Last semester 10 “CAN-ers” died on the sidewalks in front of the Hunter West building to raise awareness about the war in Iraq. Some, splattered with red paint, were strewn across the sidewalk while others handed out literature to passers-by.
In mid March, as the fifth-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq neared, the Campus Anti-war Network was working as hard as ever to organize students for peace. “This is a long-term grassroots movement,” said Akua Gyamerah, 21, a seven-month CAN member devoting a hiatus between undergrad and grad schoold to the anti-war movement. “We want to galvanize a public movement and raise consciousness about what’s going on in the Middle East.”
CAN scheduled open meetings on Tuesdays at 5:30 in Thomas Hunter Hall, Room 305 where members planned events and discussed politics, history, current affairs and the development of the Iraq war. They discussed Anthony Arnove’s Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal on February 5 to understand the steps to end U.S. occupation of Iraq.
On February 26th CAN showed Winter Soldier by Winterfilm, a documentary of testimonies of Vietnam veterans against the war that gave first-hand accounts of military war crimes in Vietnam. “We believe that the best way to end the war [in Iraq] is with Iraqi, military, and public resistance,” said Hannah Fleury, the head of CAN at Hunter. “Vietnam and Iraqi Veterans openly opposing war speaks volumes to the public.”
The showing aimed to raise awareness about the Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan on March 13-15th in Washington, D.C .where veterans from across the nation gave testimonials of their experiences in the Middle East. CAN also “tables” about twice a month on the third floor corridor connecting Hunter North and West buildings. Members hand out flyers and speak with students passing by. “Tabling allows outreach to people who may or may not be against the war but want to know and do more,” said Gyamerah over the phone Sunday, March 3rd from her apartment in Astoria. “We also advertise upcoming events, which helped a lot last semester.”
Last semester about 20 “CAN-ers” rallied outside Hillary Clinton’s office at 780 Third Avenue, suite 2601, to criticize her plan to keep soldiers in Iraq if she is elected president. “She would partially withdraw an redeploy soldiers in other areas,” said Gyamerah, “leaving more opportunities for air strikes in areas where there are no U.S. soldiers.”
Unable to meet with Senator Clinton, they eventually met with her deputy director, Cleon Edwards, who told them, “American troops would be left in Iraq to help rebuild the country.”
Jen Hogg, 27, an Iraq veteran against the war who was present at the meeting, responded to Edwards. “There was nothing taught in basic training about rebuilding,” said Hogg. “We learned how to destroy.” Hogg joined the New York Army National Guard two months after turning 18 and served with Brooklyn’s 152nd Engineers Division.
CAN, at the time of this article was being developed, was planning events for the upcoming “week of action” for the last week in March and the East Coast Conference where about six CAN chapters wereconvene at Hunter April 4 to April 6. “Students can expect to see big signs of upcoming events,” said Gyamerah. “The details aren’t set yet but there will probably be some kind of conference or teach-in and, of course, plenty of public demonstrations.”
The WORD’s Jake Mabanta can be reached at jrm424@aim.com.