Hi all,

I had a phone conversation with Katie Nelson a couple days ago. She actually agrees with a lot of what Jim has written, as do I. Personally, I am tired (and somewhat sickened) of the strong-arm style of organizing now being utilized by UFPJ's New York Central Authority (Leslie Cagan and Judith LeBlanc).

However, a lot of the responses here are full of hatred and some are suggesting violence to resolve conflict in our society. How is that really any different than the warmongers?

Personally, I am dedicated to nonviolent resistance. How many here are willing to commit themselves to this? And yes, The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Clergy and Laity Concerned and Military Families Speakout have worked on crafting UFPJ's White House action on the 26th. And, yes, we have talked with the Park Police and Metro D.C. Police, but who knows what will actually happen that day. We felt it was responsible to *request* that the processing be sped up for people who have not done this action before and our coming from states far away and are traveling with a group. Otherwise the numbers participating int he action ont he 26th could be very very small. The process inc rafting this action was not perfect and had some difficulties, but it was open to member and non-member groups.

Keep up your dissent, but let's not attack each other constantly. Let's turn out on the streets on 9/24 and 9/26. And then afterward let's continue our dissent with this strictly top-down organization controlled by the Communist Party-USA and elements within the Democratic Party. Both of which have had a quiet alliance since the '40s.

There has also been some criticism of DAWN here. Often this group does have lengthy debates that don't actually produce any real action. But it is a very democratic group, anyone who stops by a meeting immediately is a full participant and can make proposals, etc. Generally good group of people, I just would like to see more of them actually show up at actions. But I guess most of us are working jobs for the might dollar bill still.

In peace and solidarity,
Pete Perry
Agape Action
Member of the D.C. Statehood/Green Party