World movement protests U.S. escalation in Iraq
By John Catalinotto
The murderous Pentagon onslaught that began
April 6 against the people of Falluja and the newly liberated
cities in southern Iraq aroused an immediate angry reaction
from the anti-war movement around the world.
The biggest demonstration was in Bagh dad itself on the
Moslem Sabbath on April 9. Some 200,000 people, including those
from both Sunni and Shiite communities, came out in solidarity
with the resistance. In other mostly Moslem countries,
demonstrations started after Friday prayers.
The quickest reaction was perhaps that in Montreal and
Toronto, where demonstrations took place April 7 during the
evening rush hour.
The most widespread actions, however, were those in the land
of the perpetrator of war crimes in Iraq, the U.S. itself.
Groups in 60 U.S. cities hit the streets between April 9 and
April 12, responding to a call from the ANSWER Coalition--Act
Now to Stop War & End Racism--to protest the latest U.S.
escalation.
ANSWER showed its strength by acting decisively in a crisis,
issuing its call to action in the wee hours of April 7. Founded
in mid-September 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, to oppose
Bush's announced march to war, ANSWER has taken the lead at
critical moments to stand up against U.S. imperialism.
Whether the protests were large or small, the people
understood the importance of taking action.
Standing in front of the federal courthouse in Minneapolis
April 9, protester Meredith Aby said what many demonstrating
believed: "We knew it was more important to take a stand and
say this was wrong than building up a larger turnout."
The protests both measured and expressed the changing mood
of the U.S. population, which now for the first time registers
a clear majority opposing the occu pation of Iraq in the polls.
Also for the first time George Bush was behind in an election
poll by 50-43 percent, a drop in support strongly related to
the Iraq war and Bush's loss of credibility.
Many articles in the corporate press more fairly described
the demonstrators as regular people and did not distort their
views as much as in the past. Before, much of the media had
attempted to marginalize the protesters.
Along with the growing number of people now passively
opposing or at least questioning the war on Iraq, a section of
the anti-war movement was beginning to express a more open
solidarity with the Iraqi resistance. They could still march
together with those who identified with U.S. soldiers whose
lives are also on the line. Both marched under the slogans,
"End the occupation and bring the troops home, now!"
Another slogan ANSWER promotes--"Money for jobs, health care
and education, not for war and occupation"--appeared throughout
the weekend's protests.
From coast to coast
The largest U.S. protest was in San Francisco on April 10,
where 3,000 people rallied in United Nations Plaza. Its major
sentiment was in support of the growing popular resistance by
the Iraqi people. The crowd included relatives of U.S. soldiers
in Iraq and veterans.
One person held a picture of his brother, asking that he and
the other soldiers be brought back from Iraq. Another carried a
sign, "Long live Falluja."
Speaking for the Free Palestine Alliance and ANSWER, Eyad
Kishawi reminded the crowd that "The slaughter of hundreds of
Iraqis in Falluja by the U.S. is taking place on the 56th
anniversary of the massacre of 250 Palestinians at Deir Yasin
by Israeli death squads. We will commemorate the massacre of
Deir Yasin, the massacre of Jenin and the massacre of Falluja
as we continue to rise up in the face of imperialism."
Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee condemned
the U.S. occupation of Haiti. "What did the Haitians do for the
U.S. military to come down on them, besides having a
democratically elected president?"
In New York, 700 to 1,000 people marched through mid-town
Manhattan in rush hour on April 9, which was the Good Friday
holiday. A protest of 500 took place at the same time in Los
Angeles.
In Washington, D.C., where 500 marched on April 10, people
came out of restaurants, homes and businesses to join with the
marchers. Chants of "Impeach Bush" echoed through Lafay ette
Park at the opening rally across from the White House. Another
500 demonstrated in Boston that day.
In downtown San Diego April 10, several hundred people held
signs and banners and, led by ANSWER leaders Carl Muhammad and
David Tworkowski, chanted against U.S. aggression in Iraq. Pro
testers also attended a rally, whose speakers included Fernando
Suarez de Solar, the father of a soldier killed in Iraq.
Activists then marched to the San Diego Federal Building, where
they joined forces with a large group of Somali people who were
demanding the release of their community leader Omar Abdi
Mohammed, held by Immigration and Customs Enforce ment
officials, a victim of post-9/11 racial profiling.
Dozens of demonstrations occurred throughout the U.S. in
other big cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Birmingham. In
Seattle at least 100 people turned out and cars driving past on
Second Street honked in support of the demonstrators.
In small cities, too
Protesters also turned out in medium and small cities and
towns--including Fayetteville, Ark.; Ferndale, Mich.;
Pocatello, Idaho; and Gettysburg, Pa. Over 70 anti-war
activists and supporters gathered in downtown Buffalo on April
12 at supper time, with many joining their first antiwar
protest.
In Charlotte, N.C., 200 had come out on April 5 to protest a
Bush appearance at a fund-raising luncheon. A march started at
Central Pied mont Community College, where Bush had the nerve
to give a speech on the economy and job re-training. Many
students joined the march. A favorite chant was "What do we
want? Regime change. Where do we want it? The White House."
Many joined another protest on April 10 to protest the
escalation in Iraq.
Over 150 antiwar protesters took part in a picket line,
rally and march in the small city of Kingston, N.Y., on April
10. The day before over 40 people had attended a rush-hour
demonstration at Mason Square Triangle in the heart of the
working-class and oppressed communities in Spring field, Mass.,
on only 24 hours' notice.
In Europe, Japan
European countries were in the midst of Easter holidays.
Nevertheless, protest actions were scheduled in cities in the
Spanish state, in Milan, Italy, and in Brus sels, Belgium. In
Germany, where pacifist marches are often planned for Easter,
some protests also reflected the new developments. There was
also a protest in Melbourne, Australia.
Perhaps the most dramatic protests were in Japan. In
reaction to the deadly U.S. offensive, members of the Iraqi
resis tance had seized many foreigners in their country. Three
of those seized were young Japanese known back home as anti-war
activists.
The resistance fighters who seized them demanded that
Japanese troops leave Iraq. The Japanese anti-war movement
agrees with this demand. Thousands of protesters have brought
the demand daily to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's office.
The movement puts the responsibility for the safety of their
three comrades clearly on the Japanese government.
The Japanese groups described the situation to Muslim
religious activists in the international anti-war movement.
After being reached through the Arab television network
Al-Jazeera, the resistance group that seized the three agreed
to let them go. However, Koizumi was about to meet with U.S.
vice president and chief warmonger, Dick Cheney. Playing tough,
the Japanese prime minister insulted the resistance fighters by
claiming Japan would "never yield to terrorists." Apparently
this insult put the turnover of the three on hold.
Meanwhile, the Japanese movement is continuing to demand
that the government act in good faith by removing its troops
from Iraq. The movement holds U.S. and Japanese imperialism
responsible for putting the three activists' lives at risk. It
is hoping that the strength, courage and mercy of the
resistance fighters can bring about a good end to this
story.
Bill Hackwell, Brenda Sandburg, Bob McCubbin, Jane
Cutter, David Dixon, Bryan Pfeiffer, Jack Smith, Bev Hiestand
and an ANSWER news release contributed to this
report.
Reprinted from the April 22, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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