In the winter of 2003, as the US was building up to attack Iraq, people around the world responded with a series of the largest protests in history. In San Francisco, the response was a mass uprising orchestrated by Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW) that shut down the financial district the morning after the war started. But neither the uprising nor DASW outlasted the occupation.

A new documentary, Shutdown: The Rise and Fall of DASW, features interviews with DASW participants, laying out some of the success stories of the March 20th action as well as digging into some of the difficulties of DASW's organizing model. According to one of the filmmakers, "We made Shutdown to give strength and hope to ourselves as organizers as we fight this incredibly hard fight for justice, and we hope it can in fact be useful."

Shutdown screens on August 22nd at San Francisco's ATA along with five shorts about oil, war and organizing, and a presentation by a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Details

On Saturday, August 9th, anti-nuclear protesters gathered at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on the 63rd anniversary of the U.S. dropping the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. They were joined by Reverend Nobuaki Hanaoka, who survived that devastating attack and called for the “complete elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth.”

Peace, social justice, and environmental activists from throughout Northern California gathered at the northwest corner of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to protest the continuing research by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a new generation of nuclear weapons. At 11:02am antinuclear protesters observed a moment of silence for the tens of thousands of civilians who were instantly killed when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki, Japan.

Read More With Photos | Tri-Valley Cares

Past Indybay Coverage Of LLNL Protests: 2007: Hiroshima Memorial | 2007 Hunger Strike Against Lab | 2006: 9 DeNuke Activists Arrested at UCLA | 2005: A People's History of UC Weapons Lab Management | 2005: Protests Demand Abolition of Nuclear Weapons | 2004: Books Not Bombs Rally and March to Nuclear Weapons Lab | 2003: Hands Around the Lab | 2003: Hundreds rally against nuclear research | 2002: Another Rogue State Rejects Weapons Inspections | 2002: Demonstrators Denounce State Terrorism in the Form of Nuclear Weapons | 2001: In Memory of Hiroshima | 2001: Hiroshima Flame Walk To Visit Bay Area

On August 4, a partial hearing of Stephanie Tang took place in Alameda County Court. Tang, a long time organizer with World Can’t Wait (WC), is facing up to one year in jail and $1000 in fines, stemming from an ongoing effort by the WCW to shut down the Marine Recruiting Station in Berkeley. This specific charge is connected to a demonstration on Feb. 22, in which Tang, although assaulted by Berkeley Police, was charged with obstruction of an officer. The prosecution refused to drop the case, and a trial date has been set. During the hearing supporters of Tang filled the court room wearing orange, which symbolizes torture victims, an issue that Tang and the World Can't Wait has been protesting.

Many people from World Can’t Wait have been arrested at the Berkeley Marine Station, but all except for Tang had their charges dropped. Tang stated, “I am the only protestor actually facing any charges. I am known as a leader of the local World Can’t Wait movement by the community – and by the police – which may factor into the authorities’ approach to my case.”

The World Can't Wait is a national movement that has been organizing resistance to torture and demanding that Bush and others in his administration be impeached and put on trial for war crimes. In Berkeley the local chapter has been involved with putting pressure on and trying to shut down the Marine Recruiting Station. Currently the World Can't Wait is organizing people from the Bay Area and all over the U.S. to go to the Democratic National Convention to demonstrate against the Democrats. The WCW is accusing the Democrats of supporting the War in Iraq, and authorizing torture and the destruction of civil liberties.

Berkeley Marine Recruiters Office Shut Down, Three Arrested | Berkeley Changes Anti-Recruitment Language | Berkeley Police attack World Can’t Wait protestors at the Marine Recruiting Station, You Tube | Military and FBI Recruiting Protested at UCSC "Career" Fair | March 19 Marine Recruitment Protest in Berkeley | Military “Appreciation" Day | No Military Predators in our Town Demo

On August 6th, around 50 anti-war activists in San Francisco targeted the video game maker Ubisoft to “help stop the Army’s child recruitment program” in the form of the free “America’s Army” game. Organizers noted that the game “targets children as young as 13. San Francisco game companies Ubisoft, Gameloft, and Secret Level are profiting from the illegal recruitment program.

After a brief rally in South Park, near 2nd and Bryant Streets, protesters marched a short distance to the Ubisoft office. Speakers included San Francisco Board of Education members and community activists working hard to end the military's recruiting program, JROTC, in the city's public high schools. The rally also included writer and poet Rebecca Solnit, Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK, and a call to support Robin Long and all GI resisters by Courage to Resist.

"America's Army", available since 2002 as a free download, is a game developed by the U.S. military to instruct players in "Army values," portray the army in a positive light, and increase potential recruits. The "game" is the property and brainchild of the US Army, which admit freely, and with pride, that it is one of their principal recruitment tools.

The military recruitment of children under the age of 17, however, is a clear violation of international law (the U.N. Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict). No attempt to recruit children 13-16 is allowed in the United States, pursuant to treaty. In May, the American Civil Liberties Union published a report that found the armed services regularly target children under 17 for military recruitment. The report highlighted the role of "America's Army," saying the Army uses the game to "attract young potential recruits . . . train them to use weapons, and engage in virtual combat and other military missions", adding that the game "explicitly targets boys 13 and older."

Read More With Photos | Video | DASW: US Military Recruits Children | Event Announcement

Videogame Violates International Law | US Army Recruits Online Gamers

On July 19th, three activists were arrested for breaking through police barricades around Pelosi's Pacific Heights mansion and "dying in" on her walkway to protest against war with Iran. Code pinkers Toby Blome and Phoebe sorgen and peace organizer David Hartsough were arrested during the Die-In. They broke through the police barricades around Pelosi's home to lie down "as examples of the death that will come to yet another country if the build-up toward war is not halted". Pelosi was not home -- she was in Austin, Texas being protested by Austin Code Pink. When Toby was being walked to the police car in handcuffs, she called out in a strong but anguished voice, "Pelosi, not another war!" The crowd warmly cheered and applauded the courage of Toby, Phoebe and David.

Medea Benjamin and Leslie Angeline were among the dozen or so representing Code Pink. They joined over 60 others from Act Against Torture, DASW, World Can't Wait, Western States Legal Foundation and other organizations. FM DJ Soul of 104.1 in Berkeley also spoke out during the die-in. Actions on the weekend of July 19th coincided with UFPJ's national call for action.

Many banners and signs focused on House Concurrent Resolution 362 and the $400 million the US is spending on covert operations in Iran. Protest organizers say that "as the Bush administration maneuvers to bomb Iran, Congress has been a willing enabler of the administration's crimes of aggression." Additionally they point out that "Pelosi is one of the 'gang of eight' - congressional leaders that granted the administration the powers (and $400 million) for covert operations inside Iran to destabilize the regime and potentially clear the path for war. Congress and Speaker Pelosi have the ability to stop the administration's war plans. They can pass a resolution requiring congressional approval for any future military action."

Read More | Event Announcement

A rally to oppose H.Con.Res. 362 and war with Iran was also held in San Francisco at the Federal Building on July 8th.
Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Event Announcements: 1 | 2

On July 31st, there will be an eyewitness report-back at the SF Women’s Building from two Iranian American activists just back from Iran. At 7pm, they will make presentations on myths and realities about life in Iran today, the continued U.S.-European aggression against Iran and the danger of a new war. Event Details

Congresswoman Speier: Full speed for war with Iran | Iran Missle Tests: Who’s the Real Aggressor in the Middle East? | House Iran Resolution Would Send Alarming Message to President Bush | Peace Activists Join With Iranians to Say 'Talks, Not Sanctions or War' | Iran Reaction to Possible US Interest Section | U.S. Journalist Exposes Further American Moves Against Iran | Bush reaffirms "all options on the table" over Iran | The odds are against an attack on Iran | US 'escalates covert Iran missions' | As war clouds gather: Democrats back covert US attacks on Iran | H.R. 362: Proposed U.S. Naval Blockade on Iran Amounts to "an Act of War" | Gandhi Peace Brigade: Will Congress Start A War with Iran? | Who's threatening whom?

More signs of Israeli-US preparations for attacking Iran | Israeli Air Force in massive night drills over Iraq | Wars and Rumors of War | Democracy Now: Is Israel Preparing to Bomb Iran?

On July 4th, peace and humanitarian organizations celebrated a Canadian federal court decision favoring Iraq war resister Joshua Key that could have substantial implications for other American war objectors.

In a nationwide action July 9th, US protesters drew attention to the imminent deportation from Canada of AWOL GIs. If returned to US soil they face court martial, imprisonment and dishonorable discharges. Across the country 14 events were held in support of US war resisters attempting to remain in Canada while resisting participation in illegal and immoral occupation wars. The actions were organized in less than two weeks in response to a deportation order issued against war resister Corey Glass, an Iraq War veteran who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard. In San Franciaso, over 50 military veterans, religious leaders and peace activists rallied in front of the Canadian Consulate.

Activists were pleased with a surprise decision announced just hours after San Francisco's noon hour protest; a Canadian Federal Court granted Corey a last minute reprieve of at least several months while his lawyers are given an opportunity to appeal earlier negative rulings.

Despite a non-binding Parliamentary motion calling on the government to allow war resisters to stay in Canada, and in spite of recent encouraging court decisions in at least one other war resister's case, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Immigration Minister Diane Finley may act against the wishes of Canadians and soon deport another war resister, Robin Long. If deported, he will be the first of an estimated 200 deserters who have sought refuge in Canada to be returned to the United States. Mr. Long remains in jail as of this writing.

Corey Glass, 25, who was a sergeant in the Indiana National Guard, has been ordered to leave Canada this week or face deportation. "I signed up for the National Guard to ... do humanitarian work, filling sandbags if there was a hurricane. I should have been in New Orleans, not Iraq," he said. If deported as scheduled on July 10 Glass will be the first Iraq War resister to be deported. Other AWOL GIs face the same fate in the near future.

Photos: 1 | 2 | Canada Court Decision Favors US War Resister | Democracy Now: Canadian court rules Immigration and Refugee Board reconsider asylum claim for US war resister

Coverage of January 2008 San Francisco protest at Canadian consulate

On June 17th, 2008, a U.S. military judge dismissed charges against another Marine connected to the massacre of twenty-four unarmed Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha. Of the eight Marines originally charged in the case, only one still faces prosecution. Criminal charges have been dismissed against six of the Marines and a seventh Marine was acquitted.

The Haditha Massacre occurred on the morning of November 19th 2005, after a roadside bomb struck a Humvee carrying US troops in the western Iraqi town of Haditha. The bomb killed one marine and injured two others. The marines responded by busting down doors of neighboring houses. 24 men, women and children were killed when marines burst into their houses after the blast and shot them dead in their nightclothes.

Democracy Now: Haditha Massacre Victims' Kin Outraged as U.S. Marines Go Free | Sixth Marine Cleared in Haditha Killing | Camp Pendleton Baby Killer Marines Set Free | Charges dropped against third Marine | Wikipedia: Haditha killings

Previous Indybay Coverage Of Haditha Massacre

On June 6, responding to an ACLU report on recruiter abuses, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a report urging the U.S. to make sweeping policy changes regarding domestic military recruitment practices. Although the U.S. signed the UN's Optional Protocol on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in 2002, military recruiters still target children under 18 years of age for enlistment with techniques that include false promises and coercion.

This summer the Raging Grannies Action League will continue their public information campaign to reach children and parents with facts about military enlistment. In a recent press release they state, "[I]t is up to parents to make themselves informed and know who is influencing your child. Should your student come home with a military contract, be sure to read carefully both sides of any document he or she may sign. The enlistment contract is cleverly formatted to disguise the fact that although it is binding on the recruit, nothing in it is actually binding on the military."

Photos | ACLU: U.N. Committee Decries Military Treatment Of Youth At Home And Abroad | Military Recruitment in School Violates International Protocol | WILPF to United Nations: Stop Military Recruitment in US schools! | RIGHTS-US: School Recruiting Could Violate Int'l Protocol

Raging Grannies

On June 21, about 200 pro-war/pro-military bikers invaded Berkeley to demonstrate in support of the Marine recruiting station in downtown Berkeley. They were met by about 100 demonstrators chanting, "Murder, Rape, Torture, War – That's What They're Recruiting For" and carrying pictures of Iraqi civilians maimed at the hands of U.S. troops.

The Berkeley Marine recruiting station has been a target of anti-war resistance by protesters from World Can't Wait and Code Pink who say that the recruiters are unwelcome in Berkeley and need to be driven out of Berkeley and communities nationwide.

In February, the two sides faced off in the streets of Berkeley with hundreds of high school students courageously going in the face of the pro-Iraq War bikers and goons. These actions sparked protests nationwide against military recruiters.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | Jun 18th: Weekly Code pink vigil in front of the MRS

Previous Berkeley Military Recruitment Protest Coverage

Musicians and artists from the bay area are coming together at the Santa Cruz Vets Hall on Friday, June 27th in order to raise money for Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and to help the brand new Santa Cruz Chapter get off the ground. The event is being sponsored by the Santa Cruz local Veterans for Peace and Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters.

There will be music performances by Ashkon (bay area hip-hop), Cripple Catch and the Midi Mob (SC hip-hop), The Reliques (psychedelic rock and roll), and Anne and The Vets (political folk from San Jose). Artists such as William Muir, Sam Sweeley, and Phil Pflager are coming to share their art with the audience, and guests from the GI Rights Hot-line, Truth in Recruiting, Veterans for Peace, and Students Against War will be coming to share their wisdom and literature.

IVAW has 3 objectives -- 1) Immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, 2) Reparation for the Iraqi peoples, 3) Proper care, treatment and support for Iraqi and Afghani vets. Read More

see also: Veterans for Peace Santa Cruz Half Staff Flags in Honor of Dead/Injured; Iraq/Afghanistan

On June 8, at Chai House in San Jose—a mostly Jewish senior housing complex—Jewish and Japanese American survivors of the camps of World War Two and their families met for the second time in three years to tell their stories and reach common understanding. Around two hundred at the event, called "A Gathering of Friends," snacked on bagels and sushi and then talked with each other for a couple of hours. The South Bay Holocaust Survivor Group and the Japanese American Museum of San Jose were sponsors of the meeting, and the group was about evenly mixed between the two communities represented. Said organizer Harvey Gotliffe of San Jose State University, “We are here to share, not compare.” View photos

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is helping put together the largest Iraq war spending bill yet. The aim appears to be to fund the war for nearly six months into the next president's term to prevent a new Democratic President from having to vote for the war without risking the war actually ending.

On April 28th, Code Pink started a peace vigil on the front porch of Pelosi's house in San Francisco to urge her to not give the President another blank check for the occupation of Iraq. Event Announcement | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3

Progressives Block Pelosi's Blank Check for Iraq | Democrats Okay Funds for Covert Ops | The US and Iraq: Base-less Strategy | Democratic candidates agree on expanded US military aggression in the Middle East | House Democrats work on huge Iraq money bill

Direct Action to Stop the War brought its anti-war focus to May Day actions in San Francisco and Oakland on Thursday, May 1st. Starting at 5:45 a.m. at West Oakland BART, DASW lead a community picket to shut down the Union Pacific rail lines at the Port of Oakland. The march proceeded west down 7th Street to the employee entrances, where DASW urged workers from United Transportation Union Local 239 to join with the ILWU dock workers and the anti-war movement and not cross the picket line.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

From 12:30-2:30pm, DASW marched from Justin Herman Plaza to protests at the Armed Forces Recruiting Center (670 Davis St. at Broadway, San Francisco) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (630 Sansome St. at Washington St., San Francisco).

DASW also had a contingent at labor and immigrant rights demonstrations: At 10:30am, DASW joined with dockworkers as they marched from their stop-work meeting to a rally. The march departed from Beach St. at Mason St. in San Francisco along the Embarcadero to a 12pm rally at Justin Herman Plaza. At 2:30pm DASW joined with immigrants and their supporters in San Francisco at the immigrant rights rally and march, starting at Dolores Park (18th St. at Dolores) . DASW statement

Direct Action to Stop the War | Indybay's Coverage of the ILWU protest | Indybay's Coverage of Immigrant Rights Demonstrations around California | Some recent coverage of DASW

On May 1, all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast were shut down by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in protest against the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq. The Bay Area ILWU local was the first American union to condemn the war. In April 2003, as invading U.S. troops reached Baghdad, six longshoremen were injured and a union official was arrested as police fired on hundreds of antiwar protesters in the port of Oakland.

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) notified the union on April 3 that it “doesn’t consent to a stop-work meeting or any other effort to disrupt port operations.” Subsequently the PMA threatened union leaders with court action under Taft-Hartley if they don’t call it all off.

Supporters of the ILWU meet in San Francisco at Mason and Beach (in Fishersmans' Wharf) at 10:30 am on May Day. There was then a march to a 12 noon rally in Justin Herman Plaza. more details

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | US dockworkers' union holds eight-hour work stoppage to protest Iraq war | 25,000 Dockworkers Shut Down West Coast Ports in Historic Anti-War Protest

Read More | Longshoremen will close West Coast ports on May 1 to protest war | Grandlake Theater Marquee | Vermont AFL-CIO Calls on Workers to Support Work Stoppage | ILWU May Day Site

Past Indybay ILWU Coverage: 2007 Anti-War Dock Protests | Rallies Related to 2003 Oakland Anti-War Dock Protests | 2002 Lock-Out | 2002 Contract Issues | ILWU Refuses To Unload Italian Ship After G8 Protester Killed in Italy