BULLETIN--Some
35 U.S. soldiers were reported wounded on Jan. 7 when mortar rounds made a
direct hit on a U.S. military camp west of Baghdad. The attack came just hours
after a U.S. tank destroyed a home in Fallujah, killing a couple and leaving
their five children orphans.
By
John Catalinotto
The
ANSWER anti-war coalition, which called and organized many of the largest
anti-war actions in 2002 and 2003, joined Arab and Muslim groups in the United
States on Jan. 2 to announce plans for demonstrations on March 20, 2004, the
first anniversary of the start of Washington's second war against Iraq.
The
groups' statement emphasized the main demand of these protests: "End the
Occupation--Bring the Troops Home NOW!" and said protests are already
planned in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other U.S. cities.
On
Nov. 16, the European Social Forum had already endorsed March 20 as an
international day of action. Marches and rallies have been called in many
European cities, and the World Social Forum meeting in Mumbai, India, Jan. 16-21
will discuss expanding the action worldwide.
Signers
of the Jan. 2 statement include the Arab Muslim American Federation, the Free
Palestine Alliance, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation and the
Muslim Student Association. The call was joined by Al-Awda--the Palestine Right
to Return Coaliton--the National Lawyers Guild, and 500 other organizations and
individuals in the first four days after it was published.
Explaining
the nature of the protest, the statement raised and explained the following
points:
"We
will demonstrate on March 20 to support the right of the Iraqi people to
self-determination without condition. ...
"We
will also demonstrate on March 20 in solidarity with the Palestinian people and
their right to self-determination, including the right to return to their homes
and land."
Brian
Becker, a spokesperson for ANSWER, told Workers World that "The issue of a
political program for March 20, as expressed in the statement, is of paramount
importance. It is essential to demand that the U.S. troops leave immediately
with no conditions and to support the right of the Iraqi and Palestinian people
to resist as they embrace the fundamental right to self-determination. This
would include opposing any internationalization of the occupation through the
United Nations or any other bodies."
Becker
noted that the "anti-war movement is at a crossroads. There is a growing
hostility and disgust for the Bush admini stration's domestic and foreign
policy, and understandably so, but there is a tendency that seeks to direct the
movement's energy to supporting Howard Dean or some other Democratic Party
candidate in the upcoming national elections.
"While
Bush's policies are criminal, it would be an error for the progressive anti-war
movement to become a tail to the Democratic Party, which shares Bush's
imperialist objectives regarding the occupation of Iraq, Palestine and
everywhere else. The ANSWER statement makes it clear that its goal is to make
the international March 20 action one of solidarity with all those who resist
U.S. hegemony, domination and invasion," Becker concluded.
The
statement addresses domestic issues, too. "We will demonstrate on March 20
to overturn the 'USA Patriot' Act, and to end the repression directed at Arab
American, South Asian, Muslim and immigrant communities. We will defend the
right to free speech and oppose Bush's and Ashcroft's war on the Bill of Rights.
...
"We
will demonstrate on March 20 to call for money for jobs, housing, health care
and education, not for war and occupation. ...
"We
will demonstrate on March 20 to demand an end to the Bush administration's
'Endless War' plans for global dom ination. We stand for an end to U.S.
intervention, occupation and threats against Korea, Colombia, Afghanistan, Cuba,
Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, the Philippines, Haiti and everywhere."
While
the statement obviously opposes the Bush administration, it notes that the
Democratic Party "agrees with Bush about maintaining U.S. troops in Iraq
and supports continued aid to Israel as it wages war against the Palestinian
people."
The
National Council of Arab Amer icans (NCAA), an all-inclusive pan-Arab Ameri can
national council that was founded on Nov. 29, 2003, in Washing ton, D.C., also
issued a statement on Dec. 24 calling for the March 20 demonstrations.
In
New York City, the plan is to assemble at 12 noon at Times Square and march to
the United Nations. Call (212) 633-6646 for details about upcoming citywide
planning meetings and for more information. New York ANSWER is also
participating on Jan. 15 with community and Black civil rights groups in a
demonstration at Madison Square Garden protesting the holding of the Republican
National Convention in the city next summer.
In
San Francisco, demonstrators will gather at 11 a.m. at Dolores Park (18th and
Dolores streets) with a march to the Civic Center. Call (415) 821-6545 for more
information.
In
Los Angeles, the demonstration will assemble at 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine.
Call (213) 487-2368 for more information.
Additional
information can be found at internationalanswer.org.
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