Kareem Khan with picture of his son, killed by a drone. Credit: Noor Behram/Reprieve
by Bobby Kirl
Remember drones? The President, in his lengthy State of the Union Address last month, gave a mere three sentences to one of the most pressing issues of our age. He mentioned the word drone only once. For many of us this is not only a snub that fell far short of calling for the necessary action to put an end to the immoral use of these terrible machines, it is outright indifference to the suffering of those who his drone policies have affected so terribly.
An international call for Spring Days of Action — 2014 is ringing out across the social airwaves. This coordinated grassroots campaign, supported by a litany of activist groups and individuals of conscience, is being held this April and May. The campaign is simple in its concept, but bold in its purpose. It aims to encourage activists around the world to join in consolidated effort for a common set of goals; winning passage of local laws that prohibit drones and drone surveillance; keeping drones from being used in our communities; and seeking national laws to bar the use of weaponized drones and drone surveillance. This campaign has the potential to be a massive coalition for human rights.
Now more than ever this issue is front and center on the world stage and the president’s insensitivity to this calamity is proof that we the people must take charge and demand change. Right now, with the recent and very public exposure of privacy violations by the NSA bringing to light our govern-ment’s blatant surge toward an Orwellian tomorrow, and the joint report by Amnesty and Human Rights Watch revealing that the US has in fact carried out unlawful killings with drones in Pakistan and elsewhere, there is no better time than now to make the peoples case against the unlawful and immoral use of drones. No matter their intent, they are not there to benefit us, The People.
Helen Keller said it so poignantly and oh so prophetically for this call, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
We still have a choice, will we stand together under clear and safe skies or will we stand alone under the darkness of tyranny?
Join our Peace & Justice Action Committee in planning Spokane actions against drones: 5:30 on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month!