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.

April Days Against Drones Actions in Cities Nationwide

In response to a call for national protests against drones in April, 2013, dozens of actions have been planned nationwide, and new events are being added daily.

Full event list on the Know Drones website

To date, actions and events have been listed in these locations:

EAST COAST

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Washington (ANSWER Coalition March and Rally at the White House), Washington (Cato "New Way of War" forum)
FLORIDA: Gainesville, Tallahassee
GEORGIA: Atlanta
MAINE: Brunswick
MARYLAND: Baltimore, Towson
MASSACHUSETTS: Boston
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Merrimack
NEW JERSEY: Pompton Plains
NEW YORK: Greenlawn, New Paltz, New York City, Port Jefferson, Rochester, Syracuse
NORTH CAROLINA: Fayetteville
PENNSYLVANIA: King of Prussia, Philadelphia
TENNESSEE - Nashville
VIRGINIA - McLean (CIA Headquarters)

MIDWEST

ILLINOIS: Carbondale, Chicago (The Predator performance), Chicago (protest Boeing killer drone program), Palatine
INDIANA: Ft. Wayne, Terre Haute
IOWA: Des Moines
MICHIGAN: Battle Creek
MINNESOTA: Minneapolis
MISSOURI: Whiteman Air Force Base, St. Louis
OHIO: Dayton
WISCONSIN: Eagle River, Janesville, Madison, Milwaukee, Mt. Pleasant, Volk Field

TEXAS AND SOUTHWEST

ARIZONA: Tucson, Douglas
NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos
TEXAS: Austin

WEST COAST

CALIFORNIA: multi-day action in San Diego (including associated events in La Jolla and Poway), plus Linda (Occupy Beale AFB), Sacramento, San Francisco (April 3 and April 13 protests), Studio City
COLORADO: Denver
HAWAII: Honolulu, Pohakuloa, Wahiawa
NEVADA: Creech Air Force Base
WASHINGTON: Seattle

CANADA

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Vancouver

UNITED KINGDOM

Horsham: Drone Free Horsham

GERMANY

VARIOUS CITIES: Berlin, Bremen, Essen, Munich, Stuttgart, Trier


For additional information -- and to list your event -- go to the full, up-to-date list of anti-drone initiatives.

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

#AprilDays Against #Drones On Twitter

NEW! #APRILDAYS #SYRACUSE HASHTAG

Join us to promote the major convergence happening April 26-28 in Syracuse, NY.

Here are some Twitter addresses for speakers and other participants:

Kevin Zeese (ClearingTheFog Radio) @KBZeese @ClearFOGMedia
Col. Ann Wright @AnnWright46
Nick Mottern (KnowDrones) @KnowDrones
Mark Johnson (FOR) @FORPeace
Debra Sweet (WCW) @dsweetwcw @worldcantwait
Rafia Zakaria (AI) @rafiazakaria

And Twitter addresses for event supporters:

ANSWER Coalition @ANSWERcoalition
Band of Rebels, Rochester @Band_of_Rebels
Bill of Rights Defense Committee @BORDC
Brooklyn for Peace @brooklyn4peace
Christian Peacemaker Team @cptchicago
CODEPINK @CodePink
Commission on Peace and Justice, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany @PeaceJustice1
Cynthia McKinney @cynthiamckinney
JustForeignPolicy.com @justfp
KnowDrones.com @KnowDrones
Metro Justice of Rochester @MetroJustice
New York City War Resistor’s League @resistwar
Occupy Albany @occupy_albany
Pax Christi USA @PaxChristi
Peace Action New York @PeaceActionNY
Peace Action (National) @PeaceAction
Syracuse Peace Council @syracuse_peace
Voices for Creative NonViolence @info_from_vcnv
WarIsACrime.org @davidcnswanson
Western NY Peace Center @WNYPeaceCenter
World Can't Wait @worldcantwait

Read more about Resisting Drones, Global War and Empire: A Convergence to Action!


#APRILDAYS HASHTAG

As part of the April Days of Action Against Drones, anti-drones activists have been tweeting throughout the month, using the hashtags #aprildays and #nodrones.

#APRILDAYS ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW

Please follow and retweet the accounts of these April Days coordinators:

@KnowDrones
@CodePink
@NoDronesNetwork
@WorldCantWait
@Antiwar2
@jslives
@thedronalisa
@leilaFORpeace
@info_from_vcnv
@amanimtu
@davidcnswanson

And all the other state accounts:

California: @SDCPJ
Florida: @NoDronesFL
Illinois: @NoDronesIL
Maryland: @NoDronesMD
Michigan: @NoDronesMI
Minnesota: @WAMMWoman
Missouri: @NoDronesMO
Nevada: @NVDesertExp
New Jersey: @NoDronesNJ
North Carolina: @NoDronesNC
Ohio: @NoDronesOH
Oklahoma: @NoDronesOK
Pennsylvania: @NoDronesPA
Texas: @NoDronesTX
Virginia: @NoDronesVA
Wisconsin: @NoDronesWI

#NODRONES TUESDAYS

Every TUESDAY there will be an intensive focus on promoting the April actions in cities across the country.

When there's important news, Twitter is a great way to get the word out:

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

April Days Kicks Off Education Effort On Drones

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.


Medea Benjamin: DRONE WARFARE

A vital tool in the campaign to educate people about drones in Medea Benjamin's book, Drone Warfare: Killing By Remote Control.

''In this remarkably cogent and carefully researched book, Medea Benjamin makes it clear that drones are not just another high-tech military trinket. Drone Warfare sketches out the nightmare possibilities posed by this insane proliferation.'' --Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times bestselling author

''Activist extraordinaire Medea Benjamin has documented how the US government's use of drones to murder hundreds of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen has increased the danger to our national security. Benjamin's Drone Warfare is the first book that reveals the vocal international citizen opposition that challenges the legality and morality of America's extrajudicial execution drones before they kill here at home.'' --Ann Wright, US Army colonel (Ret.)


VIDEO

A series of very useful videos are being provided on Youtube by KnowDrones, as part of their Drones and Global Conflict Education Series.

Drones, Jobs and Green Industry - Interview with economist Bob Pollin on the jobs benefits of not spending tax money on military projects, and where we must go in green industry.

Resource Realities and War - Interview with Michael T. Klare, about the ways in which the competition for resources is leading to continuing wars, and the necessity to develop alternative, renewable energy and materials.




SPEAKERS

A growing body of speakers with first-hand experience in the problem of drones is playing an important role in local education efforts.

In September, 2012, a Code Pink delegation traveled to Pakistan, and many of the participants are now available as speakers. (Read the excellent multi-part report by JoAnne Lingle on the Code Pink Pakistan delegation for more on this.)

There are also numerous speakers available through Voices for Creative Nonviolence delegations to Afghanistan.


DATA

The availability of carefully-researched statistics on drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and other countries has been vital to educating the public about the threat of drones. The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism's drone reporting forms the key resource being used by everyone in the anti-drones movement.

A related resource is this visualization of drone strikes.






ART

People throughout the country have learned about the problem of drones through the traveling art exhibition commissioned by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), "Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan."

"Windows and Mirrors" is part of a growing body of anti-drones art that is playing an important role in the movement.











FILM

One of the most powerful ways to educate people about the problem of drones is through film.

View the trailer for the award-winning short film from Pakistan, The Other Side. A group viewing of The Other Side is an excellent way to build understanding in your community about drone use by the U.S. government abroad.

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

April Days See Local Drone Controls and Bans Intensify

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.

DRONE BASES NATIONWIDE

You can see state-by-state summaries of the DoD plans on selected state No Drones sites:

CALIFORNIA: Count of California Drone Bases Tops National List
FLORIDA: Bristling with Drone Bases
MARYLAND: Drone Experience A Harbinger for U.S.A.?
NORTH CAROLINA: First in Flight? Or First in Drones?
TEXAS: Will Texas Skies Soon Be Full of Drones?
VIRGINIA: Six Drone Bases?
WASHINGTON STATE: State to Base Drones?

BORDC MODEL LEGISLATION

The Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC) has released model drone legislation to assist local communities and states in the growing battle against domestic surveillance drones. BORDC worked with the organizers across the country who have been leading the opposition against rushed drone proliferation. The American Friends Service Committee, Alameda County Against Drones, the No Drones Network, and the Tenth Amendment Center all consulted on the language.

More background on the model legislation here.

Model legislation - fulltext, with annotations.

LOCAL LEGISLATION

A growing number of localities are passing ordinances or laws on drones:

ALABAMA Huntsville - Some residents against drone test sites coming to Huntsville

CALIFORNIA Ranco Mirage - California city to vote on banning drones

FLORIDA - Florida Senate Passes Anti-Drone Bill, 39-0

Hernando County / Tampa - Hernando commissioners turn down drone testing at airport

IDAHO - Idaho Restricts Drone Use by Police Agencies Amid Privacy Concerns

ILLINOIS - The Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act – Senate Bill 1587 – is designed to place modest guidelines on the use of this powerful technology. The bill, for example, would bar the arming of drones, except in certain emergencies. The bill also would curb how much information could be gathered by drones and require annual reporting to the public about the use of drones in Illinois. Act now: tell your state senators to regulate surveillance drones!

IOWA Burlington - pending ordinance to restirct drones

MINNESOTA St. Bonifacious - No drones over St. Bonifacius, says this small-town City Council

MISSOURI Statewide - Missouri House Endorses Ban On Drones, Critics Say It Goes Too Far

TENNESSEE - SB0796/HB0591, or the “Freedom from Unwanted Surveillance Act,” has passed both the Senate and the House, but continues to go through procedural modifications.

TEXAS

VIRGINIA Charlottesville - Charlottesville first city to pass aerial drone ban

WASHINGTON Seattle - Seattle Mayor Bans Police From Using Drones

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

Faith-based Groups and the April Days of Action Against Drones

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 like the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Pax Christi, American Friends Service Committee, 8th Day Center for Justice, and others are longstanding stalwarts in the antiwar movement. In recent years, the broad-based National Religious Coalition Against Torture has brought many additional members of the faith community into the struggle for human rights, peace, and justice.

Drone strike reenactment during Good Friday justice walk in Chicago.

Faith-based groups have sponsored a number of events during the April Days:

CHICAGO - Performance of The Predator, a play challenging the traditional Christian teaching about "just war."

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA - Good Friday Stations of Justice, Peace, and Nonviolent Resistance to Lockheed Martin, King of Prussia, PA

FT. BRAGG, NC - Quaker House vigil against drone base at Ft. Bragg.

In fact, a major letter on drones was released by faith leaders in the U.S. on Easter - March 31 - the eve of the "official" start of the April Days. On April 16, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) led a group of faith-based organizations in sending President Barack Obama a letter questioning the lethal use of drones..

In the past year, other moves have been made by the faith community to provoke a broad conversation on drones. Notably, the Episcopal and Methodist denominations have adopted resolutions about drones. This summer Medea Benjamin of Code Pink and the author Drone Warfare circulated a letter for faith-leaders regarding the lethal use of drones.

A blog, Awake to Drones, was begun to provide a diverse range of faith-based responses to drones.

There is much, much more work for the faith community to do in addressing the problem of drones. As Indiana peace activist Dave Lambert has said, "Dr King, at Riverside, said 'the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today (is) my own government.' It would be wonderful, in my estimation, if caring clergy and lay people could heed Dr. King’s message and speak out against the slaughter in the name of 'fighting terrorism.'"

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

April Days Arrive, But Will Politicians Wake Up?

Even as the spirited nationwide April Days uprising against U.S. drone use gets into full swing, there remains a very serious question: will members of Congress wake up and realize they need to make big changes in the military conduct of the United States?

Senator Rand Paul injected great excitement into the No Drones movement by his filibuster protesting the confirmation of John Brennan, one of the architects of the current Administration's drone policy, as head of the CIA. Many people across the political spectrum were startled that it fell to Paul to take the lead on the issue. And it started to force a lot of people to think.

Locations of Congressional drones caucus member districts.

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. The best evidence of this is the drones caucus in Congress, a.k.a the "Unmanned Systems Caucus". Representatives from dozens of states participate in the caucus; there is an especially large representation from California and Texas.

The "April Days" should start to make members of Congress question these assumptions. Nonetheless, it is very difficult to lure congressmen out into the open to talk about drones. Here are a few variations on efforts to get members of Congress to engage on the issue:

OHIO - Congressman Michael Turner: Stop the Drones!

WISCONSIN - Tammy Baldwin on Drones

CALIFORNIA - Drones, Permawar, and the Problem of "Good Jobs"

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. (Or ... maybe 2014 will be the year to make some changes.)

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

April Days of Action Against Drones - EVERYWHERE!

People are finding that, no matter where they are, there is a way for them to participate in the April Days of Action Against Drones.

THEATER

People are doing dramatic performances -- for instance, this performance of a play (reader's theater) called The Predator in Chicago. People everywhere can download the script and share it with their communities -- whether or not they are able to join a street protest. The Predator is a great way to educate people about the issues surrounding drones.



THE DRONES QUILT

Another tremendous way for people to be involved is the Drones Quilt project. Each square of the quilt is made by an ordinary member of the public, who writes their name and then the name of a victim on a square of fabric. The quilt will be finished by the 1st May and, on the 6th, will be taken on a pilgrimage for peace, calling for an end to the use of armed drones.

People everywhere -- no matter where they are -- can take the time to make a square and add it to the quilt.



POETRY AND TWITTER

And then there's @DroneHaiku.

@DroneHaiku is a reminder of all the creative ways that we can use social media like Twitter to built widespread, robust, multi-dimensional protest.

With @DroneHaiku, all you need is 17 syllables and a Twitter account.


No matter where people are, no matter what their gifts are, they can be part of the April Days of Action Against Drones.

What are YOU prepared to do?

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

Media Coverage of April Days of Action Against Drones

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.

(The Guardian: Anti-drones activists plan month of protest over Obama's 'kill' policy)

Since then, press reports have increased daily. Other highlights have included:

U.S. News & World Report: Activists Organize Nationwide Series of Drone Surveillance Protests

Russia Today video on Youtube: Eye in the Sky: Protests against drone use hit New York

Truthout: "April Days" to Protest Drone Killing and Surveillance, Long Planned, Gets Boost From Opposition to Drone Use Inside the US

Huffington Post: Anti-Drone Activists To Protest Obama Killing Program

In These Times: 10 Signs of a Growing Uprising Against Killer Drones

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

NSDSW and the Call for "April Days of Action Against Drones"

The Network to Stop Drone Surveillance and Warfare (NSDSW) was formed at a meeting in New York City on December 15, 2012, at which the members of the group endorsed this draft statement of purpose for the network:

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.

The original NSDSW call for "April Days of Action Against Drones" had three parts:

April 4 – 6: Drone Manufacturing

Organizers around the country are encouraged to identify drone manufacturing facilities in their regions and organize demonstrations, teach-ins and other actions calling for an end to drone attacks and an end to the manufacture of weaponized and surveillance drones.

April 16- 18: Drone Research/Training

Organizers around the country are encouraged to identify colleges and universities in their regions doing drone research and/or training of drone pilots and to call for an end to research and training related to drone warfare.

April 27 – 28: Drone Bases

Organizers around the country will be encouraged to organize protests at drone bases in their regions. People will be encouraged also to participate in demonstrations planned during this period at the Reaper drone base at Hancock Air Base near Syracuse, NY.

The original NSDSW call has resulted in a schedule of actions in dozens of cities across the country!

NSDSW Participants

Elliott Adams – Veterans for Peace
Nellie Hester Bailey – Black Agenda Report, Occupy Harlem
Ellen Barfield - Veterans for Peace, National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Judy Bello - Upstate (NY) Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars
Steve Fenichel - Organizer, southern New Jersey
Bill Gilson - Chapter 34, Veterans for Peace, NYC
Alicia Godsberg – Peace Action New York
Marty Goodman - UNAC
George Guerci - Know Drones Tour
Mark Johnson – Fellowship of Reconciliation
Debbie Kair – Know Drones Tour
Kathy Kelly - Voices for Creative Non-Violence
Marilyn Levin - UNAC
Kwame Madden - Know Drones Tour
Alli McCracken - Code Pink
Nick Mottern – Know Drones Tour
Max Obuszewski – National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
Joan Pleune – Granny Peace Brigade
Bev Rice – Organizer, New York City
Georgina Shanley - Organizer, southern New Jersey and Amnesty International volunteer
Bob Smith – Brandywine Peace Community, Philadelphia
Tory Smith - American Friends Service Committee
Jules Sorkin – Veterans for Peace
Alice Sutter - Occupy Wall Street
Madiha Tahir
Debra Sweet - World Can’t Wait
Saadia Toor - Pakistan Solidarity Network
Marjorie Van Cleef - WILPF-Philadelphia
Leila Zand - Fellowship of Reconciliation

For further information about the NSDSW, contact nickmottern@earthlink.net .

Read about ALL the ways YOU can be involved 

in the April Days of Action Against Drones!

Call for "No Drones" at U.S. Colleges, Universities, and Research Institutions

Friends,

A national call has been made for “April Days of Action” to focus on three key components of U.S. drone work: Drone Manufacturers, Drone Bases in the U.S., and Drone Research. (See the list about nationwide actions and post your own planned actions for April.)

Given the fact that drones are now the primary weapons of warfare used by the US, and for surveillance both domestic and abroad, the research and development of this warfare is growing rapidly at academic institutions, in our towns and neighborhoods. Drones are the perfect instrument for endless war that kills civilians, even as they target “militants” in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

Academic institutions often receive large grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, enabling them to build labs within schools of engineering, for instance. We are well aware that without this research in robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), and the accompanying accessories, these drone warfare projects would probably not take place. So there is an interdependent relationship between the universities and the U.S. government and or its Department of Defense and CIA. (CIA drones are used in countries with which the U.S. is not “at war”, ie Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Mali, and others.)

While universities tend to publicize some information on their respective websites regarding the drone work, it is most often said to be for non-military purposes. And there are students working in the labs who are convinced that all the research is for humanitarian purposes. However, history has told us that non-military can quickly and easily become military. Moreover research has shown drones make mistakes on recognizing their targets.

We are therefore asking organizations and individuals, nationwide, to explore any drone research that might be going on at their local university. We are calling for local actions between April 16 and 18, 2013 (Suggested actions are listed below) Our limited research into University and Academic UAV programs indicates that a research centers are operating in the locations listed below.

Before those dates in April we will need to know what information you have acquired about the research and what actions and events your group is planning.This will be shared among groups in the Network. You can send this information to us at notodrone@gmail.com.

We will have a press committee that will receive your press release and any articles you are able to publish before or after the event.

This project will complement other outreach, education and action projects that will be launched in April, focusing on drone bases, April 27-28 and drone manufacturers , April 4-6.

Suggested actions:

1. Learn what research is being done by searching on a university website. Look especially at the Engineering Dept.
2. Organize a forum, preferably on campus, with speakers and discussion. Be sure to publicize in campus newspapers, and possibly include a professor as one of the speakers. Also include local activists.
3. Plan a small meeting with the appropriate persons in the department working on drone research, both professors and students.
4. Hold vigils and leaflet on or close to the campus, as well as in town.
5. Let us know if you need further tools for your research.

Thanks in advance for your reply to notodrone@gmail.com.

With all good wishes,

Marge Van Cleef, WILPF, Philadelphia
Leila Zand, For USA
Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence

APPENDIX: U.S. Drone Research Sites

ARIZONA

Arizona State University - Tempe
PIMA Community College - Tucson
University of Arizona - Tucson

CALIFORNIA

California Polytechnic - San Luis Obispo
Girvan Institute of Technology - Santa Clara
Stanford University - Palo Alto
University of California - Berkeley
University of Southern California - Los Angeles

COLORADO

Mesa State College - Grand Junction
United States Air Force Academy

FLORIDA

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach
University of Florida - Gainsville
University of Central Florida - Orlando

GEORGIA

Georgia Tech - Atlanta
Southern Polytechnic State University - Marietta

ILLINOIS

University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

INDIANA

Ross Hulman Institute of Technology - Terre Haute
University of Notre Dame - South Bend

IOWA

Iowa State University - Ames

KANSAS

University of Kansas - Lawrence

KENTUCKY

University of Kentucky - Lexington

MARYLAND

John Hopkins University - Drone Swarming - Baltimore
University of Maryland - College Park

MASSACHUSETTS

Harvard - Cambridge
MIT - Cambridge

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi State University - Mississippi State University

MISSOURI

Parks College (university of St. Louis) - St Louis

NEW MEXICO

New Mexico State University - Las Cruces

NEW YORK

Clarkson University - Potsdam
Cornell University - Ithaca
Rochester Institute of Technology - Rochester

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina State University - Raleigh

NORTH DAKOTA

University of North Dakota- Grand Forks

OHIO

Ohio State University - Columbus
University of Dayton - Dayton
Wright State University - Dayton

PENNSYLVANIA

Carnegie Mellon Institute of Robotics - Pittsburgh
Drexel University - Philadelphia
Lehigh University - Bethlehem
University of Pennsylvania – GRASP Lab, Philadelphia

SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota School of Mines - Rapid City

TEXAS

Letourneau University - Longview
Texas A&M University - College Station
University of Texas - Austin

UTAH

Brigham Young University - Provo

VIRGINIA

Virginia Commonwealth University - Richmond
Virginia Tech - Blacksburg

(List updated: February 26, 2013)