ORGANIZE! Build the National Network Against Drones

We had a great network-building session at the 2013 CODEPINK Drone Summit "Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance" (Nov 16/17).

To join the US national network against drones go to the opt-in page for the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW). We plan a comprehensive email blast around December 20, and we want to make sure you're on our list!

MOREOVER . . . in our time together in DC, we strengthened our ability to support each other in our common endeavors, particularly:

(1) protests against existing and planned drone bases and command centers
(2) college and university outreach
(3) high school education
(4) organizing in communities with drone manufacturing
(5) press outreach
(6) online tools

. . . as well as other areas.

SO . . . please give some thought to two questions:

* do you have expertise, experience, resources specific to one (or more) of those 6 areas mentioned?

* would you be willing to commit time to an ongoing effort to share expertise, experience, resources specific to one (or more) of those 6 areas mentioned?

Planning will begin soon for spring protests (April Days of Action Against Drones 2014)!

Thank you and best regards,

Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Nick Mottern, KnowDrones
Joe Scarry, No Drones Network


Related posts

Five big realizations I'm taking away from the 2013 CODEPINK Drone Summit "Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance" in Washington, DC.

(See The 2013 DC Drones Conference: 5 Big Takeaways )

The biggest idea coming out of the 2013 Drone Summit? We will only deal successfully with the crimes being committed using drones when we understand them as part of the much larger war against communities of color . . . .

(See Drone Gaze, Drone Injury: The War on Communities of Color )

Many of us who weren't in Pakistan to participate in the massive rally against U.S. drone strikes participated in this protest by holding rallies where we were (for instance, in London), or by participating virtually via the #PakistanAgainstDrones campaign on Twitter.

(See What Would a Global Movement to Ground the Drones Look Like?)

Organizing Resistance to Drones at High Schools, Colleges, and Universities

This group focusing on organizing to do work at high schools, colleges, and universities as part of the resistance to drone warfare and surveillance met Sunday, November 17, 2013, in Washington, D.C.  It was a breakout session of the network-building workshop at the CODEPINK drones summit.

Below are general notes.  Next steps are being planned.  Please email Leila Zand at Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) lzand@forusa.org to be part of this group.  (Also: if you have not already done so, please also provide your information at the opt-in page for the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW).)

November 17, 2013, Meeting - Quick Summary

There were a little more than 30 people in our group.  We all shared:  

1. Frustration 
2. All are ready to be more involved with actions 

Groups believe we need to reach out to students in high schools and colleges with various strategies and plans, including:

1. Drone Replica 
2. Street theater 
3. Music country tour 
4. Alternative job suggestion 
5. $ spends for drone building, research and student education
6. Alternate spending of $ for peaceful projects
7. Competitions for students on writing essays and making short films
8. Connecting with teachers and professors already are working with students
9. Creating 10 minutes document, to be shared with schools

Related posts

Preliminary research into University and Academic UAV programs indicates that a research centers are operating in dozens of locations.

(See List of U.S. Drone Research Sites)

Did you know there is an online resource FULL of materials to use in organizing your local activism against drones?

(See Organizer Manual on the NSDSW wiki)






What are some of the forms that campus activism might take? Since Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has a contract to do drone research, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR], on May 1, sent a letter to Ronald J. Daniels, JHU president, and Dr. Ralph Semmel, director of the APL, seeking a meeting . . . .

(See Anti-Killer Drone Activists Seek Meeting with Johns Hopkins University President )

Online Tools, Resources, and Platforms Supporting the Movement to Stop Drone Warfare and Surveillance

We had a great network-building session at the 2013 CODEPINK Drone Summit "Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance" (Nov 16/17). A group is forming to expand the available online tools, resources, and platforms for supporting the movement to stop drone warfare and surveillance.

Below is a quick guide to some existing tools.

State-by-state Groups and Corresponding Websites

There are active groups in most states working on the drone issue.  Many maintain one or more website specific to their work on drones; a number of sites have also been set up with the assistance of the No Drones Network to give as much visibility as possible to the work of these groups. Find a group near you by consulting the state-by-state list and getting involved!


E-mail Blasts

We are working toward having a good list of people participating in these efforts nationwide. Please add your name to the list by going to the opt-in page for the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW).


Social Media, News Groups, List-serves and Forums

There is a Facebook group for people at the grass-roots working to stop drones: STOP! the Drone Killing Grassroots Coalition

There is a large community that tweets about drones using the #drones and #nodrones hashtags. We have begun a list of the most responsive tweeters/retweeters: twitter.com/NoDronesNetwork/lists/nodrones

CODEPINK curates a news list on the Global Drones Watch website.

There are several listserves.  For instance, to subscribe/unsubscribe, go to https://lists.riseup.net/www/sigrequest/nodrones - if you are having trouble, please just email nodronesinfo@gmail.com

In addition, there is discussion of developing an online forum dedicated to the work of the no-drones movement.


NSDSW Wiki

The newest project of the NSDSW is a wiki to allow the broadest possible participation by people in the drone opposition movement in assembling and sharing resources.

View the main NSDSWiki page.

View a full list of NSDSW Participating Organizations.

View the Organizing Manual Project.

View the latest NSDSW Events.

To add or edit content on the wiki, establish an account (see upper right hand corner of the wiki) and start editing. (Some pages of the wiki may have limited editing access.)


To get involved working with others to develop/improve these and/or other aspects of the online tools, resources, and platforms for supporting the movement to stop drone warfare and surveillance, please email Joe Scarry jtscarry@yahoo.com.

Oct 25: US to Respond to UN Call for Full Accounting of "Extrajudicial, Arbitrary, and Summary Executions"?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Scarry, Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare -- jtscarry@yahoo.com
or Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) -- plems@afsc.org


What: U.S. Ambassador responds to UN Report on US drone extradjudical executions
Where: United Nations Headquarters, New York City
When: October 25, 2013

US to Respond to UN Call for Full Accounting of 

"Extrajudicial, Arbitrary, and Summary Executions";

Records of Thousands of Killings Using Drones at Issue

At a session on October 25 in New York City, the US delegation of the United Nations is expected to respond to new reports that call for a full public accounting of extrajudicial, arbitrary, and summary executions carried out by the U.S. in countries around the world using drones. The reports require full transparency of drone killings, including, "the legal basis for the use of drones, operational responsibility, criteria for targeting, impact (including civilian casualties), and information about alleged violations, investigations and prosecutions." [See links to reports below]

"The recommendations of these two reports reflect a clear international mandate that the U.S. comply with the duties and obligations of every law-abiding nation," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of antiwar group CODEPINK. "Now the question is: how soon will the U.S. come into compliance?" she said. "For the first time ever, on October 29 Congress will have a chance to hear firsthand from civilians harmed in US drone attacks. To date, the US has refused to acknowledge, apologize or offer compensation to civilians harmed in drone attacks in countries like Pakistan and Yemen where the US is not officially at war."

Debate remains about how fully the U.S. will comply. "The Department of Defense and/or the CIA documents every drone strike, including the details of the decision process and the video of the actual strike," said David Swanson, author, antiwar activist, and sponsor of a petition for an outright ban on armed drones. "Compliance with the UN mandate will require the public disclosure of all of that, we believe."

Experts agree the compliance demands on the U.S. are widely supported. "The time when the U.S. could stonewall the international community on its drone killings has long passed," said Peter Lems, drones program coordinator at the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). "Barack Obama even has 16-year-old human rights activists from Pakistan like Malala Yousafzai telling him in an Oval Office meeting that 'drone attacks are fueling terrorism' and 'lead to resentment' among the people where the killings occur. "

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Key report findings: 2014: The Year of Transparency (for U.S. Drone Use)?

FULL REPORT: Report of UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns: Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

FULL REPORT: Report of UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson: Promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

Independent tallies of US Drone Strikes: The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Petition to ban weaponized drones

Fall 2013 Events and Actions to Culminate in November Days of Action Against Drones

People around the country are preparing for a full slate of peace and justice activities in the months of September, October, and November, 2013, which will have great significance for the expansion and solidification of the movement against drone warfare and surveillance.

Participating organizations in the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) -- including CODEPINK, World Can't Wait, AFSC, Know Drones, No Drones Network, and others -- are responding to a call by activists nationwide for a follow-on campaign to the tremendously successful April Days of Action 2013 with a call for. . .

November Days of Action Against Drones 2013

Below is information about the November Days as well as other major developments and events coming up.

A FULL list of ALL events relating specifically to drone opposition around the country is online - please add your events to that list!


SEPTEMBER

Midwest Action Against Drones (MAAD) 
Chicago
September 28-29

Participants from across the Midwest will converge in Chicago for an action (March On Boeing!) and conference (Building the movement against drones) in late September.


OCTOBER

Keep Space for Peace Week
(Various Locations)
October 5-12

Each fall the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space organizes Keep Space for Peace Week, during which activists around the world hold local actions that connect-the-dots between the militarization of space and endless war on Earth.

Malalai Joya
Nationwide Tour
October 3-23

On the 12th anniversary of the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, UNAC, in conjunction with the Afghan Women's Mission is sponsoring a national tour of former Afghanistan legislator, women’s rights and antiwar leader, Malalai Joya. For more information on the itinerary, please email UNAC's Malalai Joya National Tour Coordinator, Jeff Mackler at jmackler@lmi.net or UNACpeace@gmail.com.


United Nations: Action on Drones?
New York City
Beginning September 17, continuing through October

Several arms of the United Nations have already begun to investigate the criminal drone assaults launched by the United States government under President Barack Obama.

NOTE: October 25 is UN Debate on two special reports:

* Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson: Promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism

* Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns: Extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions

* READ THE FULL NSDSW PRESS RELEASE: Oct 25: US to Respond to UN Call for Full Accounting of "Extrajudicial, Arbitrary, and Summary Executions"?

Congressional Hearing and Associated events
Washington, DC, and New York City
October 29

(A) Capitol Hill (Washington, DC): Briefing for Rep. Alan Grayson and others on drone killing

(B) New York City: Views from the Ground: Investigating U.S. Drone Strikes - Speakers: Steve Coll, Robert Greenwald, Christof Heyns, Mustafa Qadri, Rafiq ur Rehman, Hina Shamsi, and Letta Tayler . RSVP required - see website.

NOVEMBER

CODEPINK: 2013 Drone Conference:  Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance
Washington, DC
November 16-17


The peace group CODEPINK, progressive think-tank Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation Magazine, and National Lawyers Guild (Georgetown Chapter) are hosting a second drone summit titled “Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance” in Washington, DC.


November Days of Action Against Drones
Nationwide
November, 2013


There has been extraordinary public opposition to war as a result of the Obama administration's proposal to attack Syria and continuing question over whether Congress will authorize it. This has focused public attention on the use of force and the cost of war.

The weeks ahead are a perfect time for coordinated effort against war of all kinds, including drone wars.

The fulcrum of the proposed November days will be the “Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance” summit being held in Washington DC the weekend of November 16-17, 2013.  Organized by CODEPINK, Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation Magazine, and National Lawyers Guild (Georgetown Chapter), coordinated actions will compliment and support the gathering.

* Friday, November 15: protests at General Atomics in Washington, DC.  We are calling for actions around the country at other manufactures of drones.

* Saturday/Sunday, November 16/17:  Drones Around the Globe: Proliferation and Resistance (Registration and Program)

* Monday, November 18: legislative push at Congressional offices in DC and in local districts.

To help build this campaign, please:

(1) Post your actions on the unified national list of anti-drones actions.

(2) Opt-in to become a participant in NSDSW.

(3) Use the NSDSW online organizing manual to develop your actions, and share it with others!

. . . and please share this call widely.

An expanded description of November Days of Action Against Drones activities will be distributed by October 1.

NSDSW - Plans for Fall 2013 and Beyond

The Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) is working diligently to build a nationwide movement against drones. Please read the progress report below and get involved.

MEETING REPORT - MAY 29, 2013
MEETING PARTICIPANTS
SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
FULL LIST OF NSDSW PARTICIPANTS


MEETING REPORT - MAY 29, 2013

A group of 20 participants in the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) gathered in Philadelphia on May 29, 2013, to review the April Days of Action Against Drones, including a substantial body of survey input from people around the country, and to set NSDSW direction for the future. The day began with a roundtable discussion of the April Days of Action; working group meetings followed, and the day concluded with a general session.

The roundtable discussion report-backs on the April Days of Action were inspiring, creative and diverse. Actions included educational forums, civil resistance at drone command centers, leafleting, vigils at various sites – including drone manufactures, letter writing, town hall forums, local resolutions against the use of drones and one regional demonstration. There were 68 “April Days” actions in 24 States.

The discussion helped us realize that we need an outreach strategy to promote the broader goals of the Network. As a first step we agreed to design a strategy to send counter-drone organizers across the country an appeal to join the network. NSDSW has now provided an opt-in form for organizations and individuals to be listed as "participants" in the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare. (There will be separate opt-ins specific to major statements or campaigns.)

NSDSW leaders expressed a commitment to recruit more people and make our organizations more robust, and in particular to bring more youth and people of color into the movement.

Most of the day was spent in small working groups to think about the actions, resources and strategies of the network. We believe it is the work of these small groups that will allow for the design of sustainable campaigns and a sustainable network. The working groups made presentations to the larger groups at the end of the days to get group consensus.

We urge anti-drone activists everywhere to join our efforts. The facilitators are awaiting your support. The coordinators of the working groups will organize weekly or bi-weekly calls to prepare for larger monthly calls of the whole network.


MEETING PARTICIPANTS

Participants - May 29, 2013, NSDSW Meeting

Robert Awkward, American Friends Service Committee, Indianapolis, IN
Ellen Barfield, Veterans for Peace (VFP), Baltimore, MD
Tighe Barry, CodePink, Washington DC
Medea Benjamin, CodePink, Washington DC
Steve Fenichel, United for Peace, NJ
Michael Figura, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, New York, NY
Alicia Godsberg, Peace Action New York State, New York, NY
Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, PA
Joe Lombardo, United National Antiwar Coalition, Albany, NY
Noor Mir, CodePink, Washington DC
Nick Mottern, KnowDrones, West Point, NY
Joan Pleune, Granny Peace Brigade, New York, NY
Bev Rice, Granny Peace Brigade, New York, NY
Joe Scarry, No Drones Network, Chicago, IL
Georgina Shanley, United for Peace, New Jersey
Bob Smith, Brandywine Peace Community, Philadelphia, PA
Tory Smith, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia
Bilal Taylor, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, PA
Marge Van Cleef, WILPF, Philadelphia, PA
Leila Zand, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Nyack, NY


SCHEDULE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

NSDSW conducts monthly conference calls and in-person meetings. View an up-to-date schedule of NSDSW meetings on the NSDSWiki.


HOW TO GET INVOLVED

The Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) war formed in December, 2012, when a group met in New York and declared:

“Horrified by the facts of the era of drone warfare and surveillance technology, we declare our commitment to establishing an ongoing network of groups and organizations. The Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare seeks to initiate and coordinate events and actions that will raise a united and spirited voice for justice and peace, and to stop weaponized drones and related technology applications. These activities are aimed at highlighting the illegality, immorality, and unconstitutional nature of using drones to spy on and/or kill human beings.”

One measure of the Network will be the broad participation of individuals and groups actively involved in countering drone war, assassination and spying. Joint action and sharing of experiences to effect change is the goal.

To get involved, please fill in the opt-in form here. It will enable you to sign up for a variety of notices, participate in national conference calls, and connect with working groups.

NSDSW sponsors an ongoing online list of actions occurring nationwide. Please post your actions to the online list, and use the online list to find actions near you in which to participate.

FULL LIST OF NSDSW PARTICIPANTS

You can view the full list of NSDSW Participating Organizations and NSDSW Participating Individuals on the NSDSWiki.

Summer Days Against Drones

The April Days of Action Against Drones campaign was fantastic! But it was just the beginning ....

There were excellent "no drones" events as part of local summer gatherings and festivals throughout June, July, August, and September, 2012. We expect outreach to the public to build the "no drones" movement all summer long in 2013. Exciting events like Covering Ground to Ground the Drones in Iowa with VCNV in Iowa are already in the works!

Below are a few examples of opportunities for events. (Events will continue to be posted on the national list here.)


AIR SHOWS

There are dozens of air shows across the country every year. People who come to these events tend to be curious and willing to engage in discussion. It's especially important to have a presence at these events because often they are uncritical displays of military air power and recruiting sites for the military.

Protests at the Chicago 2013 Air & Water Show are already being planned.

Here are several examples of past "no drones" events at air shows that were very successful:

Taking the NO DRONES! Message to the Masses at Chicago's Air & Water Show

Welcome to Oshkosh! (got drones?)




GREEN FAIRS

There are a growing number of environment- and green-oriented fairs and gatherings. Given the intimate relationship between drones, militarism, resource politics, and the environment, these events can be excellent opportunities to do outreach to concerned people.

State fairs are an excellent opportunity to reach people on this aspect of the drones problem.

See for instance: Energy Fair: Clean Energy & Sustainable Living, Custer, WI, June 21-23, 2013




PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL GATHERINGS

There are a growing number of environment- and green-oriented fairs and gatherings. Given the intimate relationship between drones, militarism, resource politics, and the environment, these events can be excellent opportunities to do outreach to concerned people.

See for instance: Raging Grannies Wow Fighting Bob Fest Crowd with Anti-Drones Song

MUSIC FESTIVALS

Can you say "Woodstock"?  :-)

Find a festival near you here: Music Festival Junkies - Festival Guide






DRONES CONFERENCES

The unmanned aerial systems (UAS or drones) industry holds numerous conferences, conventions, and trade shows throughout the year. These are important places to demonstrate and raise awareness of the problem of drone surveillance and drone warfare.

For instance, see:

ATLANTA - May 2013 - 2013 International conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS'13,

WASHINGTON, DC - August 2013 - AUVSI's Unmanned Systems 2013


OTHER EVENTS

See the state-by-state listing available here.

GRATITUDE: April Days - A Nationwide Antiwar Campaign of Unprecedented Scope

All of the groups that came together to form the NSDSW (Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare) and issued the original call for April Days of Action Against Drones are extremely grateful to everyone across the country who contributed to a nationwide antiwar campaign that is unprecedented in scope in recent years.

SAN DIEGO: Not your grandmother's antiwar movement! (See more April Days highlights.)

NSDSW leaders will meet on Wednesday, May 29th at the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia to review the April Days experience in detail, and begin to formulate plans for next steps. Of particular importance to us is to hear in more detail about your April Days experience, to learn what worked and what didn't, and especially to form a commitment to giving even more effective leadership and support to future campaigns. (Feedback can be directed to Nick Mottern: nickmottern@earthlink.net .)

We will follow up concretely as soon as possible after our meeting, but under no circumstances later than June 15. Until then, please continue your amazing work!

Warm regards, and in solidarity,

Elliott Adams, former President, Veterans for Peace
Peter Lems - American Friends Service Committee
Max Obuszewski – Baltimore Nonviolence Center
Robert M. Smith – Brandywine Peace Community
Medea Benjamin, Noor Mir – Code Pink
Mark Johnson, Leila Zand – Fellowship of Reconciliation
Joan Pleune, Bev Rice – Granny Peace Brigade
Nick Mottern, George J. and Ingrid R. Guerci - knowdrones.com
Alice Sutter –North Manhattan Neighbors for Peace/NYC Metro Raging Grannies
Saadi Toor – Pakistan Solidarity Network
Alicia Godsberg – Peace Action New York
Jules Orkin – Puffin Foundation Peace Fellow
Joe Lombardo, Marilyn Levin – Co-coordinators – United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
Judy Bello - Upstate (NY) Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars
Kimber Heinz – War Resisters League
David Swanson – War Is a Crime.org
Debra Sweet – World Can’t Wait

National Anti-Drone Group Calls for April Protests

A coalition of peace and justice groups -- the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) -- has made a call for national protests against drones in April, 2013. The "April Days" include events in dozens of cities nationwide, as well as a range of ways for people to participate wherever they are. (Read more about the continuation of this campaign: Summer Days Against Drones .)

April Days of Action nationwide

ACTIONS NATIONWIDE

Dozens of actions have been planned nationwide, and new events are being added daily. Events are planned for Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Dayton, Ft. Wayne, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Seattle, Tucson, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Honolulu, as well as in dozens of other locations, including many of the communities that host the estimated 100 drone basing sites in the U.S.

See the full list of vigils, protests, lectures, and other actions that are part of the April Days nationwide.

#AprilDays on Twitter

 #APRILDAYS ON TWITTER

As part of the April Days of Action Against Drones, anti-drones activists will be tweeting throughout the month, using the hashtags #AprilDays and #nodrones.

Read about how you can be part of the #ApilDays campaign on Twitter.

The "No Drones" bible

"NO DRONES!" EDUCATION

The April Days of Action Against Drones is just the beginning of an intensive campaign to educate people nationwide about the menace of drone surveillance and drone killing.

Through books, videos, studies, and a host of other resources, people will be learning -- and teaching -- about drones and how to bring an end to their use.

Read more about education tools YOU can start using TODAY!




LOCAL REGULATION

Drone bases across the country

The April Days of Action Against Drones are coinciding with a groundswell in local efforts to control or ban drones.

Major drivers in the move to ban drone use at the local level are (a) acquisition of drones by local sheriff and other law enforcement departments; and (b) the Department of Defense (DoD) plan to base drones in over 100 locations nationwide.

Read more about the movement to regulate drones on a local level.



FAITH GROUPS RESPOND

Chicago die-in

A vital group of allies in the April Days of Action Against Drones in city after city have been faith-based groups. Indeed, faith-based groups are longstanding stalwarts in the antiwar movement, and a growing number of faith groups are entering the struggle for human rights, peace, and justice.

Group letters, blogs, vigils, and denominational resolutions have all been part of the faith response to drones so far.

Nonetheless, there is much, much more work for the faith community to do in addressing the problem of drones.

Read more about how the faith community is getting involved in the problem of drones.



WILL POLITICIANS WAKE UP?

Drones caucus members

A big problem is that U.S. congressmen have been convinced that (a) the American people support the President's campaign of drone killing, and (b) drones are good for the economy. Many of them participate in the drones caucus in Congress, a.k.a the "Unmanned Systems Caucus."

The "April Days" should start to make members of Congress question these assumptions.

Maybe 2013 will be the year that members of Congress will realize they can no longer hide from the drones issue, and from their larger responsibility to control U.S. militarism.

Read more about the work people are doing to get Congress to do their job and stop the drones!

Drones Quilt Project

APRIL DAYS EVERYWHERE!

There are actions happening all over the country during the April Days. But no matter where you are, you can be actively involved in the movement to resist drone surveillance and drone killing.

Through a diverse range of activities -- dramatic productions, the Drone Quilt Project, poetry, postcard projects, and more -- people are contributing to this massive, world-changing effort.

Read more about ways you can resist drones wherever you are.



APRIL DAYS IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

Breaking news in The Guardian

The April Days were off and running when the Guardian reported on March 27:

Military bases, universities and companies involved in Barack Obama's drones programme are to be targeted in a month-long series of protests by activists keen to build on the renewed public focus over the president's controversial policy.

Dubbed "April Days of Action" by participants, organisers are hoping to capitalise on a series of recent controversies that have thrust the use of drones – especially when it comes to targeted killings of suspected terrorists – into the heart of American political debate.

Read all the press coverage of the April Days of Action Against Drones.


VOLUNTEER

A vitally important part of the April Days is the development of a strong anti-drones, antiwar movement. That means organizing.

Reach out to activists in your area and make a commitment of time, energy, and imagination.

Need help getting connected? Use the No Drones Network volunteer form and we'll put you in touch with organizers in your state.


MORE ABOUT THE APRIL DAYS

The April Days of Action Against Drones arose out of a call by the Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) for a month of action during April, 2013, including protests against drone manufacturing, drone research and/or training of drone pilots at colleges and universities, and drone bases.

April Days of Action Against Drones: HIGHLIGHTS!

The April Days of Action Against Drones have been imaginative, colorful, powerful, and inspiring!

We're encouraging people to look through the images below, and click through to learn more about the ones that you want to know more about. We hope you'll look at them all! And we'll be keeping an eye on which pages get the most views, so please share your favorites widely!

And when you're done: get in touch with your local "no drones" group and get involved!

SAN DIEGO: Not your grandmother's antiwar movement!

CHICAGO: April 6 Street theater protests Boeing's newest killer drone.

BOSTON: April 6 "Drone Death Walk"

NEW HAMPSHIRE: April 5 Protest at Elbit Systems

SACRAMENTO: Tapestry depicting children killed by U.S. drone strikes.

SEATTLE: home to Boeing and hotbed of drone development and production.

TUCSON: Dawn protest at Raytheon on Tax Day.

AUSTIN: UT rally against drones.

WHITEMAN AFB, MISSOURI: Strong VFP presence at protest.

FT. WAYNE: Union counter-protesters came out
against anti-drone protest at BAE Systems!

FT. BRAGG, NC: Protest organized by Quaker House.

MCLEAN VA: Protesters at CIA Headquarters.

WASHINGTON DC: Protest at the White House.

TALLAHASSEE: Broad coalition against drones at FSU.

GAINESVILLE: In "Pin the Drones," UF students in the
Plaza of the Americas were challenged to find a country
that the U.S. had not invaded bombed, or occupied within
the last 10 years. This proved a difficult task.