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About Youth PAWR
What is Youth PAWR? Youth Philadelphia Area War Resistance (Youth PAWR) is a coalition of progressive high school and college student organizations in the Philadelphia area. We are ourselves a member organization of the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition.
Who can join Youth PAWR? Any group that consists of three or more people with common principles, working on a common issue, may apply to be a part of Youth PAWR. Contact information: youthpawr@riseup.net or 215.222.4711. We also manage two e-mail lists: |
1. We support the victims and condemn the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
2. We are opposed to an open ended war on terrorism. We call for the U.S. to address the root causes of the conflict; we see the U.S. policy, particularly in the Middle East, as one of those root causes. We seek lasting peace and justice at home, but in order to achieve this we must have both abroad. Instead of the U.S. acting alone, we seek an international solution in which the U.S. is accountable.
3. We oppose opportunistic legislation sacrificing civil rights, democratic principles, and domestic needs in the name of "anti-terrorism" or "homeland security." This includes threats to civil liberties, institutionalized racial profiling, anti-immigrant policy, increased military spending, decreased education and social spending, fast track trade negotiating authority for the executive branch and any steps toward the militarization of outer space.
4. As youth and students, we will be especially vigilant about any attempts to deny civil liberties on high school and college campuses and we oppose disproportionate military recruiting of working class and youth of color that relies on their disproportionate lack of access to education, training, and living wage jobs. We demand increases in spending to financial aid, education, and job creation that does not rely on militarism.
Develop long-term relationships/networks between our organizations and others to organize for the global liberation and empowerment of oppressed people, by working now for a peaceful and safer world;
Develop an emergency response network able to respond to denial of rights at home or abroad;
Effect public discourse by opening up a space for points of view not represented by the mainstream corporate media and discourse; and
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Points of Action
• We will coordinate educational materials, resources, and events. |
Build broad-based support for our points of unity by educating youth and students about the issues surrounding war, terrorism and the impact of legislation related to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Youth PAWR has organized a variety of activities related to the anti-war movement. Most recently, we sponsored a weekend youth/student conference, Activation 2003, and a student lobbying day. Earlier in the year we helped coordinate Day X (March 20) activities and rallies on March 5 and February 15.
Any group with three or more people with common principles, working on a common issue, may join Youth PAWR. Each group (school/community organization) gets one vote when consensus cannot be reached for a decision. If consensus is not reached, a two-thirds majority of those present will win. To be a voting group you must fill out the application (available via e-mail) and be recognized at a meeting of Youth PAWR. Decisions made and actions taken by Youth PAWR are based on our points of unity. To join, please contact us.