War Opponents To Target Campaign HQs

War Opponents To Target Campaign HQs

War opponents plan to expand civil disobedience efforts to the presidential campaign trail, according to a keynote speaker at Iowa City’s Peace Fest Sunday.

Jeff Leys of Voices for Creative Nonviolence said the Occupation Project, which has targeted congressional offices demanding an immediate end to all funding for the Iraq war except for funds needed for troop withdrawal, announced the group’s new project, “Seasons of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project,” creating the catchy acronym SODaPOP.

The project plans to begin with actions at campaign offices in November and December with activity increasing toward caucus night in January. SODaPop will ask all candidates to support:

Complete withdrawal of the U.S. military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan within 100 days of assuming office.

A complete halt to any and all military actions -- including ground, air and naval -- against Iraq and Iran.

Full funding for the reconstruction of Iraq.

Full funding for “the Common Good in the U.S.” – domestic needs such as education, health care and job training

Full funding for veteran’s needs.

SODaPOP is also targeting presidential candidates currently in Congress, asking that they vote for an immediate cutoff of war funds.

There was little traffic at a cluster of tables at the edge of the event where four presidential campaigns (Dodd, Edwards, Obama and Richardson) had tables. Edwards and Obama staffers were playing beanbag toss in a friendly rivalry. “This is for the nomination, right?” said one. At the Johnson County Democrats table, Dawn Suter was frustrated by some of the speakers. “They were saying there’s no difference between the Democrats and Republicans on the war,” he said. The Greens also had a presence, passing party status petitions.



Traffic seemed steadier in the middle of the park at the table for libertarian Republican Ron Paul, where volunteers eagerly displayed a banner for all passers-by.



Artist John-Paul Hornbeck displayed his latest sculpture, “The Veteran,” at a pavilion. The piece illustrates the problems of returning veterans such as addiction, said Hornbeck, whose father is a disabled veteran. It is dominated by alcohol and drug related items including a flag made of pills and a ribcage of pill bottles.