Left In Lowell

Besides the counter-recruitment movement, another campaign of UJP’s (and other groups) is the state resolution “requiring the governor to recall the Massachusetts National Guard from Iraq.” They have taken the first steps to get this binding initiative on next year’s ballot, and the next part will need all of our help. Inside the flip is the entirety of the email I got from the peeps involved, so take a click:

Dear Boston Area Friends - We’re helping to get the word out about this initiative. We’re proposing to radio stations that they play the interview with Harold Hubschman, which is available for download from our website.
Peace, Charlie

Bring the Mass. Guard Home - State Referendum Submitted in Massachusetts
August 11, 2005

A group of activists in Massachusetts is organizing a campaign to place a binding initiative on the November 2006 ballot requiring the governor to recall the Massachusetts National Guard from Iraq.

On Wednesday, August 3, 2005, registered voters in Massachusetts submitted their signatures to the Attorney General, asking that a binding referendum be placed on the 2006 ballot to bring the Massachusetts National Guard home from Iraq. Seventeen signers included members of Brookline Peace Works and the Executive Director of Traprock Peace Center, in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

On September 7 the Attorney General will announce whether that language will be meet technical requirements here. We expect to then begin to collect 100,000 signatures to put this referendum on the ballot beginning September 21. Volunteers from all cities and towns in Massachusetts are invited to help.

If you would like to help collect signatures in your Massachusetts town, or at fall festivals and cultural events in Massachusetts, please send your contact information now to: bringmassguardhome@traprockpeace.org

Harold Hubschman of Brookline, Massachusetts is a political consultant specializing in referenda. He is available to meet with volunteers and organizers in western Massachusetts on August 19, 20, 26 or 27, preferring August 20, and to discuss the initiative with key organizers in all regions of the state. Before this initiative was submitted, Hubschman spoke with several attorneys to discern the requirements of the law. Miller interviewed Hubschman about the initiative on August 4. He explains that Massachusetts is one of twenty-four states and first on the calendar in a sequence of deadlines for submitting a referendum. In each state the Attorneys Generals are the offices to call to find out your deadline for submission.

To hear and download the interview (MP3 audio - 18:08 minutes; 6.3 mb at 48 kbps mono), go to http://www.traprockpeace.org. Radio stations may air the interview for free ­ please see copyright notes below, with full notes on the webpage.*

The exact legal language of the initiative (05-03) is as follows:

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An Act To Bring Our Troops Home

Be It Enacted By The People And By Their Authority:

SECTION 1. The governor shall take all necessary steps under G.L. c. 33, s. 39 and all other provisions of law or the Constitution and issue all necessary orders to bring about the immediate withdrawal of all Massachusetts National Guard troops subject to his authority from Iraq and their return to, or retention within, the Commonwealth.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED AT OUR WEBSITE:
Traprock Peace Center

*The audio recordings are available for radio airplay, without prior permission, provided that the radio station notifies Traprock of the airing (413-773-7427) and provides attribution that includes the following information: “Sunny Miller interviewed Harold Hubschman for Traprock Peace Center, www.traprockpeace.org, on August 4, 2005. All rights reserved.” Individuals may download mp3 audio files for private use.

Please Note: The referendum has a certain time line - the earliest ballot opportunity is November, 2006. This does not imply that Traprock approves continuing the occupation of Iraq by US military forces for any length of time. This campaign will add pressure to end the occupation now.

SEE ALSO

Brookline Peace Works

Office of Massachusetts Attorney General - Initiative Petitions

For more information contact
Sunny Miller, Executive Director
413 773-7427

Traprock Peace Center
103A Keets Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
413-773-7427 (Traprock office)
Fax 413-773-7507
bringmassguardhome@traprockpeace.org