Feed the cities, starve the Pentagon

Hurricane Katrina tore off more than roofs when it slashed through the U.S. Gulf Coast. The cover-up denying the depth of racism and poverty across the land was shattered, too. Long before the billions of dollars authorized by Congress to fund the occupation of Iraq became starkly linked to unrepaired levees, unavailable trucks, generators and emergency equipment, Detroiters issued a call for a National Conference to Reclaim Our Cities—Money for Our Cities. Not for War.

On Nov. 11, 12 and 13 at Wayne State University, representatives from across the U.S. will plan actions. The Call to Feed the Cities—Starve the Pentagon says, “It is time to launch a struggle to win our right to health care, quality education, decent housing, food, utilities and a job. The money is there to guarantee everyone a decent life. This is the richest country in the world.”

In the U.S. Census report on Poverty published on Aug. 30, 2005, New Orleans tied with Cleveland for the 12th poorest major city. Detroit was first - with more than one-third of its residents struggling to survive below the federal poverty level. In between are El Paso, Miami, Newark, Atlanta, Long Beach, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Memphis and Baltimore. (www.cleveland.com/poverty/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news)

The conference is supported by Detroit City Council President Maryann Mahaffey; Councilmember JoAnn Watson; Million Worker March leader Clarence Thomas; Marian Kramer, Co-President of National Welfare Rights Union; Millie Hall, Pre sident of the Metro-Detroit Coalition of Labor Union Women; Leslie Feinberg, co-chair, LGBT caucus, National Writers Union/UAW, the Mich igan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) and more.

On Labor Day, Sept. 5, in Detroit, anti-war activists lining the parade route felt a new mood and unity with the union mar ch ers. Although no union contingent carried official signs to bring the troops home, the “No War,” “Money for Our Cities— Not for War/Bring the Troops Home, Now!” signs were snapped up, mounted on trucks and carried throughout the rest of the parade. Anti-war chants like “Not the War Machine, We remember New Orleans!” echoed from the union marchers’ sound systems. The National Conference to Reclaim Our Cities can help bring together, focus and organize that new mood. What more graphically describes the Reclaiming of Our Cities than the right of evacuees to return to their homes and control the rebuilding of New Orleans?

For more information contact: [email protected]. or call (313) 680-5508. The preliminary agenda and registration information can be found at: home.earthlink.net/~national_conference_of_cities/