------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Feb. 13, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
ANTI-WAR TOUR IN GERMANY: ANSWER STUDENT ACTIVIST HELPS BUILD SOLIDARITY By John Catalinotto Julie Fry is a 23-year-old law student from New Jersey. She is an anti-war activist who works with the International ANSWER--Act Now to Stop War & End Racism-- coalition. Fry just returned from a 10-day speaking tour of 10 universities across Germany. Workers World talked to Fry about her experiences there. Fry explained: "The tour was organized by an organization called ATTAC, a coalition of anti- globalization groups that originally formed in France and now exists in other European countries, including Germany. ATTAC has played a leading role in the German anti-war movement and is now mobilizing for a massive demonstration on Feb. 15 in Berlin." She said the purpose of the tour was "to bring activists from the international anti-war movement to Germany to show solidarity and to build links between the German movement and the global struggle to stop the war." The delegation also included Yvonne Ridley, a representative of the British Stop the War coalition, and Alfonso DeVito from No Global in Italy, an Italian anti-war organization. Fry stressed that the main issue raised by the tour was "how to build a united, international anti-war movement strong enough to stop U.S. aggression against Iraq. People were very interested in learning about how we formed the ANSWER coalition and how we were able to bring out so many people on Jan. 18." German activists are preparing major actions against U.S. military operations in their country. The movement in Great Britain is expecting over a million people to turn out in London on Feb. 15. Fry noted, "Everyone was interested in trying to find ways to make it as difficult as possible for Bush to launch his war." She added: "People were also very concerned about the way the U.S. government is trying to bully or bribe the governments of the rest of the world into supporting its war. Italian activist Alfonso De Vito reminded everyone that Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi does not speak for the vast majority of Italians, who overwhelmingly oppose war. "A million people took to the streets of Florence several months ago, and yet Berlusconi has chosen to go along with Bush and the Pentagon." British activist Yvonne Ridley called Tony Blair the British movement's "best recruiting officer." She said that every time he opens his mouth to defend Bush, hundreds more people join the movement. Organizers considered the tour a success, Fry stated categorically. "There was a high level of attendance at all of the meetings and participants were very excited to hear about the growing international anti-war movement, especially in the U.S. Most of them had heard about ANSWER's Jan. 18 demonstration in the German media and were relieved to know that people in the U.S. are rising up against Bush's war." She said that the German organizers used the tour to mobilize people for the Berlin demonstration on Feb. 15. "I think the meetings accomplished their goal of making Germans aware that they are a part of a large, international movement and that it is important that they stand up with the rest of the world on the 15th. People bought bus tickets for Berlin at the meetings." How has the peace movement in Germany reacted to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's statements against the war? Fry observed: "Most people are relieved that Schroeder has, so far, refused to openly support the war. But anti-war activists point out that Schroeder recently ordered German soldiers to guard U.S. military bases in Germany that will be used in that war. He has also said that the U.S. could fly its warplanes going to attack Iraq over German airspace and U.S. military bases in Germany." Many see this as tacit support for the war on Iraq and as a breach of Schroeder's campaign promise to oppose the war, she said. "The German movement is planning demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience at U.S. military bases all over their country. They want to show that Schroeder is effectively supporting the war and that they need to get involved and take actions to stop him and to stop the war." Fry continued: "I think the U.S. movement should know how important our struggle is to the peace movement around the world. I think that, rightfully, they see the growing movement in the U.S. as a sign that Bush is weakening and that the anti-war movement has a real chance to succeed. "I also think that the idea of bringing together anti- war activists from many countries is a very good one and that we should try to do more of this in the U.S.," she concluded. "It is a great way to build solidarity with the international movement. Also, it would be good to show people here that they are part of a movement of millions of people around the world who are fighting against the war." - 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]>
