Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta History

2002: The Georgia Peace Coalition, formed in September to mobilize opposition to a U.S. invasion of Iraq ,
organized a Peace March of 3,000 on November 9, 2002 .

The Georgia Peace Coalition developed out of state-wide opposition to Pres. Bush's decision to attack Iraq , announced in the summer of 2002.  Atlanta activism first coalesced around the national Move-on campaign to present petitions opposing war to all 100 U.S. Senators across the country on August 28, 2002 . To reinforce the delegations' message for Senators Max Cleland and Zell Miller, Atlanta WAND (Women's Action for New Directions) organized a simultaneous demonstration outside Miller's Colony Square office.  Colony Square in Atlanta became the site of weekly rallies which encouraged communication among the war's opponents; it was also where five activists were arrested in late fall for holding a sit-in in Senator Miller's office.

In September members of WAND, InterFaith Atlanta Coalition for Justice and Peace in the World, Move-On, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Physicians for Social Responsibility sent out a call for a city-wide meeting held September 30 at AFSC. The nearly 40 people in attendance found consensus on plans for a city-wide march and established a steering committee to guide the work.

Organizing for the November 9, 2002 Peace March with the theme "No War on Iraq ! The People's Passion for Peace" brought together many constituencies throughout the state, including the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, International Action Center , Concerned Black Clergy, Not in Our Name, and SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), Doubts About War in Athens and peace groups in Savannah , LaGrange, and other Georgia cities. Thus, the name Georgia Peace Coalition was adopted. On November 9th, nearly 3,000 marched from the King Center to Centennial Park for a program of speakers, music and a candlelight vigil, with media for the first time thoroughly covering opposition to war within Georgia .

Throughout the winter, local groups across Georgia spear-headed vigils, educational programs, and other outreach opposing the war. Individuals often came together on a regional basis to form a significant presence in towns and cities, including Savannah , Valdosta , Athens and the University of Georgia , Brunswick , Macon , Gainesville , and Augusta .

In 2003: The Georgia Peace Coalition mobilized thousands before the U.S. attack on March 20 and continued demonstrating and educating after the invasion took place.

"War Is Not the Answer" became a unifying theme in Atlanta as thousands of yard signs bearing those words and distributed by Quaker activists appeared throughout the region. GPC activists distributed 1,000 No War on Iraq posters emphasizing Dr. King's anti-war message at the annual Martin Luther King March on January 20.   In February, a "War Is Not the Answer" newspaper ad campaign received the support of over 540 individuals and 40 organizations who contributed $35,000, enabling full-page signed ads opposing war to be placed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Voice, Creative Loafing, The Champion, Mundo Hispanico, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, and An-Nour. On-going protests included weekly Colony Square rallies, religious institutions vigils on December 8th (becoming weekly actions at several churches), an International Human Rights Day protest December 10, No-War Zone Protests January 27 and March 5, an Interfaith Mission for Peace service at Ebenezer Church Feb. 17, the Peace Caravan Protests on February 15, "The day the world said no to war," and candlelight vigils in Decatur and Marietta attended by over 1500 on March 16, four days before the U.S. invasion.

Visible opposition continued after the invasion. When the bombing began March 20, people gathered at the Arch on the UGA campus, the Square in Marietta , and 5 Points in Atlanta , with some continuing a 24-hour presence at UGA and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur . In Atlanta , hundreds rallied at Five Points March 21 and 22 and over 1300 gathered there for a march on the 23rd, followed by an interfaith service at the Morehouse College King Chapel. The 35th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination was commemorated on April 5 with a procession from the Carter Center to a candlelight service in a nearby park.

During the summer months, with the U.S. occupation of Iraq and U.S. threats against other countries, the GPC member organizations continued educating and agitating with actions such as a Town Hall Meeting June 3 at First Iconium Baptist Church , the "Say No to Endless War" March and Rally June 7, and the WAND bus caravan to the Department of Energy hearings on new nuclear production in South Carolina July 7.

In the fall of 2003, as violence escalated in Iraq and Afghanistan and Bush's lies were increasingly exposed, activists and member organizations continued to organize with renewed energy. The Coalition renamed itself the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition (GPJC) to emphasize its full mission.

In 2004: The Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta mobilized thousands for on-going street protests, connected with activists statewide, registered voters, and lobbied U.S. Representatives and Senators to bring the troops home.

GPJC/Atlanta started off 2004 with much energy and impact.  When President Bush announced that he would visit Martin Luther King’s tomb on Dr. King’s birthday January 15, Rev. Tim McDonald of Concerned Black Clergy offered leadership as we mobilized a demonstration of 1,000 protesting this hypocritical act and were pleased that our message of opposition to Bush policies was carried by the media nation-wide.  Four days later, for the second year in a row, we distributed hundreds of posters carried our opposition to war message in the annual King March.

On March 20^th, the first anniversary of the Iraq invasion, GPJC/Atlanta worked with other peace groups to organize three vigils—at the Decatur Courthouse Square (where we took primary responsibility), at Woodruff Library on the Clark Atlanta University campus, and at the Cobb Courthouse on Marietta Square.  A total of between 800 and 900 people gathered in the three locations to call for justice and an end to occupation.  Vigils were held in cities across the state, including Athens , Milledgeville, and Dalonega.  On the same day there was also a march from the Israeli consulate to Piedmont Park where there was a rally.

Planning for protests at the June Group of 8 Summit at Sea Island where President Bush brought leaders of industrialized nations began in late 2003.  Much volunteer energy and a part-time paid staffer were able to mobilize a strong presence of opposition at the June 8 to 10 Summit .  A TOES (The Other Economic Summit), a Fair World Fair, an InterFaith Service, demonstrations and other activities educated hundreds of participants about the realities of globalization.  In addition the state-wide organizing laid the groundwork for building an effective state-wide peace and justice network.  

The summer was filled with activism.  During weekly rallies at Five Points and in other outreach between June and September, primarily at the Midtown Art Theater , over 50 people distributed action leaflets, bumper stickers and gathered petition signatures.  In the petition campaign, 1,500 petition signatures were gathered calling on Congress to end the Iraq occupation and address human needs at home.  In August and September copies of the petitions were delivered and meetings were held with the staffs of Representatives Denise Majette, Johnny Isakson, John Lewis, and Cynthia McKinney, and Senators Zell Miller and Saxby Chambliss.  Over 3,200 Defeat Bush and Bring Our Troops Home Alive bumper stickers were distributed to supporters who donated over $2,000, paying for the printing and helping further GPJC/Atlanta work.   In August, GPJC/Atlanta joined with Atlanta WAND for a large demonstration marking the 2^nd anniversary of the vigils at Colony Square , still the location of Democratic Sen. Zell Miller’s office.  Focused on Miller’s decision to keynote the Republican National Convention, media coverage was strong, with Associated Press articles and photos going nation-wide.

As the November 2 Presidential election approached, many GPJC/Atlanta members worked on voter registration, education, and mobilization efforts.  Following the election, the second state-wide gathering of the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition was held at Koinonia.  Every region of the state was represented and an initial structure for our network was established, giving us the vehicle for moving our coalition forward.   The last Atlanta action of 2004 was a demonstration at the Decatur Courthouse Square where 250 gathered on December 4 to voice their support for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq .

In 2005: GPJC/Atlanta inspired more activism locally as Iraq War veterans and mothers who lost sons in Iraq joined the call to end the war and hundreds traveled to Washington for a major march and lobbying effort.

Following the reelection of Bush, activist momentum was soon regained.  For the third year, GPJC/Atlanta distributed over 700 End the War NOW posters at the annual King March down Peachtree on January 17.  In Counter-Inaugural activities on January 20, 400+ marched from CNN to the state Capitol.  Grady High School students staged a walk-out  (also covered with an AJC article); nearly 200 high school and college students joined the march.  In addition, many Georgians went to Washington for the Turn-Your-Back-on-Bush and Counter-Inaugural protests there.

GPJC/Atlanta and Veterans for Peace, Metro Atlanta Chapter 125 worked together to bring IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against the War) Co-founder and National Coordinator Michael Hoffman to Georgia for a successful week-long tour April 8 – 13.  Hoffman, a well-informed and articulate spokesperson, reached new audiences with the call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq ; Georgians raised over $4,000 to Iraq Veterans Against the War; and we strengthened our local and statewide peace and justice network.  Over 850 people heard Michael at 16 separate programs in Atlanta , Marietta , Watkinsville, and Athens —at seven colleges and schools, seven churches and community meetings, and two street protests.  Tens of thousands received Michael’s message through four radio and television interview shows, advance articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta Daily World, and other program coverage.

When Vice President Cheney came to Atlanta in May and Pres. Bush, in July, to campaign for Social Security privatization, we spear-headed protests outside their events, with an additional pre-event press conference before Bush’s arrival; the AJC and TV channels carried our message out to tens of thousands.

In August, when Cindy Sheehan began her encampment outside Bush’s ranch in Crawford , Texas , we held a solidarity press conference at the VA hospital here and began getting strong media attention, including front-page AJC coverage.  Patricia Roberts, Mary Anne MacCombie, and Evelyn Allen, Atlanta mothers who all lost sons in Iraq , spoke out against the war and called for our troops to be brought home.  All three, with anti-war spokesperson Dr. Joseph Lowery and others from Atlanta , went to Crawford to stand with Cindy Sheehan.  In August, the three mothers spoke at the 3^th anniversary press conference of the first Colony Square Protest.  When the Camp Casey tour came through Atlanta in September on the way to the national march in Washington , Cindy Sheehan spoke to over 400 people at Victory Church in Stone Mountain; tour members spoke at three other churches, two college campuses, a labor union, and also went to Athens , speaking to over 100 people there.

In September, many activists went to Washington , D.C. for the national mobilization on Sept. 24 and national days of lobbying Sept. 26 and 27.  Delegations visited the offices of Congressional Representatives and Senators Chambliss and Isakson; Patricia Roberts met with Sen. Chambliss personally.

During 2005, GPJC/Atlanta strengthened its organizational structure, establishing a Steering Committee to replace the previous, more informal Interim Action Committee.  A volunteer coordinator took on the responsibility of assisting the Steering Committee in offering collective leadership to the Coalition; an Annual Action Plan and Annual Budget were developed.   We participated in the National Assembly of United for Peace and Justice early in the year, with a Georgian was elected to the UFPJ Steering Committee.

In 2006: GPJC/Atlanta protested Pentagon spying on its activities and played the central role in organizing the Southern Regional March in April which brought 4,000 to Atlanta from surrounding states.

For the fourth year, GPJC/Atlanta created a new peace poster for the annual King March and organized distribution of over 700 posters before and during the event.  On January 25, we held a joint press conference with the American Civil Liberties Union to publicize the unconstitutional spying by the government on Georgians.   In late 2005, NBC News had disclosed a secret TALON Pentagon surveillance database of 1,500 suspicious incident reports on non-violent anti-war groups nation-wide.  The list labeled as a “threat” a March, 2005, public GPJC/Atlanta meeting and an April, 2005 non-violent protest during the Iraq Veterans tour.  GPJC/Atlanta was included in the national ACLU suit against the government (which led to the Pentagon announcement that it was closing down the TALON database; see http://www.aclu.org/safefree/spyfiles/31394prs20070821.html ).

GPJC/Atlanta was the key organizer for Southern Regional March for Peace in Iraq and Justice at Home held on April 1, 2006 .  Beginning work in October, 2005, six monthly organizing meetings involved 150+ people, some traveling from Alabama , Tennessee and North Carolina to participate.  Over 150 organizations in the Southeast endorsed the march; individuals and organizations contributed over $16,000 to fund the event.  On April 1, over 4,000 people marched from the King Center to Piedmont Park , accompanied by drumming groups at several points of the march route; huge helicopter, tank, and dove puppets created a powerful visual impact.  In Piedmont Park , speakers addressed the crowd and many groups tabled with literature; the AFSC Empty Boots exhibit and Code Pink Peace Ribbon from Florida were displayed.  Marchers came from Tennessee , Florida , South Carolina , North Carolina and beyond; the Alabama Peace and Justice Coalition brought a bus from Birmingham and car-pools from other parts of the state.  The march received advance and day-of media coverage both in Atlanta and Georgia media.  We greatly increased our regional contacts and learned much which can help us in future organizing. 

GPJC/Atlanta continued its commitment to counter false presentations about the war and to present peace spokespeople when high-profile visitors came to town.  We organized protests and press conferences when Maj. Gen. William Webster addressed a joint session of the State House and Senate in February, Donald Rumsfeld spoke at the Atlanta History Center in May, and the parents of 1^st Lt. Ehren Watada visited Atlanta in June.   The Rumsfeld appearance gained world-wide coverage when four local activists disrupted his speech and war critic and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern challenged Rumsfeld from the floor!  When President Bush came to Macon in October to campaign for the Democratic Congressman’s opponent, GPJC/Atlanta worked with the Macon Peace to mobilize over 150 protesters from Macon, Atlanta and other cities—and got excellent coverage from the Macon media.

We continued to work on our organizational structure, with more involvement in developing an Action Plan, and to systematize our Truth in Recruiting and Lobbying work. 

2007: GPJC/Atlanta worked with new peace networks in the Atlanta suburbs, coordinated statewide on local actions calling for an end to the occupation, and activists went to Washington for three national mobilizations.

When Pres. Bush escalated the war in January with the “Surge” and addressed the nation from Ft. Benning , in Columbus , we coordinated a protest there, with word going out widely with help from MoveOn.org which scheduled nation-wide vigils that same day.  Over 50 people came from Columbus , La Grange , Atlanta , and eastern Alabama ; Columbus and regional media gave good coverage.  We distributed King March posters for the 5^th year; members of the local Veterans for Peace chapter were on the rally program, speaking in solidarity with the Appeal for Redress, the movement of active duty military personnel calling for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq .

GPJC/Atlanta coordinated a week of local anti-war action in Georgia leading up to the January 27 national mobilization in Washington .  500+ people participated in twenty-six events, including 16 church and faith vigils in Athens , Augusta , Brunswick , Atlanta , Sautee-Nacoochee along with regular community vigils.  Hundreds of Georgians went to the January 27 March on Washington--100+ by bus, 30+ by train (an 8^th grade class), by car and plane.  Nearly 40 Georgians stayed for the National Lobby Day on Monday, Jan. 29.  Constituents met with the staffs of Senators Isakson and Chambliss and seven of Georgia ’s 13 Congressional Represent