U.S. Peace Movement Confronts Unique Set of Issues in Responding to Expected U.S Military Actions

Interview by Between The Lines' Scott Harris

After the Sept. 11 attacks against New York and Washington, calls from the White House for a new war against terrorism are widely supported throughout the nation. Although the world does not yet know the scope or precise targets of expected U.S. military action, there are fears that careless retaliation that would take the lives of innocent civilians in Afghanistan or elsewhere could fuel a wider and dangerous conflict throughout the world

The nation's peace movement, which opposed U.S. wars in Southeast Asia, Central America and the Persian Gulf, now finds itself confronting a potential new conflict, but with a very different set of circumstances. This time, however, the war is not an abstract issue thousands of miles away, but right here on our doorstep. Activists, like many citizens, have friends and family members who were killed, injured or personally affected by the recent attacks. Even though the threat of a U.S. military response this time provides some difficult challenges, peace groups around the nation have swung into action by organizing vigils to oppose revenge and racist attacks in dozens of cities. A day of action, on Sept. 20, calling for "peaceful justice" was coordinated in just over a week, by a coalition of students on more than 140 college campuses nationwide.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with peace activist David McReynolds, who has worked for many years with the War Resisters League based in New York City. McReynolds examines the issues confronting the U.S. peace movement, in the wake of assaults on the World Trade Center and Pentagon(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found At http://www.btlonline.org).

Contact the League by calling (212) 228-0450 or visit their Web site at: www.warresisters.org