New Brunswick City Council Passes Antiwar Resolution!

Home News Tribune article about yesterday: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/NEWS/80508008

Yesterday members of the Walkout Coalition packed the Town Hall Meeting in New Brunswick in defense of the Rutgers 3 being charged with disorderly conduct for the events of March 27, 2008

Community members of New Brunswick stood up and spoke about the US occupation in Iraq and the effects it has on our community. We pressured our City Council to pass a resolution in support of public opposition to the occupation and urged them to do all in their power to help get the charges dropped, including signing the petition ( http://www.petitiononline.com/DefRU3/petition.html ) . In a moment of disbelief and love, solidarity, and happiness, the resolution was passed and we erupted in cheers:


Resolution to support public opposition to the War in Iraq

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick unequivocally supports the men and women in uniform from New Brunswick and the whole of the United State who are stationed overseas in Iraq. These individuals are making unimaginable sacrifices for their country; and

WHEREAS, The Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 was passed by the US Congress on October 11, 2002, and that Public Law 107-243 cited Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction as a primary reason for the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq; and

WHEREAS, On January 12, 2005, President Bush officially declared an end to the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, This March marked the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The City Council of New Brunswick expresses its deep opposition to the Bush Administration's continuation of the war in Iraq after its mendacious and deceptive methods of garnering initial support ; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick mourns and honors the approximately 4,000 Americans who have given their lives; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick recognizes that the physical, psychological, and emotional injuries inflicted on over a million service people who have served in Iraq cannot at this time be adequately quantified; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick mourns the indescribable suffering inflicted on the people of Iraq, and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick, like cities throughout the nation relies on support from the federal government to adequately provide for the basic needs of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has appropriated over $400 billion to fund military operations and Iraqi reconstruction, while a steady decline in Federal Housing and Urban Development grants has been experienced since 2002, the year before the war began; and

WHEREAS, The City of New Brunswick recognizes the necessity of maintaining the basic constitutional rights of its citizens, especially in a time of war.


BE IT HERE BY
RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick will continue to support the troops currently serving in Iraq and their families; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick will do all it can to help care for those who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and support those who are grieving at the loss of a loved one, and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick communicates its desire to the members of Congress to end the war in Iraq and draw down the combat troops stationed in that country, and be it further

RESOLVED, That the City Council of New Brunswick urges the Federal government to pursue solutions to our country's domestic issues with the same zeal it pursued the invasion of Iraq; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the city Council of New Brunswick will do what it can to support any city residents working to end the War, and be it further

RESOLVED, That Freedom of Speech and freedom of assembly will be staunchly upheld in all cases of peaceful protest in opposition to the War; and be it further

RESOLVED, That at each meeting of the Council, after the Pledge of Allegiance, time is taken to suitably honor those Americans and Iraqis who have lost their lives in the conflict and communicate information about the continuing fiscal and humanitarian costs to the City of New Brunswick.