Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism forms

Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism forms
November/December 2001

A new organization formed in Gainesville in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism (CCAWT).

CCWAT meets Mondays, at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Methodist Student Center, 1320 W. Univ. Ave. For more information, call the Civic Media Center, 373-0010.

Their mission statement is below:

We, the COMMUNITY COALITION AGAINST WAR & TERRORISM, condemn the attacks of September 11, 2001. We mourn the tragic loss of innocent lives in New York City, Washington, D.C. & Pennsylvania. And we mourn all the victims of war & terrorism throughout the world. War is not an effective strategy for increasing freedom, peace & justice in the United States or around the world.

What we stand for:

Seeking peaceful alternatives to war & militarism by working for global peace through justice
Supporting nonviolent solutions to conflict. History shows that violence & terrorism lead to more violence & terrorism.
Educating ourselves & others through forums, teach-ins & resource sharing
Demanding fair, accurate & complete media coverage
Opposing all forms of racist, ethic or religious bigotry
Defending civil liberties
Creating & modeling a community that includes & respects differences

We welcome participation by any & all who support our mission to make this one peaceful world.

Our current membership includes people from the following groups: Civic Media Center, Alachua County Green Party, Student Peace Action,
Veterans for Peace, Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice, Onward, Citizens for Police Review, Food Not Bombs, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, Ichetucknee Mobilization, Pax Christi Gainesville, and Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

Concerned community members gather on September 18 at the Civic Media Center to discuss the September 11 attacks and the imminent war. The meeting drew over 100 people. An anti-war group, Community Coalition Against War and Terrorism formed after a second meeting.

A 24-hour anti-war vigil started at University and 13th St. on October 7 after the U.S. started bombing Afghanistan and was maintained through Oct. 11.