The National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY)

Charles Withuhn - Thursday, February 02, 2012 - Counter-recruiters at Fair View High School, Chico, California

Under the banner “Chico Youth Action”, Chico Peace & Justice Center’s counter recruitment campaign hit the road again.  For the first time in years, (how many is in dispute), a group of Chico activists put together a program and got on a local high school campus.  A couple of Thursdays ago, Chuck Greenwood, Charles Withuhn, Steve Tschudi, and Butte College student, Courtnie Burns, our only youth, braved the rain, and set up shop on the Fair View High School campus.  Armed with 5 – 2’ x 4’ professionally designed panels on matching white easels, four sets of brochures, four sets of flyers and chocolate cup cakes, many thanks to Linda Furr, we interacted with, perhaps as many as 50 high school juniors and seniors.

Hi, all,

Yesterday, Tami and I had a SOY table at Reagan HS during lunch.  Photos and some notes about it are posted at www.peaceoptions.blogspot.com  and here are some of our observations:

From Susan:

I wasn’t sure what to expect, as Reagan has often been slow for us.  During our visit last spring, we had the chin-up bar and tabled outside for the first time, and that was definitely better.  This time, we didn’t have the chin-up bar, but we asked to be outside, and the weather held for us.  It seems like kids feel more free to come up to the table outdoors, and it’s also easier to hear each other.

Photos are posted at: http://peaceoptions.blogspot.com/

We weren’t overly busy at the table, but had steady interest from small groups and individuals, including several staff persons.  Several young men made a point of saying they were planning to enlist, so we had a good chance to talk with them, and they were willing to take fliers.