Thousands turned out across the United States on September 27 for a day of protest against the US occupation of Iraq and Israel's oppression of the Palestinians. The demonstrations were called by the International Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) coalition, to mark the third anniversary of the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
One-thousand protesters marched through Manhattan in New York City. Speakers included union leader Brenda Stokely of District Council 1707 and US Labor Against War, and Nellie Bailey of the Harlem Tenants Council.
September 27 also saw the largest West Coast anti-war protest in more than six months, as 5000 demonstrators took to the streets of San Francisco. Chants echoed up and down the streets. "[The protest] was definitely smaller than it was last spring, but it will only grow as more bodybags come back from Iraq", said Michael Smith of the University of California-Berkeley Stop the War coalition.
In Los Angeles, 4000 people marched through Hollywood. Fernando Suarez Solano, whose GI son was killed in Iraq, took the stage with other family members of active-duty soldiers. "My son was a soldier for peace, not for oil", he said. "My son did not die in vain, nor did other people's sons. They died to unite us here today."
"The families of soldiers are marching. Soon, the soldiers will be marching with us, too", said Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic. Democrat presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich also spoke, declaring that it was "time to get the [United Nations] in and the US out" of Iraq.
Kucinich's well-received speech was an indication that many people have illusions in the Democratic Party and the UN to bring peace to Iraq.
Protesters also vowed to keep building the fight against the war. The September 27 demonstrations have added to the momentum that building for the October 25 anti-occupation demonstrations to be held in Washington DC and San Francisco. The October 25 mobilisations are being jointly sponsored by International ANSWER and the United for Peace and Justice coalition to demand "End the occupation" and "Bring the troops home now".
Mounting casualties in Iraq and the call-up of an additional 15,000 reserve troops have increased popular opposition in the US to the war. Combined with US President George Bush's demand for US$87 billion for the military operation, there is growing support for the October 25 national demonstrations.
Trade unionists are pressing their local branches to pass resolutions in support of the actions, and are making plans to bring their fellow workers to the protests.
Despite the national AFL-CIO's official silence on the issue of the US war and occupation of Iraq, union officials and members are nevertheless speaking out. Union members' sons, daughters and loved ones are dying in this war. Government programs that affect union members and provide jobs are being slashed because of the ever-growing sums being spent on the war. This has fuelled opposition.
Boston's school bus drivers' union (Local 8751) is gearing up for the October 25 national march. The union and other area labour groups have formed ANSWER Labor. Local 8751 has passed a resolution against the occupation and is organising buses to bring workers to the march.
Michigan's Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice has distributed a special four-page newsletter against the war and is organising buses from that region. Dave Sole, president of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2334, has endorsed and is helping to spearhead this movement.
In San Francisco, the AFL-CIO Labor Council has passed a hard-hitting resolution supporting the October 25 protests. This resolution has become a model for union locals across the country.
In New York City, the 200,000-member 1199/Service Employees, which represents health and human services workers, has voted to support the October 25 demonstration. The union is providing free bus transportation for members. New York City Labor Against the War, which has been in the forefront of national protests against the war, is also mobilising.
Chicago's Teamsters Local 705, which represents United Parcel Service workers, opposes the war and has called for the immediate withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
Labour groups from Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland and Atlanta are also organising for the march.
[This article is based on reports by Candice Amich, Lee Wengraf, John Green and Evan Kornfeld that appeared in Socialist Worker, newspaper of the US International Socialist Organisation, and an article by Sharon Black, which appeared in Workers World, newspaper of the Workers World Party.]
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, October 15, 2003.
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