------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the March 20, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
FROM NEW YORK TO L.A.: WAR IS A WOMAN'S ISSUE By Monica Moorehead New York "Women say fight back, no war on Iraq" was the theme of many women's actions around the country on March 8, International Women's Day. In New York more than 1,000 protesters marched from Union Square to Washington Square Park in an action called by New York ANSWER--Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. IWD annually pays tribute to the inspirational leadership role that women have played in the struggle for equality, national liberation and socialism. This holiday, birthed in struggle and celebrated around the world, is not widely taught about in the U.S. educational system. Women of many nationalities, ages, sexualities and backgrounds led the New York march. The beautifully painted lead banner read "Women say no war on Iraq," scripted in three languages--Arabic, Spanish and English-- and bore the faces of women in struggle, including an Iraqi woman. The rally brought together women speakers from Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean and their sisters from the U.S. Together they raised many international and domestic issues. They spoke about the importance of linking the fight against racism, sexual and gender oppression, poverty, budget cuts, police brutality, and freedom for political prisoners, but all kept coming back to the struggle to stop a criminal and unjust war against the people of Iraq. Some used poems and song as political expression. As the march wound down Broadway, many who saw it pass decided to join. The marchers stopped at Washington and Greene streets, once the site of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. There they paid homage to the nearly 150 immigrant, teenage women workers burned to death in a 1911 fire because the bosses kept the fire exits locked. Thousands of leaflets announcing the March 15 emergency convergence on the White House were distributed during the protest. LOS ANGELES:'NO BLOOD FOR OIL!' More than 3,000 anti-war demonstrators in Los Angeles gathered at the Westwood Federal Building to commemorate IWD. Protesters marched past Occidental Petroleum's corporate offices chanting, "No blood for oil." They passed the Veterans Cemetery to stress that no more youth should be sent to re-colonize Iraq in the interests of oil monopolies and other corporations. The protest attracted diverse communities, including a strong outpouring of women--young and old, disabled and able-bodied--who called for an end to the sanctions against Iraq. The protest was called by Women's Global Strike. Margaret Prescod, Los Angeles coordinator of the Women's Strike, chaired the rally, expressing solidarity with the women of Iraq. Actors Danny Glover, David Clennon and Ed Asner denounced Bush's war plans. Ana Duarte, representing Los Angeles ANSWER, called on all organizations to help mobilize for the massive March 15 rally in Los Angeles in conjunction with national demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. BALTIMORE: WORKING AND POOR WOMEN SPEAK OUT Maryland ANSWER held a multinational women's speak-out in front of the Federal Building in downtown Balti more. Speakers linked the genocide Iraqi women face with the misery the war will bring to impoverished women in Baltimore and around the state. Many signed Maryland ANSWER cards pledging not to participate in President Bush's war plans or send their children to die for Big Oil, and demanding jobs, education and health care. One woman described the racism, lack of health care and unemployment she faced as a Gulf War veteran. An elderly woman expressed her anger that the Baltimore school she volunteers in was closed for two weeks because of lack of heat, yet billions of dollars are spent on the Pentagon. Other anti-war IWD events were held in Washington, D.C., Albany, N.Y., Richmond, Va., San Francisco and elsewhere. [Sharon Black and Preston Wood contributed to this article.] - 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]>
