The UNC Coalition Against the War is a broad-based coalition between a diverse set of student organizations at UNC. We are uniting together in a common effort to build for a large antiwar protest on March 19, and to continue efforts beyond March 19 to build the antiwar movement at UNC. The points of unity between our groups are:

1. We demand an end to the occupation - Troops Out Now

Find out this Thursday, Feb 21, when Iraqi-American Dahlia Wasfi gives a presentation about her experiences in occupied Iraq and the need for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. Jason Hurd, an Iraq war veteran and president of the Asheville chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War will give a short introduction. Dr. Wasfi's presentation will be followed by a facilitated question and answer period.

When: Thursday February 21 at 7 PM
Where: Dey Hall room 307

ALL OUT FOR MARCH 20, 2008

This March will mark a grim milestone - the fifth anniversary of the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq. Despite the clear mandate from the American people to end the occupation, the U.S. government continues to wage war upon the Iraqi people. Bush’s mocking response to dwindling public support for the war has been the “troop surge,” or simply more of the same, while simultaneously threatening neighboring countries like Iran. For their part, the Democrats refuse to commit to a clear anti-war stance, even as they try to posture as the opposition party. Meanwhile, the threat of domestic recession looms, racist attacks increase, and millions lack decent housing, jobs, education, and health-care.

Here is a round-up of the statements given at the demonstration, photographs of the protest, and news coverage.

WHAT: Demonstration Against the War and Military Recruitment
WHEN: November 15, 2007
WHERE: 3:30pm--March from the Pit (on UNC's Campus, near the Student Union)
4:30pm--Rally and Creative Action at Chapel Hill Recruiting Station (1502 E. Franklin St.)

UNC-Chapel Hill Students for a Democratic Society is organizing a demonstration against the continued U.S. war on Iraq and military recruitment on November 15, 2007.

Since the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, more than 1.2 million Iraqi civilians and nearly 4,000 U.S. troops have died. More than $465 billion has already been wasted on this war and the Bush administration has just requested an additional $190 billion to continue the war. Meanwhile, the Democrat-controlled Congress refuses to offer any real challenge to the war and fulfill the mandate to end the war that brought them to power back in November 2006. We are sick and tired of these games. While the people of Iraq continue to suffer under U.S. occupation, people here at home are suffering too. The Gulf Coast still isn't rebuilt, the cost of education continues to rise and become less accessible for millions of this country's young people, and many people don't have access to healthcare. This war has got to stop.

Mass March to Shut Down the School of Americas!

Thursday November 8 - 6pm in Bingham 103

Screening of Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience about the School of the Americas (SOA) followed by discussion
Sign up to go to protest the SOA!

Students for a Democratic Society is organizing transportation to the the annual mass march on the School of the Americas (SOA) in Ft. Benning, Georgia. The SOA trains military personnel from a number of Latin American countries. They are trained in counter-insurgency techniques, including interrogation, torture, and intimidation tactics. The graduates of this school have been directly linked to literally hundreds of atrocities, massacres, disappearing, killings, and kidnappings against the movements for social liberation in Latin America. It is a deadly arm of U.S. control and intimidation against the struggle for independence and liberation in Latin America.

Students for a Democratic Society presents:

Iraq: Eyewitness to Occupation

with Jason Hurd of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)

6pm Thursday November 1
Bingham 103

"[T]here is a direct correlation between the violence in Iraq and our presence there. ... I intend to do everything in my power to put an end to the massive suffering brought about by U.S. intervention in Iraq." - Jason Hurd, IVAW

Join us for an evening with Jason Hurd, president of the newly-formed Asheville chapter of IVAW. Jason served as an Army medic for 10 years – 4 years on active duty followed by 6 years in the Tennessee National Guard. He deployed to Iraq in November 2004, serving a year in central Baghdad with his unit from Bristol, Tennessee. Jason will share his experiences in occupied Iraq and explain why he is opposed to the war, what IVAW does, and how students can participate to help stop the occupation of Iraq. The presentation will be followed by questions and answers.

We, the members of the UNC Chapel Hill Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stand in solidarity with the Jena 6, the group of six Black students unfairly charged with the attempted murder of a white classmate in Jena, Louisiana a town of 3,000 white and 350 Black residents. The school yard scuffle which ended in the six’s arrests was preempted by racist and criminal provocation after provocation by white students. It all began when a Black student sat under a “white” tree at Jena high school. The next day, nooses were hung in the tree to show that that racist history of the South will be kept alive through tradition and the use of force. Robert Bailey, one of the Black youth that was arrested was invited to an all-white party, beaten and “sent back to his side of town” by the police. Matt Windham, one of white males who attacked Robert Bailey threatened Bailey with a sawed-off shot gun and was never arrested. With every escalation in violence the school superintendent, police, D.A., and the all-white jury that convicted Mychal Bell of attempted murder sent Jena and the rest of the U.S. the same clear message: white youth are above the law and Black youth will be locked up and thrown away. The Jena 6 case has become a worldwide symbol for the continuing fight against the racist U.S. criminal injustice system. The pressure is mounting. Last week, the judge threw out Bell’s conviction because he was erroneously tried as an adult but there are 5 more youth awaiting trial. We demand that all charges be dropped against the Jena Six and we continue to stand in solidarity with their struggle.