Numerous organizations have called for national anti-war actions in Washington, DC in the fall. Since the spring, the NY-based Troops Out Now Coalition has been planning and obtaining permits for an encampment at the US Capitol from Sept. 22-28 and a mass antiwar march on Sept. 29. Three weeks ago, the ANSWER coalition issued their own call for a national march on Sept. 15. Other fall actions have also been scheduled or proposed. Some in the movement here in Chicago have expressed concerns about the situation of different coalitions trying to organize bus transportation for separate demonstrations as little as two weeks apart.

In an effort to resolve this situation, the Troops Out Now Coalition has now proposed that a unity coalition - or coalition of coalitions - be formed to conduct the Sept. 29 demonstration as a truly united mass action.

The full statement is available at the newly created website www.sept29.org . It reads in part,

"When Unity is paramount, no one coalition should seek domination over a serious or decisive mass
mobilization. Groups have critical political differences, but there are occasions when it necessary to reduce barriers to collaboration. Ultimately, the various antiwar coalitions should serve the needs of the movement and not
merely their own organization.

"In order to facilitate the participation of other major coalitions on an equal basis in all aspects of mobilization, TONC proposes the formation of a September 29 Unity coalition for a national antiwar march on Wash. D.C. Through a coalition, all forces should be able to work out the basis for everyone making a serious commitment to the mobilization. No one or even two coalitions will "own" the march, the whole movement, from the grassroots up will have collective ownership of the mobilization."

The TONC statement argues that of the proposed dates, September 29 is the best. A date much earlier would negate the opportunity to reach many students. In the Chicago are, for example, fall registration does not begin at Northwestern until September 18, or at the U of C until September 19. On the other hand, to wait until much later would "diminish the sense of urgency for action that will be overwhelming by September".