------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Dec. 13, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
HOLMES SPEAKS IN L.A.: ANTI-WAR MESSAGE RESONATES IN COMMUNITY MEETINGS By Jimmie Cho Los Angeles Larry Holmes, a co-coordinator of the International Action Center and member of the ANSWER coalition, gave rousing, inspiring calls to protest the war in Afghanistan and the resulting analogous war at home to two meetings here recently. On Nov. 30 at the Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates in Koreatown, and on Dec. 1 at the KRST Unity Center of African Spirituality in South Central Los Angeles, Holmes got a strong response from many in the audience. As International Action Center volunteer Jennifer Kang said, "We were all hit by a wave of motivation from the front of the room." Roughly 70 people attended the talks on Friday and Saturday. Although Holmes tailored his speeches toward the different audiences on both days, the core message he gave was resoundingly unified and clear: "The war is an attack on everyone, whether abroad or here at home." The hosts of both venues, Elizabeth Sunwoo at the Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates and the Rev. Richard (Meri Ka Ra) Byrd at the KRST Unity Center of African Spirituality, echoed Holmes's commitment to ending the war. Reverend Byrd said, "We share in your commitment to peace and justice and righteousness." Holmes quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in saying that "the United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world." He outlined the sequence of events that led the Bush administration to use the tragedy of Sept. 11 as an excuse for war and military buildup abroad and the repression of dissent here at home. He reminded us of what we had all thought of George W. Bush before Sept. 11--as someone who stole the election and who executed Black and Latino prisoners as governor of Texas. At KIWA, Holmes stated that the Bush administration was attacking the right of immigrants to be involved politically and that "it is in our best interest to fight for our political rights." At the KRST Center, Holmes urged everyone to remember COINTELPRO, the government's war against activists during the heyday of 1960s political activism, and said, "The pronouncement that is right now against immigrants may be against religious and political leaders tomorrow." He called the war "a war with many fronts." - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
