The Long Arc of Movement-Building: United for Peace and Justice Coalition Lays Out 2008 Plans

A United for Peace and Justice anti-war march in Washington, DC, September 2005. © 2008 Pat Rabby

The movement for justice and peace in the United States takes countless forms and operates from an enormous spectrum of political views, ideological commitments, and lifestyle choices. In fact it is not a "movement" at all but a conglomeration of movements intersecting and overlapping in multitudinous and complex ways. Issues addressed range from peace, the environment, criminal justice, racism, immigration, sexism, homophobia -- and human, labor, and civil rights -- through the full spectrum of social and economic justice concerns. All are deserving of the attention of people who believe in the inherent dignity of every person, and in the preservation of our communities and the natural world. And, of course, the anti-war movement, which I see as a subset of the peace movement, is itself astoundingly complex. All these movements and struggles share an overarching common goal; in the phrase by Max Elbaum in his history of the US New Left, Revolution in the Air, they are ways "to advance the cause of humanity."

So how does an organization with the name United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) incorporate all these elements of the long "arc of history" which Martin Luther King Jr. said bends toward justice? In fact UFPJ does not attempt any such feat. While its ambition is more modest, UFPJ works on a surprising number of issues considering the size of the paid staff and its limited financial resources. It does this as a coalition of national and local groups working for justice and peace in a wide array of movement issues. United for Peace and Justice is the nation's largest anti-war grassroots coalition: "We are a movement-building coalition that coordinates and supports the work of existing groups and builds linkages, solidarity and unity where none or little exists." (UFPJ Strategic Framework)

Large Ears and Small Mouths

With about 1,400 member organizations in UFPJ, it is obvious there are differing ideas of what our priorities should be, what strategy and tactics should be employed, and even on how we measure success. The work of the coalition and the discussions about that work reflect the tensions inherent in such a massive undertaking with so many points of view. But somehow it works. As a member of the UFPJ steering committee I think it works because of the enormous respect the members have for each other and for the staff headed by Leslie Cagan. It works also because, like all good organizers, most people active in UFPJ have large ears and small mouths. We listen to our member organizations and, after each national assembly, commit ourselves to following the program which attending members vote for.

The last national assembly in Chicago in June 2007 voted in a new steering committee and passed a Comprehensive Organizing Program for the coming 18 months. That program includes many of the concerns of the larger movement at this moment in our nation's history.

UFPJ was founded to organize opposition to the war on Iraq and this remains our first priority in the new Program. The continuing campaign to end the war and occupation has several elements: ending congressional support for the war; a major anti-war mobilization (this became the regional demonstrations across the nation on October 27); counter-recruitment work; support for military resisters, veterans, and military families; exposing and challenging the economic costs of the war and the military budget; relating to the 2008 election season; skills training for local groups; challenging war profiteers; and a nationwide public education project focusing on schools, students, and educators.

Priorities for a Crucial Year

From this list the steering committee at our December meeting identified three activities to mark the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war. UFPJ will provide major support to Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and its Winter Soldier hearings in Washington, DC from March 13-16. We will also organize a major nonviolent civil disobedience action against the Iraq war in Washington, DC on March 19 and encourage local supportive actions the same day in each of the 435 congressional districts.

Other areas of work, some longstanding and others new, are the abolition of nuclear weapons; preventing an attack on Iran; defending civil liberties and human rights; opposing US unconditional support for Israel; and linking war and global warming (hint: oil). All these and other commitments must be moved forward as we step up opposition to the war.

Disagreement in the larger movement continues about how to organize against the war. Many people want to see a mass mobilization in Washington DC on the fifth anniversary of the invasion; they believe getting people out in the streets in huge numbers is the best way to build the movement. Others say that, while the October 27 regional demonstrations had some successes, overall the turnout was low and exposed weaknesses on the local level. They see a need to build the movement's base before we can expect huge numbers of people to again travel to Washington for another demonstration.

The decision by UFPJ to support Winter Soldier stems, in part, from the potential for local organizing to amplify what will be happening at the hearings. Throughout the country people will organize to alert news media, Congressmembers, and the public to the hearings which will feature testimony by former soldiers and Marines who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and by civilians from the two countries. While not ruling out mass demonstrations in the future, we feel that the moment calls for supporting vets as they tell this nation about what really happens in war. As IVAW puts it, "It is our responsibility to tell the truth, and it is America's duty to listen."

The issue of electoral politics has brought out different points of view. The UFPJ steering committee supports an increase in non-partisan voter registration, publishing issue advocacy voter guides, ballot initiatives in cities and states on war and peace issues, and working to inject peace and justice issues into party platforms. Some think these efforts divert the movement; that it is through organizing powerful and active opposition to the war in all sectors of society that we can make Congress listen and stop funding the catastrophe.

While these discussions take place, local anti-war activists and organizers think about overcoming fatigue, pro-war propaganda, the public's belief that the "surge" is working, and the growing focus on the economy. Some worry that social and economic injustice and the myriad other crises facing our nation and planet will overwhelm our sprawling movements for a kinder, more just and peaceful world.

In one of its planning documents UFPJ says: "To fully realize our own potential, UFPJ as a national coalition must assess the moment, identify the obstacles and constraints we face (as well as our strengths), and develop a strategy for our work in the coming period." This is a task for all of us as we join with others to keep on keeping on.