COURIER TIMES REPORTS ON AEC ACTION November 29, 2009

November 30th, 2009
PHILADELPHIA – Protesters took advantage of the busiest shopping day of the year to take a stand against the Philadelphia Army Experience Center.
Members of the United for Peace and Justice-Delaware Valley Network gathered at Franklin Mills in Northeast Philadelphia Friday to urge a boycott of the mall until the 14,500 square-foot technology and education center is shut down.

Local peace groups have held several protests of the center since spring, and recently drew a crowd of hundreds of supporters.

The latest effort on Friday was relatively small, but at least 20 members of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Civil Affairs Unit hovered around the protesters in case any large unruly crowds were to form.

About 20 people gathered for an hour-long vigil on a busy street corner near the mall to hold signs that read “War is Not a Game – Shut down the Army Experience Center.” The group then moved into the mall to talk to store managers about supporting their cause and ended with a public statement in front of the center, which was closed Friday.

“I think the AEC is an obscene effort to militarize the imaginations and consciences of young people. Kids as young as 13 go in there and are able to hold machine guns and stand on Humvees,” said the Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of the Coalition for Peace Action, which is one of 90 organizations in the Delaware Valley Network. He’s also a pastor at East Brunswick Congregational Church in New Jersey.

The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching an Army Experience Center representative for comment on Friday.

The purpose of the center is to provide people an accurate sense of what the Army does, the center’s commander, Capt. Jared Auchey, said in late October.

More than 14,000 people have visited the attraction since it opened about 15 months ago, he said. Visitors can discover Army careers, explore the latest communications technologies the Army uses and jump into high-action mission simulators.

The center is a 2-year pilot program the Army is using to analyze its marketing and recruiting strategies, according to the Web site.

Hands-on virtual reality experiences and simulations allow users to see, touch and learn firsthand what it means to be in the Army, according to the center’s fact sheet.

To participate in the center’s activities, visitors must be at least 13 years old, and many gaming activities are rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, as stated on the fact sheet.

But games that expose children to war situations manipulate them into thinking that war is glamorous, said Bill Deckhart, a coordinator for Coalition for Peace Action.

Recruiting adults into the Army is fine, but the experience center should be called a recruitment center so children don’t think it’s all fun and games, he said.

“It’s an enticement center. If they didn’t allow 13-year-olds in, then it would be better. Right now it’s just dishonest,” he said.

Most passersby outside the center said they weren’t familiar with the center. However, 17-year-old Rolland Collins of Philadelphia said he’s had a good time there.

“It’s fun. It gives you the real experience. You can hang out and play games with your friends,” he said.

The Black Friday vigil won’t create results overnight, but it’s a first step to launching a “Don’t Shop the Mall” campaign of public protests and vigils, Moore said.

Protesters gave store managers letters urging them to convince mall owners to oust the center. On the other side of the letter is a pledge shoppers can sign to stop patronizing the mall until the center is gone.

Managers took the letters, and some said they would think about it, said Moore.

In the Gap store, a manager who didn’t want to give her name said she would pass the letter to her own superiors but added that she could do nothing else.

After a while, mall security stopped the group from talking to managers because they were seen to be soliciting, said Moore.

Continuing to put economic pressure on the mall could be the solution to closing the center, said Robert M. Smith, the coordinator and co-founder of the Brandywine Peace Community.

On Sept. 12, the Army announced it would no longer export the Army Experience Center pilot project to other parts of the U.S. Smith believes the peace protests were responsible.

“Past demonstrations have been louder and longer, but the point of this one is to be more communicative with stores and the public. Now we have to keep the pressure on,” said Smith.

Want to know more?

For more information about the Army Experience Center, go to www.thearmyexperience.com. For more about the peace groups and their programs, go to Coalition for Peace Action Web site, at www.peacecoalition.org.

Successful Action to Shut Down The AEC on November 27

November 30th, 2009

Letter given to Store Managers:

United for Peace and Justice-Delaware Valley Network (UFPJ-DVN)
c/o Coalition for Peace Action
40 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
(609) 924-5022

cfpa@peacecoalition.org
www.peacecoalition.org

November 2009

Dear Store Manager in the Franklin Mills Mall,

I am writing on behalf of United for Peace and Justice-Delaware Valley Network. We are a regional network of over 90 organizations that are collaborating and networking on peace and justice projects in the Delaware Valley Region.

You may be aware that starting this spring, we began a Campaign seeking to close the Army Experience Center (AEC), which is located in the Mall. We feel deeply, as a matter of conscience and decency, that it is wrong and immoral to entice children as young as 13 by glamorizing war and violence, as is done in the AEC.

To date, our protests have consisted of Vigils outside the Mall, and a few larger Marches and Rallies that have started elsewhere and ended up in front of the AEC. While the Army has announced that it is dropping plans to export the AEC nationally, it is still operating the one at Franklin Mills Mall at this time.

We have contacted the Mall owners to express our deeply felt opposition to this recruiting effort that includes allowing young children to hold weapons, enter Humvees and other military vehicles, and play violent video games that target racial minorities. To date, we have received no response to our letter.

We are therefore approaching you to seek your help in urging the Mall owners to cancel the lease of the AEC and evict them. We feel it is not only immoral, but bad for business for you as the manager of another store in the Mall, to allow them to remain. We urge you to contact the Mall owners to strongly register your opposition to allowing the AEC to remain in Franklin Mills Mall.

We are beginning a Campaign urging shoppers to refrain from shopping in stores in Franklin Mills Mall until the AEC is no longer there. We are inviting shoppers to sign the pledge on the reverse of this letter. We have no intention of hurting your business, but as a matter of conscience are urging shoppers to use their power as consumers to press the Franklin Mills Mall to evict the AEC.

We want to be open about what we are attempting, and would welcome your support for this effort.

Sincerely, on behalf of UFPJ-DVN,

The Rev. Robert Moore (609) 924-5022 Work; (609) 924-1206 Home; (609) 937-6931 Cell

Bill Deckhart and Cathy Leary  (215) 380-6804

Robert M. Smith (610) 544-1818 work; (484) 574-1148 cell

JOIN ON “BLACK FRIDAY” November 27th

November 18th, 2009
Don’t Shop the Franklin Mills Mall til the Army Experience Center is Gone!
“Black Friday” – November 27, Noon
Join the Vigil to Close the Army Experience Center
& Launch the Don’t-Shop-the-Mall Campaign
Knights & Woodhaven Roads, in Northeast Philadelphia 

 

“This is so cool! This is so cool!” a thirteen-year-old boy repeated as he squeezed rounds from a real M-16, picking off “enemy combatants” in a video game while perched atop a real Army Humvee. “I just came to the mall to skateboard but everyone said this was pretty cool. …”  This is how the U.S. Army recruits at its large Army Experience Center, located in the Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia.  The Army Experience Center at the Franklin Mills Mall teaches children war and violence, luring them into the ways of  militarism, through a computer or simulation game.     
 
War is Not a Game, and neither is the Army Experience Center at the Franklin Mills Mall.  In this season of peace, join the campaign to close the Army Experience Center. And publicly sign the Don’t-Shop-the-Mall Pledge.
At noon on Friday, November 27, the busiest shopping day of the year, known as “BLACK FRIDAY”, join the noon vigil at the corner of Knights and Woodhaven Roads, to let thousands of shoppers on the busiest shopping day of the year know that we’re not shopping the Mall, and are encouraging others to do the same, as long as it is home to the Army Experience Center.  Walk with us to the Franklin Mills Mall to the let store owners and Mall management know that they have the power to Close the Army Experience.
Public transportation, visit www.septa.com.  From Philadelphia’s Frankford Terminal take the #67 or #84 bus. The #84 bus which runs hourly on saturdays to the Franklin Mills Mall passes right in front of the corner of Knights & Woodhaven Roads.
Organized by the United for Peace & Justice – Delaware Valley Network
Contacts: Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818;
BuxMont Coalition for Peace Action, 215-380-6804
Coalition for Peace Action (Regional Office), 609-924-5022
www.peacecoalition.org   www.cfpabuxmont.org  
 

 

The Humanist

October 17th, 2009
The Humanist – a magazine of critical inquiry and social concern
Source: www.thehumanist.org
“This is so cool! This is so cool!” a thirteen-year-old boy repeated as he squeezed rounds from a real M-16, picking off “enemy combatants” in a video game while perched atop a real Army Humvee. “I just came to the mall to skateboard but everyone said this was pretty cool. …

PBS Frontline Covers Protest at Army Experience Center

September 27th, 2009

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/waging-war/a-new-generation/the-army-experience-center.html

VICTORY IS OURS!

September 21st, 2009

On September 12th, 250 activists from all over the region converged on Franklin Mills Mall to protest the “Army Experience Center.”  To kick-off our march to the mall, Chris Hedges, author of his latest book Empire of Illusion, spoke to the crowd.

More press here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32822526

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=15204

http://indymedia.us/or/2009/03/36554.shtml

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/091509d.html

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article//2009/september/13/hundreds-protest-us-army-arcade.html

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/14/headlines

http://www.pww.org/article/view/16993

Front page, Above the Fold story about SHUTTING DOWN the ARMY EXPERIENCE CENTER

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times/courier_times_news_details/article/28/2009/september/13/hundreds-protest-us-army-arcade.html

Information for September 12th Actions

September 6th, 2009

Join activists on Saturday, September 12, 2009 to converge on the Army Experience Center at Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia. Plans call for activists to begin gathering as early as 11:00 am on the parking lot of St. Luke’s United Church of Christ located at 11080 Knights Road  Philadelphia, PA 19154  http://www.stlukesucc-phila.net/directio.htm

Participants will be instructed on the plans for the day and will be given cell phone numbers to keep in constant contact with demonstration organizers. There is no lead organizer or committee designated to work with civil and military authorities. We will have trained legal observers with us throughout the day.

Information: Call World Can’t Wait at 866 973 4463

If you cannot be at the church, go to the vigil location on Knights Road and Woodhaven Road, where activists will also be maintaining a presence all day.  Chris Hedges, author of  Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle” will address the gathered crowd at the vigil site at 1:00 pm.  He may enter the mall with us and also speak in front of the AEC.

We simply ask demonstrators to engage in nonviolent means of expressing their outrage.  13 year-olds are being taught to kill by the U.S. Army at mall.

Throughout the day, we will keep a vigil at the intersection of Knights Road and Woodhaven Road, located between the church and the AEC.   

Affinity groups are encouraged to drift into the mall from different entrances before the 2 PM convergence at the AEC.  Participants are advised to enter the mall without drawing attention from authorities. The Rev. Robert Moore, Exec. Director of the Coalition for Peace Action will address the crowd in front of the Army Experience Center at 2:00 pm.  As well as Debra Sweet, National Director of World Can’t Wait and Patrick Elder, Peace Action.

Several mainstream media outlets have contacted us for stories.

LOCATION OF MALL AND TRANSPORTATION

September 2nd, 2009

Franklin Mills Mall is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Its street address is 1455 Franklin Mills Circle Philadelphia, PA.  Getting to Franklin Mills Mall is simple.  Take Exit 35 off of Rt. 95 and merge onto Woodhaven Rd, (PA 63 West).  Go a mile and take a right on Millbrook Rd which leads into Franklin Mills Mall.

Map – Zoom in 3 times

<http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Bensalem&amp;state=PA&amp;country=US&amp;latitude=40.104401&amp;longitude=-74.951698&amp;geocode=CITY>

 

 

and you’ll see Franklin Mills Mall
 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:  Frankford Transportation Center
<http://www.septa.org/maps/ftc_map.html>  is the Philadelphia hub for train and bus transportation. From the Frankford Transportation Center, take the Route 67 Bus Northbound to Franklin Mills Mall.  On Saturdays, buses depart at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm.  It’s a 43 minute ride.  Afternoon service is available from the mall to the Frankford Transportation Center at 3:47, 4:47, and 5:47.  Transportation by car is also being organized

 

PLANS FOR THE 12th

August 24th, 2009

Just a reminder T-shirts to pin your buttons to are here:

www.cafepress.com/shutdowntheaec

What nonviolent, creative activities on September 12th at Franklin Mills Mall would cause civil, military, and corporate officials the greatest degree of anxiety? How can we be the biggest pain in the ass to these people? I don’t know how Gandhi or Christ or King planned their actions, but I’m sure they had love in their hearts for their adversaries while at the same time hoping to cause a ruckus. Same here.

We need to stay focused on these questions as we move closer to September 12th.

The greatest thing going for us is the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution. We know it’s not in vogue these days, but civil authorities, who are supposed to be in charge at Franklin Mills Mall, are expected to protect our freedom of speech and our right to freely assemble.

We obviously don’t agree that we shed our constitutional rights when we enter the premises owned by the Simon Property Group. This envelope we intend to stretch. We will not allow our Army to hide this way.

Although it would be pretty tough for police or mall personnel to legitimately ban someone from entering the building, authorities may feel they have cause to stop someone from entering if they’re wearing clothing or carrying signs suggesting involvement in a protest.

So don’t!

Lay low. We’re asking folks to enter the mall between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm and browse. We certainly don’t want anyone to buy anything that day! We’re also suggesting that demonstrators stay in groups of three or less as they check out the latest fashions at JC Penney, Burlington Coat Factory, or wherever. It’s probably not a good idea to enter the mall near the Army Experience Center, which is located in Space A in the diagram below, between the Skatepark and Sam Ash.

See: http://www.simon.com/mall/print_floorplan.aspx?ID=1245

We’re expecting national television and print coverage this time around, so we want to make sure our presence is formidable.

Everyone will be in or at the Army Experience Center at 2:00 pm.  So plan with your affinity group to make this happen.

We’ll have a brief, loud demonstration and we’ll quickly disperse to our next locations.

Meanwhile, folks willing to risk arrest are being asked to begin showing up at the Army Experience Center as early as noon to sample one of the X Box video murder games or one of the killing simulators. It would be excellent to have folks on the inside throughout the day.  

There will be more postings, so check back!

For more information call Elaine at 917-520-0767.

JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 12TH

August 20th, 2009

Activists from all over the region are making plans to converge on the Army Experience Center.

We are currently finalizing plans for the day, but expect that small affinity groups will attempt to disrupt the AEC at various times throughout the day. 

We will be wandering the mall, holding signs, wearing our SHUT DOWN THE AEC t-shirts, soon to be available for purchase, or make your own!

Visit back soon for finalized plans!  Let’s keep up the pressure on Simon Mall Properties, Franklin Mills Mall, and the Army Experience Center.  If we don’t make pests of ourselves, they win.