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2008 & 2009 Past Events
2007 Events
2006
Events
Workers
and riders protest transit layoffs and cuts in Chicago
Monday,
Dec. 14
Fight
back! An injury to one is an injury to all!
|
Demonstrations
against escalation of Afghanistan war take place
across the country
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Report
back from major actions on Dec. 1 and 2
In response to a call for
emergency demonstrations issued by the ANSWER
Coalition and six other anti-war organizations,
thousands of demonstrators took to the streets
across the country on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 to protest
the escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Members
of the PSL helped organize several of these
demonstrations. The Party for Socialism and
Liberation is a member of the ANSWER Coalition.
San Francisco
|

San Francisco, Calif. |
A spirited and militant crowd gathered at Powell and
Market Streets on the evening of Dec. 2 in San
Francisco to demand "No escalation! Troops out
now!"
Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition and Frank
Lara of the Party for Socialism and Liberation spoke
at the rally, as well as representatives from One
Struggle One Fight and others. Cristina Gutierrez of
Barrio Unidos closed the rally with a call for the
need to speak up and fight back against the U.S.
imperialist destruction going on all around the
world.
More than 600 people took to the streets and marched
through the main shopping district shouting,
"Wall Street's war? We say no! The occupation
has got to go!"
The event was organized by the ANSWER Coalition and
co-sponsored by World Can't Wait, Code Pink, UFPJ
and Veterans for Peace.
Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Calif. |
In Los Angeles, more than 300 people
rallied in front of the Westwood Federal Building.
The demonstration included veterans of the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq, military families, and workers
and students who are bearing the brunt of the war
machine at home.
Long-time activists were present,
but also a significant number of young people brand
new to the anti-war struggle; many of whom were
college students set into political motion by the
recent wave of mass student protests against the
budget cuts and fee hikes.
Rallying at a busy intersection
during Los Angeles rush hour traffic, activists
chanted from behind banners reading "Occupation
is a crime" and "US/NATO out of
Afghanistan." Recognizing that Obama’s aims
in Afghanistan have the same goals as
Bush’s—imperialist plunder and colonialism—the
crowd chanted, "Same lies, same plan, troops
out of Afghanistan."
The numbers at this demonstration
exceeded that of the recent protest on the 8th
anniversary of the invasion, held in October. This
reflects a growing trend around the country of
public opinion turning against the Afghanistan war,
and against the supposed "anti-war
candidate" turned president. Many in attendance
were once avid Obama supporters whose illusions
about Obama being a progressive, anti-war president
were shattered by his speech on Tuesday.
The ANSWER Coalition initiated the
action, which was endorsed by several other
progressive organizations. It was covered by both
local and national press.
Chicago

Chicago, Ill. |
Dozens of anti-war and social justice
organizations participated in a Dec. 2 emergency
protest in response to the escalation of the
Afghanistan war. More than 400 people came out on a
below-freezing work night to rally and march under
the slogan "U.S. and NATO Out of Afghanistan
Now!"
The protest started with a spirited rally at Federal
Plaza. Speakers included Kathy Kelly from Voices for
Creative Nonviolence, Ray Parrish from Veterans for
Peace, Andy Thayer from Gay Liberation Network,
Vicki Cervantes from La Vos de los de Abajo and John
Beacham from ANSWER Chicago.
After the rally, protesters marched along Michigan
Avenue militantly chanting, "They say more war,
we say no more! They say get back, we say fight
back!"
Boston
Nearly two hundred people attended
a rally and picket on Dec. 2 called by the Greater
Boston Stop the Wars Coalition and United for
Justice and Peace. The protest was held at the Park
St. train station near Boston Commons, a busy
after-work through way for commuters. Additional
protests organized in Massachusetts occurred in
Worcester, Gloucester, Falmouth, Cambridge and
Andover.
At the Boston rally, there was a
short program of speakers followed by an open mic
and moving picket. Many local anti-war and
progressive organizations were in attendance,
including Veterans for Peace, Military Families
Speak Out, ANSWER Coalition, Committee in Solidarity
with the Honduran Resistance, Boston
Anti-Authoritarian Movement, International Action
Center and International Socialist Organization.
ANSWER organizers handed out
hundreds of fliers promoting the March 20 National
March and Rally with the help of PSL members, who
also distributed flyers for a local PSL forum on
Afghanistan. There were many new, young faces in the
crowd and many commuters stopped to listen to the
rally and get literature.
Washington, D.C.
Protesters gathered outside the
White House for an emergency demonstration. Members
of the ANSWER Coalition distributed signs and flyers
announcing the March 20 anti-war March on
Washington.
Although the Bush administration
is gone, chants from those earlier years are being
heard again on the streets of Washington as Obama
claims ownership of the war machine: "No
Justice, No Peace: U.S. Out of the Middle
East."
Speakers included Brian Becker,
national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition, who
noted that "The war is not about ‘the
security of the people of the United States being at
stake.’ If it was, there could be no talk about
exit strategies and announced plans for
withdrawal."
Becker also spoke of the growing
opposition to the war. "Starting today, there
will be a growing escalation of anti-war protests in
the United States. Tonight and tomorrow there are
demonstrations across the country," he said.
New Haven and Hartford

New Haven, Conn. |
More than 60 people gathered in New
Haven and over 45 people in Hartford, Conn. on the
evening of Dec. 2 to protest the escalation of the
Afghanistan war. University of Connecticut students
organized a demonstration on campus at noon.
Demonstrators spoke out against
Obama's plan to spend more money on war and
occupation while the economic conditions at home
continue to deteriorate. People were outraged by the
lies of the administration and the continued
escalation of war.
Participants were energetic and
spirited, chanting "Troops Out, Now",
"U.S. out of Afghanistan, Out of Iraq, Out of
Palestine and Don't Come Back!"
Organizers of the events including
the ANSWER coalition, CT United for Peace, New Haven
Peace Coalition, Middle East Crisis Committee, Iraq
Veterans Against the War, Trinity College and many
more local antiwar groups. People will continue to
demonstrate in CT until all the troops are out.
Seattle

Seattle, Wash. |
Demonstrators gathered on Dec. 1 at
rush hour at the busy Westlake Park area with signs
and leaflets, receiving positive responses from the
many commuters and shoppers in the area.
The action was supported by all
the major anti-war organizations in Seattle: the
ANSWER Coalition, Iraq Veterans Against the War,
Sound Non-violent Opponents of War, Veterans for
Peace #92, and World Can't Wait.
Speakers from World Can't Wait and ANSWER spoke on
the significance of the mobilization. According to
Jane Cutter of ANSWER: "The U.S./NATO military
intervention in Afghanistan is not a good war or a
war of necessity. It is an imperialist war. …
There is no reason that the mothers and fathers of
the United States should send their children to kill
or be killed in Afghanistan so that political
leaders can avoid taking responsibility for a
military failure."
Protesters
Picket CTA Board Meeting
Tuesday,
Nov. 17
CTA
Passes 2010 Budget with massive service cuts and layoffs
Reports from around the
country...
Anti-war movement hits the
streets
on 8th anniversary of Afghanistan War
Within days of ordering the invasion of
Afghanistan, George W. Bush predicted an easy
victory: "People often ask me, 'how long will this
last?' It may happen tomorrow, it may happen a month
from now, it may take a year or two, but we will
prevail." Another fine example of Bush's "deep
understanding" of the countries he ordered invaded.
Although there were no Afghans on the planes that struck
on September 11, tens of thousands are now dead from the
invasion and occupation. So too are nearly 1,500 troops
from the U.S./NATO forces. If the Generals get their way
those numbers will shoot way up in a war and occupation
that will last for years to come.
People in Afghanistan, including those who despise the
reactionary policies of the Taliban, view the foreign
military intervention as a colonial-type occupation.
At home, anti-war protests are spreading,
taking place in numerous cities yesterday on the 8th
anniversary of the invasion Bush ordered. They are
demanding an immediate end to the war. That position is
emerging as a majority sentiment according to recent
polls.
Yesterday’s demonstrations took place in more cities
than ever since the start of the invasion of Afghanistan
(Oct. 7, 2001). More local demonstrations are planned
for Oct. 17 and the ANSWER Coalition has initiated a
mass national March on Washington for Saturday, March
20. Many organizations are working together to build the
spring action.
We
can’t do it without your help. Please make an urgently
needed donation today to help build these
demonstrations.
Chicago

Chicago photo by Paul Saini |
In Chicago on Oct. 7, over 300 people
came out to a protest on Michigan Ave. to demand an
immediate end to the war on Afghanistan. Youth and
students were the biggest contingent at the action.
Protesters joined together in loud and vibrant chants of
"Money for Jobs, Health Care and Education, Not War
and Occupation!"
The protest was initiated by ANSWER Chicago and endorsed
by dozens of organizations.
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, over 300 people came
out to protest the war on Afghanistan. Longtime
progressives in the anti-war movement and new activists
alike chanted outside the Westwood Federal Building.
"Hey Obama, yes we can, troops out of
Afghanistan!" rang out loudly as passing cars
honked in support.
Vietnam veteran and author Ron Kovic addressed the
crowd: "It's so important that we are out here
tonight to oppose this terrible war. Keep fighting. We
will continue to build this movement."
The ANSWER Coalition initiated the action, which was
endorsed by dozens of organizations.
The next step in L.A. is a teach-in on the Afghanistan
war on Oct. 17, 2 p.m. at Los Angeles City College.
San Francisco

San Francisco photo by Bill Hackwell |
More than 250 people joined a spirited
after-work picket line and rally at the new Federal
Building in San Francisco.
A large number of anti-war and community organizations,
along with Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, called for
the immediate, unconditional end of the occupation and
war in Afghanistan. They pointed out that, in addition
to the growing loss of human life, the financial cost of
the Afghanistan occupation will rise to nearly $200
billion this year alone.
The protest was initiated by the ANSWER Coalition and
endorsed by many organizations.
... and elsewhere around the country
Demonstrations
also took place in cities across the country, including
Boulder, Colorado; Dunedin, Jacksonville and North
Miami, Florida; Bloomington, Indiana; Lafayette,
Louisiana; Boston, Massachusetts; Kalamazoo, Michigan;
Twin Cities and St. Cloud, Minnesota; Princeton and
Trenton, New Jersey; New York City and Rochester, New
York; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Knoxville, Tennessee;
Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington.
Click
here for a list of upcoming events.
ANSWER
in the news:
TIME Magazine "A Brief History Of Anti-War
Movements in the U.S."
Yesterday, TIME Magazine published the following
article: "Oct. 7 marks the eighth anniversary of
the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan — a war that has
slouched from campaign to crusade to near-quagmire as
the U.S. has rethought and redefined its strategy in the
War on Terror. According to a recent CBS/New York Times
poll, 53% of Americans now say that things are going
badly for the U.S. in Afghanistan. And few are saying
that as vehemently those who have picked the anniversary
as their day to demonstrate. Student organizations on 25
college campuses, along with members of anti-war
groups like the coalition Act Now to Stop War and End
Racism (ANSWER) and Veterans for Peace, are
holding rallies on Oct. 7; others have already descended
on Washington. On Oct. 5, 61 people were arrested in a
demonstration in the capital, including Cindy Sheehan,
the one-time face of the Iraq anti-war movement, who
chained herself to the fence of the White House.
..." Read
more
City Hall protest in
Chicago demands end to parking meter expansion
July 29, 2009
Fight
back against parking meter
rate hikes, layoffs and budget cuts!
Watch
Video from Parking Meter Protest
Over 200 people protested at City Hall in
Chicago on Wed., July 29 to demand an immediate end to parking meter
rate hikes and the expansion of parking meters. The action was held in
the middle of the work day, during the monthly city council meeting held
at City Hall.
A militant picket, with protesters waving and pumping hundreds of signs
and banners, was followed by a short rally. Protesters chanted with
anger and purpose: "Parking meters mean, we got to fight back!
Racism means, we got to fight back!" People walking and driving by
the protest responded with claps, honks and cheers. The anti-people
administration of Mayor Daley is deeply unpopular.
Signs read, "No More Parking Meters," "No Budget Cuts, No
Layoffs" and "Money for Jobs, Not the Banks!"
The protest was covered on ABC news and CBS radio as well as many local
media blogs.
Earlier this year, Mayor Daley sold the city's parking meters to bailed
out financial giant Morgan Stanley for a period of 75 years. The big
bank has raised meter rates by 400 percent in most parts of the city,
unnecessarily increasing hardship for workers during a time of
skyrocketing unemployment.
Called by the People's Parking Meter Campaign, an initiative of the
Party for Socialism and Liberation and ANSWER Chicago, the action was
joined by Centro Communitario Juan Diego and No Games Chicago.
Centro Communitario Juan Diego has organized a 24-hour vigil to stop the
installation of meters outside their South Side community center that
serves workers, the poor and immigrants.
The fight goes on against the parking meter expansion and all attempts
to make the people pay for the economic crisis in the form of higher
fees and costs, layoffs and budget cuts. Join us: working people
shouldn't have to pay one penny for a crisis created by the banks!
The People's Parking Meter Campaign is an action oriented initiative
that has collected thousands of signatures to stop the privatization of
the parking meters. To
find out more or to get involved click here.
For more info call 773-463-0311.
Help
support the People's Parking Meter Campaign by making an online donation
now
Emergency
Picket
Support the People of Honduras!
July 1, 2009
Over 100 people came out to protest the
right wing coup in Honduras and demand that President
Manuel Zelaya be reinstated. The action was called by La
Voz de los de Abajo and supported by ANSWER Chicago and
many other organizations.
Protests have been held all over the country, including
Washington D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The people can overturn the coup!
For more information go to http://www.answercoalition.org.
ANSWER Chicago at 2009 Pride
Marriage Equality Now!

 
Socialism
Conference in Chicago a success
Sat.,
April 25
Over
100 attend
More
than 10,000 March on Pentagon
Sat.,
March 21
On
6th Anniv. of War 1,000
Protest in Chicago on 6th Anniv.
Sat.,
March 14
Protest
at ABC
Fri., January, 16, 2009
 On
a night when the temperature was -17 in Chicago over 100 people came
out to protest during the 5 pm newscast outside the State Street
studios of ABC. The Demands were ...
Let Gaza Live - End the Massacre
Now!
** Accurately Report the Israeli Massacre in Gaza
** Immediately End Pro-Occupation, Anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab Bias in their News Coverage
** Accurately Report on the World-wide Protests in Solidarity with Gaza
End the War on Palestine Now!
Stop U.S. Aid to Israel!
End the Occupation! Free Palestine!
From Washington, DC to San
Francisco, Los Angeles, and Worldwide
Hundreds of Thousands March to Let Gaza Live!
10,000 Marched in Chicago on
Friday, Jan. 9
A day of emergency actions: Let Gaza live!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
In cities around the country,
marches call for an end to the U.S./Israeli aggression
On Sat., Jan. 10, hundreds
of cities, and hundreds of thousands of people, responded to the call for an
International Day of Emergency Action to support the people of Gaza. Other
actions took place on Jan. 9 and Jan. 11 in response to the national call.
Outside the United
States, marches took place in London, Edinburgh, Cairo, Athens, Kuala
Lumpur, Beirut, Seoul, Mexico City, Jakarta, Montreal, Paris, Barcelona,
Marseilles, Lyon, Oslo, Berlin, Bern, Karachi, Nablus, New Delhi, Amman,
Sarajevo, Ramallah, Stockholm, and Tokyo. The protests continue to
grow—the following day, another 250,000 took to the streets in Spain and
more than 100,000 in Algeria.
In the United States,
the Day of Action was initiated on just one week’s notice by a call from
the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Muslim American
Society Freedom, Free Palestine Alliance, National Council of Arab
Americans, and Al-Awda - Palestine Right to Return Coalition.
|

Washington, D.C.
|
In Washington, D.C., more
than 20,000 took to the streets in the freezing rain to demand, “Let Gaza
live!” The streets were so backed up that thousands of people in buses and
cars were still arriving after the march had left.
The D.C. demonstration
began with a rally at Lafayette Park in front of the White House. Featured
speakers included former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who was just on a
humanitarian relief mission to Gaza when her boat was intentionally struck
by an Israeli military vessel; Mahdi Bray, executive director, Muslim
American Society Freedom; Rev. Graylan Hagler, national president of
Ministers for Racial, Social and Economic Justice; Mounzer Sleiman, vice
chairman, National Council of Arab Americans; Ralph Nader; Paul Zulkowitz,
Jews Against the Occupation; Brian Becker, national coordinator, ANSWER
Coalition; Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, attorney and co-founder, Partnership for
Civil Justice; and others.
The spirited march then
led to the Washington Post, where demonstrators denounced the paper for its
biased pro-Israeli coverage of the massacre and its complete blackout of
protest activities in the United States.
Chicago, Ill.
|

Chicago, IL
|
On Jan. 9, over 10,000
people took to the streets of Chicago to march against the U.S.-Israeli war
on Gaza, which has now taken the lives of nearly 900 Palestinians and
wounded several thousands more.
The Coalition for
Justice in Palestine, American Muslims for Palestine,
ANSWER
Chicago and dozens of other organizations sponsored
the action. Protesters gathered outside Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago,
then marched to the Israeli consulate to demand an end to the slaughter and
the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.
Hundreds of Palestinian
flags waved in the air as marchers carried signs and banners. Protesters
carried signs that read, “End the War on Gaza Now” and “Free
Palestine.”
The demonstration was
just the latest in a series of solidarity actions in Chicago since the
beginning of the murderous Israeli military offensive. On Dec. 28, 700
peopled demonstrated with less than 24 hours notice. The day after the
ground invasion, over 400 came out for an emergency protest. On Jan. 6, more
than 200 Palestinian supporters picketed the Israeli consulate accusing Ehud
Olmert, George W. Bush an all supporters of the Israeli onslaught in the
U.S. Government and media as genocidal criminals.
The people must stand
together and defend the Palestinian peoples’ right to peace and self
determination. Without justice there can be no peace. End the illegal
occupation now!
Los Angeles,
Calif.
|

Los Angeles, CA
|
In Los Angeles, 10,000
people participated in a regional mass march and rally to “Let Gaza
live” at the Westwood Federal Building.
Hundreds of Palestinian
flags and signs reading, “Stop bombing Gaza!” and “The real
terrorists: U.S./Israel war machine!” lined all sides of the street and
the lawn in front of the federal government headquarters. It was the largest
protest and the first major march in Southern California since the Israeli
bombing campaign and invasion began.
The Arab-American
community came out in full force. People traveled from San Diego, Orange
County, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside and all over Los Angeles to
attend. The many families and young people at the protest showed intense
outrage at Israel’s bombing of hospitals, schools, homes and mosques.
“Gaza, Gaza don’t you cry—Palestine will never die!” was the most
popular chant of the day.
A funeral procession led
the march with makeshift coffins draped with Palestinian flags, representing
the hundreds of people killed by Israel’s genocidal attack on Gaza.
Hundreds of children followed, along with a huge, hand-made Palestinian
flag, in a contingent organized by the Palestinian American Women’s
Association.
After a militant march
through Westwood near UCLA, the protesters gathered for a rally, which was
kicked off by a symbolic die-in. Mahmud Ahmad of Al-Awda, the Palestine
Right to Return Coalition, led the action. The sound of air-raid sirens,
bombs and gunfire blasted through the sound system to recreate the feeling
of living in Gaza right now. Thousands of people laid down on the ground for
the action. At the end, chants of “Free, free Palestine” from rally
chairs Peta Linday of Youth and Student ANSWER and Rana Sharif of PAWA
brought everyone to their feet with fists in the air.
Other speakers at the
rally included Yousef Abudayyeh, Free Palestine Alliance; Muna Coobtee,
ANSWER Coalition and National Council of Arab Americans; Zahi Damuni, Al-Awda;
Rinad Abdallah, Palestinian American Women’s Association; Dr. Leila El
Marayati, Kinder USA; Hussam Allyoush, Council on American Islamic
Relations; Dr. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Mada al-Carmel, Haifa; Jim
Lafferty, National Lawyers Guild; Christine Araquel, Alliance for Just and
Lasting Peace in the Philippines; Amanda Martin, GABRIELA Network USA; Blase
Bonpane, Office of the Americas; Shakeel Syed, Islamic Shura Council of
Southern California; Carlos Alvarez, Party for Socialism and Liberation and
candidate for L.A. mayor; Dahir Hertzallah, Muslim Student Association-West;
and Preston Wood, ANSWER Coalition.
The L.A. march and rally
was organized by Free Palestine Alliance, Al-Awda, ANSWER Coalition, PAWA,
NCA, CAIR and the Shura Council. The hundreds of endorsers included Campaign
to End Israeli Apartheid-Southern California, Riverside Area Peace &
Justice Action, KmB Pro-People Youth and Libyan American Community of
Southern California.
San Francisco,
Calif.
|

San Francisco, CA
|
Nearly 10,000 protesters
rallied together at the Civic Center Jan. 10 to demand an immediate end to
the Israeli massacre of the people of Gaza.
Among the numerous
speakers were Palestinian youth who have recently become politically active
in response to ongoing Israeli military offensive. Anti-Zionist members of
the Jewish community spoke in solidarity with the Palestinian people, as did
representatives from several other oppressed communities.
After nearly an hour of
rallying and chanting, demonstrators took to the streets in a militant
march. Israeli flags went up in flames as chants of “Free Palestine!”
echoed down major San Francisco streets. The march returned to the Civic
Center for an equally energetic closing rally.
The steadfastness of
protesters made clear they will not leave the streets until the siege of
Gaza comes to an end.
Orlando, Fla.
|

Orlando, FL
|
A crowd of 2,000
demonstrators confronted a heavy police presence in downtown Orlando for the
“Let Gaza Live: Florida Statewide March for Palestine” called by ANSWER
Florida just six days before. The demonstration is the largest anti-war
demonstration in Florida in more than a decade and certainly the largest
ever protest in Florida calling for a free Palestine.
Police intimidated
protesters by searching bags, forcing protestors to remove sticks from
placards and denying the use of amplified sound until organizers challenged
their scare tactics.
Two buses were organized
out of Miami, while vans and carpools travelled from Jacksonville,
Gainesville, Tallahassee, Tampa and St. Petersburg. Transportation was also
organized from central Florida to the National March in Washington, D.C.
Several organizations
from the Orlando area helped build the demonstration, including the Arab
American Community Center, where work sessions for the protest were held
nearly every night during the week; the Council on American Islamic
Relations; and key university organizations such as Muslim Student
Association Florida Council and Society for a Just Peace in Palestine at
Rollins College.
The march and rally
attracted a new layer of young Arab, Muslim, and other youth from oppressed
nationalities that rose to politically and organizationally to provide
leadership to the crowd. The young organizers were crucial in negotiating
complicated logistical issues with the racist Orlando police, and played a
key role in mobilizing the large numbers of demonstrators.
The rally was chaired by
Tampa student organizers Naveen El-Nawawy and Ahmad Deeb. There was roaring
applause as Emmanuel Lopez of the ANSWER Coalition told the crowd that
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez had expelled the Israeli ambassador.
Lopez noted:
“Venezuela is not extending their solidarity to the people of Palestine
out of charity, but rather, they understand that their struggle against
imperialism and for their freedom is in fact the same struggle as that of
the people of Gaza. Its that real type of solidarity, built through our
common struggles against a common enemy, that we have to recreate here in
the United States.”
Rasha Mubarak tackled
the racist notion that has led to the continuing massacre of the Palestinian
people: “The mourning of an Israeli son’s killing is not more
heartbreaking than a Palestinian son’s killing. An Israeli child’s
shriek of fear is not louder than a Palestinian child’s shriek of fear.
The tear of an Israeli mother is not more dense than a Palestinian
mother’s tear.”
Other mobilizers around
the state included Rise Up Tampa Bay; Florida Peace Action Network; St.
George Greek Orthodox Church, United Muslim Foundation, Islamic Society of
Sarasota and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. St. Pete for Peace and
Refuge Ministries mobilized from the West Coast of Florida and played a big
role in the success of the rally and march.
Seattle, Wash.
Hundreds of
demonstrators came out to the Federal Courthouse on Stewart St. to demand an
end to the U.S.-backed Israeli massacre in Gaza. The demonstration was
called by the Save Gaza Campaign, a coalition of many local organizations
concerned about Palestine, including Voices of Palestine, Palestine
Solidarity Committee, ANSWER Seattle, Arab American Community Coalition,
Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace.
Protestors lined the
street as busy downtown traffic zoomed by. Many drivers honked in support of
the slogans featured on the placards. Activists on bullhorns led
enthusiastic chants of “Free, free Palestine!” Speakers included Amin
Odeh, Voices of Palestine; Dr. Nada Elia, National Council of Arab Americans
and professor at Antioch University; Jane Cutter, ANSWER Seattle; and Judith
Kolokoff, American Jews for a Just Peace.
The demonstration
concluded with an impromptu march to nearby Westlake Park led by militant
youth ranging from elementary and middle school to college age.
Sioux Falls,
S.D.
Members of South Dakota
ANSWER joined members of the Islamic Center and other activists Jan.9 to
protest the ongoing Israeli occupation of Gaza.
Demonstrators chanted
“Free Palestine” and “Stop the War Crimes,” showing that the spirit
and militancy from their previous rally had not faded one bit despite the
snowy weather. Passersby slowed down to read the placards in support of the
Palestinian people and an urging an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
The protest was captured
on the front page of the Argus Leader and was covered by two local
television stations.
ANSWER, the Muslim
Community, and the Peace and Justice Center are showing two movies in Sioux
Falls: “Occupation 101” and “Gaza Strip.” ANSWER and other South
Dakota activists will continue to protest the great injustice perpetrated by
the U.S. and Israeli governments against the Palestinian people.
Ben Becker, Chris
Huska, Emmanuel Lopez, Jane Cutter, Ian Thompson, Rachel Reynolds and Sean
Pavey contributed to this report .
Protest:
U.S. Hands off Pakistan!
Saturday, October 11
Report by Stefanie Fisher
On Saturday October 11, ANSWER Chicago volunteers and organizers joined
more than 500 people for an anti-war march and rally
in the Pakistani community. The main slogans of the march were for an
immediate end to the
U.S.
imperialist wars in
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
and hands
off of
Iran
,
Pakistan
and
everywhere! People also came out to protest the now-passed $700 billion bank
bailout bill.
Demonstrators gathered at
2 pm
on the
corner of
Devon
and
Leavitt for an opening rally where speakers from several social justice and
anti-war groups spoke, including Gloria LA Riva, the presidential candidate
of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a member group of the ANSWER
Coalition. In her speech she expressed solidarity with the Pakistani
community, called on the
U.S.
government to halt all foreclosures on homes and to bail out the workers not
the bankers.
La Riva’s demands were met with loud applause and cheers from the
crowd.
During the march ANSWER and PSL contingent was very militant and
spirited. Young people carried banners that read “Bailout workers not Wall
street” placards that said “Hands of Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and
Everywhere! “ while the contingent chanted “Hands off Pakistan” and
“Troops out now!”
Leading up to the protest ANSWER, along with many other groups, passed
out thousands of leaflets letting people know about the demonstration and
linking the ongoing wars with the looming recession.
Nearly
500,000 take a stand against bigotry at Chicago Pride Weekend
Sat., June 28 & Sun., June
29
By: Suzanne Saba
Almost half a million people took to the streets of
Chicago on June 28 and 29 to celebrate Pride Weekend with resoluteness and
determination in the ongoing struggle for equal rights for all.
On Saturday, June 28, over 400 women and men took part in the
12th Annual Dyke March. Carrying banners and drums, and with great vigor in
their loud voices, they chanted, "Hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to
go!"
The chants resonated through the streets, carried far by
the urgency in demanding full rights for LGBT people. The Party for
Socialism and Liberation had a contingent in the march and carried a banner
demanding same-sex marriage rights and equality for LGBT people now.
This very successful event was followed by a mass
mobilization of 450,000 people who hit the streets for the Pride March on
Sunday, June 29. Floats and parade participants were followed by several
Chicago area social justice groups encouraging the crowd to call for
same-sex marriage rights in all 50 states.
At one point in the pride march, the social justice
contingent—including John Beacham and Heather Benno, both PSL candidates
for the State Assembly in Chicago—counter-protested a small anti-LGBT
group who were yelling at the crowd. Everyone joined together in beating
drums and chanting, "Bigots go home!" After an hour of chanting,
the bigots went home!
Pride weekend in Chicago was a strong display of unity
against bigotry. The scores of people that showed up to both events brought
their positive energy and dedication to standing up for the rights of LGBT
and all people.
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Los Angeles
Photo: Bill Hackwell
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Emergency
actions protest Cuban 5 court decision
Thursday, June
12, 2008
Court ruling
upholding sentences sparks outrage
In yet another travesty of justice in the case of the
Cuban Five, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of the
five Cuban heroes on June 4. Emergency protests took place in the United
States and abroad on the days following the announcement of the court’s
decision.
The Cuban Five have been unjustly incarcerated for nearly
10 years after being arrested while monitoring the activities of right-wing
Cuban terrorists operating out of Miami. While the anti-terrorist Cuban
heroes sit in prison, known terrorists, such as Posada Carriles, the
mastermind behind the 1976 bombing of a Cubana flight that took 73 lives,
roam freely in Miami.
The following are reports from some of the protests
against the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision. To find out more
about the Cuban Five, visit www.freethefive.org.
Los Angeles
Dozens of supporters from all over
Southern California—and even some from Northern California—gathered on
Friday, June 6, in front of the CNN building to denounce the outrageous
court decision to uphold the convictions of the Cuban Five.
The demonstration took place at 5 p.m. in the heart of
Hollywood. Many onlookers stopped to find out about the Cuban Five as
protestors chanted, "Jail Posada, Free the Five!" and "Who
are the terrorists in the world today? Bush, Posada and the CIA!"
A short rally brought the vibrant action to a close.
Speakers representing several Cuba solidarity groups voiced opposition to
the travesty of justice that has kept the five heroes’ behind bars while
real terrorists roam freely throughout the streets of Miami. Participating
organizations included the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End
Racism), the National Committee to Free the Five and the International
Action Committee.
Lucilla Esguerra, PSL candidate for California State
Assembly, called for the immediate release of the Five and highlighted the
hypocrisy of the U.S. war on terror.
Bill Hackwell, speaking for the National Committee to Free
the Cuban Five, delivered a moving and militant message he received from
Gerardo Hernández, one of the Five. In the message, the unjustly imprisoned
Cuban who has been handed two life sentences, sounded the call to remain
vigilant and to continue the fight until victory.
San Francisco
On June 6, an emergency demonstration called by the
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five took place in San Francisco. The
protest happened at Powell and Market streets in the downtown area during
the evening rush hour, and attracted many interested bystanders.
Thousands of workers and tourists in the area heard
speakers and received flyers on the case of the Cuban Five. Many of these
bystanders had never heard of the case or the outrageous injustice committed
by the courts against the Cuban Five.
About 90 people joined in the demonstration. Chants
included "The Five in Prison, Posada Walks Free, That’s What Bush
Calls Democracy!" and "Extradite Posada, Free the Cuban
Five!"
New York City
On June 6, members of the Cuba solidarity movement held a
spirited picket and rally in front of New York City's Federal Plaza. Around
85 people came out to denounce the recent ruling of the 11th Circuit Court
of Appeals and to reaffirm their commitment to struggle on the Five's
behalf.
Among the speakers at the closing rally were Vanessa
Alarcon of ANSWER, who emphasized that the recent ruling "means we need
to organize, organize, organize." Progressive attorney Lynne Stewart
addressed the crowd and called on everyone to use their relative freedom to
do everything they can on behalf of the country's many political prisoners.
Next to the picket, five full-length banners were
stretched out facing the street, with slogans demanding the extradition of
Luis Posada Carriles and the freedom of the Five.
Chicago
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Chicago
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In Chicago, over 30 people came out for an emergency picket
at Federal Plaza to protest the latest ruling in the case of the Cuban 5.
During the hour-long action, held at a busy intersection
in downtown Chicago, protesters spoke out for justice and freedom for the
Cuban 5. Hundreds of leaflets explaining the case were handed out.
Protesters chanted, "What do we want? Free the Five!"
The Chicago action was organized by ANSWER Chicago and the
Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5.
Seattle
About a dozen Seattle activists in solidarity with the
Cuban Five gathered in front of the "new" federal courthouse on
June 6.
Rain was pouring when the protest began at 4 p.m.
Activists held signs and handed out hundreds of copies of a statement from
the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five to passers-by and people
waiting for the bus.
Organizations represented included the ANSWER Coalition,
Party for Socialism and Liberation, National Lawyer's Guild, Native People's
Alliance with Friends and Allies and the Socialist Workers Party.
Washington, D.C.
A spirited group of about 20 protesters picketed at the U.S.
Justice Department headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., on Friday,
June 6, in support of the Cuban Five. Chants of "Jail Posada, Free the
Five" rang out, and demonstrators handed out leaflets to rush hour
crowds.
Speakers at the demonstration included Banboshe Shango of
the D.C. Metro Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Nefta Freeman, Sonia
Umanzor of the FMLN, PSL vice presidential candidate Eugene Puryear, and
Seth Dellinger of the Socialist Workers Party.
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Al-Nakba demonstration, Chicago,
May 23
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Chicago rallies on anniversary
of Palestinian Nakba
Friday,
May 23, 2008
Protest supports the
right of return
On May 23, over 300 Palestinians and their
supporters rallied on the 60th Anniversary of Al-Nakba in Chicago. The rally
was followed by a spirited march with chants of "Free, free
Palestine" and "Hey, Olmert, you will see, Palestine will be
free."
The protest was organized to support the
right of return for all Palestinians. Other demands included an end to the
occupation of Palestine and a halt to the U.S./Israeli siege of Gaza.
Al-Nakba marks the violent expulsion of
millions of Palestinians from their land following the creation of the state
of Israel.
Sponsors included Al Awda-Chicago; American
Muslims for Palestine, Chicago Islamic Center; DePaul, Northwestern and UIC
Students for Justice in Palestine; Mosque Foundation Community Center;
Muslim American Society; Palestine Solidarity Group; the United States
Palestinian Popular Conference Network; American Friends Service Committee;
ANSWER Coalition; Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism; Chicagoans
Against Apartheid in Palestine; Church Network for Education on Palestine;
Fight Back! Newspaper; and International Solidarity Movement-Chicago.
Suzanne Saba from the Chicago chapter of the
ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) spoke at the rally.
She said, "We extend our unconditional support to the people of
Palestine as they continue to struggle for the right of return."
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Immigrants and their supporters
protest against Chris Simcox,
Chicago, May 19.
|
Militant protest greets
Minutemen founder
Monday, May
19, 2008
Chicago's immigrants, supporters mobilize against
racism
More than 400 students and immigrant rights activists took to
the streets in Chicago on May 19 to protest racist Minutemen co-founder
Chris Simcox.
Simcox was speaking at DePaul University at the invitation
of a right-wing student group. His Minuteman Civil Defense Corps recruits
armed racists from around the country to "patrol" U.S. border.
Protesters took over four corners of the street and
chanted and rallied for over three hours outside the event.
The energetic crowd included hundreds of young,
multinational college students from all over the state of Illinois. A
central demand of the demonstration was "Money for jobs and education,
not for racist raids and deportation!" The protest also demanded full
rights for all immigrants.
More than 200 students staged a coordinate protest action
inside the event. Students wore names of immigrants who have died crossing
the border on the backs of their shirts. They turned their back on Simcox
while he was speaking.
The protest was organized by dozens of progressive student
groups and social justice groups, including the DePaul Activist Student
Union, the March 10th Movement, Latinos for Latinos and the Chicago chapter
of the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism).
Simcox and the Minutemen reflect the growing
anti-immigrant racism encouraged by the policies of the U.S. government.
Using military-style raids and mass deportations, Homeland Security is
promoting an escalation of attacks against immigrant workers.
Groups that encourage racism and violence against
immigrant workers must be opposed whenever they mobilize to promote their
anti-people agenda.
May 1 demonstrations take
place around the country
Immigrant Rights Now! Stop the War!
Chicago
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Chicago
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Over 20,000 immigrants and their supporters marched on
Federal Plaza to demand legalization. Marchers chanted, "Que queremos?
Amnistía!", "Sí, se puede" and "El pueblo unido jamás
será vencido".
Thousands of students, mostly Latino, skipped school to
attend the demonstration. People came out from all over Illinois for the
protest.
Immigrants from many communities participated in the
march. There were contingents from the Puerto Rican, Arab, Filipino, South
Asian, Korean, Nepalese and Polish communities among many others. There was
also a large contingent from the LGBT community.
The spirited and powerful march took place amidst growing
government oppression against immigrants in Chicago and around the country.
The demonstration comes at a time of increasing attacks
against immigrants. On April 30, it was revealed that the government is
threatening to arrest Flor Crisostomo, an immigrant rights activist who is
fighting an ICE deportation order by taking sanctuary in the Aldaberto
United Methodist Church. On April 29—in a much publicized
incident—undocumented immigrant Fernando Lara Flores was arrested at
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport while picking up relatives two days before his
wedding.
Many union members joined the march. There were lively
contingents from UNITE HERE, SEIU, the Teamsters and the United Food and
Commercial Workers among others.
Over 150 immigrant rights, community, labor, social
justice and anti-war organizations endorsed and mobilized for the Chicago
protest.
Los Angeles
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Los Angeles
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Los Angeles had the country’s largest immigrant rights
rally on May 1. Tens of thousands of people participated in two marches from
different points across the city, which merged for a united rally near City
Hall.
Speakers included Juan José Gutiérrez, Latino Movement
USA; Raul Murillo, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional; Angelica Salas, CHIRLA;
State Senator Gill Cedillo; Carlos Alvarez, ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to
Stop War and End Racism); and many others. Alvarez called for
unity and mass opposition to racist ICE raids currently terrorizing
immigrant communities. "An injury to one is an injury to all,"
Alvarez said.
ANSWER mobilized for the action with its partners in the
April 7 Full Rights for Immigrants Coalition and brought a massive, lively contingent.
The mood of the crowd was determined, yet festive. People were happy to be
in the streets demanding full equality for undocumented workers.
The day of action was initiated by the Multi-Ethnic
Immigrant Worker Organizing Network, March 25th Coalition and Latino
Movement USA.
San Francisco
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San Francisco
Photo: Ellen DeWitt
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The International Longshore and Warehouse Union organized a
protest that met at Mason and Beach streets and marched to a noontime rally
at Justin Herman Plaza. All 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast were shut down
by the ILWU on May 1 to protest the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. The PSL
had a contingent in the march, and distributed literature on its
presidential campaign.
The ANSWER Coalition participated in a noontime community
march through the Mission district, from 16th Street to 24th Street. The
march was sponsored by Barrio Unido por Amnistia General and demanded
amnesty for all immigrants.
A 2 p.m. rally was organized at Dolores Park, followed by
a march and rally to Civic Center. The ANSWER Coalition participated in the
event and distributed flyers for upcoming events.
ANSWER organizer Gloria La Riva spoke at the event,
enthusiastically echoing the calls for amnesty for all immigrants. Marchers
chanted "Si, se puede" and "Que queremos? Justicia! Cuando?
Ahora!"
Seattle
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Seattle
Photo: Alliance for a Just and
Lasting Peace - Seattle
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Over a thousand Longshore workers and their supporters
marched and rallied on the Seattle waterfront demanding an end to the Iraq
war. ILWU workers from Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia participated in the
one-day work stoppage and the Seattle event. Many other unions sent
contingents, including the Service Employees International Union, the
Amalgamated Transit Union and the Teamsters.
The march began in the middle of the port area and
proceeded down Alaska Way past the ferry terminal and through the tourist
recreational section of the Seattle shoreline. "No Peace, No
Work," was one of the most popular chants during the march.
Later in the day, thousands of immigrant workers marched
from Judkins Park in the Central District to the Seattle Center. Spirits
were high as workers chanted "Si, se puede!" and "Aqui
estamos y no nos vamos!"
New Haven
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New Haven
Photo: Tahnee Stair
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In New Haven, Conn., hundreds of people gathered on the
downtown Green throughout the day to celebrate May Day with speeches and
cultural performances.
The action culminated in a 5 p.m. immigrants' rights march
that wound through the downtown commercial district and through immigrant
and African American neighborhoods.
Washington, D.C.
Holding signs reading, "Stop the Raids" and
"No Human is Illegal," several hundred people rallied at Malcolm X
Park in Washington, D.C. Demonstrators then took to the streets for a
militant march demanding amnesty for immigrant workers and an end to the
racist repression by federal and local law enforcement.
Immigrant workers in the area have been terrorized by U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation raids and by new local laws
used to harass immigrants and deny them access to services
Anti-war
coalition tours Midwest
April
8-15, 2008
ANSWER coordinator
promotes building mass movement
The ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and
End Racism), a national anti-war organization with offices from coast to
coast, successfully completed its first-ever speaking tour in the Midwest.
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Richard Becker, Western Regional
Coordinator of the ANSWER
Coalition.
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For eight days in April, ANSWER activists
traveled to five cities, large and small, to hold meetings and connect with
local organizers. The cities on the tour were Hanover, Ind.; Sioux Falls,
S.D.; Iowa City, Iowa; Chicago, Ill.; and Milwaukee, Wis.
Meetings were held at the following colleges
and universities: Hanover College in southern Indiana; University of Iowa in
Iowa City; Harold Washington College in Chicago; Harper College in Palatine,
Ill..; and University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
The tour, entitled "The War, the Economy
and the Elections," featured Richard Becker, the Western Regional
Coordinator of ANSWER. In total, over 300 people came out to hear Becker
speak and engage in lively discussions about the struggle against the war.
In his presentations, Becker asserted that a
combination of war, economic and environmental crises is preparing the way
for an inevitable rise in mass struggle.
The Iraq war, the U.S.-backed Israeli war
against Lebanon in 2006, the endless assaults against the Palestinian people
and the growing threats against Iran have pitted the U.S. government against
the people of the Middle East. But the confrontation is not simply regional.
Wherever people are trying to create or maintain governments and
institutions that are independent from U.S. domination another front of
anti-imperialist struggle opens.
In their pursuit of greater dominance, U.S.
imperialism is creating increasingly insufferable living conditions for
workers and oppressed peoples around the world. Over the last 17 years, U.S.
imperialism has torn Iraqi society to shreds—it has killed, wounded or
displaced one-third of Iraq’s population for the sole purpose of
colonizing the oil-rich country. The imperialists see Iraq as a lynchpin in
their strategy to discourage independent development in the region and
thwart any potential challenges to their global empire.
However, the Iraq war has not strengthened
the U.S. position in the world. The resistance of the Iraqi people to
occupation has created breathing room for countries such as Venezuela,
Bolivia, Cuba and Iran to pursue a strategy of development outside of the
U.S. controlled orbit.
Some of the looming crises Becker mentioned
include the trillions of dollars spent on war instead of people’s needs;
the deepening capitalist economic crisis; the reckless drive of U.S.
corporations to maximize profit that is the underlying cause of the current
global food and energy crises and many other growing problems; the weakening
of the dollar as the United States continues to borrow billions to fund the
war and bail out the banks; and the environmental crisis.
Becker said that the only way to stop the
Iraq war and wage an effective fight against the root cause of the war,
modern capitalism, is through the struggle of an independent mass movement
and the building of organizations that can facilitate people’s struggle
against the ruling class made up of the banks, oil corporations and the
military-industrial complex.
The presidential candidates and other
politicians, especially the Democrats, must give lip service to progressive
demands and talk about change. However, they must also assure the ruling
elite that they will serve the interests of the most powerful institutions
in society—the banks and corporations—if they are to be elected.
"No movement has ever started in the
White House or Congress," Becker said. "In fact, they always
ridicule mass movements when they arise. Only after a powerful mass movement
has forced change do politicians enact reforms. They then pat themselves on
the back and give themselves credit for progressive laws.
"But history has shown that it is the
people themselves that make change."
At every stop on the tour, people expressed
interest in joining the organizing activities of the ANSWER Coalition.
Women's Forum
March 29, 2008
“Women’s Power is
People’s Power!” That was the title of a very successful March 29
Chicago
forum put on by the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
The meeting was held at the Chicago office of the PSL in the working class, multi-national neighborhood of Albany Park. The meeting room was filled to capacity with a mostly young,
multi-national crowd.
Suzanne Saba, a Palestinian
activist and PSL member, chaired the meeting. Heather Benno, a PSL candidate
for Illinois State Assembly in the 40th District, spoke about
imperialism and the struggle of immigrant women.
Beth Massey, a 40 year
veteran of the women’s struggle for justice, equality and liberation,
talked about the history of women’s struggle against oppression and the
need for socialism.
Stefanie Fisher, PSL
Chicago election campaign coordinator, talked about women’s rights and the
2008 elections.
At the meeting Massey said,
“The capitalist, patriarchal system is rotten. They can bail out Bear
Stearns and the banks with billions of dollars in loans, but when a working
single mother from an African-American neighborhood needs a job or a place
to live or food to feed her children they act as if her needs are criminal. We definitely need a different system.”
The Party for Socialism and
Liberation is a member of the ANSWER Coalition.
4,000
March Against Iraq War in Chicago on 5th Anniversary
Wednesday,
March 19, 2008
Report by Martin Stainthorp, ANSWER Chicago
4,000
people took to the streets of Chicago on March 19 to demand an immediate end to
the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Spirited
chants of "Troops Out Now, Iraq for
Iraqis" echoed throughout downtown as the march made its way through
Chicago's Loop and along Michigan Avenue.
The
5th anniversary action in Chicago was striking in that it was made up
of a majority of young, energetic and militant protestors. There was a
significant turnout of young people from Arab and Muslim communities.
The most popular chants during the march expressed solidarity
with our sisters and brothers struggling against U.S. imperialism in the Middle
East and throughout the world.
At the rally in Federal Plaza prior to the march, A.N.S.W.E.R.
Chicago Coordinator John Beacham
told thousands that "Our enemies are not in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine,
Iran, Cuba, Venezuela or China. They’re in Washington, The Pentagon, and Wall
Street. They want us to fight their wars and fight each other. We must resist
their divide and conquer strategies and fight them. Change will come through a
united struggle against the banks, corporations and the war machine.”
Other speakers at the rally included Iraq Veterans Against
the War, representatives of the Palestinian community, representatives from the
immigrant rights struggle, CODEPink, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism,
Teamsters Local 743 and Voices for Creative Nonviolence.
With a booming sound system,
banners, signs, petitions and leaflets, A.N.S.W.E.R. volunteers did anti-war
outreach to thousands of people.
Over sixty anti-war and social justice
groups mobilized and participated in the mass action. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
in Chicago leafleted every day for six weeks before the March 19 protest.
On
March 19, the fifth anniversary of the war, hundreds of protests took place
in cities and towns large and small. On March 19 over 7,000 marched in San
Francisco. On March 15 10,000 marched in Los Angeles.
To
get involved in the Anti-war movement call 773-463-0311.
Some of the tons of
Outreach ANSWER Volunteers are doing for the March 19 Protest
ANSWER Volunteers Make a
Banner
to Advertise March 19 Protest in Chicago
February 14, 2008

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ANSWER volunteers
march through loop with March 19 banners and pass out 2,000 leaflets
February 23, 2008

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Protest
to Stop Israeli Siege of Gaza
January 29, 2008
Stefanie Fisher
On Tuesday Jan. 29 over 200 people
came out in Chicago to demand an end to the Israeli siege of Gaza. The
militant picket and rally was held outside a Zionist fundraiser for the
Friends of the Israeli Defense Force.
The
demonstration assembled at 5 pm on a cold and snowy night and lasted for
nearly two hours. Severe winter weather did not prevent people from making
their voices heard loud and clear.
Dozens of Palestinian flags were held
high all along the road. Chants included, “End the siege on Gaza now!”
“Who is the terrorist? Israel is the terrorist!” and “Free, free
Palestine!” The demonstration
was lead by young people from the Palestinian and Arab communities.
Party for Socialism and Liberation
candidate for Illinois State Assembly Heather Benno spoke during the rally.
She said, “We stand with the
people of Palestine and support the right of the Palestinian people to
resist oppression and occupation. We will continue to struggle in the
streets of the U.S. until Palestine, Iraq and the people of the Middle East
are free from U.S. domination.” Speakers
and chants were greeted enthusiastically by many of the young
passers-by.
The demonstration in Chicago was part
of national and worldwide demonstrations against the Israeli siege of Gaza.
In the U.S. large emergency protests were also held in Washington D.C., San
Francisco, Anaheim, New York, and Seattle.
The Chicago demonstration was initiated by the
International Solidarity Movement. It was endorsed by Palestine Solidarity
Group, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, American Muslims for
Palestine, ANSWER Chicago and many others.
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