Focus had been militarization of space
'Star Wars' protests turn into rallies against Afghan
war
By Heather Cottin
Peace activists around the world had planned for months to
demonstrate on Oct. 11-16 in opposition to the U.S.
militarization of space called the National Missile Defense
program, popularly known as Star Wars. But when the war in
Afghanistan eclipsed the scheduled events, what happened was a
truly worldwide mobilization of tens of thousands against NMD
as well as the brutal and illegal war in Central Asia.
The International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization
of Space was organized by the Global Network Against Weapons
& Nuclear Power in Space out of Gainesville, Fla.
On Oct. 11 Baltimore-area activists walked through an
open gate at the National Security Agency at 7 a.m., despite
the fact the area was on highest alert.
They carried a letter addressed to Lt. Gen. Michael V.
Hayden, head of the National Security Agency, demanding a
meeting. However, a security breach alert was sounded, and at
least nine vehicles, soldiers with drawn weapons and attack
dogs soon arrived.
The NSA officials would not permit a meeting with Gen.
Hayden, so two protesters poured their own blood on the asphalt
to represent all victims of the NSA's work. Another held a sign
saying, "Unmask the body of secrets ... No Star Wars ...
Nonviolence now ... In ter na tional Days of Protest Oct.
12-13, 2001." Another banner read "No war on Afghanistan, Iraq,
whomever; no spying, no Star Wars, work for peace, please!"
Each demonstrator was arrested and charged with trespass,
carrying a penalty of six months in prison and a $2,500 fine;
destruction of government property, one year; and conspiracy,
five years.
In Amherst, Mass., speakers linked news about
space-based weapons to a wide range of issues. They decried the
food drops in Afghanistan in the midst of the world's most
concentrated mine fields. They criticized media war propaganda,
and opposed the training of terrorists at the School of the
Americas at Fort Benning, Ga. And they praised the courage of
Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, who opposed the war powers bill in
Congress.
At Edwards Air Force Base in California, activists marched
to protest both the war in Afghanistan and "nukes in space." In
New York City and Washington, D.C., hundreds raised their
voices against these threats to humankind.
In Canberra, Australia, several hundred gathered in
Victoria Square before marching to the Parliament building.
Australia's participation in the International Day to Stop the
Militarization of Space was expanded in scope and militancy by
a call to stop the war against Afghanistan
In Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan, peace activists
came out to oppose the war and militarization of space. In
Ireland, one peace activist said, "Together with our
sisters and brothers across the world today, we join our voices
in calling on your government to immediately stop the bombing
of Afghanistan and to pursue your just demands for retribution
through peaceful means."
In London, organizers were surprised at how many
people turned up at the demonstration, which had been changed
at the last moment to an anti-war rally in opposition to the
war in Afghanistan. "The police expected 10,000 but we have
far, far exceeded that,'' said Carol Naughton, chair of the
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which cancelled a planned
demo against Star Wars in order to host the rally.
The police estimated 20,000 people were on the march from
Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square, but the organizers put
the numbers at 50,000.
At the same time as the London rally, a brave group in
Yorkshire protested at the Fylingdales radar base. They
stood silently in line across the base entrance for three
minutes in remembrance of those who have already lost their
lives, and those who will be killed by bombs, bullets or
starvation "if we do not stop the war in Afghanistan."
In Germany on Oct. 13, three major events attracted over
75,000 people. They thronged the streets to express their
disgust about NMD and war generally.
The biggest demonstration was in Berlin with 50,000
participants, followed by Stuttgart with 25,000. Because
of the war in Afghanistan, NMD was not the main point of
convergence of the demonstrations. The slogan was: "No war--Get
up for peace, for solidarity and social justice."
Many students came out, from more than 70 universities. Many
opponents of globalization attended the rallies. One speaker
received tumultuous applause when he said, "The policy of the
USA and its NATO partners, including the German government,
surrenders completely to the military 'logic'--that the answer
to the mass murder on September 11 is the 'collateral' killing
of innocent people."
He went on to invoke the solidarity of the worldwide peace
movement, which now links its opposition to arms in space to
antagonism to the war in Afghanistan.
"We remember the words of the great American and fighter for
civil rights, Martin Luther King, who said more than 30 years
ago that the chain reaction of wars that create new wars must
be broken."
One of the organizers said, "It is not true that all Germans
extend solidarity to the U.S. for military retaliation. And it
is even less true that all Germans agree to participation of
the German military in this, or any other, war."
Reprinted from the Oct. 25, 2001, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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