Anti-war movement hits the streets from coast to coast
By combined Workers World bureaus
Thousands of people went into the streets in
the U.S. on Sept. 25-28 to protest the occupation of Palestine
and Iraq, as well as other U.S. occupations. Over 200,000
demonstrated worldwide in more than 45 countries.
The ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) coalition,
in its action plan last spring, had supported a call by
Palestinian groups for an international day of action on the
third anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada--the uprising of the
Palestinians. Following the growth of Iraqi resistance to
occupation, the protest was expanded to also call for an end to
U.S. occupation in Iraq and other countries.
The call gained support from a broad array of anti-war,
anti-imperialist, immigrant and community organizations in many
U.S. cities. Many stepped up their efforts after Bush's recent
speech calling for $87 billion to shore up the failed
occupation in Iraq.
5,000 in Los Angeles
"Let there be no doubt. This was a pro test," uttered the
lead news anchor for KCAL 9 news in Los Angeles as he
introduced the Sept. 28 ANSWER-organized demonstration that
made its way through the streets of Hollywood.
Among the 5,000 attendees at the march and rally were labor,
immigrants' rights, Asian and Palestinian organizations.
A strong and vibrant contingent of Latino military
families--Familias de Militares Hispanos--chanted "Regresen las
tropas hoy"--bring the troops home now. Fernando Suarez del
Solar, the group's spokesperson and father of a U.S. Marine
killed in Iraq, told the crowd that when his son died, the
government lied to him about the cause of death. "Bush does not
have any moral fiber," commented Suarez in reproach.
Michel Shehadeh, one of the Los Angeles 8--pro-Palestine
activists the government tried and failed to deport for a
decade--warned about the dangers the Patriot Act presents to
activists who dare question Washington's reactionary policies.
"This war has nothing to do with terrorism," commented
Shehadeh. "It is about corporations getting war profits."
Bolstered by the people's movement against the U.S.
occupation of Iraq, Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis
Kucinich made a last-minute appearance. He took the position
that control of Iraq should be turned over to the United
Nations.
John Beacham, organizer for ANSWER and contributing writer
for the Workers World newspaper, exhorted the crowd to stand in
solidarity with the Palestinians, the people of Iraq and all
those working people being oppressed under the capitalist
system. "Their battle is our battle," exclaimed Beacham.
Beacham also asked people to join the socialist cause,
proclaiming, "Socialism provides solutions to poverty and
racism."
San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego
In San Francisco on Sept. 28, more than 5,000 people
marched, chanting "Self-determination, not occupation," "Bring
the troops home now" and "Money for jobs and education, not for
war and occupation." The demonstrators marched from Dolores
Park in the Mission District to the Civic Center. Large
delegations attended from the Filipino and Korean
communities.
In Seattle that day, some 300 activists from diverse
organizations came out to rally and march against occupation
and to bring the troops home now. Protesters gathered at
Occidental Square for an initial rally, co-chaired by Jane
Cutter of ANSWER and Joaquin of Anak Bayan. Speakers included
Mike Dedrick of Vets for Peace, Joann Alcantera of Gabriela
Network and Nizar Mansour of Voices of Palestine.
Mansour, a graduate of Bethlehem University, spoke of the
everyday racism experienced by Palestinians under occupation.
"I will fight for my land, not because I am a terrorist but
because I am a revolutionary."
In San Diego on Sept. 27, the ANSWER Coalition's march and
rally drew over 60 activists. Rappers and poets were
intermingled with speakers from Veterans for Peace, California
Coalition Against Poverty, Raza Rights, GI Rights Committee,
the ANSWER coalition and the International Action Center.
Chicago, Detroit
After a march on the Israeli Consulate led by the Coalition
for Justice in Palestine, nearly 500 people attended an indoor
rally at the First United Methodist Church in Chicago's Loop on
Sept. 26. Nearly half the audience came from Chicago's
African-American communities.
Popular African American talk radio show host Cliff Kelly
and Mahmud Ahmad of the Free Palestine Alliance chaired the
rally, which called for an end to occupation and colonialism
from Palestine to Iraq and across the world.
Long-time immigrants-rights activist Emma Lozano of Pueblo
Sin Fronteras described the Immigrant Freedom Ride and the
departure of the Chicago contingent the next day. Lionel
Jean-Baptiste, a member of the Evanston, Ill., City Council and
a longtime fighter for social justice, spoke out in defense of
Zimbabwe and its President Robert Mugabe. Kathy Kelly of Voices
in the Wilderness, who had just returned from Iraq, called for
an end to the U.S. war on the Iraqi people.
Elias Rashmawi of the Free Palestine Alliance and the
International ANSWER Steering Committee described how U.S.
imperialism's strategists view the Middle East as essential for
world domination because of its position encompassing major
waterways and access to three continents, as well as its rich
oil deposits.
Former Congressperson Cynthia McKinney called for an end to
the war against the people of Iraq and related how the Bush
administration had put U.S. service members in harm's way.
McKinney called for the U.S. troops to be brought home now.
Larry Holmes of the International Action Center and the
ANSWER Steering Committee gave a rousing talk that highlighted
the importance of the anti-war movement staying in the
streets.
Other speakers represented Interna tionals for Justice in
Palestine, the Chicago Anti Bashing Network, the Chi cago
Coalition Against War and Racism and the International Action
Center.
A Detroit anti-war, anti-occupation protest on Sept. 27 drew
125 people. Speakers included the mother of an anti-war GI
currently in Iraq. A member of UAW Local 6000 representing
Michigan state workers spoke about the drastic concessions and
budget cuts going on in Michigan while billions go to the war
and occupation. The action was sponsored by Michigan Emergency
Committee Against War & Injustice.
New York, Boston
In New York on Sept. 28, a loud and spirited crowd of more
than 2,500 gathered at Columbus Circle to call for an end to
the occupation of Palestine and Iraq. The demonstrators,
organized by a broad coalition of labor, community, youth and
anti-war groups, marched through midtown to the East Side,
stopping at the Philippine, Colombian, Korean and Israeli
missions to the United Nations.
Speakers included Larry Holmes of the International Action
Center; Saeed Ariqat, prominent Palestinian-American journalist
and DC Bureau Chief of Al-Quds newspaper; Brenda Stokeley of
NYC Labor Against the War, and representatives from many
international solidarity organizations. The program featured an
exciting mix of music and culture from many of the occupied
countries.
In Boston, hundreds of protesters waved rainbow flags and
chanted as they marched behind a pickup truck from the city's
Copley Square to the Park Plaza Hotel.
Protests and meetings were also scheduled over the weekend
in St. Louis, Kansas City and Alexandria, Va.
Contributors to this report include Adrian Garcia in Los
Angeles, Gloria Verdieu in San Diego, Jane Cutter in Seattle,
Bill Hackwell in San Francisco, Bill Massey in Chicago, Dave
Sole in Detroit and Dustin Langley in New York.
Reprinted from the Oct. 9, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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