------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 15, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
YOUTH LEAD MARCH VS. WAR & INJUSTICE
By Abayomi Azikiwe Detroit
Detroit youths rose to the call for a march against war and injustice downtown on July 3.
During the demonstration, which began at Woodward Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., chants rang out calling for peace and social justice. The march proceeded to Grand Circus Park, where a host of young activists and artists spoke to the current situation in the United States and the need to end war.
Angel Hackett, a student at the Uni versity of Michigan, chaired the rally. "We are here to protest and to voice our opinions on the present state of affairs in this country as it pertains to the injustices at home and abroad," said Hackett.
She pointed out that the military budget is far higher than any area related to education, environmental affairs or social services for the poor.
High school student Angeles Meneses exposed how the cost of occupying Iraq led to health care and education funding cuts at home. She testified, "In my school alone, class sizes have gone from 25 per class in 2002 to possibly 45 per class in 2004/05."
Meneses continued, "As Cuba has proved, another world is possible.
"In Cuba, class sizes are cut to about 15 to 20. Education is being provided to everyone free of charge--including college. Every child with special needs is in an appropriate school. The literacy rate in Cuba is 95.7 percent."
She concluded by sending "a message of solidarity to the people in Iraq, especially the children. The war is slowly devastating not only Iraq, but the United States as well. End the war in Iraq! Bring the troops home now!"
Other students spoke to the cutbacks in educational programs at their schools. Librarians, teachers, coaches, custodians, technicians and social workers are being laid off. At the same time the military budgets to carry out wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are increasing substantially.
Invincible and Blair performed an inspirational song on war and attacks against civil rights in the United States. Third Eye Open performed a spoken word song on the ironies of war in the Middle East and the many social injustices taking place in the United States.
The march was sponsored by the Michi gan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice. (www.mecawi.org)
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