Campus Antiwar Network History

Dear Dr. William Messner,

I called your office yesterday morning (San Francisco time) to strongly
object to the treatment of counter-recruitment protesters by your college as
they exercised their right to protest the attempt by the military to grab
young people to fight an illegal, immoral and inhuman war.

This government has attacked a country without any provocation so it is not
surprising that these kinds of attacks are happening on college campuses
here in this country. It is not surprising, but it is still horrifying and
will not be tolerated!

When I called your office, Dr. Messner, your secretary answered. I felt
sorry for her because she was noticeably disturbed by the reports she was
hearing from those of us who called about how students were being attacked
at her school. But she had no way of even knowing what was actually
happening. I quickly informed her that the whole country is being informed
about what was taking place that day at Holyoke Community College.

To read the report this morning of what happened in detail brings shame to
you, Dr. Messner and to the College. You should be fired for your handling
of this incident.

The military has billions of dollars to spend hunting down it’s prey of
human cannon fodder. You can be sure, even though we may not have the
billions to spend, the recruiters will not visit campuses without there
being counter-protest opposition from us! We will not go away! And, we will
not let the military loose on our schools without consequences. This is a
life or death situation!

Every time the military comes to Holyoke or any campus they will not be left
to carry out their crimes (lying to students about the supposed advantages
of military service–lies which could cost students their life) without
vigorous objection being voiced by those of us opposed to military
recruitment in our schools and to this government’s war objectives!

Further, there is every reason to ban the military from the campuses since
they openly practice discrimination against gay people. Our campuses are
supposed to be free of discriminatory practices!

The counter-recruitment movement is growing as quickly as opposition to the
war is growing. Military recruiters will face opposition every where they
go! And we have every right to organize these protests on school campuses,
in front of recruitment offices–anywhere the military has a presence!

After all, they are carrying out an illegal war based upon lies. They demand
that gay people keep silent about their own identity. They lie about every
aspect of military life to dupe young people into joining. They even lie
about how long new recruits will have to stay in the Armed Services.

There is nothing in campus rules that says you have to allow such lying,
corrupt, homophobic organizations to contact students. In fact, schools are
supposed to be places where students are protected from such organizations!

It is clear that his bi-partisan government has every intention of
continuing their path of war, death and destruction to protect American big
business interests. We have every intention to put a stop to their plunder!

The military has become entrenched in our schools from kindergarten to
graduate school. They focus their attentions on the most disadvantaged
students. This is an economic draft of the poorest of the poor and is
unconscionable! We want them out of our schools and away from our children!
We want money for schools not for war! If our kids want to go to college let
them go! Why should they have to fight and take a chance of being killed in
a war because they are too poor to go to school?

If the military wants to hunt for cannon fodder let them go to the children
of the Congress and the Senate to get their bootie of recruits! Make the
Bush twins sign up! Schools are no place for the military!

We will continue our protests against military recruiting, you can count on
it!

Which side are you on Dr. Messner? You are supposed to be on the side of
students!

Sincerely,

Bonnie Weinstein, San Francisco
Bay Area United Against War
www.bauaw.org