------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 3, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BERKELEY: ANTI-WAR CONCERT ROCKS
More than 3,000 anti-war activists and fans of singer Patti Smith came out to Martin Luther King Jr. Park on June 15 for a concert to benefit the International ANSWER coalition.
Smith, considered one of the earliest performers of progressive punk rock, had played at the large anti-war demonstrations organized by ANSWER in Washing ton, D.C., over the past year.
Smith initiated the idea of the June 15 free concert as a way to show appreciation to anti-war activists in the Bay Area.
Anti-war talks were woven in between musical sets by singer-songwriter Noe Venable and popular Latino salsa band Los Mocosos. These messages urged the crowd to stay active against the policy of permanent war emanating out of Washington.
Ben Becker, an ANSWER youth organizer, talked about his experience at the large protests at the recent G-8 summit in Switzerland. Gloria La Riva, from the International Action Center, encouraged people to mobilize against President Geroge W. Bush's visit to California on June 27.
Other speakers included former Berkeley Mayor Gus Newport and Nancy Macias of Code Pink. Chairing the event were ANSWER organizers LeiLani Dowell and Barbara Lubin--who is also with the Middle East Children's Alliance. The event was carried live to thousands of listeners on Pacifica Free Speech Radio, KPFA.
One of the last songs Smith played was her hit, "People have the power."
--Bill Hackwell
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