The Justice Not War Coalition is sponsoring the second annual “Peace, Justice and Civil Liberties Conference” at the University this week, providing students with an opportunity to hear national speakers address foreign and domestic policy. The event starts today and will end Sunday.
The coalition, made up of 30 organizations, including the UO Cultural Forum, was created as a community response to the Sept. 11 attacks and the resulting military action.
This year, the conference — which includes themes such as “the assault on civil liberties since Sept. 11” — will include national speakers, workshops, art and music.
To start the conference, a rally and peace vigil will be held today from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Eugene Federal Building. Levi Strom, a student senator and co-founder of Students for Peace, will speak on the current University anti-war efforts.
“At the university level, it’s very important for college students (to be involved) because the eyes of the nation turn to universities for guidance on social issues,” Strom said.
Strom said he also hopes to bridge the gap between Vietnam-era protesters and more modern anti-war advocates.
Today through Saturday, national keynote speakers will present their ideas at 7 p.m. in 150 Columbia.
But the conference is also interactive, featuring many workshops and other activities.
On Saturday and Sunday, free workshops will be held in the EMU and 180 PLC. Workshop themes will include “Progressive Grassroots Organizing,” “Health Effects of War” and “Attacks on Our Rights: Repeal the USA PATRIOT Act.”
Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice member Barbara Pope said the event is important for students because there is little opportunity in classrooms to talk about many issues the conference will cover.
“There is something of a national crisis in that people are very divided about the war,” said Pope, also a professor emeritus in women’s studies.
All conference activities are free except for hearing national speakers, which costs $4 for the public and $2 for students and low-income attendees.