“As the government’s permanent resource wars continue to destroy the nations credibility and peoples lives, all across America people are starting to react with anti-war messages and themes. Graffiti art and public space reclamation for common sense messages are examples of this rebuttal of government propaganda.”

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE COALITION AGAINST MILITARISM IN THE SCHOOLS:

“To inform and educate the public, especially students, parents and school personnel about the growing militarization of our schools, and to create and present positive nonviolent alternatives which promote the value of human life, justice and equity for all persons.
We envision accomplishing this in the following ways:

By bringing together a network of organizations and individuals to oppose the growing intrusion of the military commonly present in the lives of young people throughout Southern California, and to present organizing strategies, campaigns and actions.

By sharing information, legislation, advocacy efforts, and resources in order to raise awareness and mobilize against the aggressive and deceptive tactics of the military, which especially target African American and Latino males and females.

By bringing awareness about these issues through a speakers bureau, workshops and presentations, along with written articles, media contacts, school board actions, brochures, educational curriculum (e.g. Addicted to War), online resources and multimedia.

By providing resources for youth activists and encouraging youth leadership roles and mentoring in the movement to demilitarize our schools.  By facilitating the sharing of alternatives and exposing the myths and realities to militarism and war.

By collaboratively working to ensure equal access in all public school areas and spaces regarding the presence of counter recruitment literature, presentations and nonmilitary options.

By working to eliminate the Junior Reserves Officer Training Corp in our High Schools and the California Cadets in our Middle Schools, along with the school community.

By sponsoring and co-sponsoring events and activities with students, families, educators, and community/labor organizations to include conferences, teach-ins, forums and workshops.

By reinforcing and promoting through training’s and workshops the values of critical thinking, dialogue, conflict resolution and nonviolence.”