The local antiwar group ACTIVATE/SDS is calling on people to attend the Grand Rapids City Commission mission this Tuesday to urge the Commission to pass a resolution against the Iraq War. Last month, the Grand Rapids Press reported that the City Commission was going to pass a resolution following a meeting at which numerous residents urged the Commission to do so, however it later reneged on its commitment. The text of ACTIVATE's announcement follows:

ACTIVATE/SDS is encouraging as many people as possible to come to the Tuesday, September 25 Grand Rapids City Commission meeting to demand that they pass an antiwar resolution as soon as possible. In August, Mayor Heartwell agreed to do so and two weeks later changed his mind. Instead, he is now calling for a public forum.

We demand that the City Commission pass an antiwar resolution now because:

* As of September 17, the war in Iraq has cost Grand Rapids taxpayers over $236 million dollars

* More than half of the American public wants the US to End the Occupation and the majority of Iraqis want the US military OUT NOW!

If the City Commission wants to host a forum then we encourage people to suggest that the forum be for the purpose of having our area legislators-Ehlers, Levin and Stabenow-listen to the concerns of people in Grand Rapids.

The City Commission meeting begins at 7pm on September 25. The meeting takes place on the 9th floor of City Hall, which is located at 300 Monroe NW in downtown Grand Rapids.

If you cannot make this meeting please send a prewritten e-mail to the Commissioners at http://citizenspeak.org/node/1142

Longtime readers of Media Mouse and those involved in local antiwar efforts might remember that this effort is only the latest push in a series of attempts to pass a resolution. The process was largely jumpstarted this year by the Green Party of Kent County, but was previously pursued back in 2006 and in 2003 before the war even began.