[GJM] Fw: National Strike

[mary rose]

FYI and consideration.

mary rose 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Stephanie Sutton 
To: Stephanie Sutton 
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:58 PM
Subject: National Strike






Begin forwarded message:


From: Chris Rice <votestrike08 at yahoo.com>


PTI will seek to unite new alliances toward a national strike for impeachment.

There can be no doubt that the successful shutting down of every port on the West Coast, stoppages in New Jersey, and Texas, refusals to 
work or buy in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, California, and Montana have all provided tangible proof that the workers of America have 
the ability to bring this nation to a halt, and that the power to determine the course of our nation, ultimately lies with The People.

The longshoremen, port truckers, and various activist groups who united to promote this action have reinforced the strength of our 
democracy in the face of an advancing authoritarianism. By organizing and carrying out a truly national strike without any help from the 
leaderships in Congress, business, or even union management, our successful actions have made it clear that when so many Americans 
demand something and Congress refuses to give it, we can pull the plug until they do.  And we do not need the media to do it.

PTI believes that there should be two central objectives in the campaign to solve the myriad of problems plaguing America today The 
impeachment and removal from office of George Bush, Dick Cheney, and their associates, and the securing of legitimate elections.  Once 
achieved, these will bring an end to illegal war, reinstatement of Constitutional rights, retention of our national sovereignty, job security, and 
quality of life. We believe that the pathway to these solutions leads through the establishment of National Solidarity.  When the many 
become one, we will have our democracy back.

Toward these goals, PTI's first order of business is to meet with  the partnerships forged through the May 1st action, and discuss 
cooperation in implementing  the PTI Plan for Victory and calling on all rank/file union organizations to join with impeachment and peace 
groups to organize a national "stay home" strike, potentially to be called for September 11, 2008, in cooperation with Votestrike.org.  Prior to 
calling the strike an ultimatum will be delivered to Congress, giving our lawful representatives a chance to do their duty to debate our 
legitimate public petition for impeachment. The term of the strike would be limited to three days, but extended if necessary.   Once the 
people's will has been delivered to Congress in this way, we are confident that impeachment hearings will begin following a short debate.

According to The Plan, the ultimatum, "Impeach or We Strike!" will only be delivered to Congress once we have sufficient participation to 
achieve a national shut down.  The strike will not be called until the ultimatum has been delivered with defined demands.

To help PTI organize this action in time for September 11, direct your group or other groups to this website and Votestrike.org and begin to 
distribute our flyer(this page or Votestrike.org homepage).  Time is passing, and the election that will send this administration out of office with its criminal precedents 
in tact looms just ahead.  Take action. And win a future for freedom.


CARRY THE SIGN THAT IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN; IT 
IS AN ULTIMATUM.

More than three years ago PTI warned every activist organization we 
could find that impeachment was the only way to stop the agenda 
behind the current administration, but that without a credible threat to 
strike behind it, any petition would be ignored and any bill for 
impeachment would surely fail.  In fact, it was PTI who first raised the 
point that it only takes one Member to bring a bill to impeach, and that we should not allow Congressional 
Members the excuse that their lack of a majority forces them to stand 
by while the administration shreds the Constitution.

In April of 2007, PTI complained to Dennis Kucinich's people that 
quietly introducing HRes 333 was not enough and that Rep. Kucinich 
needed to bring the bill to the floor supported by the people's pledges 
to strike. On November 6, '07 we watched Rep. Kucinich bring the bill 
to impeach to the floor, but without the pledges. We were then forced 
to witness one of the most humiliating defeats of a bill in recent 
history, as the supporters of the administration played with the 
passions of Americans like a beach-ball, arrogantly keeping the bill 
alive just to refer it to die in the Judiciary Committee.  By not bringing 
the American people into the mix, Rep. Kucinich presented another 
half-measure that was effortlessly defeated - as we repeatedly 
predicted.  

It must be clear by now that without direct public action nothing will 
stop the agenda in Washington. Certainly, the candidates for 2008 
offer no hope for real change.  Today, as time continues to run out, PTI 
has adjusted our Plan for Victory, asking people to not only sign a 
pledge to honor the strike, but to begin carrying the sign that will build 
our numbers leading up to the strike itself. The sign should read in bold, 
black letters:

"IMPEACH OR WE GO ON STRIKE!"

When people carry the same sign at demonstrations, we create a 
visible landscape of solidarity and potentially revive the public's 
confidence in our ability to succeed in this most important campaign.  
Declining numbers at recent demonstrations illustrate the lost 
confidence of the American public that anything can be done.  And 
though it is gratifying to invent our own slogans it is far more powerful 
for everyone to carry a single determined message.  Demonstrators 
must then urge others to adopt the sign until we have built sufficient 
solidarity to take our ultimatum to Congress. Either they begin 
impeachment proceedings immediately, or we will proceed with the 
Sept. 11th, strike.

PTI is also contacting all impeachment and peace groups urging that 
they seize this opportunity to build a vital solidarity among outraged 
Americans and encourage their people to participate in the Sept. 11th 
strike.  For four years we have watched opportunities, one after the 
other, squandered on tactics that are simply obsolete.  In this time of 
rising authoritarianism demonstrations are easily ignored, petitions are 
dismissed without comment, and vigils occur in a vacuum.  All these 
actions have a vital role, but must support an effective plan that cannot 
be ignored.  Shutting down the business of America on Sept 11th will serve 
as a warning that the American people are united and ready to stop 
everything unless Congress stops the corruption in our government.

"IMPEACH OR WE GO ON STRIKE!"
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