MASS PROTESTS IN WASHINGTON, SAN FRANCISCO
Bring the troops home
By Deirdre Griswold
Washington, D.C.
The last thing the Bush administration needs
right now is an active and united anti-war movement challenging
its plans to occupy Iraq and make the world safe for
Halliburton and Big Oil.
But that's exactly what it got on Oct. 25. Demonstrators
marched in Washington, just a stone's throw from the White
House, as well as in San Francisco, other cities in the U.S.
and around the world.
Protesters gathered here in the capital by the tens of
thousands--organizers said 100,000, and even D.C. Police Chief
Charles H. Ramsey guesstimated a crowd of as many as 50,000.
Their main message was clear and simple: "End the war and
occupation--Bring the troops home now!"
Two national anti-war coalitions had come together for this
day of protest, the largest since Bush declared the war
officially "over." International Act Now to Stop War & End
Racism (ANSWER) and United for Peace & Justice (UPJ)
co-hosted the rally and march, showing the movement that
different perspectives on the war and other issues do not have
to be an obstacle to united action as long as there is
agreement on common demands.
The Bush administration has been unable to get even its
fellow imperialists to join a united front on Iraq. As a
result, U.S. forces are dying and being maimed at a growing
rate as acts of resistance to the U.S./British occupation
multiply. The impact of these casualties on the population here
was clear at the protest.
Family members of troops stationed in Iraq, Kuwait and
Afghanistan took the stage and held up photos of their loved
ones, calling for them to be brought home. Some displayed
pictures of relatives killed since the invasion of Iraq
started. Veterans from previous wars formed a group near the
front of the march.
Many reservists with families have been called up for this
war. Their spouses and children have a hard time making ends
meet. Injured and sick soldiers have been close to mutiny at
Fort Stewart, Ga., where they've spent months without medical
attention, indoor toilets or air conditioning.
Various media observed that active-duty troops were in the
crowd at the demonstration and clearly sympathized with its
aims. Brian Becker of ANSWER urged the diverse audience to set
up Bring the Troops Home Now committees in their communities
and schools.
A people of color contingent first rallied at Malcolm X Park
and then marched through some of Washington's African American
neighborhoods, chanting "Impeach Bush" and "No justice, no
peace," before joining the main rally.
Damu Smith of Black Voices for Peace and UPJ pointed out
that because of U.S. racism and the poverty draft, Black and
Latino soldiers are fighting and dying in Iraq in
disproportionate numbers. The large crowd grew quiet as it
listened to a taped message from imprisoned Black journalist
Mumia Abu-Jamal, still on Pennsylvania's death row after 20
years.
Congress is putting the finishing touches on authorization
for an additional $87 billion to be spent on the occupation and
"rebuilding" of Iraq. "Don't give Bush 87 billion, don't give
him 87 cents; give our troops a ride home," the Rev. Al
Sharpton, a civil rights leader and presidential candidate,
said to strong applause.
The anti-imperialist character of the ANSWER coalition came
through as its speakers from many parts of the world linked the
war in Iraq to the Pentagon occupation of Korea and the
Philippines and expressed solidarity with popular movements in
Palestine, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Mexico.
The case of the Cuban 5 was raised, along with other targets of
U.S. repression.
The group Queers for Peace and Justice shared the program
with the president of the United Church of Christ, the American
Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Black ministers from New
York and Washington.
Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark referred to George W.
Bush's humiliating experience in Australia, where he was
heckled by members of parliament even as thousands demonstrated
outside, and called again for Bush's impeachment.
Many low-paid workers from around the world are now infusing
the labor move ment here with a sharper sense of class
struggle. Larry Holmes of ANSWER and Brenda Stokely, head of
New York Labor Against the War, urged the anti-war movement to
focus on the struggles of work ers who are becoming desperate
as the Pentagon budget eats up social services. Holmes called
on the crowd to "hold the dates" for regional actions around
Martin Luther King holiday, Jan. 17-19.
A speaker from Peace Action called attention to a global day
of action called for March 20, one year after the war's
start.
The demonstration coincided with the second anniversary of
the so-called Patriot Act, and many hand-made signs and banners
assailed Attorney General John Ashcroft and the
administration's assault on civil liberties. One parodied the
"Pledge of Allegiance" students have to say in school. It read,
"One nation under surveillance." Speakers from Muslim and Arab
organizations spoke of roundups in their communities that have
led to mass deportations and detentions.
Youthful organizers from campuses and even high schools
worked on all aspects of the demonstration. Caneisha Mills,
Sarah Sloan and Peta Lindsay were part of an energetic group
from Youth & Student ANSWER in Washington that did outreach
to organizing centers in 145 cities, figured out the logistics
of the day, got up before dawn to put the finishing touches on
the program, and then spoke at the rally.
Reprinted from the Nov. 6, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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