Who we are:
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The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) is a national grassroots coalition of antiwar activists, trade unionists, solidarity activists and community organizers. TONC activists first assembled in New York City for a December 3, 2004 National Strategy Meeting and issued a call for a day of protest on March 19, the second anniversary of the beginning of the war. The Troops Out Now Coalition March 19 protest began with a historic rally in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park,followed by a march to Central Park and then to the residence of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Thousands marched under the banners “End the Occupation of Iraq, Haiti, and Palestine;U.S.Troops Out Now;Money for Jobs, Housing, Education, and Healthcare,” and “Harlem’s Legacy is Fightback: Bring Our Children Home from Your Dirty War for Oil and Greed.” In May of 2005, TONC issued a call for all antiwar activists and coalitions to join forces for a united mass demonstration, saying (in part): “Nothing is more important at this moment than for all to walk together on the high road to unity. We believe that what we all do will be decisive. We must and we can stop the war and get every U.S. soldier out of Iraq. It is up to all of us to do whatever is necessary for our movement to rise to this challenge.” On June 11,TONC hosted a Unity Meeting, attended by activists from scores of local and national antiwar organizations, to prepare for the Fall antiwar activities and to call for principled unity in the struggle to stop the war. In August,TONC sent activists to Camp Casey in Texas to join Cindy Sheehan’s roadside encampment. Across the U.S. TONC activists established local Camp Caseys and held solidarity rallies and vigils in numerous cities,including New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit, Baltimore, and Washington,D.C. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, TONC activists organized a fact-finding delegation to visit the impacted area and to network with local activists and community organizations. TONC helped organize solidarity rallies on September 12, the National Day of Outrage, in more than 100 cities. As we enter a new phase of the antiwar struggle, we believe that the only force that will stop the war is a militant,multinational, grassroots movement |
Some of the organizations and
individuals that are affiliated with
TONC include: |