Fund Our Communities – Cut the Military!

Are you tired of endless war and occupations? Are you sick of billions of dollars wasted on destruction, when that money could have been spent on real social needs?

Bloomington-Normal Citizens for Peace and Justice is launching a new campaign to defund the war and fund our communities.

People are creating new campaigns to end to the wars, demanding that our taxpayer money be spent on people instead. Many of these locally-powered campaigns are centered around the New Priorities Network, which calls for cuts in the military and the funding of health care, an adequate jobs program, environmental infrastructure and transition to sustainability, and public education.

Another campaign called the 25% solution, connected to the New Priorities Network, sets a goal of an immediate 25% cut in military spending.

BNCPJ will be considering these campaigns in the weeks to come and will democratically agree on which kind of campaign is appealing to us. Here are two upcoming activities around the campaign.

On Sunday, September 11, 2:30 pm, at the Bloomington Public Library, BNCPJ is hosting a panel discussion forum on the people’s priorities entitled “How is the War Economy Working for You?” Dr. David Gill will speak on Medicare for All, Dr. Susan Hildebrandt will speak on education, Sonny Garcia will address the issue of a jobs program, and Terra Brockman will speak on the environment.

Then, on Sunday, October 2nd, BNCPJ will be brainstorming ideas for an independent Fund Our Communities campaign in our community. We meet at 4 pm at the Unitarian-Universalist Church (1613 E. Emerson). Everyone is welcome! This is a campaign that will be independent of organizations and will seek individual and group endorsements, with the goal to pressure elected officials to end the wars and fund social need.

With a majority of people in the U.S. opposing the wars and occupations, we need leverage to force the politicians to withdraw our troops and cut the military budget. Defund the war, Fund our Communities!

Protesting the Wars, Bloomington-Normal, IL