Following the meeting with the NYPD, United for Peace and Justice conducted an online poll of its supporters across the nation on September 13, to get their input on what our next steps should be. The results showed widespread support for nonviolent civil disobedience in conjunction with a permitted event to allow maximum participation and to show the broad opposition to the war in Iraq.

We would like to thank all those who responded to the poll and offered their feedback and support for this initiative. 

Here is a selection of comments from
the more than 640 responses we received:

“It's time. The police in Manhattan are now using security concerns to seriously inhibit our constitutional rights.” –-New York, NY

“We have spent enough time allowing the government to dictate the parameters of our demonstrations. Enough is enough.” –-New York, NY

“Nonviolent peace action as Gandhi taught is the best course. No matter what we do the police force will behave in a controlled aggressive manner. We must be the opposite of their brutality and show the country, plus the world, that we are for true democracy.” –-Brooklyn, NY

“Unless the police are keeping any and ALL people away from the UN that day, there's little justification in 'safety' as a reason to deny the permit--this is about politics!” –-College Park, Maryland

“The evil behind this war has gone on for far too long. Now is the time to act for peace. At any cost. A march of absolute non-violence for peaceful removal of our troops from the Middle East is necessary. We must stand for human rights and for freedom. We must stand for America.” –-Houston, Texas

“The nation is in the grips of a constitutional crisis. The government has been seized and subverted by a ‘bloodless’ coup and as the inactive congress has dramatically demonstrated we are in a post-democratic America. While voting and signing petitions are essential, it is not enough. The time has come for direct action and resistance.” –-Genoa, Wisconsin