On March 3rd, Students Against War (SAW), a newly formed UCSC organization, held a teach-in about the war in Iraq. SAW is comprised of three different campaigns that work closely together to fight against manifestations of the war-machine on a very local level. At the teach-in each group presented its current projects and through break-out groups, encouraged new students to get involved. Here is an overview of what was brought up at the event.

A powerful new lobby tells the world its purpose is to direct Congress to act on behalf of the State of Israel.

The Bethlehem Bloggers website is dedicated to bringing first hand insight into life and politics inside Israeli-occupied Bethlehem. The site is managed by a diverse group of activists and professionals living and working in the area. An introductory statement posted to the website explains:

"We are Palestinians and internationals who are living in the Bethlehem region, and who want to tell the world what it is like to be living in occupied territory, under an economic siege, encircled by a wall and military checkpoints: what it is like to live in a Palestinian Ghetto."

[ Bethlehem Bloggers: Voices from the Bethlehem Ghetto | Bethlehem bloggers online ]

Summary: The Peace Movement needs to transcend Scott Ritter's Manichaen dualism and his view of the terrorist threat through rose colored glasses.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the death/assassination of journalist/activist Ruben Salazar. Well-known for his work at the Los Angeles Times and the Spanish-language KMEX-TV, Salazar was a passionate advocate of minority issues and an important voice in the Chicano Rights Movement. His powerful columns on police abuse of Latinos made him a controversial figure and a target of investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI. In August 1970, Salazar was killed while reporting on the Chicano Anti-War Moratorium march in Los Angeles. The police raided the peaceful gathering, and Salazar was fatally wounded when a ten-inch tear gas canister hit him directly in the head. The coroner’s report ruled that his death was a homicide, but no further investigation was initiated and no charges were ever brought against the LAPD officer who fired the projectile.