On the eve of Democratic Convention in Boston
Anti-war, labor activists
fight for right to protest
By Peter Cook
Boston
Activists from around the country will
converge on Boston to participate in the July 25 demonstration
against the Democratic National Convention and the many other
protests and activities planned throughout that week.
With less than two weeks before the DNC begins, organizing
for the July 25 protest is moving forward at a rapid pace. This
demonstration, called by the ANSWER Coalition, will begin at
noon at the Boston Common Parade Grounds. It will demand:
"Bring the troops home now; End the colonial occupation of
Iraq, Palestine and Haiti; Money for AIDS, jobs, housing,
healthcare and education--not for the Pentagon war
machine."
Thousands of flyers and stickers have been distributed
throughout Boston. In spite of attempts by the city and federal
governments to violence-bait those who wish to protest, the
response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Those who hoped that Democratic candidate Rep. Dennis
Kucinich and his delegates would provide some semblance of an
anti-war voice within the convention were rudely awakened July
10-11. Kucinich completely caved in to the Kerry forces at a
meeting concerning the Democratic Party platform.
Kucinich abandoned his moderate position on opposing the war
for the sake of party unity. So now the official Democratic
Party position is: Bring the troops home "as soon as
possible"--if, and only if, there are troops from other
countries to take their place.
In other words, internationalize the imperialist occupation,
rather than end it.
The battle for Causeway St.
While permits have been granted for the Boston Common rally,
the Boston Police Department and the City of Boston have
refused to allow demonstrators access to Causeway St. That's
where the Fleet Center, where the DNC will take place, is
located.
Instead, officials have announced plans to set up a "protest
area" which is in reality a piece of asphalt surrounded by a
12-foot-high fence.
But organizers of the July 25 protest vowed, "We will not
allow our rights to be taken away so that the Democratic Party
can have unrestricted access to our city for their posh parties
and convention, which are costing almost $100 million. We will
bring the message to this convention loud and clear: Bring the
troops home now!"
The Coalition to Protest the DNC has announced its intention
to file a lawsuit in federal court if protestors are not
allowed access to Causeway St. The coalition includes ANSWER
Boston, United Steelworkers Local 8751 representing Boston
school bus drivers, the New England Human Rights Organization
for Haiti, the International Action Center, Women's Fightback
Network and other organizations and individuals.
Another coalition, Boston Unions United for Fair Contracts,
has also made no secret of its plans to demonstrate during the
convention. The coalition--made up of city unions representing
school bus drivers, water and sewer workers, cafeteria
employees and many others--has been involved in numerous
demonstrations and picket lines over the past several
months.
According to Steve Gillis, president of Local 8751, "It is
criminal to think of the amount of money being spent on this
convention while unions such as mine are battling the city and
corporations for just contracts. We have no intention of
allowing this convention to go unchallenged and we have no
intention of allowing our rights to protest and to free speech
to be restricted.
"My union will participate in the July 25 march, and is
planning labor solidarity demonstrations throughout the week.
Local 8751 has a long history of demanding from the government
money for jobs, education, health care, social security and
housing--not for costly wars and occupations of sovereign
countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti. These demands for
workers' rights are in stark contrast to what we know of the
Kerry/Edwards program."
Why protest the Democrats?
Those who subscribe to the "Anyone but Bush" theory may
question why such a demonstration is planned. But picking up
the daily newspaper or watching the evening news is a good
reminder of the fundamental fact that the Democratic Party is
just as much the party of capitalism and its imperialist course
as the Republicans.
John Kerry is the undisputed wealthiest member of the Senate
and as such he will defend his class as vigorously as Bush.
When it comes to Israel, Kerry wants the Sharon government
to know that it has no better friend than him. Kerry has
publicly stated that he supports the Apartheid Wall being
constructed by the Israeli government and the brutal attacks
against the Palestinian people. And he has stated that the Bush
administration has not done enough to "counter" Iran. (Boston
Globe, July 2)
Kerry's claim that Iran is a "threat to the safety and
security of Israel, the U.S. and the rest of the free world" is
an overt threat to the people of Iran and to people throughout
the Middle East.
John Kerry and the Democratic Party leadership all voted for
the invasion of Iraq. And they all continue to support the
occupation. In fact, Kerry has stated that unless more
countries send troops to Iraq he would support deploying more
GIs to fight against the Iraqi resistance.
The recent vote in the Senate approving a $417 billion
Pentagon budget passed 98-0. This budget contains billions of
dollars for the much discredited "missile defense" program and
billions more for the occupation of Iraq. Yet there was not one
vote in opposition by the Democrats. This sent a clear message
to the people of this country and the rest of the world: The
Democratic Party stands shoulder-to-shoulder with George Bush
and the Republicans.
This money, the largest Pentagon budget ever, is desperately
needed in communities throughout this country. It is needed for
union jobs, to rebuild schools, create housing, provide health
care and daycare, and equip community centers. It is money that
has been stolen from the labor of working people and it must be
returned.
All out for July 25!
The true threat to the world is not the Iraqis,
Palestinians, Iranians or any other peoples in the Middle East,
Asia, Africa, the Caribbean or Latin America.
It is U.S. imperialism that seeks to dominate the world
economically and militarily. It is U.S. imperialism that
decided to invade Iraq on phony, trumped-up charges of weapons
of mass destruction after 12 years of brutal economic
sanctions.
It is U.S. imperialism that provides $7 million a day in aid
to the racist government of Israel, which includes attack
helicopters and missiles used to murder and terrorize the
Palestinian people. It is U.S. imperialism that invaded Haiti,
kidnapped its president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and has
overseen the killing of thousands of Lavalas supporters.
This is why it is important for the anti-war movement to not
fall into the trap of "Anyone but Bush." Both Kerry and Bush
are beholden to the same interests--the Pentagon and Wall
Street.
The anti-war movement needs to be in the streets of Boston
on July 25 and throughout the week of the DNC, not to ask the
Democrats and Kerry to be reasonable, but to demand that U.S.
troops leave Iraq immediately. To demand an end to the colonial
occupations of Iraq, Palestine and Haiti. To demand U.S. hands
off Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea. To demand U.S. out of
Colombia, Puerto Rico, Afghanistan and the Philippines.
To demand money for AIDS, jobs, housing, education and
health care, not the Pentagon war machine.
To demand an end to the attacks on undocumented workers, to
stop racist detentions, roundups and deportations. To demand
freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, the Cuban 5 and
all political prisoners.
To stand up and say no to racism, sexism,
anti-lesbian/gay/bi/trans bigotry and all forms of
oppression.
For more information about the July 25 march on the DNC, or
about how to volunteer to help, contact ANSWER Boston: phone
(617) 522-6626, email info@answerboston.org or visit www.answerboston.org.
Reprinted from the July 22, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyrighted
under a Creative
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