NATIONAL YOUTH AND STUDENT PEACE COALITION

Walk Out to Get Out!

NOVEMBER 7th, 2006

On November 7th, the day of the mid-term elections, young people across this country will Walk Out to Get Out of Iraq! Our month of education, organizing, and mobilizing will culminate on what will be a powerful display of the youth and student movement for peace and justice! We are calling for young people to walk out of their schools, their campuses, and their jobs, not only to go out and vote and to help others vote, but also to show the people in power that the youth and students of this country will not stand aside while they prioritize war and profit over our needs!

We need leaders who choose Books not Bombs!!!

Walking out is not the only way to participate in this day of action, there are many ways to demonstrate your opposition to the war!

Step One: Get the word out!

In 2003, over 450 schools participated in a walkout before the war even started! In the fourth year of this illegal war, let's double that number!

Be sure to go to www.nyspc.org and let us know if you are going to participate so we can publicize and get a sense of how many people are joining this historic day of resistance! (Email us at info@nyspc.net)
Put up flyers use sidewalk chalk to get the word out all over your campus, community, work place, etc.
Write an op-ed or letter to the editor to your local and campus newspapers
Post it on your Myspace account, your blog, send emails to friends and all those who have signed the Books Not Bombs pledge, etc.

Step Two: Organize a Group

Be sure to get as many people as you can to participate with you. This is a day for solidarity and collective action, each one of us is affected by the spending on this war. Ask your family, friends, co-workers, and classmates to join in on this day of resistance! Meet weekly to touch base on what plans are in the works, how many folks you have signed up, permits for rallies, rides to the polls, t-shirts, publicity, etc. You could also do some research on candidate's stance on the war and create some flyers to let folks know. Remember, not everyone (or anyone) has to walk out; there are other options for everyone who wants to get involved (see Step Three).

Step Three: Who is Going to Do What?

There are two questions to ask the group:

Discuss who wants to walk out of school/class/work, and who wants to commit to doing something different. Since we want as many people to get involved with this day - we are asking everyone who wants and is willing to Walk Out to do so with the understanding that there are consequences to this action - there are also other ways to make your voice heard and your opposition felt.
You don't have to be able to vote in order to participate: the war affects those who can't vote (under 18, non-citizens, etc.) as equally as those who can vote and on election day we'll be letting Congress know loud and clear that youth demand Books NOT Bombs! Voting is a responsibility and a privilege, but if you can vote it is only a part of the action you need to take on November 7th.

From there you need to decide what activities you want to organize that will include as many people as you can (for people who want to walk out, for people who don't, for people who can vote, and for people who cannot).

Election Day - November 7th - ideas and things to remember:

Walk out of your school/class/job and go and vote, and get others to vote. Make sure to do your homework and see which candidates' support funding for war over funds for education! (See www.nypsc.org). If you can't vote, you can still participate and help get others to vote!
Walk out of your classes, your schools, or your job and organize a rally. If you don't feel comfortable with walking out, organize a rally before/after school or after you get out of work (or during your lunch break).
For those who can't walk out of school or work, you could also walk out (as a visible anti-war group) after class or work ends. For example, high school students could meet near the exit after the bell rings and walk out (with anti-war shirts on) together to the rally, voting polls, park, etc. Be creative!
Wear a T-shirt to school/class/work that shows your opposition to the war, make armbands to pass out at school (as simple as plain strips of cloth (ex. blue for peace, black for mourning/resistance) or stencil peace symbols, your group name, state the number of troop and civilian deaths, etc.).
Organize rides to polling booths
Hand out flyers about how much the war has cost us
The point is to make your position on the war visible. Think of slogans like "Out of Iraq or Out of Office" or "Vote Books not Bombs" or "Walk out to Get Out." You could wear T-shirts, buttons, stickers, wristbands, paint your car, chant, etc.
Be visible! We want people to see and feel youth opposition to the war and raise the issues of war and militarism of our schools and world on this crucial election day.

We are fed up with our country's priorities, and the leaders who are failing us.

NATIONAL YOUTH AND STUDENT PEACE COALITION

Walk Out to Get Out!

NOVEMBER 7th, 2006

We are fed up with our country's priorities, and the leaders who are failing us.

We want Books Not Bombs!

WALK OUT TO GET OUT!!!