David Swanson

David Swanson

David Swanson is the Executive Director of World Beyond War. He served as press secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign.

About

David Swanson is the Washington Director of Democrats.com, co-founder of the After Downing Street Coalition and creator of Meet with Cindy.org. He serves on the steering committee of the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice and on a working group of United for Peace and Justice. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, and as Press Secretary for the Dennis Kucinich 2004 campaign, Media Coordinator for the International Labor Communications Association, and three years as Communications Coordinator for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. He is a member of and has served on the Executive Council of the Washington/Baltimore Newspaper Guild.

David Swanson is the author of "War Is A Lie" and "Daybreak: Undoing the Imperial Presidency and Forming a More Perfect Union." He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org and works for the online activist organization RootsAction.

Education

Swanson obtained a Master's degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia in 1997.

Women & War: World BEYOND War’s 2024 Virtual Film Festival

From the World Beyond War website announcing the "Women & War: World BEYOND War’s 2024 Virtual Film Festival":

Day 2: Discussion of "Naila and The Uprising" on Saturday, March 16 at 3:00pm-4:00pm Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-4)

Panelists:

• Rula Salameh, Education and Outreach Director in Palestine, Just Vision: Rula Salameh is a veteran journalist, community organizer and the Education and Outreach Director in Palestine for Just Vision, an organization that fills a media gap on Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement. She produced three of Just Vision's films - Budrus (2009), My Neighbourhood (2012) and Naila and the Uprising (2017) - and has led the team's public engagement efforts across Palestinian society for over 13 years. Since 2019, she has contributed a weekly column to Ma'an News covering Palestinian social issues from the perspective of grassroots communities. In addition to her work with Just Vision, Rula is the host of Falasteen al-Khair ("Philanthropy in Palestine"), one of the most popular TV shows in Palestine. Rula was one of the founders of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation in 1993 following the Oslo Accords. She has served as the Middle East Liaison for the organization Peace X Peace, as the Project Coordinator for Middle East Nonviolence and Democracy (MEND) and established a computer lab and children's library in the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem through her work with Refugee Trust International. She has lead and spoken at hundreds of events across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as the US, UK and internationally, sharing her experiences as a community organizer, documentary producer and Jerusalem resident with thousands of audiences including women, youth, faith leaders, refugees, political leaders, journalists and beyond. Rula has a BA in Sociology from Birzeit University in Ramallah and holds an international diploma in Computers in Business and Management from Cambridge International College. She is a member of the International Federation of Journalists and sits on the Board of Palestinian Friends Without Borders.

• Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg, Public Engagement Associate, Just Vision: Jordana is the Public Engagement Associate for Just Vision, an organization that fills a media gap in Israel-Palestine through independent storytelling and strategic audience engagement. In her role, she works collaboratively across the organization to support outreach, communications, and storytelling efforts. Jordana holds a double degree in Human Rights Journalism and Theater from Bard College, where she co-organized an arts education program in the West Bank for four years. She also holds an MFA Social Practice degree from the Corcoran School of Art in DC, a unique program that combines art and public policy. Jordana is a filmmaker and visual artist. Prior to Just Vision, she was a recipient of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship where she studied visual storytelling practices in Central and South America. She also worked at a number of non-profit, gallery, and film organizations including the National Geographic Society (DC), Monument Lab (PA), Steps to End Family Violence (NYC), Artists Striving to End Poverty (NYC), and the Nashman Center for Civic Engagement (DC). Her films and visual artwork have been showcased at Transformer Gallery (DC), Art Basel (Miami), and the Corcoran Gallery (DC).

• David Swanson (facilitator), Co-Founder & Executive Director, World BEYOND War: David Swanson is Co-Founder, Executive Director, and a Board Member of World BEYOND War. David is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk World Radio. He is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and was awarded the 2018 Peace Prize by the U.S. Peace Memorial Foundation.

Rage Against the War Machine

Rage Against the War Machine Promotional Flyer

Rage Against the War Machine was a protest held on February 19, 2023 organized by the Movement for a People's Party and the Libertarian Party against US intervention in Russia's attack on Ukraine. David Swanson was a speaker listed on the Rage Against the War Machine website.

ACORN

In 2002, David Swanson is the Communications Director for ACORN, wrote an article for the Fall issue of Democratic Socialists of America's Democratic Left, "New Orleans Raises Minimum Wage".

Progressive Democrats of America

David Swanson serves on the Advisory Board of Progressive Democrats of America.

Ukraine: 'Commitment to Sending No More Weapons'

Time for Ceasefire in Ukraine?

A discussion dated Sept 26, 2023 titled "Time for Ceasefire in Ukraine?" features Medea Benjamin, Helena Cobban, Ray McGovern, and David Swanson.,

"In an endless war with already a half million casualties, is it more helpful to continue it -- risking nuclear apocalypse and guaranteeing impediments to addressing climate collapse -- or to demand a ceasefire, peace negotiations, and a commitment to sending no more weapons?

A public discussion featuring Medea Benjamin, Helena Cobban, Ray McGovern, and David Swanson.

Just World Educational, World BEYOND War

Endorsers

Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice, RootsAction.org, The Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Charlottesville Friends Meeting.

Endorsed Marcy Winograd

In 2006 David Swanson of After Downing Street Coalition was a National and State endorser of Marcy Winograd of the Los Angeles Progressive Democrats of America in her unsuccessful primary bid for the Democratic Party nomination 26th Congressional District in California

United for Peace and Justice Affiliation

In July 2007 David Swanson representing After Downing Street Coalition was affiliated to United for Peace and Justice.

March on Wall Street

On April 3 2008 David Swanson, Co-Founder of After Downing Street endorsed a Bail Out the People Movement organized "March on Wall Street" ;

Because we must demand that the needs of the people come before the greed of the super rich. Millions are jobless and homeless, and millions more will be living on the streets if the government continues to waste trillions of dollars on saving wealthy bankers instead of saving people.

Open Letter to Obama on Iran

In 2008 David Swanson of AfterDowningStreet.org, Charlottesville, VA signed an online petition “A Open Letter to Barack Obama on Iran”.

Campaign for Peace and Democracy

Swanson is listed as an endorser of the Campaign for Peace and Democracy, as of March 15, 2010.

National Peace Conference

The National Peace Conference, took place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Albany New York, July 2010. Many workshops are scheduled and many leaders of the peace and progressive movements will be there: Cindy Sheehan, Kathy Kelly, Medea Benjamin, Ann Wright, Dahlia Wasfi, Leila Zand, Michael McPhearson, Kevin Martin, David Swanson, Glen Ford, and many others.

Keynote speakers were Noam Chomsky and Donna DeWitt (President of the South Carolina AFL-CIO).

Meeting with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

On September 21, 2010, David Swanson attended a meeting at a midtown hotel with President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and approximately 130 members of the U.S. "peace and social justice movements", as well as "major figures in the Black activist community."

Iraq: The Legacy of the 7-Year U.S. Occupation

On Sunday, August 29th 2010. at Busboys and Poets, 5th and K Sts. NW, Washington, D.C., an event "Iraq: The Legacy of the 7-Year U.S. Occupation" was held;

Is the U.S. military really leaving Iraq or just rebranding? What is the toll of seven years of occupation on Iraqis, U.S. soldiers and our economies? What is the status of Iraqi refugees around the world? Is it still possible to hold accountable those who dragged us into the war or committed crimes such as torture? What role did Congress and the media play in facilitating the invasion/occupation? We'll also look at the role of the peace movement -- its strengths and weaknesses -- and draw key lessons to make our work for peace, including in Afghanistan, more effective.

Speakers/performers included:

• Congresswoman Donna Edwards
• Kymone Tecumseh Freeman, playwright, performer, reading Letters from Iraq
• Head-Roc, hip-hop artist
• Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies
• Raed Jarrar, Peace Action
• Manal Omar, author
• Bill Fletcher, Jr., labor leader, scholar
• Josh Stieber, Iraq Veterans Against the War
• Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK and Global Exchange
• Andy Shallal, Iraqi artist, owner Busboys and Poets
• David Swanson, author
• Gene Bruskin, U.S. Labor Against the War
• Felicia Eaves, activist

The event was sponsored by: CODEPINK, Peace Action, Institute for Policy Studies, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Global Exchange, Just Foreign Policy, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), U.S. Labor Against the War, ANSWER, World Can’t Wait, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, War is a Crime, Rivera Project, Washington Peace Center.

October2011.org

Key organizers of the October2011 movement include;

• Maria Allwine
• Ellen Barfield
• Catarina Correia
• Ellen Davidson
• Margaret Flowers
• Tarak Kauff
• Mark Mason
• Devra Morice
• Udi Pladott
• Ward Reilly
• Lisa Simeone
• David Swanson
• Dennis Trainor, Jr.
• Linda Wiener
• Rev. Dr. Bruce Wright
• Kevin Zeese

Take Back the American Dream Conference 2011

David Swanson was one of the 158 speakers who addressed the Take Back the American Dream Conference 2011 . The Conference was hosted by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future,

Defending Iran

Several U.S.based "anti-imperialist and anti-war organizationsuary agreed on a January 17 2012, conference call to hold coordinated protests across the country on Saturday, Feb. 4. The demands will be: “No war, no sanctions, no intervention, no assassinations against Iran.”

The ad-hoc group that took part in the call decided that although there were only two weeks to organize, it would invite anti-war forces around the world to join in, if possible, so that this emergency action could develop into a global day of action.

All agreed on the need to stop U.S. imperialism and/or Israel from launching a military attack on Iran. There was also a consensus that the new sanctions President Barack Obama signed into law on Dec. 31 — with the goal of breaking the Iranian central bank — were themselves an act of war aimed at the Iranian people. The political activists on the call raised the danger of a wider war should fighting break out in or around Iran.

While the organizations involved had varied assessments of the Iranian government, they all saw any intervention from U.S. imperialism in the Southwest Asian country as a threat to the entire region and to peace. Some of the people on the call who are originally from Iran and who were in touch with family and friends there conveyed the Iranian people’s anger at the recent assassination of a young scientist.

There was agreement to make “no assassinations” one of the demands to show solidarity with the Iranian population as well as to condemn the U.S. and its allies for criminal activities against Iran and its people.

As of Jan. 19, the organizations that called the actions or endorsed later included the United National Antiwar Coalition, the International Action Center, SI! Solidarity with Iran, Refugee Apostolic Catholic Church, Workers World Party, World Can’t Wait, American Iranian Friendship Committee, Answer Coalition, Antiwar.com, Peace of the Action, ComeHomeAmerica.us, St. Pete for Peace, Women Against Military Madness, Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality-Virginia, WESPAC Foundation, Peace Action Maine, Occupy Myrtle Beach, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, Twin Cities Peace Campaign and Bail Out the People Movement.

Individual endorsers include authors David Swanson, “When the World Outlawed War,” and Phil Wilayto, “In Defense of Iran: Notes from a U.S. Peace Delegation’s Journey through the Islamic Republic”; and U.N. Human Rights Award winner Ramsey Clark, a former U.S. attorney general.

People could follow developments on the Facebook link: No War On Iran: National Day of Action Feb 4, www.Facebook.com/events/214341975322807/.

John Catalinotto represented Workers World Party on the Jan. 17 conference call.

External links

• Campaign for Peace and Democracy website