Oct. 27 "End the War Now" Protests Throughout the United States (City reports) : Miami IMC

Anti-war sentiment is growing. The demonstrations yesterday, like the September 15 March on Washington, were noteworthy for the large number of young people - students and young workers - who are joining the front ranks of the anti-war movement in the United States. The Arab American and Muslim community was well represented. The participation of Iraq War Veterans and their families continues to grow. The energy and spirit of the demonstration is an indicator that the people of this country are fed up with the criminal war and occupation of Iraq.

Everyday, the corporate-dominated media tries to convince people that the anti-war movement is shrinking. That is a lie, as you can see from the reports below. The same media lies to the people about the so-called progress made by the “surge” in Iraq. The truth is that the U.S. military occupation of Iraq cannot succeed. The Iraqi people insist on their right to determine their own destiny. The people of the United States, who have no voice in either the Republican or Democratic Parties or in the big business media, are determined to find a way to end the war, which has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and costs $3 billion each week.

The ANSWER Coalition, UFPJ and hundreds of other groups organized for the October 27 protests. What is needed now is to intensify the mass organization of the people. As it was in Vietnam, it will be the people, not the politicians, who will bring this imperialist war to an end. Check the ANSWER Coalition website for regular updates and reports on future steps for the anti-war movement.

More than 30,000 people marched in San Francisco in a demonstration sponsored by the October 27 Coalition, which was initiated by the ANSWER Coalition. The demonstration was endorsed by over 150 political, religious, labor and community organizations, including all seven Bay Area Central Labor Councils. Speakers included Cindy Sheehan, leaders of the Arab American and Muslim community, American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis Banks, Episcopal Bishop of California Mark Handley Andrus, and prominent labor union leaders from the Bay Area. The march included a dramatic Die-In on Market Street where the crowd lay down to symbolize the almost 3,900 U.S. and over 1 million Iraqi deaths in the war. The march included a strong labor contingent numbering nearly 1,000 and including banners from many different unions.

In Los Angeles, nearly 20,000 people marched through downtown to the federal building for a mass rally and Die-In. The California fire catastrophe did not keep people from registering their opposition to the Iraq war in a major way. The demonstration was overwhelmingly youthful, with students pouring into the march from hundreds of Southern California schools. More than 250 people joined the youth and student contingent organized by Youth & Student ANSWER. Others lined the front banners, chanting "Iraq for Iraqis, troops out now!" and "Alto a la guerra, stop the war!"

After the march, almost everyone present participated in a mass symbolic Die-In. Ian Thompson of the ANSWER Coalition introduced the Die-In while masses of people lay down. Thundering sound effects of air raids and bombs exploding punctuated the action, followed by a solemn minute of silence for the Iraqis and U.S. soldiers killed in the war. As protesters rose up after the Die-In, all chanted "Stop the war!" Preston Wood of ANSWER and Greg Akili of African Americans Against the War spoke about the cost of war on people in the United States, urging everyone present to become organizers in the anti-war movement. Muna Coobtee of the National Council of Arab Americans spoke about the dire conditions facing Iraqis due to the imperialist occupation. Other speakers included actors Martin Sheen ("The West Wing"), Mike Farrell ("MASH") and Mark Ruffalo ("Zodiac"). ANSWER initiated the protest, which was organized by the Oct. 27 Stop the War Coalition, a broad array of progressive, anti-war and social justice organizations.

In Seattle, at least 7,000 people marched. Buses and carpools came from the entire Northwest Region - from Eugene and Portland, Oregon; Olympia, Tacoma, Everett, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham and elsewhere in Washington State. There was a youth-and-community-oriented opening program, followed by a march and lively rally. Speakers included Fatimah Magsombol, Mindanao Bagsomoro Caucus; Michael Dixon, community activist; Chanan Suarez Diaz, President, Seattle IVAW; Jeff Johnson, research director, Washington State Labor Council, speaking on behalf of WSLC chairman Rick Bender; Aracely Hernandez, Committee for General Amnesty and Social Justice; Wally Cuddeford and Caitlyn Esworthy, Port Militarization Resistance; Dr. Goudarz Eghtedari, American Iranian Friendship Council; MCs Cedric Walker, Jane Cutter of Seattle ANSWER and Marie Marchand of Whatcom Peace and Justice Center in Bellingham.

In Chicago, tens of thousands marched. Organizers for the October 27 Mobilization Committee, the sponsoring group, estimated the crowd at 30,000. The demonstration was the largest demonstration yet protesting the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq to take place in Chicago. ANSWER organizers said at least half of the participants were students and other young people. The demonstration was very multinational with strong representation from the African American community. There was a labor contingent from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and a smaller contingent from the Teamsters Union. The ANSWER Coalition in Chicago had distributed tens of thousands of flyers and posters to help mobilize for the demonstration.

The New York City demonstration was initiated by United for Peace and Justice. There was a strong turnout despite a steady downpour. UFPJ organizers estimated the crowd at 45,000. The ANSWER Coalition mobilized people from many cities on the East Coast and organized a spirited student and youth contingent.

The heart of Boston was filled with anti-war energy on Saturday afternoon, as some 7,500 took to the streets in protest of the war in Iraq. Braving inclement New England weather, veterans, students, seasoned activists and many first-time protesters from throughout the region rallied in Boston Commons. Led by veterans organizations and military families, thousands later marched to Copley Square, demanding "Bring all the troops home now!" one of five principal demands. Speakers at the rally included Melida and Carlos Arrendondo, historian Howard Zinn and Liam Madden of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). New England United, a coalition of local and regional organizations, organized the demonstration and march. The ANSWER Coalition mobilized people from Boston and several other cities in New England and organized a spirited student and youth contingent.

Organizers from around the state of Florida mobiled for a march and rally on the streets of Fort Lauderdale. Activists marched to Welcome Park for a rally that included speakers from Iraq Veterans Against the War, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, South Florida Impeachment Coalition, the Take Back the Land Movement, Muslim Student Association, and other leaders of local movements. The crowd that descended on Welcome Park represented the communities that are hit hardest by the Iraq War: from veterans to those demanding that the $3 billion a week spent on the illegal occupation be spent on housing, education, and jobs.

* Click on the link to the YouTUBE video of the Ft. Lauderdale Oct. 27 march-rally at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUb-ZgsAcIY

Raging against war

Protesters gathered in Orlando on Saturday to march and speak against the Iraq war and the Bush administration.

Susan Jacobson
Sentinel Staff Writer
October 28, 2007

Two thousand anti-war protesters brought their message to Lake Eola Park on Saturday with speeches, signs and fervor redolent of rallies of the Vietnam era.

The crowd cheered and applauded as more than a dozen speakers condemned President Bush and the Iraq war, often using profanity.

A few blocks away at Heritage Square, about 100 people showed their support of the government with a rally that featured patriotic music and speakers, including the father of a soldier killed in Iraq. Several called the anti-war protesters "misguided" or "anti-American. "

"The future of America rests on us supporting the troops and the military," said Deborah King-Lile, Florida coordinator of Gathering of Eagles, which supports service members and veterans.

At Lake Eola, however, the mood was decidedly anti-establishment. One of the more fiery speakers, the Rev. Bruce Wright of St. Pete for Peace and an activist for the homeless, called Bush "the head fascist" and said the Christian right "needs to be kicked out of this country."

"The system is bankrupt," Wright told the crowd. "It's controlled by robbers and thieves. Voting is not the answer. It's the people rising up and not putting up with the injustice out there."

The rally was one of 11 Saturday in cities from Los Angeles to Boston and was organized by United for Peace & Justice, a New York City-based anti-war group. Participants, however, used the occasion to denounce a variety of societal ills and rail against conservative causes.

Signs read, "Impeach Bush," "Investigate 9-11," "Osama bin forgotten" and "How many lives per gallon?" Some compared Bush to Hitler. A couple of veterans took the stage to urge other veterans and members of the military to oppose the war.

Lucas Benitez, co-director of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, was one of several people who decried corporate greed, venal politicians and U.S. military policy in Central America and elsewhere.

"The campaign against the war isn't just against the war," said Benitez, whose group fights to improve conditions for farmworkers.

"It's against the government and all its bad policies."

The protest drew a variety of people, from mothers pushing babies in strollers to Peg McIntire of St. Augustine, an anti-war activist for most of her 97 years. She urged the crowd to "transform our feelings into action."

"We the people must reclaim our civil rights," said McIntire, who wore a "Grandmothers for Peace" T-shirt.

As the speeches went on for nearly two hours, people browsed through literature at tables that bordered the protest area at the northeast corner of the park. Among the groups represented were: CODEPINK, which describes itself as "a women-initiated grass-roots peace and social-justice movement"; Veterans for Peace; the Young Communist League, USA; Save Darfur; Jobs with Justice; Food Not Bombs and Orlando Progressive Alliance.

Items for sale included T-shirts bearing a picture of revolutionary Che Guevara, anti-Bush buttons, books espousing socialist and Marxist theory and anti-war bumper stickers.

As it began to drizzle, then pour, the group marched onto Robinson Street and down Orange Avenue. The route, which was supposed to include the Parramore neighborhood west of downtown, was cut short because of the weather and time constraints, said Sgt. Barbara Jones, an Orlando police spokeswoman.

The rally was peaceful with no reported confrontations or arrests.

Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandose ntinel.com or 386-851-7903.