------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Nov. 29, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
100,000 march in London PROTESTS DENOUNCE U.S./UK WAR By John Catalinotto The Act Now to Stop War & End Racism coalition (International ANSWER) held a series of informational actions on the eve of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. These ranged from rallies and picket lines to mass leafleting to teach-in-type discussions. Two dozen cities and campuses across the United States participated, with solidarity actions in Spain, Italy and Germany, mostly on Nov. 14. Following the Sept. 11 events, ANSWER organized the first actions against U.S. military threats, drawing 20,000 protesters to both Washington, D.C., and San Francisco on Sept. 29. The group again held protests in 75 cities across the U.S. on Oct. 27, after the Pentagon began bombing Afghanistan. Meanwhile, in some parts of the world, protests have accelerated in the face of the U.S.-British reports of victory in Afghanistan over the Taliban. The largest demonstration was held in London on Nov. 18. There the Stop the War Coalition gathered what was called the largest anti- war march since the Vietnam War. "Some 100,000 anti-war protesters marched in London today, doubling last month's turnout of 50,000, indicating the full depth of opposition to the war in the UK," said the organizers' report. "Trade unionists, Muslim organizations, community groups, anti-racists, human rights activists, anti- globalization activists, students and Members of Parliament heard a wide range of speakers condemn the U.S.-led military action in Afghanistan." "After today's demonstration, no one can doubt both the scale and the diversity of anti-war feeling in this country," said Suresh Grover of the National Civil Rights Movement and Stop the War steering committee. "This is a ground-breaking event which has coalesced into a massive operation against the military action. "This protest is also against the attack on human rights in Britain. The government is slipping in the suspension of habeas corpus and the introduction of internment and detention without trial. We are also seeing a proliferation of racist assaults." Veteran anti-war activist and former minister Tony Benn told the rally that "We are witnessing the birth of a world-wide peace movement." He denounced the U.S.-UK war as terrorism. Important trade unionists were present, including delegations from the local government union UNISON, the Transport and General Workers Union, the National Union of Teachers, the rail unions RMT and ASLEF, and the Fire Brigades Union. Hospital workers from various parts of the country also took part. In Ottawa, Canada, an anti-globalization protest at the G-20 meeting grew to over 2,000 people on Nov. 17. The demonstrators also raised slogans against the war on Afghanistan. ANSWER ACTIONS NOV. 14 Among the actions sponsored by ANSWER in the United States were rallies of hundreds of people near Union Square Park in New York and at Powell and Market Street in San Francisco. The San Francisco action focused on protesting the U.S. bombing of the offices of Al-Jazeera television in Kabul, the most brutal way to censor news from the Afghan capital. In San Diego, ANSWER supporters gathered with signs and flyers at the corner of Broadway and Front streets, distributing hundreds of leaflets to passers-by. In Washington, D.C., a large group of ANSWER volunteers went to a dozen Metro stations and neighborhoods and distributed close to 20,000 leaflets and fact sheets about the U.S.- British aggression on Afghanistan. Many of those who passed by signed the "Pledge for Peace" ANSWER has been using to petition. In Philadelphia, an open forum and speakout at the Unitarian Church heard Berta Joubert of the International Action Center on the struggle in Vieques, Puerto Rico, to stop U.S. Navy testing, and laid-off flight attendant and labor organizer Rodney Ward. Earlier in the week, on Nov. 10, a broad spectrum of Detroit's political activists gathered at New Bethel Baptist Church to denounce the war in Afghanistan. Speakers linked it to the war against the poor and people of color in the U.S. Speakers told the 200 people at the rally it was time to build a grassroots movement to include youth of color, who are disproportionately represented in the U.S. military. Debbie Johnson of the Detroit chapter of the International Action Center said these youths' "lives are most threatened by the imperialist war drive. When we leave here today, let's go home to our sons and daughters, our nieces and nephews, and get them involved." Among the speakers were Maureen Taylor, chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Tamara French of the National Lawyers Guild, an immigration rights attorney, and Julie Hurwitz and Mark Fancher of the Sugar Law Center. The attorneys described provisions of the "Patriot Act" and state legislation in Michigan that eliminate many constitutional rights for detainees. Hassan Nawash, a community activist, and Intessar Alkafji of the National Association of Arab and Chaldean Businesswomen told the audience about Israeli repression of Palestinians and the murderous impact of U.S. sanctions on Iraq. ANSWER co-director Larry Holmes called on people across the country to come to New York from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 to join in protests against the World Economic Forum gathering. Anti-war organizations in Madrid, Spain, held protests Nov. 14 at Puerta del Sol. Also in Venice, Italy, about 100 activists from Porderone, Bassano, Padova, Venica and Chioggia demonstrated against the imperialist war, denouncing its political and economic causes, including the grasp for petrodollars, the control of Central Asia and the world, and the new division of power. They placed a dozen white crosses on the Rialto Bridge, transforming it into a cemetery. They also held performances on the bridge, in the market place and in the streets, ending at the railway station in Venice. There were also demonstrations throughout Germany Nov. 14 and through the week to protest the Bundestag's (parliament) approval of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's plans to send German troops into battle to support the U.S.-British offensive. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. 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