!

Working people have nothing to gain and everything to lose from the war. Our taxes pay for every bloody crime they commit. It is our sisters and brothers, and our sons and daughters that die and are injured in their scheme of domination. We are expected to spill the blood of other working people who have done us no harm. We are expected to bear the mass lay-offs, shredding of our democratic rights, and violations of our privacy and dignity. We are expected to bear our share of “sacrifice” – which is usually the entire weight. We are expected to sit down, shut up and be obedient. We are NOT expected to understand that we as workers are the overwhelming majority and that if we unite we have the power to stop the war and massively shift the political agenda in this country to serve our needs and interests.

Many are becomming aware of the human rights violations and crimes against humanity being carried out by Washington in places like Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and in overall policy. We are outraged and motivated to differentiate ourselves from these crimes and to display it publicly. For that reason, we encourage folks who participate in the Sickout/Walkout to wear the color Orange reflecting the color worn by prisoners in Guantanamo. Let Orange be the color of resistance against these injustices and declare in bold letters on our clothing that we want the war to end now! Let's declare it and lets wear it!

Lets hit ‘em where it hurts! We call upon all who want to stop the war to: Walk out, call in sick, cut classes, then step out and join us in a National Walkout that is gathering grassroots support. This will be part of a weekend of Actions taking place around the country.

Rally on Boston Common at 1:00 PM. March at 3:00 PM

Sickout/Walkout Coalition http://sowoco.org/ http://www.mpi-web.net/sdtwm/news.php http://www.workersagainstwar.org/ 617-230-9382
Please sign on to this call for local actions all over the country.