Reportback from �When War Starts, No Business As Usual� Emergency
Anti-War Demonstration in New Brunswick, NJ
By Members of the New Brunswick Anarchist Union and NJ Anti-Racist Action
Joining in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of people across the
world, 200 people held a rally and spirited march in New Brunswick, NJ
yesterday to protest the illegal US-led invasion of Iraq.
After meeting up at the New Brunswick Fountain, people took to the
streets, first blocking rush-hour traffic on George Street � a major
corridor through the city � and then turning on to Route 27, bringing
traffic to a standstill while marching through Highland Park. In doing
this, demonstrators held true to their promise to shut down business as
usual, although for a shorter time then they would have liked.
Before meeting up with the larger demonstration, a red and black
contingent made up of members of the New Brunswick Anarchist Union and
the Industrial Workers of the World held a feeder march through the
community, taking over Livingston Avenue and marching to the fountain.
Chanting �We don't your war, we don't want your peace, if you drop those
bombs, we'll take your fucking streets,� anarchists blocked traffic for
about 10 blocks, arriving at the fountain chanting �1, 2, 3, 4, We don't
want your racist war. 5, 6, 7, 8, Organize and smash the state!� When the
red and black contingent arrived, no speaker system had been setup yet,
so various members took turns speaking through a megaphone about the
current invasion and ideas to stop it, as well as the root cause of such
wars � capitalism, and the greed and need for control that this economic
system causes.
The people taking part in the feeder march, specifically members of the
New Brunswick Anarchist Union, had spent the entire week leading up to
the demonstration organizing for it. With members of other groups, close
to 2000 handbills � in English and Spanish - were distributed throughout
the community. In addition, several banner drops occurred. People also
took part in wheat pasting anti-war posters and literature as well as
flyers about the emergency demonstration throughout New Brunswick and
Highland Park.
Various members of the Central New Jersey Coalition for Peace and
Justice, as well as community members and students, spoke during the
45-minute rally at the fountain. Members of the New Brunswick Anarchist
Union and the Community Empowerment Project, pointing out the fact that
both Bush and Blair have ignored all of the anti-war demonstrations in
the last few months and went to war against the wishes of the citizens of
their countries, emphasized the need to raise the stakes and engage in
acts of direct action and civil disobedience.
Following the speakers, demonstrators took to the streets. While police
attempted to escort the unpermitted march and contain it to one lane of
traffic, many people marched through oncoming traffic, blocking the
entire street. These actions continued throughout the march, through
Highland Park and on the way back to New Brunswick later in the evening.
From here, the march turned off of George Street onto Church Street,
making a stop at Congressman Frank Pallone's office, where coalition
members demanded that he return to his anti-war stance.
The march, led by the red and black contingent, then continued on to
Route 27 (Albany Street), taking over the bridge on their way to Highland
Park. The reaction from most drivers was positive, with many rolling down
their windows and accepting the literature they were offered, and many
others honking their horns and cheering in support of the march. This was
the general reaction of motorists during the entire evening.
The march continued in the streets to the Veteran's Memorial at the
intersection of Route 27 and Woodbridge Avenue. With most of the marchers
remaining in the intersection, police were forced to close down all
access to both streets for several blocks around the memorial. Several
speeches were given, a moment of silence was observed, and then people
marched back to New Brunswick, still in the streets.
Marchers surprised police, and instead of returning to the fountain,
marched to the train station and occupied the intersection of Easton
Avenue and Albany Street. With a much smaller contingent of people left,
the police cleared the street by physically shoving protesters out of the
way. Demonstrators retook the north-bound side of Albany Street,
effectively shutting down that major street for several blocks.
Once arriving at the intersection of George Street with the intention of
marching back into the community, police blocked the front of the march
and surrounded the small group of protesters that were left. An
undercover cop announced that the police were tired of cooperating with
the march, and that the protest was now over. Marchers returned to the
sidewalks, limited by their small numbers from being able to respond
effectively. Chanting �No Justice, No Peace, Fuck the Police,� they
returned to the fountain to decide what to do.
Police had closed George Street, so several people tried to retake the
streets. A van that had turned onto the street almost ran over marchers,
and police cleared the street again. Once at the fountain, the decision
to disperse was made due to very small numbers.
While demonstrators understand that actions like this are not going to
stop the war by themselves, and that more direct interference in the war
effort is required, it is also important to keep the pressure on and
continue to draw attention to the illegal war and injustices going on in
Iraq. With that said, the march was very successful, and except for a few
irritated motorists and a police SUV that hit several demonstrators in an
attempt to contain the march, it was problem-free. Demonstrators vowed to
keep the pressure on and return to the streets to protest the illegal
invasion of Iraq and the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians.
For more information on yesterday's march and to find out about any
upcoming events, please email the New Brunswick Anarchist Union �
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In solidarity, Members of the New Brunswick Anarchist Union and NJ
Anti-Racist Action
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/03/23/6229574
