5) L.A. Marchers Blast "Hate, War and Racism"
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
6) 20,000 March in San Francisco
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
7) Protest in Big Oil Country
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
8) Raking in those Starbucks
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
9) More Protests
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
10) A Paramedic's Account of WTC
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
BLACK, WHITE, ASIAN, ARAB: L.A. MARCHERS BLAST "HATE
WAR AND RACISM"
By Jimmy Cho
Los Angeles
Over 2,500 enthusiastic participants convened at the
Westwood Federal Building in Los Angeles Sept. 29 to oppose
the preparations for war being planned by President George
W. Bush and his administration. They had responded to a call
by the International Action Center, the Coalition for World
Peace and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
The activity by this new coalition of peace activists and
progressives was endorsed by hundreds of local
organizations.
Armed with chants such as "One, two, three, four, we don't
want your racist war" and signs reading "War is terrorism 5
1,000," the demonstrators showed the country and the world
that significant numbers of the people in the U.S. do not
want war.
Unity was a major theme of the demonstration. The organizers
succeeded in uniting a broad coalition of participants with
differing agendas and perspectives into a united force
"against hate, war and racism," as Magda Miller, an
organizer for the International Action Center, said.
Participant Patrice Bryan celebrated the success of the
march, saying, "I am happy with all the people who showed up
and all the differing viewpoints of people who want peace."
Everyone at the demonstration showed enthusiasm and
conviction that they would succeed in turning the United
States war machine around.
James Lafferty of the Los Angeles National Lawyers Guild
said: "We are uniting everyone into a peace movement as has
never been seen. We have to take on the most powerful
military, economic and propaganda machine in the world. No
doubt in my mind we can do it, but we must stay united!"
Another demonstrator, Sharon Lee, concurred: "I lived
through Vietnam, was against that action, protested and
believed it makes a difference. This is an example of the
use of military might rather than clear thinking."
During a spirited procession through the streets of
Westwood, led by a group of Korean drummers, the marchers
were met with a continuous honking of support from passing
vehicles. At the rally that followed, speakers from various
sponsoring organizations in a war of words cracked holes in
the hegemony of nonsense being spewed by Washington and the
media.
John Parker from the International Action Center urged the
country to "question what you are hearing from the State
Department." Parker also painted a grim picture of what a
war would look like if it were allowed to happen. He
explained that the American military would use depleted
uranium as they did in Iraq and Yugoslavia, which caused
thousands of children to die from leukemia.
Michel Shehadeh, a leading activist in the struggle for a
free Palestine and one of eight people known as the LA 8 who
faced deportation for their political activity, took on
President Bush by saying, "Rumor has it that we are either
with the United States or with the terrorists. We are not
for either. We are for peace and ending the war."
All the participants were united in their conviction that
"the silent and soon-to-be-vocal majority for peace," as
West Hollywood Councilmember Steve Martin put it, would soon
unite with the activists to end the coming war.
Thousands of copies of a call for the new anti-war coalition
called International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War & End
Racism) were distributed throughout the march and to
onlookers and were enthusiastically received.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: torstai 4. lokakuu 2001 07:32
Subject: [WW] 20,000 March in San Francisco
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
20,000 MARCH IN SAN FRANCISCO: GRASSROOTS
MOVEMENT SHOWS ITS STRENGTH
By Bill Hackwell
and Brenda Sandburg
San Francisco
In a strong display of a growing grassroots movement,
thousands of people streamed into Dolores Park in San
Francisco Sept. 29 to protest the escalating war drum of the
Bush administration.
Demonstrators also brought a strong message opposing racist
scapegoating of Arab, Muslim and South Asian people living
in the United States. The rally and march were organized by
a newly formed coalition, Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
(ANSWER). The action was initiated by the International
Action Center and endorsed by hundreds of organizations and
individuals, locally and nationally.
If the United States attacks Afghanistan and kills innocent
civilians, it could intensify anti-American feelings in the
Islamic world, said Zulfikhar Ahmad, a member of the
Pakistani community, at the opening rally. "I am very afraid
that there is a very big tragedy in the making and it will
be the biggest dishonor to the memory of the 6,000 innocent
people who have died."
Rev. Dorsey Blake began the rally with a eulogy expressing
grief for the thousands of innocent victims who died from
the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and the
plane crash in Pennsylvania. He went on to say that our
grief was not to be construed as an endorsement for war.
The rally--co-chaired by Gloria La Riva of the International
Action Center, Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's
Alliance, and Miguel Molina of KPFA Radio--featured over 30
speakers. At one point the entire demonstration left Dolores
Park and wound its way through the Mission District, the
most multinational community in the city.
During the march, protesters stopped at two stores which had
had their windows broken out earlier in the week. One is a
popular caf� run by an Iranian and the other a Pakistani
restaurant. In a moment of solidarity, a march leader told
the cheering protesters that there is no room for this type
of racist attack and offered to organize security teams to
protect these stores at night if it were necessary.
After the march returned to Dolores Park, the rally
continued for another two hours. It included a powerful
speech by Elias Rashmawi of the American-Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee, who said: "I stand before you
today as a Palestinian Arab. It is imperative to recognize
that the events in Washington, D.C., and New York on
September 11 will be used to realign the world, utilized as
a tool for more repressive control.
"We know what it is like to look up and see bombs come down,
to see buildings collapse," Rashmawi said. "In the spirit of
our children who have had F-16s and M-16s pierce their
hearts, in the spirit of Iraqi mothers who weep every day as
they see their children wither away to death, in the spirit
of the people of Afghanistan who have seen CIA operations
for 20 years, I invoke our most precious identity: Salaam,
peace be with you."
LABOR COUNCIL SUPPORTS RALLY
Union activist Dave Welsh read a statement from the San
Francisco Labor Council, which passed a resolution in
support of the rally. "As we mourn the tremendous loss of
life, we declare our resistance to efforts to use this
tragedy to engage in military actions that can lead only to
more carnage and senseless loss of life," the Labor Council
said. "We reject the idea that entire nations should be
punished for the actions of a few. Bombing raids and
military strikes will only fuel an endless cycle of revenge
that can only bring the deaths of more innocent civilians,
both here and around the world."
Alicia Jrapko from the Free the Five Committee of the
International Action Center gave a well-received talk about
five Cubans imprisoned in Miami on spy charges who had
penetrated far-right Cuban organizations in this country
that have attacked Cuba many times in the past. She compared
the attack on the World Trade Center with the 40 years of
terrorist activity against Cuba. "The United States says it
wants to go after countries that harbor terrorism, but what
about those who carried out terrorist acts against Cuba from
the United States, and are free to walk the streets of Miami
today," Jrapko asked.
Other speakers included author Michael Parenti; Tony
Gonzalez, executive director of the International Indian
Treaty Council; Riva Enteen, National Lawyers Guild; Forrest
Schmidt of Workers World Party; Medea Benjamin, Global
Exchange; Carl Pinkston, Vanguard Foundation; Zulma Olivera,
Comite 98; Penny Rosenwasser, Coalition of Jews for Justice;
Michael Bleeker, director of Swords to Plowshares, an
advocacy group for Vietnam veterans; and Bianca Bonilla, a
Berkeley high school senior. The music groups Company of
Prophets and Grito Serpentino also performed.
- END -
(Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to
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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: torstai 4. lokakuu 2001 07:32
Subject: [WW] Protest in Big Oil Country
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
PROTEST IN BIG OIL COUNTRY
Houston ANSWER's call for a demonstration against war and
racism on Sept. 29 was answered by people from many
organizations. Gathering in front of the headquarters of the
Armed Forces Reserves, some 70 people carrying signs and
banners urged passing drivers to "honk for peace," which
many did. Peace signs and friendly waves far outnumbered
hostile gestures. In the accompanying photograph, rally
chair Gloria Rubac holds sound system while youth activist
and journalist "Chickpea" addresses demonstrators, media and
passersby. University of Houston professor Bob Buzanco,
center, and Cristobal Hinojosa of Mexicanos en Accion were
among the speakers.
--Joanne Gavin
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: torstai 4. lokakuu 2001 07:32
Subject: [WW] Raking in those Starbucks
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
RAKING IN THOSE STARBUCKS
"No free water!" the restaurant bosses tell their employees.
They drill it into their heads. "Make them pay for water."
So when the World Trade Center towers fell and thousands of
victims were overcome by smoke, ashes and debris, the
manager of the nearest Starbucks made rescue workers pay
$130 for three cases of water used to treat people for
shock. The ambulance workers had to take up a collection
among themselves to get the water.
After this example of fanatical capitalist greed got around
and complaints poured in, the president of the multimillion-
dollar chain sent a refund and free coffee to the ambulance
crew. Gee, what a patriot.
Thanks to the Guardian of England, Sept. 26, for publishing
this item. It didn't appear in the U.S. press, to our
knowledge.
--Deirdre Griswold
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: torstai 4. lokakuu 2001 07:32
Subject: [WW] More Protests
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
MORE PROTESTS
News of more anti-war demonstrations on the weekend of Sept.
29-30 keeps coming in to the WW office. There was a very
multi-national march of 1,300 in Denver on Sept. 29. The
same day in Pensacola, Fla., a major Navy operations center,
three dozen people rallied at the Escambia County
Courthouse.
A significant March for World Peace and Justice, called by
some of the most prominent African American churches in
southwest Atlanta, brought out 1,000 people on Sept. 30.
Their main chant was "War is not the answer. Justice is the
answer. Peace, not war."Motorists honked and flashed peace
signs at the blocks-long march.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: torstai 4. lokakuu 2001 07:32
Subject: [WW] A Paramedic's Account of WTC
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Oct. 11, 2001
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
A PARAMEDIC'S ACCOUNT OF WTC
[The following is excerpted from an account of the World
Trade Center disaster by Hunter student and
paramedic James Creedon.]
Sept. 13: Hello all--Thank you very much for the many *many*
notes of support and condolence. Things are very difficult
here in New York City. I thought I would share a bit about
what happened to me on September 11th, 2001.
I woke up Tuesday morning to the radio and heard that a
building had been struck by an airplane. I honestly thought
it was a historical piece about the B-52 bomber that hit the
Empire State Building back in the 1940s. Once I knew the
real deal, that two planes had struck, I put my uniform on
and headed off to my station.
>From where I was standing, it was about half a block to WTC
1 (North Tower). I could see flames and smoke billowing out
of the building, and debris was landing all around me. There
were body parts scattered on the ground, and it was pretty
clear how bad things were.
Moments later, I heard an enormous roar and felt the ground
shaking. I looked up to the tower, and saw what looked like
an umbrella being opened up--like a starburst at the
fireworks. I was directly underneath it, and I could see
girders shooting out from the building. I immediately began
to run southwest, towards a building that had some sort of
opening. I already felt rocks landing on my back and helmet,
and there were girders falling right near me. I made it
perhaps 30 feet before being knocked off my feet. I went
about 10 feet through the air, and landed rolling on a set
of steps. My helmet was gone, my phone, my stethoscope.
This was the scariest moment of my life. The air was black
with ash and debris, and I literally couldn't see a thing.
People were screaming, and some were clearly seriously
injured. We couldn't breathe, and our mouths, eyes and noses
watered and burned. I stayed crouching on the ground,
covering my head, and breathed through my shirt. A few
minutes later, the smoke began to clear and I was able to
make out a few other figures. We held on to each other, and
were able to make it to a restaurant where we started
gathering water for eye flushes. Ambulances and fire trucks
were overturned, walkways were collapsed, and people were
running and screaming.
After a half-hour of giving out water, I started to help out
with moving other people to the waterfront where we were
loading them onto boats and ferries. But soon we had to
clear out from there also because the second tower was
coming down. I was holding a 3-year-old girl at the time,
and we lost sight of her mother. We all ran as hard as we
could, while we tried to carry as many people as couldn't
make it. There were many injuries, and many more people with
smoke inhalation or blindness.
Eventually, we regrouped on a pier farther southeast, and
got more people loaded up to bring them to New Jersey. I
helped here for a while, and ended up taking one of the last
boats to NJ to help with triage and treatment there, by
order of my supervisor.
An hour or two later, I was redeployed to Manhattan, but I
was then taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
Luckily, I got off well. I have a sprained ankle, twisted
knee, miscellaneous burns and abrasions, and had to have
glass and gravel removed from my arms and back.
Especially sad and difficult to me is the loss of two
members of my own team. They were killed in collapse of WTC
2 (South Tower), along with hundreds of other rescuers.
I have lost friends, and I can honestly say that they were
some of the most caring, deeply committed, and selfless
people I have ever met.
Finally, I want to urge all of us to remem ber the
complexities of the world we live in. This is a tragic act,
one that has destroyed or forever altered the lives of
countless people. It is also an act that occurs in
particular context, one in which the United States is guilty
of this exact same kind of crime, only on a greater and more
gruesome scale. Let us take from this the inspiration to
create a world free from imperialism in all its
manifestations, one that moves us from the civil war that is
capitalism to a higher form of society.
With love and rage,
James Creedon
