United for Peace of Pierce County, WA - We nonviolently oppose the reliance on unilateral military actions rather than cooperative diplomacy.

In response to police brutality unleashed against antiwar demonstrators in Olympia on Sat., Nov. 10, a community forum will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. this evening, Sun., Nov. 11, at Traditions Café (300 5th Ave. SW, Olympia).[1] -- Announcing the event was TJ Johnson, an elected member of the Olympia City Council, who himself was pepper-sprayed and shoved with batons on Saturday "for doing nothing more than being there to witness and document the events, and for trying to help the injured." -- Johnson says: "The war abroad has now become the war at home. And it’s a war being waged against your friends and neighbors. -- Regardless about how you feel about the use of our port by the military, it is important to understand that what is happening to your friends and neighbors who demonstrate against it is a threat to the civil rights and liberty of everyone." -- TJ Johnson's is an important voice in the local antiwar community. -- See, below, the videoclip of his rebuke of Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA 3rd) at a public forum on Sept. 21, 2007.[2] ...

WHAT: Community Forum on Police Response to Port Demonstrations
WHO: Victims of police brutality in Olympia on Sat., Nov. 10
WHEN: Sunday, November 11, 2007 -- 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Traditions Café, 300 5th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98501 (360-705-2819)

Yesterday, citizens of this community were brutally victimized by the Olympia Police for taking non-violent direct action to oppose the use of our public port by the military.

Others, including myself, were pepper sprayed and shoved with batons for doing nothing more than being there to witness and document the events, and for trying to help the injured.

The war abroad has now become the war at home. And it’s a war being waged against your friends and neighbors.

Regardless about how you feel about the use of our port by the military, it is important to understand that what is happening to your friends and neighbors who demonstrate against it is a threat to the civil rights and liberty of everyone.

There will be an important community forum tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Traditions to document and discuss what happened. It is very important that the people of this community turn out to bear witness to the stories of brutality, and to help the victims process their trauma.

Please, please, please. Clear your schedule of other obligations and join us at Traditions tonight at 6:30 p.m.