March 25, 2005

March 19-20 Global Days of Action
• Humanity Rises Against Imperialist War and Aggression

Humanity Rises Against Imperialist War and Aggression

Across the country and around the world, humanity rose as one on March 19-20 to say End the Iraq War Now! Troops Out Now! No to Imperialist War and Aggression! Marking the second anniversary of the criminal U.S. invasion of Iraq, actions took place from Johannesburg, South Africa, to London, England and Madrid, Spain to Mumbai, India and Lahore, Pakistan, to Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, Korea, to Toronto, Canada, Mexico City, Mexico and Sao Paulo, Brazil, from Alaska to Florida and Hawaii to Maine.

In the U.S. vets and military families, workers, women, youth and national minorities in more than 765 cities and towns in all 50 states took action, branding the Iraq war a crime and supporting the resistance — by the Iraqi people, among the U.S. soldiers and by the youth opposing military recruiters in their schools. The vets and military families gave expression to the determination of all in demanding: “Not One More Day! Not One More Dime! Not One More Life! Not One More Lie!”

Fayetteville, N.C.

The demonstration in Fayetteville, North Carolina exemplified the Day’s broad unity and stand against U.S. war crimes. Organized mainly by veterans and military families, the action showed the increasingly broad participation of Americans in actions against the war and the growing consciousness that the war in Iraq is a crime, U.S. aggression is a crime and Bush a war criminal.

As one of the young vets, who served time in prison rather than return to Iraq put it, he came to say that no only is the Iraq war a crime, but all the wars fought for the corporations are crimes. A large display had the names of Americans killed and a tribute to the thousands of “uncounted Iraqis dead.” A large banner alongside it said, “When must a soldier say No?,” invoking the just resistance among the troops refusing to commit war crimes. Still another speaker emphasized, “Don’t Mourn, Organize!”

As the various military families and veterans spoke not only about their personal losses but about the people of Iraq, about the crimes their sons were forced to commit against children and unarmed prisoners, about the lies of the government and mistreatment of returning veterans, one could not help but appreciate the profound change broadly occurring in the consciousness of Americans. The very same people that Bush is relying on to carry out U.S. crimes and aggression, are becoming those who will put the nails in his coffin. Those who thought the U.S. military defended democracy now recognize the lie, recognize the war crimes and are organizing to bring them to an end, beginning by bringing all U.S. troops home now.

A similar stand was expressed by a family member who lost a brother in the 9/11 attacks. He emphasized, “I will not respond to terrorism by becoming a terrorist,” condemning the government for its terrorism in Iraq and elsewhere. One after the other, whether vet or worker or youth or poet or southerner or northerner, the depth of conviction to end the war and determination to step up the organizing and resistance to U.S. crimes imbued one and all.

What also stood out in Fayetteville was the spirit that the movement is strengthened by bringing all concerned together, to demonstrate, discuss and work together. This was expressed at the event not only by the many speakers but by using the whole front of the stage to place everyone’s banners front and center. Young children were organized during the afternoon to make a large banner which they proudly brought forward.

Organizers took the initiative to produce a newspaper for the action, providing information and contributions from various organization, embracing the united spirit of the Global Days of Action. As they brought out, “There will be children, grandparents, disabled vets, community organizers, military families, members of many congregations and religions, young activists, anarchists, socialists, patriots, pacifists, revolutionaries and poets,” and many more at the demonstration, all united as one to End the Iraq War Now!

The paper also brought forward slogans reflecting the stand of Americans across the country as one with the world’s people. Alongside the call to “Support GI Resistance” and “Educate the Youth, Don’t Recruit Them!” there was “Stop U.S. Aggression Abroad! No War on the World!” and “Self Determination for All Peoples: Iraq for the Iraqis, Statehood for Palestine.”

In southern style, the groups organizing the action formed a “hospitality committee” to welcome everyone, assist with the march itself and most importantly to go among the crowd to make links and get views and suggestions on how to further organize. In the course of the afternoon 4800 cards were filled out, establishing not only a great network but also the consciousness among all to continue working together.

The rally itself was conducted with such discipline that not only could all participating appreciate each and every speaker, making their point in five minutes, but one and all were inspired to join in strengthening links with the many organizations represented and further building their own organizations. Together, participants left working out how to further advance the fight to insist: Not One More Day! Not One More Dime! Not One More Life! Not One More Lie! (see photos from the Fayetteville action)

New York City

The demonstration in New York City started at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem then marched through the streets of Harlem and on to Central Park. Many workers and unions were represented, including transit workers, postal workers, hospital workers, steelworkers and organizations like New York Labor Against the War. Youth from Harlem and cities up and down the east coast were also out in force, saying “Hell No Bush, We Ain’t Going Nowhere!”
Residents of all ages throughout Harlem were overjoyed to see the march and came out from homes and stores to join in the stand to End the Iraq War Now! Others shouted their support, waving from open windows.

A key feature of the New York action and many others across the country was the growing rejection of military recruiters in the schools and of any future draft. The action stopped at a military recruiting office in Harlem, denouncing their efforts to recruit the youth to commit war crimes. Banners read, “Military Recruiters, Out of Our Schools” and “Bring Our Children Home from Your Dirty War for Oil and Greed.”

Speakers brought out that military recruitment in the schools represents the all out militarization of society and is a clear sign to all that the U.S. ruling circles are planning more war and terror. Protesters responded by demanding, “Troops Out Now! Support the Soldiers Resisting!” People affirmed that education is a right and schools are a place of learning and enlightenment where the military has no place.

The march proceeded on to Central Park for a rally where participants took the opportunity to talk with one another and exchange materials. The action ended with a protest at NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s home.

The powerful spirit throughout the day was that there will be no compromise with war criminal Bush and the time to end the war is NOW! Everyone together, the many youth and new people coming forward alongside vets and those who protested the war in Vietnam, felt strengthened by the action. As one youth put it, “We are definitely not alone!” The broad anger, the firm stand and the readiness to carry forward all found expression in the united action with its many banners, signs and chants all insisting, End the Iraq War Now! (See photos from NYC)

Chicago & Detroit

A spirited demonstration in Chicago faced down police and efforts to split their ranks by uniting to demand “No to war and occupation.” Demonstrators had been refused a permit and told they would be arrested if they marched downtown. They faced efforts by police to pen them in and hours of threats to arrest everyone, as occurred in Chicago in a similar action against the war in 2003. But protesters were not to be denied. While many organized to march down the permitted area, many others organized to confront the police and march down a street with more people present. Together they made their stand against the war known and refused to be intimidated by police threats and maneuvers.

As Chicago Indymedia reports, “People first gathered at the intersection of Oak and Michigan, which has major symbolic importance for the anti-war movement in Chicago. On that spot, on March 19, 2003, Mayor Daley ordered the Chicago Police Department to arrest over 800 people at an emergency response demonstration the night the war started. The arrests took place when the march, which had taken over Lake Shore Drive, tried to proceed down Michigan Avenue, the main commercial area in town. This act was followed by two years of overwhelming police numbers at major anti-war events, continuing the city’s efforts to intimidate and discourage protest.”

Out maneuvering the refusal by the city and police to issue permits this year, demonstrators organized a number of feeder marches through various neighborhoods. They all swelled in size as they marched and converged downtown. Indymedia continues, “A Palestine solidarity feeder rallied at the Israeli consulate, anti-military recruitment activists protested the “Army of One” recruitment campaign at the world headquarters of the Leo Burnett ad agency and others marched from the corporate offices of Boeing, one of the main suppliers of military aircraft to the U.S. military. The Colombia Action Network rallied on Michigan Avenue in front of the Colombian consulate, demanding an end to Plan Colombia and the Gay Liberation Network held a rally for gay marriage rights in front of the mansion of Cardinal George.”

The report adds, “The feeders came together and then moved north, challenging hundreds of cops in riot gear and on horseback. The marchers refused to accept a route on a street with no traffic; then moved off the sidewalk and onto the street. The march was not successful in taking Michigan Avenue, but it did liberate the people trapped in the protest pit.” As a youth participant said, “This was powerful. We made a strong statement against the occupation and we stood up to the police.”

In Detroit, the action against the Iraq war was linked to the massive attacks on the rights of the people at home and abroad. Demands were made for funding for healthcare, education, and rebuilding communities, in the U.S. and Iraq. Banners affirmed healthcare is a right! Education is a right!

A memorial to Iraqis and Americans who have died was constructed, using white crosses. Speakers brought out that more than 100,000 Iraqis have died, most of them women and children. Speakers and leaflets also emphasized the collapse of the Detroit public school system now occurring with more schools being closed and teachers laid off. They made clear that the claim of elected officials that the cuts are needed because there is “no money” was yet another government lie. An estimated $429 million in 2004 tax dollars from Detroit — twice the so-called budget deficit for the city —went to fund the Iraq war. It was also brought out that the war has raided the public treasury of more than $200 billion, with an additional $81.4 billion just approved and all this on top of the more than $400 billion yearly Pentagon budget. With signs and speakers demonstrators emphasized there should be no funds for war! What is needed is increased funding to meet the rights of the people, in Detroit, in the U.S., in Iraq and worldwide.

San Francisco & Los Angeles

San Francisco’s longshore workers, headed by their drill team, along with Labor Councils from the area and contingents from the Palestinian and Arab American community, students, immigrant rights movement, churches and many other organizations and communities took to the streets of San Francisco March 19. The labor contingent included those from the Million Worker March Movement, U.S. Labor Against the War and labor councils from San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Monterey Counties. Signs and speeches opposed the war against Iraq and the assault on workers’ and immigrants’ rights. Demands were raised for the immediate return of all U.S. troops and the reordering of national priorities to meet human needs.

Local 10 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Workers Union (ILWU) organized a shut down of cargo operations in the San Francisco and Oakland ports so that its members could participate in the demonstration. As their spokesperson brought out, the action was “in keeping with the ILWU’s tradition which includes opposing wars like those in Korea, Vietnam and now the Iraq war.”

Alongside the union flags were many Palestinian flags and those of peace activists. Despite the rain, the crowd was spirited and expressed their readiness to continue the fight to get the Troops Out Now!

Los Angeles saw the broad participation of many immigrants, from Mexico and the Philippines. As one of the Filipino participants said, “We were wet because it rained, but it did not dampen the spirit and militancy of the protesters.” He emphasized that the Filipino presence was very large because it is the second front of the so-called ‘war on terror,’ and people understand the importance of uniting to struggle against U.S. imperialism. The march also included contingents from the labor movement, women, youth and students, the Palestinian and Arab American community, and many more.

Demonstrations, meetings, teach-ins, vigils, performances and many other activities took place all across the U.S., extending into small towns and communities in every state. Many targeted military recruiting offices and government offices as well as marching through neighborhoods and rallying at busy intersections. In all, many tens of thousands participated and more than double the number of cities and towns joined in, compared to similar actions in 2004. What stood out everywhere was the firm conviction to End the Iraq War Now! Support Resistance! and to Stop War Criminal Bush and all U.S. crimes. (see photos from around the U.S. and the world)