Connecticut Students Against the War
The Birth of a Regional Anti-War Coalition with a Grassroots Focus
Apr 21, 2009
Founded in October 2008, CTSAW grew out of the ashes of the Connecticut Opposes War Student Coalition organized earlier that year. According to Wes Strong, one of CTSAW's organizers, he called for the initial meeting, which was held in early November of that year and included representatives from student activist groups from high schools and universities around the state.
First Action
The group made a name for themselves with their first action by endorsing the December 7th Need Money? End the War! demonstration in Hartford, CT and by mobilizing students for that action. The demo was predominantly comprised of students, and according to the group, the turnout was sizable in number.
Viewpoint/Stance of the Organization
CTSAW seeks to create a space for students to have a unified voice within the anti-war movement, an environment that will encourage movement democracy and push for unity. They support an "out now," stance in regards to the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, they aim to foster a collaborative partnership with other anti-war groups as opposed to establishing their own separate group. While they refuse to alienate any group in the interest of building what they refer to as "sustainable solidarity," they maintain no direct affiliation with other anti-war groups. They see such affiliation running counter to their purpose, which according to a statement issued, "...is to put the grassroots in the leadership of the movement in a serious manner by encouraging collaboration among the larger anti-war groups." Strong says that despite this effort not to alienate, the group will certainly still be critical, but in an intelligent and respectful manner.
Structure of the Organization
The structure of the organization is still relatively fluid, existing as a grassroots and student run coalition of student and youth activist groups. The emphasis is on empowerment from the bottom up, seeking as the ideal to place the grassroots in the leadership of the anti-war movement. According to Strong, CTSAW is styled to some degree after the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, and their democratic decision-making process emphasizing hearing every voice and giving everyone a vote. "The basis of our inspiration to build CTSAW similar to the National Assembly is entirely around their process of decision making and organizing and does not represent any specific views," says Strong. With direct democratic decision-making as their basis, a more concrete structure for the organization will likely spring from the group's official organizing conference this April.
Current, Future, and Long-term Actions
CTSAW recently participated in the March 21st March on the Pentagon organized by the ANSWER Coalition, will be organizing students for, and participating in the April March on Wall Street organized by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ), and will be holding their own official organizing conference this April. Ultimately, they aim to not only build a strong coalition out of the existing fractured anti-war movement, but also according to their website, seek to recruit and train other would-be student activists into skilled organizers, offering aid to student groups in any capacity.
CTSAW Organizing Conference
Activists from Connecticut and the surrounding region will be coming to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT on April 25th for the 2009 CTSAW Organizing Conference. At the conference, students will develop points of unity around which they will rally, and use as a basis to calling for actions and demonstrations within the state and nationally. According to Strong, a document codifying the group’s points of unity and structure into a series of Core Organizing Principles will also be discussed.
For more about CTSAW and the upcoming conference, check out the CTSAW Website.
