the Occupation Project in Saint Louis

Join other members of the Occupation Project downtown at Kiener Plaza on Friday, April 6 for a public showing of The Ground Truth from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

We will encourage passersby to stop and watch the film with us and distribute flyers.

For further information about the film and for ordering information, visit www.thegroundtruth.net.

We will have a large group meeting on Sunday, April 1, to look at next steps. It will be held at the Friends Meeting from 1:00 until 3:00.

• This will be an opportunity to hear from the Veterans for Peace group who have returned from their delegation to Fayetteville and New Orleans.
• An opportunity to look at some tax resistance possiblities outlined here.
• Discussion of possible actions during the Congressional recess that runs through April 15.
• Disccusion of possible action this Friday, April 6.

As we try to digest Friday's vote in the House and think about our next steps, here are a few things you might want to read. We'd also encourage everyone to post thoughts to the forum.

Bill Quick provides an excellent analysis of what the supplemental contains as well as a thoughtful reflection on where the Occupation Project might go from here.

Bill Ramsey has responded to Bill Quick and shares these thoughts on the supplemental as well as some concrete suggestions for further action.

Finally, Andrew Wimmer has a short piece, The Nursemaid's Tale, that appears in this weekend's edition of Counterpunch.

By a 218-212 vote House Democrats succeeded in passing their supplemental appropriations bill, titled the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, which funds the war in Iraq.

All the Democrats in Missouri voted in favor of the supplemental. Here is the roll call.

On Monday, March 19, a group of 200 people marched to the office of Senator Claire McCaskill to deliver a Deed for the War in Iraq.  Here is an 8-minute video that shows the march through downtown Saint Louis, the arrival at the Robert A. Young Federal Building, and the negoatiations that led to an agreement that six members of our delegation would take the deed and a large $100 billion bill up to the office.  Once inside the office, the text of the deed was read to McCaskill's staff.

Thanks to Michael Peters who accompanied the march on Monday, March 19, there is an excellent set of photographs as well as an article that can be viewed online at wikilou.com. A wiki is a collaborative web authoring tool, so you can edit and add to the story as it appears if you'd like to add your own observations.  Share the link with friends and coworkers.

And thanks as well to Sean Collins who photographed the gathering in Kauffman Park and the march.  View his photographs online.

Close to 200 people marched through the streets of downtown Saint Louis from noon until 1:00 today, ultimately arriving at the office of Senator Claire McCaskill in the Robert A. Young Federal Building. Groups formed at both of the front entrances, one with the Deed for the War and one with the 100 Billion Dollar Bill and held their position until negotiations with building security, Saint Luius Police and the Senator's aide led the an agreement that six members of the group could deliver the two items to the senator's 8th floor office. Photos and video will be posted later this evening.

Watch a short video of of the 24-hour vigil taking place in Kauffman Park (Chestnut at Tucker) in Downtown Saint Louis to mark the 4th anniversary of the invasion of iraq. At noon marchers will deliver a large $100 billion bill and deed for the war to the office of Senator Claire McCaskill. Join us for the march and invite others to come during the lunch hour.

On Thursday, March 8, International Women's Day, a delegation of women who have suffered the trauma of war and torture visited the Saint Louis office of Claire McCaskill. A DVD of the testimony of these brave women will be available shortly.
In this 6-minute video excerpt you will hear an urgent plea from an Iraqi woman on behalf of her sister and family for an immediate end to the war.

Members of the Occupation Project in Saint Louis invite you to take part in a public rally and march on Monday, March 19, on the fourth anniversary of the attack on Iraq.

10:30 AM Affinity groups will meet in Kauffman Park downtown to plan delivery of a large 100 Billion Dollar bill to the office of Senator McCaskill. Marchers will also deliver a large black-shrouded coffin and a "deed of ownership" for the war in Iraq.

11:30 AM Marchers will form up.

12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM March from Kauffman Park through downtown arriving at the Robert A Young Federal Building and the office of Senator Claire McCaskill.

Invite your friends and co-workers to join in this lunch-hour march to express loud opposition to a new funds for this war.

Download a March 19 Flyer and distribute it widely.