Remember teach-ins, which sprouted on campuses across the country in the 1960s and 1970s to discuss and educate people about issues like the Vietnam war? Even Earth Day was planned as an environmental teach-in by founder Gaylord Nelson, but it grew well beyond that even the first year.
There will be a teach-in at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus this weekend on the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Also in Madison, and in communities across the state, events are planned this week to call for an end to the US occupation of Iraq, which begins its eighth year on Saturday, and to the war in Afghanistan, which the US began in October 2001.
Since the U.S. invaded Iraq in March of 2003, Wisconsin has often led the country in speaking out for peace. That is the case again this week, with 19 Wisconsin communities, from Chippewa Falls to Waupaca, planning events that range from roadside vigils, to marches and public prayers, according to the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.
The Madison teach-in begins on Friday from 7:00-9:00pm, Alumni Lounge in the Pyle Center, UW-Madison, with a faculty panel moderated by Matt Rothschild of the Progressive Magazine, including Joe Elder, Sociology/ Languages and Cultures of Asia, Jeremi Suri and Alfred McCoy, Dept. of History and Uli Schamiloglu, Dept. of Languages and Cultures of Asia Contact: Adam Schesch, 608-255-9773
Saturday's Teach-In on Afghanistan and Pakistan runs 9 to noon and 2-5pm, at Memorial Union and other locations. The program:
See “Today in the Union” listings at the Memorial Union for rooms and times. Contact: Adam Schesch, 608-255-9773
Other events this week:
Chippewa Falls: 3/20 Sat. 11 am Peace Vigil – At the corner of Bridge and River. Contact: Gaylord Oppegard, lagoclam@aol.com.
Elm Grove: 3/19 Fri. 4 – 5 pm Public Prayer For Peace – 13105 Watertown Plank Road. 4:00-4:30 pm, Prayer Service in the All Purpose Room, 4:30-5:00 pm Prayerful, Public Stand for Peace along Watertown Plank Road. Organized by the School Sisters of Notre Dame Global Justice & Peace Commission. Contact: S. Lillia Langreck, SSNd at llangrec@ssnd-milw.org
Eau Claire: Fri. 5 – 6 pm Stand for Peace – Meet at the corner of Brackett Ave and S. Hastings Way (aka "Hwy 53"). Contact: Lou Recine, 715-834-8756, recinelouis@sbcglobal.net.
Hayward: 3/19 Fri. 4 – 5 pm Vigil for Peace – At the intersection of Highways 27 and 63. Sponsored by Peace North. Contact: Jacque Lindskoog, 715-798-4435, waylind2@cheqnet.net
Janesville: Fri. 4 pm Iraq Moratorium vigil - On the corner of Blackbridge Rd. and Milton Ave. Sponsored by the Rock Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation. Contact: Kathy Holcombe, (608) 752-8117, kholcombe8117@charter.net
La Crosse: Fri. 5 – 6 pm Iraq Moratorium Vigil – LaCrosse. Corner of Cass and Third Street, at the foot of blue bridge over the Mississippi River. Contact: Duane Teschler, 608-784 1737, napeacefulwarior@yahoo.com or Cathy Van Maren, cvmaren@mwt.net.
Madison: Sat. 3/20 Noon, Rally: Bring the Troops Home from Iraq and Afghanistan! Jobs, not Bombs! Starting at UW Library Mall. Contact: Barbara Smith, Madison Area Peace Coalition, (608) 242-9232, barbara@merr.com
Manitowoc: Fri. 4:30 - 5 pm Peace Vigil - At Maritime Drive and 8th Street. Contact: Linda Hunter, (414) 455-4382, huntel@comcast.net.
Menomonie: Fri. 4-5 pm Peace Vigil - Crescent (12/29)and 6th Ave at the Veterans Memorial, which is located in front of Menomonie Market Food Coop . Contact: Steve Hanson, shanson@uppitywis.org
Milwaukee: 3/19 Fri. 12 noon Money for Jobs, Not for War and Occupation - Start in front of the blue Federal Building on 3rd and Wisconsin and will proceed to city hall, and then back to the Federal Building. Wisconsin AFL-CIO President David Newby will be speaking. Contact: Liz Klainot, Peace Action - Wisconsin, (414) 964-5158, info@peaceactionwi.org, Sue Ruggles, US Labor Against the War, RugglesS@matc.edu
Racine: 3/20 Sat. 10 – 11 am Racine Stand for Peace – Southeast corner of Highways 20 and 31. Contact: Dick Kinch, 262-638-0204, dkinch@rootcom.net .
Rice Lake: 3/19 Fri. 4 - 6 pm People for Peace - At the corner of Knapp and Main streets on the north end of town. Contact: Sybella Yarish, 715-719-0246
Ripon: Fri. 4:30 pm Peace vigil for the Iraq Moratorium – On the Square, by City Hall. Contact: Kent Gallaway, kgallaway54971@yahoo.com
Sheboygan: Fri. 4 - 5 pm Stand for Peace – 9th and Erie. Sponsored by Sheboygan Peace-Seekers. Contact: Chris Kuehnel, 920-918-2405.
Superior: Fri. 4 – 5 pm Rally for Peace. On the corner of Broadway and Hammond. Sponsored by the Northland Chapter of Grandmothers for Peace. Contact: Jan at G4peace1@charter.net
Viroqua: Fri. 12 noon Peace Vigil - At the Post Office on Jefferson St. Contact: Anita Zibton, amz1357@frontiernet.net
Waupaca: Fri. 5 – 6 pm Vigil for Peace - Downtown, on the town square. Contact: Bonni Miller, 715-256-2672, bonni@waupacaonline.net
West Bend: 3/20 Sat. 11:30 am Stand for Peace - Corner of Decorah and Main. 2nd and 4th Sat. Contact: Tom Haebig, Peaceseekers of Washington County, 262-334-3179
Woodruff: Fri. 12 noon - 1 pm Silent Prayer Vigil for Peace - Holy Family Church, in the small chapel. Contact: Sr. Ann Wittman, crossings@holycrosssisters.org .
In addition, the following regularly scheduled peace vigils will be occurring in the weeks following the seventh anniversary:
Appleton: Sat. 4/3 11 am - 12 noon Monthly Vigil for Peace - At College Avenue and Appleton. Sponsored by the Fox Valley Peace Coalition. First Saturday of each month. Contact: Ronna Swift, 920-733-8394, ronnas@athenet.net.
Green Bay: Sun. 4/4 1 - 2 pm Monthly Vigil of Resistance to the War in Iraq - First Sunday of each month, at the corner of Webster and Mason. . Contact: Jill Bussiere at jdt@itol.com
Menomonee Falls: Sat. 4/3 noon Monthly Germantown/Menomonee Falls Stand for Peace - First Saturday of each month, at Appleton and Main. Contact: peace@peaceactionwi.org
Minocqua: Sat. 3/27 11:00am – noon Vigil for Peace – At the corner of Hwy 51 and Hwy 70. Sponsored by the Northwoods Peace Coalition. Contact: Jerry Woolpy, jerryw@earlham.edu