Peace Majority (PM) is a self-described "nonpartisan" anti-war group that "reach[es] across the political and cultural spectrum -- embracing conservatives and progressives, as well as others of all persuasions" -- to oppose U.S. war efforts and to build an "American peace community." To disseminate its views, Peace Majority publishes an Internet newsletter, "Peace Majority Report" (PMR), which posts information from, for, and about anti-war organizations nationwide.
Information featured on PMR includes "action" alerts issued by these groups. The subjects of these alerts are, among other issues, condemnations of the Iraq War; opposition to U.S. military recruiting and military spending; calls for American nuclear disarmament; and support for Palestinian militants in their war against Israel. (Notwithstanding its professed commitment to "non-violence," one recent action featured on PMR was an announcement by the Progressive Democrats of America condemning the "Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006." The Act called for the Palestinian government to denounce and combat terrorism and eliminate anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incitement.) PMR also publishes a listing of events, most commonly anti-war rallies, as well as links to news stories and commentary critical of the U.S. war effort; in addition, it sells books advocating nonviolence and attacking U.S. foreign policy.
PM publishes a "scorecard" ranking Congressional legislators according to their votes on matters of "war and peace," and specifically such issues as: support and funding for the Iraq War; the U.S. embargo of Cuba; the United Nations; the Patriot Act; the Guantanamo Bay detention center; the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; nuclear weapons; and military recruiters in universities. Republican Representative Tom DeLay scored a mere 4 percent, and moderate Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman scored 24 percent. By contrast, the leftist Congressman John Conyers earned a 90 percent approval rating from PM, while Senator Ted Kennedy scored 81 percent.
PM lists its top "priorities" in numerical order. They are: "(1) ending the U.S. war in Iraq; (2) stopping the U.S. plans to build new nuclear weapons; and (3) helping the U.S. become the world leader in international peace and security treaties." PM also calls for the establishment of a so-called "Congressional Peace Caucus," for elected "representatives who are committed to peace." In keeping with that goal, PM's website features pre-written letters that readers can sign and send to their legislators supporting the idea of the Caucus. "I want you to know as one of my representatives that I support the PeaceMajority.org campaign to establish a new nonpartisan Congressional Peace Caucus, patterned after the other successful caucuses in Congress," states the letter, which concludes: "It is time we start including a commitment to peace over war as the cornerstone of our national security."
The Director of Peace Majority (and Editor of PMR) is self-described "peace activist" Bill Scheurer, who is a member of Military Families Speak Out and a leader of the Lindenhurst, Illinois-based group Congress for Peace, which is part of the United for Peace and Justice anti-war coalition. Scheurer was also an "independent" candidate for U.S. Congress in the Illinois 8th District.
Peace Majority is a member organization of the United for Peace and Justice anti-war coalition, which is led by Leslie Cagan, a longtime committed socialist who aligns her politics with those of Fidel Castro's Communist Cuba. PM is also a member organization of the After Downing Street anti-war coalition.
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