Vets, resisters, families protest war

On March 19, freedom-loving people around the world observed the second anniversary of the U.S. military invasion of Iraq. People of all ages gathered in cities, big and small, to protest the destructive occupation of the once-sovereign nation of Iraq by U.S. armed forces.

One of the most important protests occurred in Fayetteville, N.C., near Fort Bragg. Many families and friends of military personnel attended the second annual March and Rally to Bring the Troops Home Now.

Fayetteville, N.C., March 19.

Fort Bragg is the home base of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and the Special Forces Command, or Green Berets. Nearly one in every five U.S. troops in Iraq comes through this base or another in North Carolina.

FIST

This historic march and rally was a smashing success. Lou Plummer, a military father, announced to the rally that 4,800 people were in attendance. This is three times the number who came together at Rowan Park in 2004 against the war.

This turnout is no small feat for Fayetteville, which, due to its close proximity to Fort Bragg, is one of the most politically conservative locales in the U.S. The anti-war protesters greatly outnumbered a very small contingent of counter-protesters holding signs spouting offensive, pro-war messages.

The anti-war demonstration was called by the United for Peace and Justice coalition and endorsed by organizations such as Bring Them Home Now!, Military Families Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Black Workers for Justice, Raleigh FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together), Code Pink, Atlanta International Action Center, N.C. Labor Against the War, Gold Star Families and others.

The Rowan Park rally featured speakers such as Camilo Mejia, a conscientious objector sentenced to a year in military lockup and given a dishonorable discharge for his refusal to return to Iraq; Lila Lipscomb, the Michigan mother featured in Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 documentary, who lost her son in Iraq; Michael Berg, the father of executed hostage Nicolas Berg; and Dennis Kyne, a Gulf War veteran and member of Vet erans for Peace who spoke about the sorry treatment of sick and disabled veterans by “our” government.

FIST members carried banners during the march featuring the slogans “Self-determination is a right,” “Support the right to resist,” “Support military resist ers” and “OUT NOW!—Iraq, Palestine, Haiti ... End imperialist occupations.”

Other placards raised important issues like racism, gender oppression and economic costs of the war. One placard slogan dealt with sexual violence against women troops: “1/3 of all women GIs are raped.” The reverse side stated: “Support women troops: Bring them home NOW!”

Protesters traveled from Atlanta, Norfolk and Richmond, Va.; Washington, D.C., plus numerous cities in North Carolina, South Carolina and elsewhere.

The culturally diverse crowd refused to be intimidated by a large police presence.

Carrington is a member of Raleigh FIST. Contact FIST at [email protected].