Los Angeles: 'Tear down the walls'

WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

Braving rain and stiff winds, the “Occupy the Occupiers” camp staked its territory at the Westwood Federal Building in Los Angeles on Sept. 22. First day workshops on the history of struggle in the Philippines by BAYAN and the struggle in El Salvador by Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN) culminated in the screening of “Salt of the Earth.”

The following day, Ron Kovic, disabled anti-war veteran of Vietnam, relived the sit-in on the seventeenth floor of the Westwood Federal Building 39 years ago that catapulted the inhuman conditions facing paralyzed Vietnam veterans in VA hospitals into the national media. Kovic, whose story was the basis of the film, “Born on the Fourth of July,” recounted how his consciousness changed from Marine volunteer to life long anti-war campaigner.

The group held additional teach-ins on the history of Iraq plus the background of the strong resistance movement and the impeachment campaign. Despite the appearance of sheriffs in riot gear on day one and repeated visits from so-called “homeland security” throughout day two, participants kept up the banner making, music and discussion. On Sept. 25, the encampment broke to walk 15 miles to reconvene at the downtown Federal Building until the Sept. 29 march. They held street rallies at the Israeli, Philippine and Salvadoran Consulates on the way, chanting, “Tear down the walls from Palestine to Mexico” outside the Israeli Consulate. Pacifica station KPFK is the media sponsor.

—Cheryl LaBash