SODaPOP

Resources for Seasons of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project

Jeff Leys — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:57:46 -0500

Short Information Teaser

SODaPOP Resources

Excerpt

Background Paper on Candidates
Nonviolence Statement
Legal Matters - Iowa
SODaPOP Campaign Announcement
SODaPOP Flyer - Iowa
Primary and Caucus Schedule
Complete Set of Demands

For more information, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, 773-878-3815, occupationproject@vcnv.org

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Background Paper on Candidates
Nonviolence Statement
Legal Matters - Iowa
SODaPOP Campaign Announcement
SODaPOP Flyer - Iowa
Primary and Caucus Schedule
Complete Set of Demands

For more information, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, 773-878-3815, occupationproject@vcnv.org

Clinton Campaign Office Re-Occupied by Peace Activists on Day of Iowa Voting

Mike Ferner — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:26:45 -0600

Short Information Teaser

Mike Ferner write of the occupation of Clinton's campaign office

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Action caps four days of Iowa primary protests against war in Iraq

January 3, 2008

Des Moines – Hours before voting begins in the nation’s first presidential poll, peace activists placed the Iraq war front and center again this afternoon, when, for the second time since campaigning began last fall, they occupied the Iowa headquarters of Senator Hillary Clinton.

On this, the fourth day of nonviolent “direct actions” during caucus campaigning, four members of a campaign called “Seasons Of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project” (SODaPOP) went to Clinton’s office, saying they still had not gotten a response to a letter delivered to the Senator’s campaign in October, demanding she publicly oppose any more spending for the war or occupation, and foreswear an attack on Iran.

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Three Hillary Clinton campaign staff guard the entrance to her Des Moines, Iowa headquarters as peace activists conduct a sit-in to protest the candidate’s support for the war in Iraq. (Photo: Mauro Heck )

Action caps four days of Iowa primary protests against war in Iraq

January 3, 2008

Des Moines – Hours before voting begins in the nation’s first presidential poll, peace activists placed the Iraq war front and center again this afternoon as they occupied the Iowa headquarters of Senator Hillary Clinton for the second time since campaigning began last fall.

Over a dozen members of a campaign called “Seasons Of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project” (SODaPOP) went to Clinton’s office, saying they still had not gotten a response to a letter delivered in October demanding she publicly oppose any more spending for the war or occupation, and foreswear an attack on Iran.

But as the peace activists approached Clinton’s East Second Street office, staff members locked the main door and refused admittance. At a locked side door, a Clinton staff person was admitted but could not close the door before Jeff Leys, co-director of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, sat down in the doorway.

Leys, speaking on the phone as he remained in the doorway, said about another 15 peace activists were standing outside the entrance helping block it, several Clinton staffers were blocking the doorway into the office, and that no one was going in or out.

Asked why the campaign targeted Senator Clinton’s Iowa headquarters again, Leys said “because she is the most hawkish of any of the leading candidates on foreign policy and she refuses to commit to ending the war in Iraq.”

He said that they are also concerned with Senator Clinton’s connection to the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), at which she gave a keynote address for the center’s launch in June 2007. One of its initial reports released that day, “Phased Transition,” (PDF) concluded that “…as a rough estimate 25,000 to 40,000 American troops might remain in Iraq” until as late as 2012.

“While the people of Iowa are exercising their legal right to go to the caucuses to choose their presidential nominees, it is appropriate that we exercise our extra-legal rights of nonviolent protest to bring this war to an end,” Leys concluded.

Extra-legal or not, Clinton’s office was reluctant to file a complaint that would trigger arrests, so police withdrew after being on the scene about an hour. Protesters continued their vigil until about 5 pm, by which time nearly all the Clinton staff had left.

Caucus voting was scheduled to begin at 7pm Iowa time and a “Caucus Night Celebration with Hillary” was scheduled at a downtown Des Moines hotel later in the evening.

Clinton’s Des Moines press office was contacted for a statement but had no comment.

Ferner is an independent journalist from Ohio - www.mikeferner.org

VCNV Author

Mike Ferner

NEWS RELEASE: Clinton Occupation Include Fierce Stand-Off But No Arrests

voices — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:39:51 -0600

Excerpt

N E W S R E L E A S E
DATE: January 3, 2008
RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Mona Shaw

SODaPOP
Iowa Occupation Project
Des Moines Catholic Worker
Des Moines, IA
319-621-4646

CLINTON OCCUPATION INCLUDES FIERCE STAND-OFF BUT NO ARRESTS

Twenty-five members of SODaPOP appeared at Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Headquarters this afternoon with the intention of occupying that office until the senator agreed to pledge to bring an immediate end to the war in Iraq and to veto further funding of that war if she is elected president.

When Clinton staff saw SODaPOP members approaching their office, the door to the building was locked and entrance was barred to all SODaPOP members as well as press who had arrived to cover the occupation.

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N E W S R E L E A S E
DATE: January 3, 2008
RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Mona Shaw

SODaPOP
Iowa Occupation Project
Des Moines Catholic Worker
Des Moines, IA
319-621-4646

CLINTON OCCUPATION INCLUDES FIERCE STAND-OFF BUT NO ARRESTS

SODaPOP then stood in front of the entrances holding banners that read “End the War in Iraq” and “Stop War Funding” and handed out flyers outlining their reasons for being there. After several hours and when the headquarters were closing to leave for precinct caucuses, SODaPOP members decided to leave. No arrests were made.

Photos of this action taken by Mauro Heck may be viewed and down-loaded at: [www.flickr.com](http://www.flickr.com/photos/monashaw/sets/72157603627460627/show

This concluded the three-day campaign in Iowa. A total of 15 arrests were made in the campaign that also included occupations at the Huckabee, Romney, and Obama campaign headquarters in the Des Moines metro area. SODaPOP (Seasons of Discontent: a Presidential Occupation Project) is a project that intends to insert the peace movement into the U.S. presidential campaigns. It is coordinated by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, the Iowa Occupation Project and hosted in Des Moines by the Des Moines Catholic Worker Community.

In a news release issued earlier by the Des Moines Catholic Worker, Kelly, co-director of VCNV, was quoted as saying, “We’re very respectful of the Iowa caucus process and the long history behind it but we feel quite strongly that the issues of this war must be inserted into the process of narrowing down the candidates for the presidential election.”

More information about SODaPOP is available at the following websites.

www.vcnv.org or www.desmoinescatholicworker.org

Twelve Arrested in Des Moines as Obama Campaign Hinders Press Coverage of Protest

voices — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:39:47 -0600

Short Information Teaser

Michael Gillespie writes of the 12 arrests at campaign headquarters of Obama and Romney

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by Michael Gillespie
Jan 2, 2008

Josh Earnest, Iowa communications director for U.S. Sen. Barak Obama (D-IL), is running scared in the final few days before the Iowa Caucuses. He must be, otherwise he would not have risked the consequences of ejecting half a dozen media workers from Obama’s Iowa campaign headquarters on Wednesday, Jan. 2, and barring entry to several more.

Reporters and photojournalists representing news organizations in Japan, Germany, Great Britain, and the USA were hindered in their efforts to report on a bona fide news event when Earnest insisted they work outside in the sub-freezing single digit cold while inside a group of eight antiwar activists from Voices for Creative Nonviolence (VCNV) and the Iowa Occupation Project questioned Obama’s positions on the war in Iraq, military spending, and U.S. Middle East foreign policy.

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by Michael Gillespie
Jan 2, 2008

SODaPOP participants inside the Obama campaign headquarters - photo by Michael Gillespie

Roger Routh on the sidewalk with an international news organization - photo by Michael Gillespie

Though he knew who the protesters represented and why they had come to Obama campaign headquarters (this reporter heard an Obama staffer say, “We knew they were coming and we have a plan to deal with them”), Earnest told one Iowa newspaper, “They basically just sort of came into the front office and were talking loudly and being disruptive.”

In a remarkably short-sighted and unsuccessful bid to minimize news coverage of an event that he perceived to be unflattering to Obama, Earnest did not stop at ejecting reporters and insisting that they conduct their work on the city sidewalk, about 30 feet from the headquarters main entrance. When he decided to have the non-violent peace activists arrested and removed by Des Moines Police Department, Earnest had the officers take the activists out through a side door, away from the gaze of reporters and the cameras of photojournalists.

According to Brian Terrell, executive director of the Catholic Peace Ministry and one of the eight arrested, VCNV has noted a number of areas in which Obama’s positions are troubling.

“Not only has Obama supported sanctions against Iran, he has also stated emphatically that in dealing with Iran, all options including military ones have to be on the table,” said Terrell.

“It’s astonishing, too, that he supports an increase in military spending,” said Terrell.

“This country provoked and waged a war of choice in Iraq,” said Kathy Kelly, a VCNV coordinator and another of those arrested at Obama’s headquarters, “a war against people who meant us no harm. We have a huge responsibility to insert that reality into the discussion whether the politicians are comfortable with it or not.”

When the activists entered Obama headquarters at 323 Locust Street in Des Moines, they informed campaign staffers that VCNV had received no reply to a letter delivered to the campaign headquarters in October asking Obama to pledge to completely withdraw from Iraq within 100 days of assuming office; halt all military actions against Iraq and Iran; fund the rebuilding of Iraq as well as health, education and infrastructure needs in the U.S.; and provide “…the highest quality health care, education and jobs training benefits for veterans of our country’s Armed Services.”

“We’re going to be here until we get that answer, until we get that pledge, until the Senator joins the majority of the American people, the majority of the people of the world, and agrees to get our country out of this immoral war,” said Terrell.

Shortly thereafter, Earnest ejected all reporters and photojournalists from the office and insisted that they wait on the sidewalk.

A few minutes later, Earnest came out of the office to give a statement to a local TV news crew in which he told viewers, “This is when it’s really fun to be involved in politics. This is what democracy is all about. We’re really excited and feeling good.”

Obama campaign officials then summoned police to arrest Vicki Andrews, 63, Grand Rapids, MI; Diane Haugesag, 48, Minneapolis, MN; David Hovde, 37, Evanston, IL; Kathy Kelly, 55, Chicago, IL; Dan Pearson, 26, Chicago, IL; Tom Roddy, 76, Evanston, IL; Brian Terrell, 50, Maloy, IA; and John Tuzcu, 23, Des Moines, IA.

All eight were charged with trespassing and transported to the Polk County Jail to be held overnight for arraignment on Jan. 3, the Iowa activists having declined the opportunity to be released immediately in solidarity with activists from other states who are typically held overnight.

At about the same time, a similar scene was playing out at the Iowa campaign headquarters of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at 3590 109th in Urbandale, IA, a Des Moines suburb.

There, four VCNV activists, Ed Bloomer, 63, Des Moines; Chris Gaunt, 51, Grinnell, IA; Janice Sevre-Duszynska, 57, Nicholasville, KY; and Suzanne Sheridan, 31, Chicago, IL were arrested and charged with trespassing by the Urbandale Police Department. The four were also transported to the Polk County Jail for arraignment on Jan. 3.

Mauro Heck, an Iowa City, IA, photographer who provides support services for the Catholic Worker Community, was present during the occupation of Romney’s headquarters. Heck, who arrived at Obama headquarters after all members of the media were ejected, said he was surprised by Earnest’s actions.

“The Romney people were friendlier than at Obama’s actually. They received the demonstrators about as warmly as one could expect,” said Heck.

The occupations are part of a continuing campaign, Seasons of Discontent – A Presidential Occupation Project (SODAPOP), coordinated by VCNV and The Iowa Occupation Project, in cooperation with the Catholic Worker Community of Des Moines and the Catholic Peace Ministry.

Activists involved in the SODAPOP campaign have previously occupied and been arrested at the campaign headquarters of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

VIDEO: Barack Obama campaign office occupation

voices — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:26:40 -0600

Excerpt

January 3, 2008

In a day-before-the-caucus effort to obtain from Senator Barack Obama a pledge of withdrawal from Iraq, nonviolent actors representing “Voices for Creative Nonviolence” and the Des Moines Catholic Worker community witness a spurned media and turned backs at the Senator’s Des Moines campaign office.

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January 3, 2008

VIDEO: Obama and the media

voices — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:13:37 -0600

Excerpt

January 3, 2008

Sen. Obama’s media person felt the need to throw the press out of a protest in his Des Moines campaign office.

More videos by soundslikesouth1

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January 3, 2008

Sen. Obama’s media person felt the need to throw the press out of a protest in his Des Moines campaign office.

More videos by soundslikesouth1

VIDEO: Huckabee Protest - Kathy Kelly

voices — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:13:37 -0600

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video by soundslikesouth1

Excerpt

January 3, 2008

Kathy Kelly and Chicago based Voices for Creative Nonviolence, along with Des Moines based Catholic Peace Ministries staged a nonviolent Peace action at the campaign office of Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. The peace activists asked all candidates to agree to end the war in Iraq among other peaceful actions, if elected to the office of president.

More videos by soundslikesouth1

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January 3, 2008

More videos by soundslikesouth1

Obama and Romney Iowa Campaign Offices Occupied by Peace Activists

Mike Ferner — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:38:59 -0600

Short Information Teaser

Mike Ferner writes of 12 arrests at Iowa campaign headquarters

Excerpt

Third day of nonviolent resistance to Iraq occupation during Iowa presidential primary

January 2, 2008

Des Moines – Opponents of the occupation of Iraq today occupied the Iowa campaign headquarters of presidential candidates U.S. Senator Barak Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, waiting for a response to a letter requesting them to oppose any more spending for the war or occupation and foreswear an attack on Iran.

Eight people were arrested at Obama’s Iowa campaign headquarters and four at Romney’s, in this, the third day of such nonviolent “direct actions” organized by “Seasons Of Discontent: A Presidential Occupation Project” (SODAPOP) since the presidential primary season began in Iowa late last year.

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Third day of nonviolent resistance to Iraq occupation during Iowa presidential primary

January 2, 2008

Explaining why Senator Obama’s office was targeted, Voices for Creative Nonviolence co-director, Dan Pearson, pointed to the Illinois Senator’s consistent support for war funding until a May, 2007 supplemental funding vote “which everyone knew was going to fail anyway. Even his proposed Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007 wasn’t really anti-war. It allows for thousands of U.S. troops to stay in Iraq and others to be deployed to Afghanistan and other countries in the region when the only place they belong is back here.”

Pearson said the SODAPOP campaign has not yet received a response to a letter delivered to Obama last October, asking him to pledge to completely withdraw from Iraq within 100 days of assuming office; halt all military actions against Iraq and Iran; fund the rebuilding of Iraq as well as health, education and infrastructure needs in the U.S.; and provide “…the highest quality health care, education and jobs training benefits for veterans of our country’s Armed Services.”

“Today we will visit his Iowa headquarters and ask him to publicly pledge to fulfill those demands and become a true antiwar candidate,” Pearson concluded.

Another SODAPOP participant, Brian Terrell, Director of the Catholic Peace Ministry in Des Moines, said that as of yesterday he was ambivalent about which candidate’s office to occupy, “but now I see this statement from (Ohio Congressman Dennis) Kucinich which I think is really irresponsible, asking his supporters to make Barak Obama their second choice…that they both stand for change. But what kind of change is he talking about? Leaving 40-60,000 troops in Iraq? Leaving on the table the bombing of Iran? Asking Iowans to support increased military spending? I hope our action here counters the message Kucinich is putting out (about Obama).”

Spokesperson Mona Shaw reported that at Obama’s office Kathy Kelly, 55, Chicago; Dicki Andrews, 63, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Diane Haugesag, 48, Minneapolis; David Hovee, 37 and Tom Roddy, 76 of Evanston, Illinois; Dan Pearson, 26, Chicago; Brian Terrell, 50, Maloy, Iowa and John Tuzcu, 23, Des Moines were arrested and charged with trespassing. She also said that arrested at Romney’s headquarters and charged with trespassing were Chris Gaunt, 51, a farmer from Grinnell, Iowa; Ed Bloomer, 63, Des Moines; Janice Sevre-Duszynska 57, Nicholasville, Kentucky; and Suzanne Sheridan, 31, Chicago.

Asked what kind of welcome the demonstrators received at each office, independent photographer Mauro Heck said, “The Romney people were friendlier than at Obama’s actually. They received the demonstrators about as warmly as one could expect, but at Obama’s office they blocked the door at first.”

Independent journalist, Michael Gillespie reported that while he was covering the occupations he saw only one U.S. news outlet, a Des Moines TV station. “German, British, Italian and Japanese press were there, but no others from the U.S.”

The Romney and Obama Iowa headquarters were each contacted for comment, but campaign spokespersons were unavailable.

Two days ago, three SODAPOP organizers occupied and were arrested at former governor Mike Huckabee’s Des Moines office, and in November a total of 18 were arrested at the Iowa campaign headquarters of Senator Hillary Clinton and former mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Ferner is an independent journalist from Ohio - www.mikeferner.org.

VCNV Author

Mike Ferner

SODaPOP UPDATE - JAN 4: list of articles, video, and media coverage

Dan Pearson — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:36:29 -0600

Short Information Teaser

Overview of recent articles, video, and media coverage

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January 4, 2008

From December 31st until January 3rd, Seasons of Discontent: a Presidential Occupation Project (SODaPOP) occupied four offices of leading presidential candidates in Iowa. Members of the campaign visited former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (Dec 31), Governor Mitt Romney and Sen. Barack Obama (Jan 2), and Sen. Hillary Clinton (Jan 3).

In total, 15 members of SODaPOP were arrested. The demands of the campaign to the presidential canidates are a complete withdrawal of the U.S. military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan within 100 days of assuming the office of President and a halt to any and all military actions against Iraq and Iran.

ARTICLES, VIDEO, AND MEDIA COVERAGE

VIDEO: Kathy Kelly, with Voices for Creative Nonviolence, was interviewed on C-SPAN: Washington Journal
NEW! - ARTICLE: Clinton Campaign Office Re-Occupied by Peace Activists on Day of Iowa Voting, Mike Ferner, Jan 3
NEW! - NEWS RELEASE: Clinton Occupation Include Fierce Stand-Off But No Arrests, Jan 3
ARTICLE: Demonstrators held after Iowa anti-war protests, Daniel Nasaw in Des Moines, Guardian Unlimited, Jan 3
VIDEO: Barack Obama campaign office occupation, Jan 2
ARTICLE: Twelve Arrested in Des Moines as Obama Campaign Hinders Press Coverage of Protest, Michael Gillespie, Jan 2
ARTICLE: Obama and Romney Iowa Campaign Offices Occupied by Peace Activists, Mike Ferner, Jan 2
WASHINGTON DC ACTION: Citizens went to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Arlington, VA office to follow up on a letter requesting the Senator’s pledge to affirm the points put forth by the SODaPOP campaign. Read the report, Hillary’s National HQ Visited by Peace Protesters, and Read the Press Release, Jan 2
VIDEO: Reverend Mike Huckabee, Who Would Jesus Bomb?, Dec 31
ARTICLE: Peace Activists Occupy Huckabee’s Iowa Campaign Office, Mike Ferner, Dec 31

ALL SODAPOP RELATED MATERIAL

SODaPOP is a project of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Iowa Occupation Project

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January 4, 2008

ARTICLES, VIDEO, AND MEDIA COVERAGE

VIDEO: Kathy Kelly, with Voices for Creative Nonviolence, was interviewed on C-SPAN: Washington Journal
NEW! - ARTICLE: Clinton Campaign Office Re-Occupied by Peace Activists on Day of Iowa Voting, Mike Ferner, Jan 3
NEW! - NEWS RELEASE: Clinton Occupation Include Fierce Stand-Off But No Arrests, Jan 3
ARTICLE: Demonstrators held after Iowa anti-war protests, Daniel Nasaw in Des Moines, Guardian Unlimited, Jan 3
VIDEO: Barack Obama campaign office occupation, Jan 2
ARTICLE: Twelve Arrested in Des Moines as Obama Campaign Hinders Press Coverage of Protest, Michael Gillespie, Jan 2
ARTICLE: Obama and Romney Iowa Campaign Offices Occupied by Peace Activists, Mike Ferner, Jan 2
WASHINGTON DC ACTION: Citizens went to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Arlington, VA office to follow up on a letter requesting the Senator’s pledge to affirm the points put forth by the SODaPOP campaign. Read the report, Hillary’s National HQ Visited by Peace Protesters, and Read the Press Release, Jan 2
VIDEO: Reverend Mike Huckabee, Who Would Jesus Bomb?, Dec 31
ARTICLE: Peace Activists Occupy Huckabee’s Iowa Campaign Office, Mike Ferner, Dec 31

ALL SODAPOP RELATED MATERIAL

SODaPOP is a project of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Iowa Occupation Project

NEWS RELEASE: Peace Activists Continue Occupation of Candidates Offices Today

Dan Pearson — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:29:32 -0600

Short Information Teaser

Antiwar Activist Occupying Candidates Offices Now!

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DATE: January 2, 2008
RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Mona Shaw
Iowa Occupation Project
Des Moines, IA
319-621-4646

PEACE ACTIVISTS CONTINUE OCCUPATION OF CANDIDATES OFFICES TODAY

SODaPOP (Seasons of Discontent: a Presidential Occupation Project) will occupy two offices of leading presidential candidates immediately. Members will go to the Urbandale Office of Governor Mitt Romney and the downtown Des Moines headquarters of Sen. Barack Obama. Participants will remain in those offices until these candidates pledge to immediately withdraw military troops from and end the war in Iraq as well as veto any funding for the “war on terror” should they be elected president.

A similar action was held in Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office in Des Moines this past Monday.

SODaPOP is a project of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Iowa Occupation Project. For more information about previous events go to: www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/sodapop.html

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DATE: January 2, 2008
RELEASE: Immediately
CONTACT: Mona Shaw
Iowa Occupation Project
Des Moines, IA
319-621-4646

PEACE ACTIVISTS CONTINUE OCCUPATION OF CANDIDATES OFFICES TODAY

A similar action was held in Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office in Des Moines this past Monday.

SODaPOP is a project of Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Iowa Occupation Project. For more information about previous events go to: www.desmoinescatholicworker.org/sodapop.html