Beyond War and Militarism

Beyond War and Militarism (BWaM) is a joint committee of the SPC and the CNY Solidarity Coalition. Our goal is to increase awareness of the dangers resulting from government and corporate militaristic policies and practices.

Dedicated to nonviolence in work with Syracuse Veterans for Peace, World Beyond War, and Upstate Drone Action, the BWaM team seeks to raise awareness of the corrupting, dangerous, and immoral behavior by, and for, the corporate-dominated state that promotes war and militarism, while stealing resources from urgent needs in the United States and worldwide.

Actions include organizing our Armistice Day commemoration, sponsoring or co-sponsoring speakers, rallies, exhibitions, etc., engaging electoral candidates and representatives, participating in frequent “Street Heat” protests and advocacy.

Events

MELT THE CONTRACTS

Read the full article

Syracuse Peace Council and other organizations including Syracuse DSA are asking the Common Council to approve the Melt the Contracts Resolution . The resolution asks Syracuse Common Council to deny contracts to any company involved in detainment and deportation, as well as review any current contracts for compliance. We have two Common Councilors tentatively attached. We need five total for a quorum.

This is an example of a company that the city contracts with:

Cellbrite is an AI surveillance tool used both by ICE and Syracuse Police Department. Similar to Flock. The resolution calls for both ending/phasing out contracts and a thorough review of city contracts to determine other companies that cross agencies. Part of the main issue is the lack of transparency, so it’s hard to find non-public information.

Take Action

The Syracuse Peace Council condemns the US bombing of Venezuela on Saturday January 3, sowing terror, killing civilians and destroying Venezuelan infrastructure. Echoing the 2004 US imperialist invasion of Haiti and kidnapping of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the Trump administration has shockingly kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores and illegally held them in New York.

This attack on another sovereign nation is a clear demonstration of the Trump Administration’s resurrection of the imperialist Monroe Doctrine; i.e., that the U.S. owns and controls the Western Hemisphere. We understand that this is not a singular moment but a continuation of the decades-long war to destroy Venezuela’s sovereignty, blockade the country’s economic and military alliances, and isolate the Venezuelan government from forming alliances with other Global South countries on their own terms.

For more information on Venezuela read this interview with Geo Maher.

Read the full statement here

Resources on
Militarism & Climate Change

Get Involved

Interested in getting involved with local organizing with Beyond War and Militarism? Send an email to: Lee Cridland for additional information and to get involved.