For the second time in two weeks, WZZM 13 has run a one-sided story on the arrests of protestors at an antiwar rally in Grand Rapids on March 17, 2007. Both the initial story and the most recent story on March 26, “Grand Valley Professor Arraigned after Anti-War Rally,” assert that the protests were “out of hand.” However, the only perspectives reported are those of the Grand Rapids Police Department. Even more disappointing is the fact that WZZM 13 failed to give any context about the protest. In the March 26 story, WZZM 13 states only that a Professor Herman Kurthen of GVSU was arrested during “an anti-war rally in Grand Rapids” but neglects to mention the fact that the group was specifically targeting Representative Ehlers because of his ongoing support for the occupation of Iraq and that the protest was asking him to sign a contract supporting an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq by pledging to vote against funding requests for the war.

Send a letter to WZZM 13 about this story

Analysis of the Marrch 26 Story

Analysis of the March 17 Story

ACTIVATE will be holding a protest outside of the Armed Forces recruiting station to: demand an immediate end to the Iraq war, expose the lies of military recruiters, and express support for those in the military actively resisting participation in the war. This protest is part of ACTIVATE’s ongoing efforts to challenge military recruiting.

Friday March 30th at 4:00pm
at the Armed Forces Career Center across from the Celebration Cinema North movie theatre (East Beltline and Knapp)

• 8.5 x 11 Flyer
• Quarter Size Flyer
• Image for Posting on Social Networking Websites

On Friday, Grand Rapids area congressional Representative Vern Ehlers once again voted to support the ongoing occupation of Iraq. Like his Republican collegues in the House from Michigan, Ehlers opposed a supplemental funding bill passed by the Democrats that sets a September 2008 deadline for withdrawal from Iraq. Representative Ehlers vote came days after a poll of Michigan residents found that 25% support an immediate withdrawal and 33% support a withdrawal within the next three to five years. Ehlers has consistently supported the war and occupation and recently declared in the media that it would be “stupid” to leave Iraq. Those who remember Ehlers’ October 2002 vote in favor of authorizing force against Iraq will no doubt recall that Ehlers’ spokesperson was quoted saying that calls, letters, and emails to the office averaged 50-1 against war, yet Ehlers voted for the war.

Of course, it is worth remembering that the bill was crafted by Democrats to make themselves appear to be acting against the war when in reality it not only continues to fund the war but proposes a timetable that means troops would not even begin to start withdrawing for over a year. Still, President George W. Bush has pledged to veto the bill and despite a lot of backroom deals and special spending packages in exchange for votes, it is not likely that the Democrats will be able to override a veto.

• Antiwar March Confronts Congressman Ehlers at his Home
• Local News Coverage of Antiwar March Sensationalized and Biased
• Video: Protest Targets Representative Ehlers’ Support of the Iraq War
• More Videos from Antiwar Protest at Representative Ehlers’ Home
• Ehlers Responds to Antiwar Protests with Commitment to Maintain the Occupation of Iraq

The March 17 antiwar protest received widespread coverage in the local and statewide media, although most of it was sensationalized and focused on the arrests rather than what was a successful action at the home of Representative Vern Ehlers (who was in his house at the time). The protestors delivered a pledge for Ehlers to sign stating that he supports an immediate end to the occupation of the Iraq and will vote to stop funding the war. However, despite these clear goals, the local news media focused on unprovoked arrests by the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD). In light of the news coverage, we encourage people to send letters to the local news media using the following links:

WZZM 13
WOOD TV 8
WXMI 17
The Grand Rapids Press

For a thorough analysis of the media coverage, read “Local News Coverage of Antiwar March Sensationalized and Biased” at mediamouse.org. The article also features links to the media coverage and deconstructions of each story.

On March 17, 2007, ACTIVATE (Grand Rapids SDS) organized a protest at the corner of East Beltline and Burton. We chose this location because in years past we believe that the anniversary protests were not very visible and they did not target anything connected to the war.

Approximately 200 people came out and we marched to the home of US Representative Vernon J. Ehlers. We chose to march to Ehlers’ home because we believe he must be held accountable for his ongoing support of the occupation of Iraq. Ehlers has consistently voted to fund the war and has stated that he does not support an immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Individuals and groups within the antiwar movement have contacted Representative Ehlers about his stance but he has refused to seriously consider their views. While the group was there, we attempted to speak with Ehlers and when he chose not to answer the door (he was in the house), we attached a contract on his door asking him to support an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq by cutting funding for the war.

Following the visit to Ehlers’ house, the group decided to march back to the corner of East Beltline and Burton. On the way there, the police decided to single someone out for using a megaphone. Prior to this, numerous people had used the megaphone and were not targeted by the police. Initially it was unclear why this person was targeted. At no point did this person physically resist the police. When it became clear that the person was being detained, the individual cooperated fully.

Following this arrest, people in the crowd demanded badge numbers and an explanation of what was happening. For the most part, these requests went unanswered. The police responded in a hostile manner that eventually resulted in them pulling two people off of the sidewalk and into the road. Again, these people were not specifically doing anything that should have made them a target. During this time, pushing ensued and an additional person was arrested. In total, four people were arrested.

While not entirely unexpected, the police actions were completely unprovoked. We believe that individuals can make their own decisions about how they protest. We respect everyone that came out and support the decisions that they made. We stand in solidarity with those who were arrested and will do everything that we can to support them.

We will continue to organize against the war. ACTIVATE remains committed to building an anti-imperialist resistance to the war that takes risks and challenges institutions and individuals responsible for perpetuating the war.

ACTIVATE is organizing an antiwar march on Saturday, March 17. The march will meet at 12:30pm at the corner of East Beltline and Burton.

We’re encouraging everyone to come out to show Grand Rapids’ opposition to the war at one of the busiest intersections in the city. Please bring signs, banners, costumes, drums, and whatever else you think will help make our message that the United States must end its occupation of Iraq loud and clear. This will be the big antiwar march in Grand Rapids commemorating the fourth anniversary of the war.

We have been doing everything that we can to advertise for the march–posting flyers in the community and on college campuses, making postings on relevant websites, doing media work, and contacting other groups, but we still need help. Please tell your friends about the march, make a posting on your blog/myspace/facebook/whatever site, or post flyers around town.

8.5×11 Poster:
http://www.activategr.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/march17_07.pdf

Quarter-sized Handbill:
http://www.activategr.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/march17_07-quarter.pdf

Graphic for Posting on Social Networking Websites:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/4632/m1707flyerey1.jpg

ACTIVATE, as a chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) has signed on to a “call to action” being circulated by various chapters of SDS for coordinated protests on March 20. The call, reprinted below, has been endorsed by 44 different groups as of March 2nd. The different groups are planning a variety of events including walk-outs, rallies, sit-ins, and other protests.

The call:

The war in Iraq is entering its fifth year. Despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of citizens want the war to end, despite the fact that U.S. forces are being defeated by the Iraqi resistance, Bush recently announced plans to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. These troops are being committed to fight and die in an unjust war based on lies and greed. Four years is four years too many. The Iraqi people want the foreign occupiers out. They know the U.S. government is not a “liberator,” but whose presence means only continued violence, death, and destruction.

We, students and young people here in the U.S., support the right of the Iraqi people to self-determination. We refuse to accept this new strategy to “expand the military,” and reject any means the government may use to make these new troops materialize - whether through the implementation of a draft or the continued use of manipulative and deceptive recruitment techniques. We refuse to be subtle in our outcry against this war, we refuse to do nothing and be silent while people are killed in our name for profit for the rich and we refuse to be sent overseas in a war for oil.

This past November, 100 students from twenty different college campuses came together at a Students for a Democratic Society meeting in Ft.Benning, GA and unanimously decided that March 20th be declared a national day of student and youth resistance against the war! SDS is calling on all students and youth to get out in the streets, get involved and get organized against this war! We, the students and youth of this country, are taking an active stand against US imperialism and fighting for a better world. We reject this war of greed and profit, and are walking out of our classes and taking to the streets in protest!

FIGHT THE WAR MACHINE - GET ORGANIZED, GET INVOLVED, AND GET IN THE STREETS!

A full and continuely updated list of endorsers is available on the March 20 Student Day of Action against the War website.