Follow workers.org on
RED HOT: TRAYVON MARTIN
CHINA,
AFGHANISTAN, FIGHTING RACISM, OCCUPY WALL STREET,
PEOPLE'S POWER, SAVE OUR POST OFFICES, WOMEN, AFRICA,
LIBYA, WISCONSIN WORKERS FIGHT BACK, SUPPORT STATE & LOCAL WORKERS,
EGYPT, NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST,
STOP FBI REPRESSION, RESIST ARIZONA RACISM, NO TO FRACKING, DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION, ANTI-WAR,
HEALTH CARE,
CUBA, CLIMATE CHANGE,
JOBS JOBS JOBS,
STOP FORECLOSURES, IRAN,
IRAQ, CAPITALIST CRISIS,
IMMIGRANTS, LGBT, POLITICAL PRISONERS,
KOREA,
HONDURAS, HAITI,
SOCIALISM,
GAZA
|
|
Los Angeles rallies build unity to confront war drive
By
John Parker
Published Aug 10, 2011 5:03 PM
Cynthia McKinney tour draws crowds in Los Angeles.
WW photo: John Parker
|
Cynthia McKinney painted a picture of the real Libya at two events in Los
Angeles on Aug. 7 where she exposed the U.S./NATO terrorist bombing campaign
against Libya. These were part of the now 21-city tour empowering the anti-war
movement nationwide to not only fight against imperialist wars, but demand
money from those wars be used to stop budget cuts and for jobs, health care and
education. McKinney and the organizers built the type of unity necessary for
ending imperialist wars during stops at a local church run by an activist
pastor and at the second largest union local in California.
The Service Employees Local 721 meeting drew a standing-room-only crowd of 300.
The All African Peoples Revolutionary Party-S (AAPRP-S) and the International
Action Center jointly organized the meeting, which drew backing from Black
nationalist to immigrant rights and Filipino organizations. Speaker after
speaker spelled out that the demands to recognize Libyan self-determination and
the immediate cessation of bombing should be the primary focus of the anti-war
and social justice movement
Jamiealita Johnston Muhammad of the IAC and Dedon Kamathi of the AAPRP-S
chaired the diverse program. A welcoming committee of the Local 721 Latino
Caucus, including former Vice President Rosie Martinez, Marva Burgess and
Lawrence Reyes, head of the Puerto Rican Alliance in Los Angeles, kicked off
the theme of international working-class solidarity. BAYAN-USA Vice Chair
Kuusela Hilo made the connection between imperialist threats and destruction in
the Philippines and in Libya. The UNIA-ACL extended the legacy of Marcus Garvey
to apply to the self-determination and sovereignty of African people in Libya.
Others contributing were Workers World Party speaker Gloria Verdieu and spoken
word artist Mike Martinez.
People took turns sampling the bountiful food donated by Reza Pour, a union
activist and board member of the local Pacifica station, KPFK. The Black August
Committee of Los Angeles inspired with a talk and spirited chants like
“We are all Africans.”
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: [email protected]
Subscribe [email protected]
Support independent news DONATE
|
|