Follow workers.org on
RED HOT: TRAYVON MARTIN
CHINA,
AFGHANISTAN, FIGHTING RACISM, OCCUPY WALL STREET,
PEOPLE'S POWER, SAVE OUR POST OFFICES, WOMEN, AFRICA,
LIBYA, WISCONSIN WORKERS FIGHT BACK, SUPPORT STATE & LOCAL WORKERS,
EGYPT, NORTH AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST,
STOP FBI REPRESSION, RESIST ARIZONA RACISM, NO TO FRACKING, DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION, ANTI-WAR,
HEALTH CARE,
CUBA, CLIMATE CHANGE,
JOBS JOBS JOBS,
STOP FORECLOSURES, IRAN,
IRAQ, CAPITALIST CRISIS,
IMMIGRANTS, LGBT, POLITICAL PRISONERS,
KOREA,
HONDURAS, HAITI,
SOCIALISM,
GAZA
|
|
Youth, community confront recruiting station
By
Ben Carroll
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Published Nov 26, 2006 10:02 AM
Over 70 youth, students, and community members marched and
rallied Nov. 15 against the first U.S. Army recruiting station to
open in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Anti-war and counter-recruitment activists marched two miles from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus to
the new recruiting station at 1502 E. Franklin St., led by a
banner which read, “Army recruiters out.” UNC-Chapel
Hill Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was the primary
organizer of the demonstration.
The rally outside the station consisted of speeches by members of
FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together) and SDS, as well as
representatives from Feminist Students United and NC Choices, a
Quaker group which advocates choices for young people after high
school other than the military. Speakers focused on topics such
as sexual violence in the military, the ongoing occupation of
Iraq, and cuts in funding for educational opportunities. Speakers
highlighted the fact that over a third of women in the military
report experiencing sexual assault and that reports have been
filed against over 100 recruiters for sexually assaulting and
harassing young women.
In response to the youth and community demonstration, the
military mobilized eight World War II and Korean War veterans,
dressed in uniforms and military decorations. They continually
harassed demonstrators, yelling racist, anti-gay and sexist slurs
at speakers and protestors alike. While the veterans’
appearance at the demonstration was unexpected, the protestors
were unfazed and organizers called the rally “an
unconditional success.”
This recruiting station will be the target of a continuing fight
from youth and student activists, who vow to end the targeting of
youths in their community, especially poor youths and youths of
color. “We won’t allow the military to come into our
community and practice the same deceptive and racist tactics they
have practiced for so long in other communities,” said FIST
member Peter Gilbert. “This struggle is just beginning and
we won’t stop until military recruiters leave our
town.”
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: [email protected]
Subscribe [email protected]
Support independent news DONATE
|
|