Challenging JROTC in the Public Schools

<img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/rimcmared2.jpg" alt="jrottsee" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> Rochester Indymedia presents the March After <a href="http://rocwiki.org/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a> Screening: Challenging JROTC in Rochester Public Schools<br /> <br /> <b>When</b>: March 30, 2007; 7pm<br /> <br /> <b>Where</b>: <a href="http://www.communitywishbook.com/StJosephHouseHospitality.html">St Joe's</a> (<a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&amp;country=US&amp;addtohistory=&amp;searchtab=home&amp;formtype=address&amp;popflag=0&amp;latitude=&amp;longitude=&amp;name=&amp;phone=&amp;level=&amp;cat=&amp;address=402+South+Ave&amp;city=Rochester&amp;state=ny&amp;zipcode=">402 South Ave.</a>) <br /> <br /> <b>Special Guests</b>: Documentarian Kevin Berends, as well as activists from <i>Rochester Against War</i> <br /> <br /> Throughout the Spring and Early summer of 2006, <a href="http://rochesteragainstwar.com">Rochester Against War (RAW)</a> focused much of its organizing work on getting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JROTC">Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (JROTC)</a> program out of the Rochester City Schools. Members of RAW argued that the JROTC program is just another means by which the US Military targets poor, inner city youth for service in foreign wars of aggression. While RAW's work to demilitarize schools continues, the Rochester City School board voted to maintain the program. Members of the School board cited the positive testimony of families with children in the program, and focused on the fact that participation in the program in completely voluntary.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://atstlevel.com">Street Level Media</a>, a public access TV project, documented this struggle. The documentary includes interviews with antiwar activists and school board members as well as footage of the board meetings where the debate took place. The piece also provides an excellent example of how governing structures such as school boards serve to insure business as usual.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RochesterFNB/"><i>Rochester Food Not Bombs</a> will be serving a meal; discussion to follow the screening.</i> <b>St. Joe's is wheelchair accessible and the event is free and open to the public.</b> <br /> <br /> <b>Check out</b>: <a href="http://www.atstlevel.com/atstlevel/home%20page.html">At Street Level</a> | <a href="http://www.rochesteragainstwar.org/index.html">Rochester Against War</a> | <a href="http://rocwiki.org/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a> meets at 6PM at the Liberty Pole in Downtown on the last Friday of the month—Ride Daily~Celebrate Monthly! <p><a href="/newsite/node/6786">Read Full Article</a></p>

<p><img src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/1/rimcmared2.jpg" alt="jrottsee" border="1" align="left" style="padding:2px;" /> Rochester Indymedia presents the March After <a href="http://rocwiki.org/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a> Screening: Challenging JROTC in Rochester Public Schools</p> <p> <b>When</b>: March 30, 2007; 7pm</p> <p> <b>Where</b>: <a href="http://www.communitywishbook.com/StJosephHouseHospitality.html">St Joe's</a> (<a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&amp;country=US&amp;addtohistory=&amp;searchtab=home&amp;formtype=address&amp;popflag=0&amp;latitude=&amp;longitude=&amp;name=&amp;phone=&amp;level=&amp;cat=&amp;address=402+South+Ave&amp;city=Rochester&amp;state=ny&amp;zipcode=">402 South Ave.</a>) </p> <p> <b>Special Guests</b>: Documentarian Kevin Berends, as well as activists from <i>Rochester Against War</i> </p> <p> Throughout the Spring and Early summer of 2006, <a href="http://rochesteragainstwar.com">Rochester Against War (RAW)</a> focused much of its organizing work on getting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JROTC">Junior Reserve Office Training Corps (JROTC)</a> program out of the Rochester City Schools. Members of RAW argued that the JROTC program is just another means by which the US Military targets poor, inner city youth for service in foreign wars of aggression. While RAW's work to demilitarize schools continues, the Rochester City School board voted to maintain the program. Members of the School board cited the positive testimony of families with children in the program, and focused on the fact that participation in the program in completely voluntary.</p> <p> <a href="http://atstlevel.com">Street Level Media</a>, a public access TV project, documented this struggle. The documentary includes interviews with antiwar activists and school board members as well as footage of the board meetings where the debate took place. The piece also provides an excellent example of how governing structures such as school boards serve to insure business as usual.</p> <p> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RochesterFNB/"><i>Rochester Food Not Bombs</i></a> will be serving a meal; discussion to follow the screening. <b>St. Joe's is wheelchair accessible and the event is free and open to the public.</b> </p> <p> <b>Check out</b>: <a href="http://www.atstlevel.com/atstlevel/home%20page.html">At Street Level</a> | <a href="http://www.rochesteragainstwar.org/index.html">Rochester Against War</a> | <a href="http://rocwiki.org/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a> meets at 6PM at the Liberty Pole in Downtown on the last Friday of the month—Ride Daily~Celebrate Monthly!</p> <p><a href="/newsite/node/6786">Read Full Article</a></p>