  
  a m o n t h - l o n g t o u r o f i r a q v e t e r a n s , c o u n t e r - r e c r u i t m e n t a c t i v i s t s , s t u d e n t s a n d m u s i c i a n s .  The
UPRISE Tour is a comined effort between members of Iraq Veterans
Against the War, Univeristy of Californida Students Against the War,
The Pittsburgh Organizing Group, The Riot-Folk Collective, Northern
Ohio Anti-war Coalition, Chicago SDS and students from George Mason
University. The organizers in UPRISE each bring
unique experiences and insight to offer to groups.
Tariq Khan, a student at George Mason University, is a former member of the U.S. Air Force and it was during his service that his he became politicized. Now an outspoken critic of the U.S. Military, Tariq draws from his first hand experience to encourage others not follow the same path he did. His insight offers a valuable perspective to potential young people contemplating military service. Tariq was assaulted and arrested for peacefully protesting military recruiters on his campus. A student-led activist defense campaign led to the charges against him being dropped. Ryan Harvey is a political folk singer and founding member of the Riot Folk Collective. His sharp, political observations set to melody serve a dual purpose of inspiration and education. Additionally, Ryan is a seasoned a global justice activist who has organized and attended several major mass mobilizations including the Miami FTAA Protest and the DNC to RNC March. His energy as an activist and artist is unmatched. Ryan was one of the organizers for the DNC2RNC march, from which the Tour draws some of its inspiration. Kate Flanagan is a feminist studies major at the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has spent two years organizing on campus, focusing on counter recruitment on capus, the UC's management of the nuclear labs, the exploitation of low-wage workers and students, and trying to bring all these together into a complete analysis of the University as an undemocratic, profit driven entity. Kate has been active in UCSC's Students Against War, one of the most active campus anti-war groups in the country. The group has recieved national attention for its successful actions to kick military recruiters off the campus. David Meieran is a Pittsburgh-based activist who has worked on AIDS, queer, antiwar, police violence and global justice issues. Harkening back to the founding of ACT UP!, David has been on the frontlines of the social justice movement for years participating in direct action and community education events. Currently he is an organizer with Pittsburgh Organizing Group, which has a vibrant, ongoing counter-recruitment campaign that has drawn national attention and intense scrutiny from the powers that be. David was also one of the organizers for the DNC2RNC march. Tom Nomad is a native of Cleveland who experienced first hand the effects of living in an industrial city long forgotten by industry. He is part of a bueorgoning counter-recruitment campaign that employs creative resistance as a primary tactic. He is also an essential element in developing C-Space, a community space devoted to empowering community and providing a free space for the development of community outside mainstream political channels. Iraq Veterans Against the War members are an integral part of the tour, discussing and sharig their experiences, ideas and advice. |