------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 30, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
AFTER MASSIVE PROTESTS, WHAT NEXT? TURN UP THE HEAT By Deirdre Griswold With the thunder of a million marching feet still echoing around the world, the anti-war movement is already gearing up for the next round in the struggle with the Bush administration. Since the huge marches in Washington and San Francisco on Jan. 18 organized by the ANSWER coalition, and solidarity actions in 38 other countries, White House officials for the first time have had to acknowledge widespread opposition to their planned onslaught against Iraq. But, in the same breath, those trying to sell the war to the public speak of their determination to go through with it. However, the anti-war forces are equally determined to stop this unprovoked, premeditated criminal attack on a people who have already suffered so much from U.S. sanctions and war. President George W. Bush's State of the Union address to Congress on Jan. 28 is expected to be a bellicose tirade against Iraq to prepare the public for war. The ANSWER coalition has called for emergency demonstrations on the following day, Jan. 29. In New York, the protest will converge on Times Square beginning at 5 p.m. Other cities are planning protests at federal buildings and in crowded shopping areas. Feb. 15 will be the next day of large coordinated actions across the country and around the world. ANSWER sent out an alert explaining that "The European movement, which initiated the call for this day of actions, has sent requests to U.S. peace groups, including ANSWER, to call for actions in the United States. United for Peace has initiated a mass mobilization in New York City, which we support, and we also encourage and support regional and local actions in solidarity with actions that day in Europe and around the world." Estimates of how many will march in Europe, where opposition to the U.S.- British war is white hot, run as high as 10 million. The ANSWER Web site--www.internationalanswer.org--has information on other activities in New York during the week of Feb. 13-21. They include a teach-in and student action on Feb. 13, the anniversary of the U.S. bombing of the Amariyah bomb shelter in Baghdad; an all-day teach-in on Feb. 14; and a Coordinated Day of Resistance on Feb. 21, including "student anti-war walkouts from hundreds of high schools and colleges and other acts of non-compliance" on the anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X. To make sure these events have maximum participation and input from New York's large oppressed communities, there will be a planning meeting on Jan. 30 at Rev. Herbert Daughtry's House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn. With each step toward war, new layers of the population are being awakened to the terrible dangers--and to their need for a strong and united movement that can resist the war while fighting for all the things being taken away here at home: decent jobs, healthcare, Social Security, affordable housing and the civil right to say no to these criminal policies and the wealthy corporate interests behind them. - 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] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ 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]>
