On Friday afternoon, a group of about 20 University students drove to New Haven and knocked on the door of Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s office. The students claim that DeLauro has not acted on her publicized disapproval of the war in Iraq.
“We must have a timetable for a phased reduction of our troops ensuring a minimal presence within 12 months, with most redeployed by the end of 2006,” said DeLauro on May 6 during a floor speech to the House of Representatives on the state of Iraq. “We must expand the training of Iraqi military and police units and demand that be linked to a reduction in American forces.”
“We support her in speaking out against the war, but we would like her to take a legislative role,” said Students for Ending the War in Iraq organizer Erik Rosenberg ’08, referring to DeLauro’s call for military deployment. “She hasn’t taken any legislative action.”
Students demonstrated in accordance with The Declaration of Peace project, a nationwide campaign that calls for ending the war in Iraq and increasing aid to Iraqis. The project marked Thursday, Sept. 21, the International Day of Peace, as the deadline for Congress to initiate a plan of action. Failure to do so was followed by declaration signers’ demonstrations and rallies.
In New Haven, University activists united with about 10 members of student group Yale Peace. Together, they attempted to call attention to DeLauro’s office with signs and chants urging her to sign the project’s congressional pledge. The pledge would ensure the commitment to peace she spoke of during the May 6 speech.
“Mr. Speaker, I wish I had confidence that this White House and Secretary of Defense could look beyond their ideological agenda to do what is right for our national security and our troops,” she said to the House. “But I do not, which is why I believe the responsibility to take the lead on Iraq now falls to the Congress.”
The congresswoman was in Washington, D.C., on Friday, but Students for Ending the War in Iraq were in contact with Jamie Wise, DeLauro’s military legislative assistant, before the demonstration.
“Wise said that it isn’t really in Congress’ power to [end the war],” Rosenberg said. “But [DeLauro] said that it’s time for Congress to take responsibility away from the White House.”
University organizers had hoped for more participants but said that the demonstration was nevertheless effective.
“On the one hand, it would’ve been nice to have a lot of people, but on the other hand, the fact that it was all students there gave it a good atmosphere,” said group member Nat Lichten ’09. “We made noise.”
Kevin Young ’07 agreed.
“We got some positive feedback from people driving by,” he said.
Rosenberg said that he has spoken with Wise since Friday and that activist students are gaining attention in their efforts.
“In that respect, we’re having success,” he said.
Students for Ending the War in Iraq has grown in size from six students last year to about 30 as of this September, including members from each class year.
“People are starting to realize the gravity of the issue,” Rosenberg said.
Young, who is new to the group, noted this demonstration as a memorable and constructive first experience with activism.
“I think it was a good community-building experience for me with other people in the group,” Young said. “It was a good chance to build relationships with other activists.”
In response to the relatively low participation on Friday, Young said that he hopes for more extensive advertising of Students for Ending the War in Iraq meetings and events.
“I think that’s a commonly acknowledged need in the group,” he said. “I think people need to be aware that this kind of thing is going on on campus.”
Young said that the group focuses its efforts in two areas. One is counter-recruitment, in which students plan to canvas military recruitment centers and high schools visited by recruiters.
“We’re trying to alert people who are likely to join the military out of desperation that there are other options,” Young said.
Through Iraqi solidarity, group members hope to develop communication with Iraqi grassroots programs and supply material aid.
“We’re looking to form some kind of friendship,” Young said. “It’s a more constructive approach than decrying U.S. foreign policy. We’re taking it into our own hands.”
The group’s next event is scheduled for Oct. 5, when it will join the New Haven chapter of the national organization The World Can’t Wait. The World Can’t Wait has marked the day for resistance walkouts from jobs and schools.
Event organizer Priya Ghosh ’09 heard of The World Can’t Wait through other colleges and universities that will also be participating in October.
“We don’t necessarily agree with all of the ideals of the World Can’t Wait,” Ghosh said, referring to the programmatic walkouts. “But we’re going to join them [in general protesting].”
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