2,000 rally in Hudson Valley
By Jack A. Smith
Kingston, N.Y.
As five buses full of activists from New York's Hudson
Valley were demonstrating for peace in Washington on Oct. 26,
another 2,000 local residents participated in an anti-war rally
and march here despite a persistent cold rain.
The event, organized by the Mid-Hudson National People's
Campaign, was the largest demonstration of its kind ever held
in this Hudson Valley city of 23,000 people. Nearly 30 local
peace, justice, student and religious organizations throughout
the region endorsed the actions and brought their members to
take part in International ANSWER's day of protest. A large
proportion of the participants were between the ages of 18 and
25.
The legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, 83, kept the crowd in
Academy Green Park as warm as possible with his sing-along
versions of such songs as "This land is your land."
Some 20 other speakers and singers addressed the
audience.
Radical Cheerleaders--a four-woman team from the state
university at New Paltz--performed anti-war and left chants in
the fashion of sports cheerleaders.
Introducing the rally, a spokesperson for the Mid-Hudson NPC
declared: "The Bush administration has exploited the Sept. 11
tragedy to promote a right-wing agenda at home, including the
militarization of American society to achieve worldwide
hegemony."
The marchers refused to remain on the sidewalk, as the
police permit specified, and occupied the entire street. One
activist was slightly injured when a motorist sought to drive
through the march.
Reprinted from the Nov. 7, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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