Across the Globe
Thousands March to Say
"Troops Out Now!"
Worldwide protests condemn U.S. occupation of Iraq
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets yesterday, the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The day saw demonstrations in more than 20 countries, from South Africa to Iceland, and in dozens of cities across the U.S.
In New York City, the day's events began at 11 am with local protests at recruiting centers throughout the city, with more than 100 rallying at the recruiting station in Harlem at 125th St.
At 1:00 pm, more than 7,000 rallied in Times Square to demand the "immediate, complete, unconditional" withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq. After the rally in Times Square, they marched to the United Nations demanding no war on Iran and that the survivors of Hurricane Katrina have the right of return to New Orleans and the other devastated areas of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The New York rally, which was held near the infamous Times Square recruiting station, was opened by Tiokasin Ghosthorse of First Voice Indigenous Radio. The spirited rally filled more than two city blocks, with hundreds more joining in for the march. Activists from BAYAN USA, the organization representing the unified struggle in the Philippines against the corrupt puppet regime and against US occupation, carried a banner, stretching nearly half a block that read "US Troops Out of the Philippines." A large "Free Leonard Peltier" contingent was also present, organized by the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.
Speakers included Charles Jenkins of the TWU; Elaine Brower, mother of a soldier deployed to Iraq; Wael Musfar of the Arab Muslim American Federation; Nellie Bailey of the Harlem Tenants Council; Brenda Stokely of the Million Worker March; Elizabeth Zeiden of the Reproductive Rights Project of the ACLU; LeiLani Dowell, of Queers for Peace & Justice; Professor Abbas Edelet, founder of CASMII- the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, taped messages from political prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal and Leonard Peltier, Sara Flounders of the Stop War on Iran Campaign, Yoomi Jeong of the Korea Truth Commission, Rebecca Rotzler of the Green Party, and many other representatives of local and international struggles.
Veterans, Military Families, and Katrina survivors organized a five-day march from Mobile to New Orleans under the slogan, "From the Gulf Coast to the Persian Gulf. Every bomb dropped on Iraq explodes in New Orleans." The call to action for the event, 'Walkin to New Orleans,' said, "Military families and veterans of Iraq, Vietnam and other military adventures, together with hurricane survivors, intend to make that connection crystal clear on an epic march down Gulf Coast Highway 90, heading into the heart of New Orleans on the third anniversary of the war. The ongoing crisis on the Gulf Coast and the connection that Dr. King made between the 'giant triplets of racism, militarism and economic exploitation' will be impossible to ignore."
In Chicago, thousands marched down North Michigan Avenue. Organizers in the area have been in a long-standing struggle with the police over their right to march down some of the cities most prominent streets, including Michigan Avenue's "Miracle Mile." This year they finally obtained a permit and this well-heeled neighborhood was the scene of a large and militant protest, organized by a broad coalition of community, antiwar, and progressive organizations.
In San Francisco, in what may have been the largest demonstration in the U.S., thousands of antiwar demonstrators demonstrated solidarity with hotel workers who have been working without a contract, by marching to a nearby hotel. Malik Rahim, a leader of Common Ground Relief in New Orleans, was the rally's keynote speaker.
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In Los Angeles, thousands rallied at Hollywood & Vine at 12 noon. Speakers included Fernando Suarez, father of a Marine killed in Iraq; Pablo Paredes, a member of the US Navy who refused orders to deploy; Rep. Maxine Waters; and actor Mike Ferrell.
In Boston, a crowd of more than 3,000 marched demanding "“Stop the violence, Stop the war at home and abroad!" Initiated by the Rosa Parks Human Rights Day Coalition, March 18 activities in Boston began with a rally in Roxbury in the heart of Boston’s Black community followed by a march through various communities of color and then through the Downtown Crossing, the major shopping district of Boston, and on to the State House.
In Detroit, Hundreds marched up Woodward Avenue in the street through the gentrified Detroit downtown. From old to young including disabled activists in scooters and wheel chairs, the crowd said, "Bring the Troops Home, Now!" and "Money for Our Cities, Not for War."
The Troops Out Now Coalition, which helped organize demonstrations throughout the U.S., issued a statement calling for the antiwar movement to unite around the demand for an immediate, complete, unconditional withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq. This statement says, in part,
"The best way that the antiwar movement can mark the third anniversary of the criminal war and occupation of Iraq is to unite around the demand for an immediate, unconditional and complete withdrawal of all occupying troops from Iraq.
Immediate - not in 10 years or in six months--as soon as it takes to put soldiers on planes and bring them home. Not waiting for the "Iraqi" army to be trained or for the establishment of a government subject to U.S. control, or for any other reasons that really only amount to one thing: an excuse to justify and extend the occupation.
Complete - not in phases, not with bases left behind, not redeployment across the border, but a complete removal of all occupying forces from all Iraqi territory.
Unconditional - The Iraqi people have an absolute right to govern themselves today, without any conditions imposed on them by Bush and Halliburton.
Political positions have a direct bearing on how a movement struggles, or even if it engages in struggle at all. Adapting to a soft position, like phased withdrawal or redeployment, gives people the message that there's no need to mobilize on the streets to bring the troops home now--just wait for the politicians to work out the details of the withdrawal. If the movement were united around the demand for an immediate, complete, unconditional withdrawal, this would elevate, intensify, and clarify the struggle against the war."
Activists with the Troops Out Now Coalition made this demand --the immediate, complete, unconditional withdrawal--the focus of March 18, and will continue to raise this demand in the streets until all of the troops are home.
Media Coverage of March 18
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/19/war.protests.ap/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/19/AR2006031900158.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-03-19-3year-protests_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA
http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/03/19/anti_war_rallies_mark_iraq_anniversary/
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/19/ap/world/mainD8GEQ9A80.shtml
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-03/19/content_4317476.htm
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=176461170&p=y7646y876
http://www.forbes.com/business/healthcare/feeds/ap/2006/03/19/ap2605390.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20060319-0843-iraqwarprotests.html
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1742488
Troops Out Now (MP3 audio)
With Wael Mousfar, Arab Muslim American Federation; Nana Soul - Blackwaxx, Artists and Activist United for Peace; Tiokasin Ghosthorse, First Voices Indigenous Radio; and Sara Flounders, Troops Out Now Coalition--
http://peoplesvideo.tv/bm/detail.php?c=5&i=9a3b9bdc67c0cbf8ba31a45a88c568fd952497ee
Troops Out Now Coalition
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