On April 27, 70 concerned citizens from southern Rhode Island towns met to discuss the current state of affairs in this nation. The meeting was arranged by two local organizations
Jamestown Justice and Peace Advocacy Group (JJPAG) and
South Kingstown Justice and Peace Action Group (SKJPAG) who had appealed to citizens from surrounding communities to meet and discuss the current situation and possible remedies, specifically impeachment. Local politicians were specifically not invited in an effort to be non-partisan.
Speakers addressed topics including constitutional violations by the current administration, the war in Iraq, and impending war in Iran, the possibility of using nuclear weapons in Iran, censure, impeachment, New England efforts and nationwide efforts calling for impeachment. Considerable discussion centered on the impeachment resolution currently before the Rhode Island General Assembly, put forth by Senate candidate Carl Sheeler. Sheeler was in attendance at the meeting, and while we limited his comments because of the considerations mentioned above, he offered some valuable insights into the resolution process. His resolution can be viewed
here. (Sheeler is having a press conference at the Rhode Island State House at 12:30pm Wednesday to discuss his resolution.)
After animated discussion, attendees called for immediate action in ending the abuses by the current administration. The group discussed the need to restore the system of checks and balances and the integrity of the Constitution. There was consensus that no one should be considered above the law. Censure was discussed, but it could be said of this group, when we broached the subject of impeachment resolutions, that "we had them at 'hello.'"
Two motions in different formats were put forward, calling for impeachment of the President. The first motion called for the adoption of the following Impeachment Resolution.
Whereas George W. Bush has:
Misled the nation about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction;
Misled the nation about ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda;
Used these falsehoods to lead our nation into war unsupported by international law;
Not told the truth about American policy with respect to the use of torture; and
Directed the government to engage in domestic spying, in direct contravention of U.S. law.
Therefore the gathered citizens of Southern Rhode Island ask that our representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives file articles of impeachment to remove him from office.
The motion was similar to one which was adopted by the Town of Newfane, Vermont, and was passed unanimously by the local gathering.
The second motion, which also passed unanimously, involved the impeachment resolution currently put before the Rhode Island General Assembly by Sheeler. The motion was as follows:
"We, the gathered concerned citizens, urge the RI General Assembly to approve the impeachment resolution currently before it".
A committee of action was formed and will meet shortly to discuss taking the resolutions to the next level. We created a dedicated email list to keep attendees and other interested individuals informed of meetings and related actions. The group is now called the Rhode Island Impeachment Coalition.
Progress can be tracked on this page at the SKJPAG website.
I would be very interested to hear feedback from Kagro X and the other mavericks behind this movement. My feeling is that, since we had multiple towns represented at this meeting, we should be pursuing multiple local resolutions even as we support the state-level effort. We have experience with passing local resolutions, as South Kingstown was among the first towns in Rhode Island to pass a resolution opposing certain provisions of the Patriot Act.
All in all, a very encouraging first step. Thanks for reading. Feel free to contact me off list at "info@skjpag.org"