Welcome to the website of
Americans Against
War (AAW) in the UK
Americans living in the UK challenging
the US/UK governments' war agenda.
next
event - about us - get involved
- Events that have already happened - a
previous news update
QUICK NAVIGATION
(click here or scroll down for these items) PHOTO
LINKS
In authentic grassroots style, this site is only just one page at present. This site is still under development though and will have improved navigation, appearance and site structure by later in April 2003. In the meantime, please bear with us, there's a war to oppose!!! If you have any questions for the web-editor, contact thedishbench [at] yahoo.com
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING APRIL 15TH 2003
As well, there is an organizational meeting on Tuesday the 15th of April in front of the National Film Theatre, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The primary topic of discussion will be what is next for AAW, there are a number of ideas on the table.
AAW PUBLIC MEETINGS
We had a very successful meeting last Thursday, addressed by Angela Veomett of AAW, Anthony Arnove, editor of Iraq Under Seige, and Michael Letwin, co-convener of New York City Labour Against War. There was scarcely a negative reaction among the over one hundred people in attendance and we can be gald we seized the opportunity to communicate to the British public as antiwar Americans. Indeed we are already mobilizing for another meeting, set for April 23rd at 6:00pm. The main speaker will be Greg Palast, the California journalist who first broke the story about the fraudulent presidential elections in 2000. The meeting is set for Conway Hall on that Thursday. We have a leaflet prepared, so if you'd like to help dissimenate this information please contact Susie at 079 5897 5496. We need leafleteers!
Who we are: [click to return to top of page]
As citizens of the United States, it is our responsibility to challenge our political leaders as they take the role of agressor in a war which threatens the international community. AAW's aim is to resist systems of war for profit and help build a crucial link between voices of opposition in the US and those in the UK.
Our activities:
The Iraq v. America Football match for Peace is the latest initiative of Americans against the War, but we have been active since December 2002. We organised a packed public meeting Americans in London Say No to War and a 24 hour Vigil For Peace in front of the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square. We have also been sending American speakers to London secondary schools to stimulate an active dialogue for peace with London youth. Please contact us if you would like to have a speaker at your school or event.
For further information and comment speak to Gabriel Forshung 0795 255 6156 or Payam 0798 680 3165 or or Jesse 0781 458 7361 or email AntiWarAmericans@hotmail.com
We have more info about subsequent events that we have been in. This info will be listed here soon.
+ Feb 15 Demo
+ Direct Action At Chatham House
+ more
How Americans Can Get Involved: [click to return to top of page]
London based Americans who
would like to volunteer to help AAW with our efforts please get
in touch.
Scotland based Americans and
Iraqis may be interested in joining the Americans and Iraqis United Against
War group. Americans and Iraqis United against this War
If you know any Americans or Iraqis across Scotland - or beyond - who would
like to be involved with this group, please ask them to contact IAUAW@yahoogroups.co.uk
or americansandiraqisunited@hotmail.com
UK based Americans are invited to join the Yahoo! Group UK Americans Against War. This group is a forum for Americans to network with eachother via email. The group features open membership, message posting/archive, website links, room for files/photos to be stored, several membership polls, a calendar, and events reminders.
Please Note: This group is
not politically affiliated, nor anti-government, nor anti-American.
Events that have already happened.
APRIL 12TH NATIONAL MARCH
Additionally we are due to attend the April 12th march, starting at Waterloo station. If you'd like to march with us and have questions, then please contact Stephen Bunza at 077 3293 5063. Otherwise, we will be meeting in Jubilee park on the river side, nearest Hungerford bridge. Stephen will be there from 11 o' clock a.m. with the AWW banner.
PUBLIC MEETING
AMERICANS AGAINST WAR
Protest in the U.S. and the U.K. - Building Bridges to Stop War
Angela Veomett, from Americans Against War
Michael Letwin, from New York City Labour Against War
Anthony Arnove, Editor of Iraq Under Seige
Thursday April 3rd at 7:30pm
Conway Hall 25 Red Lion Sq. WC1 4RL
As citizens of the United States, it is our responsibility to oppose our political
leaders as they take an imperialist role in an illegal war which threatens not
only Iraq but the entire "international community". The objective of Americans
Against War is to resist systems of war for profit and help build a crucial
link between voices of opposition in the U.S. and those in the U.K.
Susie Helme 079 5897 5496
Gabriel Furshong 079 5255 6156
Website: www.ukamericansagainstwar.org
Email: antiwaramericans@hotmail.com
NOTICE!!! [click to return to top of page]
IF WAR BREAKS OUT, AMERICANS AND IRAQIS OPPOSED TO THE WAR WILL GATHER AT A VIGIL OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY - PLEASE WEAR A BLACK ARMBAND! IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO GET CLOSE TO THE EMBASSY BUT WE WILL GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE. AT 6 PM GATHER AT THE WHITEHALL SIDE OF TRAFALGAR SQUARE TO JOIN THE MAIN BODY OF PROTEST. QUSTIONS? CALL 079 5255 6156.
ON SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY, 2003,
AMERICANS WILL BE AT THE EMERGENCY LONDON DEMO!
JOIN THE AMERICAN BLOCK!
WEAR/CARRY SOMETHING THAT INDICATES THAT YOU ARE AMERICAN! (brought by Americans
Against War). NOTE: IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TO LONDON, PLEASE CONSIDER GOING
TO THE MENWITH HILL DEMO OR THE FAIRFORD
NATIONAL DEMO WITH SOMETHING THAT IDENTIFIES YOU AS AMERICAN.
Location/Time: Just like with
the last demo, we're meeting up on Adelaide Street (just at the back of the
St Martin in the Fields Church by Trafalgar Square) at 11:00 am on the 22nd
of February.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530153&Y=180596&A=Y&Z=1
Nearby tubes are: Temple, Blackfriars, Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Holborn, and Waterloo (if you walk over Waterloo Bridge- not the footbridge, but the car bridge).
Information for the media: For further information and comment speak to Gabriel Furshong 0795 255 6156 or Payam 0798 680 3165 or Jesse 0781 458 7361 or email AntiWarAmericans@hotmail.com
IRAQ V. AMERICA FOOTBALL MATCH
FOR PEACE
SUNDAY 9th FEBRUARY, 4PM [click
to return to top of page]
MARKET
ROAD ASTROTURF, (At the corner of Market Road and York Way) LONDON, N7
By Americans Against the War
AMERICANS AGAINST THE WAR have initiated a football match for peace between a team of Iraqis and a team of Americans living in London who are united in their opposition to a war in Iraq.
The match will take place in Islington on the Market Road Astroturf pitch, N7, at 4pm on Sunday 9 February. The teams are encouraging as many people as possible to come and enjoy this friendly game as a symbolic expression of our view that the planned war is against the interests of the ordinary people of both America and Iraq.
A spokesperson said: "We believe that George Bush is no more representative of the views of ordinary people in the USA, where a majority now opposes war, than Saddam Hussein is in Iraq, and that this war will be an act of aggression which totally contravenes the United Nations Charter. We believe this war will foment anger and hatred which will be a blight on world peace for generations. The football match is our way of saying that this illegal and unjust war will not be carried out in the name of either the Iraqi or American people."
The match has been sponsored by Philosophy Football, who are providing the players' shirts. The organisers have received many messages of support, including one from Tony Blair's sister-in-law, Lauren Booth!
Information for the media:
For further information and comment speak to Gabriel Furshong 0795 255 6156 or Payam 0798 680 3165 or Jesse 0781 458 7361 or email AntiWarAmericans@hotmail.com
Earlier Update [click to return to top of page]
AMERICANS AGAINST WAR - Update February
11, 2003
(from Gabe Furshong of London)
Folks,
We've all done an incredible job first of all. Our message was no doubt heard by hundreds of thousands as it was sent across BBC London, ITV and Sky News television screens as well as printed in the Mirror, Independent and Times. In fact, we're still getting calls from those who did not hear about the match but saw it in the papers. Reuters and BBC3 just yesterday. Well done on all counts.
SOLIDARITY ON THE 15TH
Of course it is not merely the media which made Sunday so successful. Most importantly, our unity was genuine and it showed as we demanded an end to 12 years of unjust war on Iraq. Anyone who spent any amount of time in the Moroccan cafe with the Iraqi players, dancing and clapping, have realized by now that a true connection has developed.
Indeed, we plan to march with the Iraqis on the 15th under a joint Iraq/American antiwar message. We are sending out a press release tomorrow. Hope to see you all Saturday.
AAW IN ALEXANDRA PARK SCHOOL
As part of our effort to work in schools with students, Payam Sadri and Kahla Amann will be visiting Alexandra Park school on Thrusday and Friday mornings to speak to the 9th and 10th form classes respectively. But they won't be alone. Students from the antiwar group at Fortismere high school will be joining them. This is a part of our continued initiative into north London high schools with the objective of helping to create a dialogue on war and activism. In addition, Dean Lambert will be visiting Middlesex University today to meet with an established antiwar organization to discuss Americans Against War and the U.S. mobilization, as well as the 15th in London. This sort of activity is extremely important as it is a direct effort to engage young people concerning issues on which their opinions are little valued. With the appearance of two Fortismere students in the Independent and the Observer, this is fast changing. AAW will maintain this initiative throughout the term.
THE SNOWBALL EFFECT
As a result of our football match a number of things have happened in relation to AAW. We've engaged a portion (however small) of the Iraqi community and this sort of solidarity cannot be too easily underestimated. We are now known in antiwar circles as a determinedly active and creatively engaged collective of Americans resisting war. The media has certainly take note of our activities and this is a great success. As we plan events in the coming weeks, the media will become more and more familiar with our work and likely continue to show interest. We continue to get calls about the football match even now. We've received emails from all sorts of places; Malaysia, Austrailia and numerous locations in the states. A peace group in Kalispell, Montana is going to honour our efforts at their gathering this Saturday. The internet is a wondrous tool and we are using it well. We wield a very positive, public influence now and stand poised to make an important contribution to stopping war.
WAR ON IRAQ
As many of you know, things are falling apart for Blair. He admitted weeks ago that he was risking his political career on this war and now he has less 'international' support than ever before. Belgium, France, Germany and Russia are all dissenting, Joska Fischer, foreign minister for Germany, being the most vocal proponent. And if Blair decides to go it alone, hand in hand with George Bush, the outrage would be widespread and certainly detrimental to Blair to the point of nearly-ensuring his fall from power (this is not melodrama).
In the states, new polls state that the majority are for a unilateral war and Federal judge Barbara Jones has banned the ANSWER march on the 15th. While things make look bleak, don't despair, ANSWER is planning to defy the court decision (read below) which sets an incredible precedent. It is important that AAW reach out now to encourage all we know in the states to act against war on the 15th. This is a defining moment for all of us and we must have the U.S. along. Letters to local papers, notes to friends, calls to action sent off to every U.S. organization you can think of, all these things are helpful.
Keep up your energy and know that your efforts are necessary. All of you deserve to be affirmed. The world's never seen anything like the 15th and we'll see you all there.
In solidarity,
Gabriel Furshong
( Americans Against War)
