Community rally hits war, cuts

Andrea Hackett, whose daughter recently returned from combat duty in Iraq.

"Money for Detroit, not for war in Iraq" was the theme of a neighborhood rally July 30 in Detroit's Zussman Park. It was called by the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI) to link the financial crisis facing the city--including budget cuts, wage cuts and layoffs of city workers--to the hundreds of billions being spent on war and occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Over 200 people from the neighborhood came out to hear speakers and music. Hot dogs were grilled and given out. The rally had been built with sound cars going up and down the streets for two weekends, while almost every store, beauty salon and gas station in the area put up posters and leaflets. Local youth provided socially conscious rap music.

--Photo and caption by David Sole