FIRST THE GOOD NEWS

By unanimous vote, the City Council of Charlottesville, Va., on Monday evening voted to ban militarized policing. Specifically, the City Council resolved that “the Charlottesville Police Department shall not acquire weaponry from the United States armed forces,” and “shall not receive military-style or ‘warrior’ training by the United States armed forces, a foreign military or police, or any private company.” Here’s the packet for Monday’s meeting. For the resolution as passed see pages 75-76. The resolution came word-for-word from our petition.

You can do this in your city or town or county. Contact World BEYOND War. Work with us to organize a local group and draft a plan for online petitioning, event organizing, media outreach, and persuading local officials. This is not difficult, but does make a difference. If you have a little time to make a difference, please do this, and please get started now while there’s major media attention to the matter.

NOW THE BAD NEWS

While Tuesday saw more votes to reduce the U.S. military budget than we've seen in Congress in the past, the House of Representatives defeated by 324 to 93 a proposal to move a mere 10% of the Pentagon's pile of money to human and environmental needs. Polling showed overwhelming public support, but our so-called representatives didn't represent us.

When you click this link and enter your street address, the webpage will tell you how your Representative voted and allow you to send an appropriate email.

In recent polling by Data for Progress, by 56% to 27% U.S. voters favored what the House just voted down. If told that some of the money would go to the Centers for Disease Control, the public support was 57% to 25%. Support was 70% among Democratic voters and 50% among Republican voters.

Among Congress Members, in contrast, 40% of Democrats voted to move the money, as did 0% of Republicans. So, we have 93 people to thank and 324 to spank. There were 13 Representatives who did not vote and 1 Independent who voted yes. Republicans voted no by a vote of 185 to 0. Democrats voted no by a vote of 139 to 92.

Find out how your Representative voted and let him or her know that you are paying attention by clicking here.

Thanks for all you do!
—David Swanson, Executive Director, World BEYOND War

Background:
>> Roll Call of Vote
>> Marc Pocan, Data for Progress: "The American People Agree: Cut the Pentagon's Budget."
>> National Priorities Project: "Ten Better Uses for Ten Percent of the Pentagon Budget."

World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, activists, and allied organizations advocating for the abolition of the very institution of war. Our success is driven by a people-powered movement – support our work for a culture of peace.

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