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ANSWER
Office
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Past Events 2006
Chicago Benefit for Victims
of Police Brutality A rousing benefit was held
in Chicago for victims of police brutality on Saturday, December 16. 40
people came out to listen to speakers, watch video of an LAPD attack against
anti-racist protestors and listen to politically driven Donations collected at the meeting went to offset Los Angeles anti-minutemen protestor Jose Villa’s $5,000 non-refundable bond. Villa and many others were brutalized by a Los Angeles police riot at a protest in July. He was arrested after the beating and then outrageously charged with a felony offense against the rampaging police officers. The meeting was chaired by Heather Beneno of ANSWER Chicago. Stephanie Mitchell, an organizer with Youth & Student ANSWER, gave a report entitled, “Remember Fred Hampton.” Hampton, the Illinois chairman of the Black Panther Party, was murdered by Chicago Police on December 4, 1969. At the beginning of the benefit, Beneno read statements of solidarity with the family and friends of Sean Bell and with immigrant workers who were rounded up in mass raids on December 12. Sean Bell was killed by New York Police officers on November 25, the day of his wedding. Performing at the benefit
were Tristan James and AJ Viola from Proletariat Productions and Bagwis, a
Filipino pro-people folk rock group. Tristan James is a versatile artist who
combines hip-hop, jazz and modern rhythms to deliver a message of resistance
and revolution. Bagwis is a powerful ensemble that advocates for the
liberation One of the organizers, Stefanie Beacham, said about the benefit: “Tonight’s event is really part of a much larger struggle against violently racist, sexist and homophobic police forces in this country. Tonight’s benefit shows that there are many people in this country who are fed up and want to stop the daily repression in their communities, especially in African-American, Latino, immigrant and LGBT communities.” The benefit was organized by the ANSWER Coalition in Chicago and endorsed by Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism (CCAWR), Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Committee on Pilipino Issues (CPI), Mexico Solidarity Network, National Lawyers Guild – Chicago, Nicaragua Solidarity Committee and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Immigrant
workers and allies protest mass raids On
December 15 over 200 people joined a militant picket outside the Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
offices in Chicago. They were protesting a recent escalation in mass raids
on immigrant workers.
For
over an hour protestors chanted, “Hey, hey, Ho, ho; Racists Raids Have Got
to Go!” and “Chertoff eschuca, estamos in La Lucha!” Micheal Chertoff
is the Secretary of Homeland Security which oversees ICE. The
picket line stretched out for a full block at its height. The
emergency picket was called to fight back against the December 12 mass
roundups of immigrants at Swift packing plants in six different states.
Immigration and local police forces surrounded and raided the plants in full
riot gear. 1,280 workers were arrested and 13,000 were locked down and
terrorized. The
raids tore apart families and disrupted the functioning of entire immigrant
communities. Many children of the detained workers were left in school that
day and school officials had to scramble to make arrangements for relatives
to look after them. Sylvia Martinez of the immigrant rights organization
Latinos Unidos reported that in Colorado alone more than 100 children were
separated from their parents because of the raids. The
December 15 action was initiated by the March 10th Movement which
was the principal organizer of massive immigrant rights demonstrations in
March and May in Chicago. Members of the Food and Commercial Workers Union
also participated in the protest. The UFCW is the union that represents
workers at the raided Swift packing plants. Along
with many other progressive organizations including Centro Sin Fronteras,
Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Mexico Solidarity Network and the
International Socialist Organization, ANSWER Chicago volunteers mobilized
for the protest and carried picket signs that read, “Stop the Raids! Full
Rights for all Immigrants NOW!” The well attended emergency protest in Chicago shows that the immigrant community is continuing to mobilize to resist increasing government attacks. In Chicago on Saturday, October 28 the ANSWER Coalition organized a People’s Street Campaign to Vote to End the War on Iraq. Campaign teams set up at busy street corners at 12 noon all over the city with people’s ballots, ballot boxes, sandwich boards and leaflets for an upcoming anti-war educational forum on Sunday, November 12. All throughout the city, cars
honked in approval and people stopped at campaign tables to line up to vote on
the people’s ballot against the war. Campaign organizer Stefanie Beacham
said, “There really was an overwhelmingly positive response to the campaign.
It’s obvious from being out on the street that the vast majority of people
are against the war. If a referendum about the war was on the The People’s Campaign in Chicago was part of a month long effort in Chicago by activists and volunteers to take the anti-war movement to the people. The campaign was very well received. Especially on the South Side of Chicago, a predominantly African-American community where disgust with the elections is very high according to volunteers who campaigned on the South Side. All throughout the month of October, campaign teams went out to every community to conduct the people’s vote on the war. The campaign reached out to thousands of people in the greater Chicago area. To get involved in the movement to end war, racism and occupation call 773-463-0311. Oct
12 President
George Bush was greeted by 250 militant protestors on an October 12 visit to
Chicago. Bush was speaking at a $500 a plate fundraiser for the Illinois Republican
Party at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. He and Dennis Hastert, Speaker
of the House, were confronted by people demanding an immediate end to
the occupation of
ANSWER
An
anti-war bus covered with slogans demanding “Bring the Troops Home
Now!” and an end to the threats against Iran
circled in front of the hotel during the protest. The bus obviously
irritated the Chicago Police Department. Earlier, the CPD threatened passing
vehicles with moving violations for honking their horns in approval of the
demonstrators. All throughout the protest cars, taxis and buses honked their
horns in support.
At
around 6:30 pm Bush and an entourage of about 30 vehicles sped away from the hotel
at close to 70 mph. Frightened of coming face to face with the people,
Bush's getaway route was shut down to traffic and heavily guarded by police. The
protest was co-sponsored by ANSWER Chicago,
Chicago Area CodePINK, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, Chicagoans
against War and Injustice, Gay
Liberation Network, HammerHard
MediaWorks, International Socialist Organization,
International Solidarity Movement-Chicago Chapter,
Evanston Neighbors for Peace, Nicaragua Solidarity Committee,
North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice, Northwest Suburban NOW,
the Party for Socialism and Liberation and Peace Pledge Chicago.
Sept 23 The atmosphere was electric as more than 600
people gathered outside the U.S. Justice Department in Washington Rene Gonzalez Schwerert, Antonio Guerrero Rodriguez, Fernando Gonzalez Llort, Ramon Labanino Salazar and Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo were arrested in 1998 by the FBI. The 5 had infiltrated and documented the activity of right wing anti-Cuban terrorist groups operating out of Miami, Florida - groups which had perpetrated terrorist acts against the people of Cuba including the bombing of hotels and airplanes. In all, over 3,000 Cubans have died as the result of these group's terrorism. For more info about the Cuban Five go to freethefive.org. In Washington the activities began at 11 am with a rally. Several speakers including Brian Becker, National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, spoke not only of the devastating effects of terrorist attacks on Cuba but also of the economic embargo which has been in place for several decades. Speakers testified that the attacks have failed to deter the Cuban people from the love of their country and their commitment to social justice. Cuba's commitment to a better world has resulted in the tiny island nation training thousands of teachers and doctors who have been sent all over the world to help poor countries with literacy and medical programs. The crowd was reminded that Cuba’s commitment to human rights around the globe has continued unabated despite constant aggression from its imperialistic neighbor to the north. After the initial speeches, the protest, which included contingents from Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, Toronto and a number of Cuban-Americans from Miami, began its militant march towards the White House. Onlookers were given leaflets describing the case and several joined in the march. At the White House a picket was formed and the chanting continued. A short meeting took place in Lafayette Park across from the White House which included the reading aloud of the names of 73 people killed by a bomb planted by anti-Cuban terrorists aboard Cubana Airlines Flight 455 in 1976. The march then continued to George Washington University where an indoor rally took place. The forum began with a standing ovation for the visiting Cuban ambassador. At the rally, Gloria La Riva detailed recent successes in the struggle for the Cuban 5, including inclusion of the case details in many mainstream press accounts. Leonard Weinglass, a long time defender of civil rights activists and now an appellate lawyer for one of the five gave a brief synopsis of the case and the hope that dissenting judges would order new trials after examining several new challenges before them. Family members of those killed in the anti-Cuban terrorist attacks, including Francisco Letelier, son of Orlando Letelier, the human rights worker and official in Salvador Allende’s Chilean government assassinated in Washington D.C. in 1976, spoke of the hypocrisy of claims that the “war on terror” justifies the killing of civilians in sovereign nations and the imprisoning of those like the Cuban 5 who fight against terrorism committed against their own country. As the participants prepared to return home, they expressed a commitment to not to rest until Rene, Antonio, Fernando, Ramon and Gerardo are free. Free Speech
Victory!
The room for the forum had been reserved by an officer of the National Lawyers Guild Chapter at the law school. It is clear that Zionists,
anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racists who support the apartheid state of In response, an
immediate national and local e-mail and phone-in campaign was launched by
the ANSWER Coalition to demand that the law school reverse its cancellation.
The campaign was an The campaign was a great frustration to campus administrators. It forced the school to arrange a room for the forum in the same building as was originally planned and the forum took place as scheduled. The attempt to shut down
the forum in ANSWER Chicago volunteers and many others around the Chicago area worked very hard on the forum. 5,000 leaflets were distributed and nearly 1,000 phone calls were made in a three week period. Thanks to everybody in Chicago who put in an extra effort in the 24 hours before the forum in order to ensure its success. Let's continue to build support for the people of the Middle East as they fight against U.S. aggression and Israeli war & occupation! To get involved with ANSWER Chicago call 773-463-0311 ANSWER Chicago Rummage Sale Big
Success!
August 12
The Chicago bus included people from all backgrounds: Muslims, Jews, Arab-Americans, students, activists and more. They joined up with over 150 other busses coming from Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, and 28 other states at Lafayette Park, steps away from the White House front lawn. The rally began with chants
of “Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine – Occupation is a Crime!” resonating
across the park. Speakers at the
Washington D.C. demonstration included former Attorney General Ramsey Clark;
Mahdi Bray, the Executive Director of the Muslim American Society Freedom
Foundation; Mara Verheyden-Hilliard an attorney and co-founder of the
Partnership for Civil Justice; Brian Becker, the National Coordinator of the
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition; Dr. Mounzer Sleiman of the National Council of Arab
Americans; Osama Siblani, Publisher at Arab American News; Peta Lindsay, Howard
University student and Coordinator of ANSWER Student and Youth; and Dr.
Clovis Maksoud, The message sent to the world was clear as protestors marched and rallied together: the people will not stand for oppression and injustice by the hands of imperialist nations. Israel and the United States’ crimes against humanity, bombing of innocent civilians, and destruction of cities serves to benefit only the richest oil interests, not the people’s best interest. The militant voices from the Chicago contingent - as well as all the voices in DC – joined with protestors on August 12 in San Francisco, Los Angeles and worldwide. Voices were raised and the streets were taken over in Palestine, Brazil, Australia, Kenya, Turkey, Syria, Toronto and many other countries. Together - in a determined spirit of unity to defy the racism of the U.S. and Israeli governments - we were able to answer the call of the people of Lebanon to raise our voices in protest and help stop the war. July 22 Over 4,000 people from the Arab, Muslim, Palestinian and Lebanese communities and their supporters converged on downtown Chicago to stop the U.S. backed Israeli War on Lebanon and Palestine. After a spirited rally, demonstrators staged a militant march to the Israeli Consulate. Loud chants of "Free, Free
Palestine," "Free, Free Lebanon" & "Free, Free
Iraq" were directed at the building where Israeli diplomats have
their offices. Protestors took over the street in front of the building, declaring they would
keep For the demonstration, several busses were organized by the Muslim and Arab community. Despite widespread repression and racism against their communities in the U.S., many came out to stand with the people of Lebanon and Palestine. There was also large support from many other communities and progressive organizations in Chicago. The march and rally was
organized by The Council
of Islamic Organizations of Greater
July
19 Tens of thousands of immigrants and their supporters marched in Chicago for immigrant rights on July 19. On a blisteringly hot work day, the streets were full of resistance to the current attacks on immigrants. The protest was staged on a Wednesday in the middle of the day. Many marchers skipped work and school to participate. The impressive turnout was wrongly ridiculed in the mainstream media for being smaller than the mass mobilizations in March, April and May. The July 19 demonstration in Chicago was a clear indication of immigrants' determination to win equal rights and keep the momentum going in the new movement for civil rights. In their narrow minded view of the world, the
corporate elite in the U.S. cares little about the welfare of immigrants or any
other worker. The corporate media bosses share this opinion. What they care
about most is making profits. They want to keep immigrants in a separate, less equal caste of workers
so they can keep all Every community and progressive organization in Chicago mobilized for the march. The Spanish language press and many Latino owned businesses also supported the demonstration. ANSWER Chicago marched in a vibrant contingent with banners and placards that called for "Amnesty NOW!" July 19 was a big success! The ongoing immigrant movement for rights and equality is a positive development for all working people. July 17
The anti-war protestors held their ground against over 2,000 pro-war, anti-Arab, anti-Muslim racists who showed up to a Monday rally at Federal Plaza to cheer on the bombing onslaught against Lebanese and Palestinian society. Judy Topinka, Republican candidate for Governor in Illlinois spoke at the pro-war rally. She summed up U.S. establishment sentiment when she said, "When Israel is attacked, we are attacked." The Attorney General of Illinois, Lisa Madigan, a Democrat, also spoke at the pro-war rally. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are 100% in favor of U.S./Israeli dominance over the people of the Middle East. Both parties are also continuing to appropriate billions of dollars a year to support the Israeli apartheid state. The anti-racist counter-protestors chanted for hours and outlasted the pro-war protest. The counter-protesters successfully drove off a succession of pro-Israeli racists who attempted to disrupt the anti-war assembly. The counter-protest ended in a rally. At the rally, speakers voiced their intent to help build unconditional support for the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq as they fight back against war and occupation.
Report from Emergency Protest at
Israeli Consulate Speaking at the rally, ANSWER Chicago organizer John Beacham said, "We extend our unconditional solidarity to the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. The growing escalation of U.S./Israeli aggression in the Middle East is not in our interests. We thoroughly reject the racist and tired theme of blaming the people of Lebanon and Palestine whose whole societies are under assault. "The U.S. backed
Israeli attack on Palestine & Lebanon is part of a calculated offensive
targeting and seeking to eliminate those who resist colonial occupation and U.S.
imperialism in the Middle East. We demand that the U.S. immediately cease
all aid to Israel and we demand and immediate end to all U.S./Israeli domination
in the Middle East." The ANSWER Coalition, in partnership with the National Council of Arab Americans and the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, has called for an emergency demonstration in Washington D.C. on August 12 at 12 Noon to Defend the People of Lebanon & Palestine. For more info click here. More Info
Report
from July 7 Actions
On Friday July 7 at 11 am over 300 people came out to tell President Bush in a loud and united voice that he is not welcome in Chicago. Bush was in town to speak at a lavish fundraiser at the Drake Hotel for the Republican candidate for Governor, Judy Topinka. The demands of the demonstration were: Stop Bush! Stop the U.S. War on Iraq! Stop Israeli/U.S. Aggression! End the Occupation of Palestine! As the lunch guests paid a total of $1.2 million to rub elbows with war criminal and bigot George Bush, the people rallied on the street right next to the hotel. People from all communities ( and people representing many struggles) joined together to reject Bush and the corporate elite's anti-people policies of war, racism, anti-immigrant attacks, sexism and homophobia.
The Bush protest was organized by a wide array of organizations. Groups who spoke at the rally included: Palestine Solidarity Group, Gay Liberation Network, Code Pink, ANSWER Chicago, March 10 Movement (Immigrant Rights), Centro Sin Fronteras, Northwest Indiana Coalition Against the Iraq War, Veterans for Peace, World Can't Wait, Jobs with Justice, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5, International Solidarity Movement, and Albany Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace & Justice.
The protest was sponsored by the Palestine Solidarity Group, Palestine Aid Society, International Solidarity Movement, ANSWER Chicago & the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism. Demonstrators chanted "Free, Free Palestine!", "End the Occupation NOW!" and "End the War on Iraq!" Over the last week and a half, militant actions against the current assault on the Palestinian people have taken place all over the U.S. and all over the world. The Chicago protest expressed unanimous support for full self-determination for the Palestinian people.
June 25
The ANSWER Contingent was well received. Chants of "Equal Rights Now!" & "We Want Money for Jobs and Education; Not for War & Occupation!" were picked up and repeated by people all along the march route. The ANSWER Coalition is fully committed to the fight for LGBT Equality and Same Sex Marriage Rights. To find out more information about getting involved call 773-463-0311.
May 22 Emergency Protest against Bush
Visit to Chicago
May 17 National Day of Action for
Immigrant Rights
May 13, 2006
May 1, 2006 - Immigrant
Rights NOW! On Monday, May 1 millions of immigrants and their supporters took to the streets and shut down businesses to demand equality and to fight back against anti-immigrant racism. All over the U.S., in hundreds of cities large and small, the people spoke in a loud and unified voice of resistance. May 1, 2006 was the biggest coordinated day of protest in the history of the United States.
Immigrant workers -
discriminated against and mistreated by a deeply unequal system - are
leading the struggle against the current ruling class assault on all working
people. Treated as second class citizens in the U.S., immigrants are
risking much to stand up to the powerful corporate elite, the Education, health care, wages, rights, unions, civil liberties and more are under increasing attack. The government continues to pursue a policy of completely dismantling social programs as the corporations swim in profits. The elite in Washington are spending 100s of billions on an endless war for colonies, domination and profits. We believe the best way to bring relief from this calculated offensive, and to ultimately turn the tide, is to help build and independent movement of people's fight back. As conditions for immigrants and all working people continue to worsen and as the billionaires continue to foster a climate of racism and reaction, struggle will continue to spread. In the days ahead, linking arms and fighting together for full equality and amnesty for all immigrants will be a great aid to all workers, undocumented and documented. We are the vast majority and united with the struggle of our immigrant sisters and brothers we can be a formidable force for change! To get involved with ANSWER Chicago and help build a people's movement to defeat war, racism and all forms of oppression call 773-463-0311 or email answer@chicagoanswer.net. Thursday, April 13
Monday,
April 10 On April 10 over 1,000 immigrants and their supporters packed the cafeteria of Truman College in Chicago to plan the next steps in the mass movement for immigrant rights. On April 10 over 2 million marched and demonstrated in cities all over the U.S. for immigrant equality. At the mass meeting it was announced that there will be a Mass March & Rally on May 1 in Chicago. ANSWER Chicago is mobilizing for this very important day of protest. Click here for more info. ANSWER Chicago is organizing for the national May 1 Boycott. We are also mobilizing for an AMNESTY NOW Contingent in the march on May 1. Call 773-463-0311 for more info. Get involved in the struggle for full equality for all. Saturday, April 8
- ANSWER Chicago Public Forum Endorsed by: Bolivarian Circle Amada Libertadad, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5, Chicago Cuba Coalition, Friends of the MST Brazil (Landless Workers Movement), Mexico Solidarity Network, National Lawyers Guild - Chicago, Nicaragua Solidarity Committee, Party for Socialism and Liberation
Solidarity with the immigrant rights struggle was also a theme of the meeting. Participants were energized by the call to help build a movement to educate people in the U.S. about the revolutionary process in Cuba and Venezuela and to struggle to stop U.S. aggression against both countries.
Saturday
March 25 Sign
the Petition for Full Equality
The largest demonstration in the history of California Today in downtown Los Angeles, over 1 million people demonstrated in support of immigrant rights. This was the largest demonstration in the history of California. March organizers announced from the stage that the crowd was over 1 million. Univision and other Spanish-language television reported that up to 2 million people marched. The Los Angeles Times, reflecting police estimates, gave the march 500,000 - police estimates have been trying to minimize pro-immigrant rights demonstration for the last few weeks. Today's demonstration was the largest of many immigrant rights demonstrations that have taken place this month. It is an uprising from the people against the reactionary Sensenbrenner Bill that passed in the House of Representatives. The bill criminalizes immigrants and those who support them. The demonstrations began with 50,000 in Washington DC on March 7, 500,000 in Chicago on March 10 (the largest demonstration ever in Chicago history), and tens of thousands more in the last week in Milwaukee, Phoenix, Atlanta and other cities. In build up for today's demonstrations, thousands of high school students walked out of class and marched yesterday in Los Angeles. Yesterday in Georgia, tens of thousands of immigrant workers refused to show up at their jobs in a work stoppage protesting regressive legislation passed by the Georgia State Legislature. These demonstrations reflect a tremendous upsurge in the immigrant community. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition provided logistical support and mobilized for today's demonstration in Los Angeles. Thousands of A.N.S.W.E.R.'s yellow and black placards reading "Amnistía, Full Rights for All Immigrants" were held throughout the march. A.N.S.W.E.R. also organized a major contingent in the march. The rally was co-chaired by Juan José Gutiérrez, Director of Latino Movement USA, a member of the A.N.S.W.E.R. LA Steering Committee; Javier Rodríguez, a noted immigrant rights activist; and Jesse Díaz, a UC-Riverside professor who helped initiate the march. Speakers included Raúl Murillo and Gloria Saucedo of Hermandad Mexicana Nacional; Arturo Rodríguez, President of the United Farm Workers; Korean and Haitian community leaders; and Gloria La Riva and Preston Wood of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition.
At the rally, Juan José Gutiérrez, Director of Latino Movement USA, said, "We are people of dignity and we demand respect. This is the beginning of a movement that is going to call for a national work stoppage." Gloria La Riva of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition said, "The racist politicians thought they could step on us with their racist legislation but they have awakened the immigrant giant and they will feel our strength when we stop work." Preston Wood of A.N.S.W.E.R. LA said, "U.S. corporations are robbing Mexico of its resources and forcing people to come as immigrants for their survival. U.S. Out of Iraq! Justice for all workers!" Critical to the turnout was the mobilization night and day for over a week of famous Latino radio announcers from every Spanish-language station, including Piolín el Cucuy. The organizers announced a national meeting on April 8 in Dallas, Texas of all the Latino immigrant rights leaders in the country to strategize for a national work stoppage in late May under the banner "A Day Without An Immigrant." The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition believes that the struggle for immigrant rights, workers' rights and the fight against racism at home must be part and parcel of the struggle against war and imperialism. In the coming days and weeks, A.N.S.W.E.R. organizers, volunteers and activists will continue to participate in all levels of the mass movement in defense of immigrant rights and the defeat of the Sensenbrenner Bill. To learn how you can join with other A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition organizers and volunteers, email us at answer@chicagoanswer.net. March 18
Demonstrations to Stop the War! ANSWER Chicago started the day off with a spirited convergence on Federal Plaza and a feeder march to the main rally at Union Park. Along the route to Union Park the Federal Plaza feeder march joined up with the student feeder march. People came to Federal Plaza from Indiana, Wisconsin and all over Illinois. Feeder marches poured into Union Park from communities all over the city, including a feeder march from the Puerto Rican community that included strong Filipino, Palestinian and Mexican contingents. The march down Michigan Avenue at night on March 18th was a hard-won victory for the anti-war movement in Chicago. A permit was obtained from the city for the march after a years long battle for the right to march down Chicago's main street. Despite a heavy police presence, thousands of people poured onto Michigan Avenue. Tens of thousands of police were deployed in riot gear to line the street and completely surround the demonstration for its entire length. In response, chants of "The Streets Belong to the People!" rang out throughout the march.
At demonstrations called by the ANSWER Coalition, more than 25,000 people marched through the streets of San Francisco, while another 20,000 took to the streets in Los Angeles. The two West Coast demonstrations were among the largest of the over 500 actions in the United States that were scheduled as part of a global day of action marking the third anniversary of the war of aggression against Iraq. The ANSWER Coalition's demonstrations, and the call
to action issued by A.N.S.W.E.R. in early
November, explicitly connected the Iraq war with the ongoing assault against the
Palestinian people, the U.S. overthrow of the Haitian government, and the
intensifying threats and intervention against Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and the
Philippines. The call to action also linked the antiwar movement to the
struggle against racism and for workers' rights at home, highlighting the
government's racist and criminal negligence of the people of New Orleans and the
other areas ravaged by the hurricane.
Front of the
Michigan Avenue march
In a massive show of force,
immigrants
and their supporters from the Mexican, Central American, South American
communities and
many other communities marched on Federal Plaza in Chicago to defeat the
viscously anti-immigrant House Resolution 4437,
the so-called "Border Protection, The demonstration virtually shut down the center of the city right in the middle of a very busy weekday. Such a huge outpouring of resistance to the broadening attacks against immigrants is a positive sign for all working people. Loud chants of "Si, se puede" and “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!” ("The people united will never be defeated!") rang out throughout the day. HR 4437 is part of a deepening campaign of right-wing attacks on immigrant rights. The legislation will criminalize immigrants, make it illegal to offer assistance or service to immigrants, build 700 additional miles of fences and walls along the U.S./Mexico border, greatly increase the U.S. militarization of the border and much more. The passage of this bill along with the increase in attacks on immigrant communities would mean that immigrants will face even harsher forms of discrimination and brutality. The changes called for by HR 4437 will likely mean a great increase in the number of people who die crossing the border each year.
The right-wing attacks on immigrants, women, LGBT people, labor, social services, civil rights and all working people are directly related to the corporate war drive. In the fight against the Bush Administration, Washington, Wall Street and the Pentagon, unity around the struggles of communities under attack will be a great aid in building a determined people's movement to stop war, racism and all forms of oppression. Call 773-463-0311 to get involved. Thursday, Feb 23 Protestors
took over four corners of a busy intersection outside the college. |
spoken word and live
music.
struggle in the Philippines and for immigrant rights here in the
U.S. AJ Viola’s spoken word, accompanied by Tristan James on trombone, was
a poignant meditation on the source of violence and oppression in U.S.
society.
Oct 28 National Day
of Action in Chicago
ballot on
November 7, the troops would be coming home on November 8.” 
Protestors
chanted, “He’s racist, sexist, anti-gay, George Bush, go away” and
“George Bush, War Criminal” for 2 hours in freezing weather. Chants also
rang out demanding money for education, schools, health care and jobs
instead of war. The crowd, notable not only for its numbers and fierce
resistance to the cold, but also for its diversity, also chanted, “Women,
Students and Immigrants Yes; Bush No.”
D.C.
on Saturday September 23 to show support for the release of the Cuban 5. The
Cuban 5 are political prisoners held in U.S. jails with long periods of
solitary confinement and without access to their families for eight years.
On
Saturday, August 12, more than 30,000 people converged on the White House to
demand an end to the U.S.-Israeli occupation and war against the Middle
East.
the Former ambassador from the Arab League to the U.N,
Arab-American Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC), and others. 
marching until the Israeli/U.S.
attacks on Lebanon & Palestine stop and the people of the Middle East
are free of foreign domination. 
Immigrant Rights
March & Rally
wages and benefits
low as possible. They seek to dampen and divert the potentially
immense power of the struggle of millions of immigrants for full equality in
the United States.
In
a last minute response to a well-funded rally in support of the Israeli/U.S.
war on the Palestinian and Lebanese people, 150 counter- protestors took to
the streets in
Chicago.
On July
14 - while the widely condemned Israeli siege of Lebanon and Palestine intensified -
over 150 protestors staged a
militant rally outside the Israeli Consulate in Chicago. They demanded an
immediate end to the aggression, an end to the colonial occupation of
Palestine, and an immediate and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq,
the entire Middle East and everywhere.
On
Friday July 7 at 2 pm over 60 people held a
spirited picket and rally outside the Israeli consulate in Chicago.
Protestors demanded an immediate end to the Israeli/U.S. attack
on the Palestinian People, an end to the U.S./Europe/Canada economic blockade on
the Palestinian People and an end to the occupation.
On
Sunday, June 25 ANSWER Chicago marched in the LGBT Pride parade in
Chicago with a banner reading: "Full Rights for LGBT
People, Immigrants, Women & ALL! Stop the War On Iraq!"
It
is hard to tell exactly how many millions of people participated in the
pro-immigrant activities of May 1, 2006. But it is clear that the mainstream
media figure of 1 to 1.5 million is extremely low. In Chicago and Los
Angeles alone we estimate that well over 2 million people marched in massive
demonstrations. On May 1, most large cities in the U.S. had major protests
in the tens of thousands or in the hundreds of thousands. Many smaller
cities had marches of thousands of people. May 1 was a huge success!
big-business
media and Washington D.C. This
determined show of force for justice and dignity is a very positive
development in our common struggle for the jobs, social services and rights
we all need.
Mass Meeting for Immigrant Rights
On
Saturday, April 8, 60 people attended a forum at Depaul University in
Chicago in solidarity with Venezuela, Cuba and Latin America.
The Speakers were Gloria
La Riva, Coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban 5 and Jesus Rodriguez,
Deputy Consul of the
Venezuelan Consulate in Chicago. Stefanie Beacham of ANSWER Chicago chaired the
meeting.
Stefanie Beacham, ANSWER Chicago
On
March 18, 2006 in Chicago 12,000 people participated in a day of coordinated
actions that included feeder marches to a rally in Union Park and a large,
militant march down Michigan Avenue at night.
ANSWER Chicago had a vibrant contingent in
the Michigan Avenue march. One of the ANSWER banners read: "End
Colonial Occupation! Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, ...;U.S. Hands off Iran, Venezuela,
Cuba, the Philippines ...!" ANSWER Chicago distributed hundreds of bright
orange placards that said, "Fund People's Needs, Not War; U.S. Out of
Iraq!"
Antiterrorism
and Illegal Immigration Control Act." HR 4437 was passed by congress in
December 2005. It is scheduled to come before the Senate for a vote in
March.
ANSWER
Chicago, along with hundreds of other community and progressive
organizations, mobilized in support of the March 10 immigrant rights
protest. ANSWER Chicago (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) stands firmly
in solidarity with immigrant communities as they fight for full
legalization, equality and rights and as they struggle to end discrimination
and attacks on their communities. 
Loud honks of
approval were heard throughout the demonstration. To protect Bush's entrance,
the street was shut down. Around 12 Noon, the motorcade of SUVs and bullet proof limousines
hurried passed.
For hours the protestors chanted, "Hey, hey. Ho, ho. George Bush has got to
go"; "Health care, Not Warfare"; and "No justice! No peace!
U.S. out of the Middle East!" ANSWER Chicago distributed hundreds of
leaflets for the March 18 Convergence at Federal Plaza in Chicago.