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CounterPunch
October
28, 2002
Last Warning
to War Hawks
The Anti-War Movement Arrives
by WILLIAM HUGHES
Washington, D.C. Under
a warm sun, on Oct. 26, 2002, they marched down celebrated Constitution
Ave., in our nation's capital, by the tens of thousands, young
and old, voicing their grievances, demands, and hopes, too, and
carrying their colorful banners and signs, while also blowing
their whistles, and beating their drums,The Anti-War Movement,
2002 version, in all its theatrical glory, has arrived in full
force.
Lynn Stewart, criminal defense lawyer,
and arch foe of Attorney General John Ashcroft's assault on our
revered Bill of Rights-which includes his unlawful monitoring
of attorney-client confidential conversations-set the tone for
the huge event. She said from the podium to wide applause, "Stop
them now! Stop the war machine. Our brothers and sisters around
the world will be annihilated, if we don't stop them."
Noted New York actress and Screen Actors
Guild (SAG) member, Susan Sarandon, put it this way, when she
addressed the large crowd: "This war is about diverting
our attention away from the Enron scandal and the economy. Let
us hate war in all its disguises. Today, all of us together represent
what democracy looks like. We are here to take democracy back."
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., President
of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, also spoke at the rally. Before
he took the podium, he said, with respect to the Pro-Iraq War
Resolution, "The Congress is more in alliance with peace
today than it was at the beginning of the Vietnam War. Those
numbers in Congress will change as we increase our activities.
The more opposition there will be, the more isolated George Bush
will become." Jackson is a long time supporter of justice
for the Palestinians. He last met with PNA President, Yasser
Arafat, on July 29, 2002, in Ramallah.
It was indeed appropriate that the first
unit in the line of march, objecting to the Bush-Cheney gang's
planned military attack on Iraq, was a contingent from San Francisco,
representing the embattled (ILWU) International Longshore and
Warehouse Union. Their huge banner read, "An Injury to One
is an Injury to All." Its precision tuned "Drill Team,"
all African-Americans, were in top form as they set the pace
for the parade. The ILWU, since the days of the legendary labor
leader, the late Harry Bridges, has always been in the forefront
of progressive causes. The Bush-Cheney administration recently
forced the feisty union back to work under the unfair terms of
the pro-Big Business leaning Taft-Hartley Act.
The protesters came from the plains of
Nebraska, too. "We're passionately against this war with
Iraq," said Margaret Kozzan, a worker at the U. of Nebraska.
Her group of 50 activists made a 25 hour bus drive so that they
could carry their "Nebraskans for Peace," banner in
the parade.
"We've been on the road from Vermont,
since 11 PM last night, " said Johnson State College senior,
Lindsey Crane. "I'm tired, but I'm here in Washington today
to let everyone know that I disagree with this war. I don't think
it has anything to do with Saddam Hussein. I really think it's
about distracting the public from the problems that we have in
this country."
When I reminded Ms. Crane that America's
Revolutionary War started in New England, she said, "No
one should ever take us for granted. Our voices deserve to be
heard." Ethan Allen, a hero of that war, and leader of the
fabled "Green Mountain Boys," would have been proud
to hear the spirited words of Ms. Crane.
Peggy Misch of Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
told me, "I wanted to show by my physical presence in Washington
today that I am opposed to the Bush Administration's extremely
hostile foreign policy towards Iraq. It reeks of imperialism
and aggression." Ms. Misch said that about 800 activists
made the trip up to Washington from the tar heel state.
One of Columbia, Maryland's leading activists
is Leslie P. Salgado. She heads up the "Howard County Friends
of Latin America. "This war will benefit the rich and the
wealthy," she said, "in the U.S. and not the poor.
It's real purpose is take care of the military establishment
and the oil barons."
Doris Rausch, another activist, from
Columbia, added, "I saw a sign which said: 'Get Israel out
of our Congress.' I believe that, if we could do that, we wouldn't
even be contemplating this atrocious war. Israel has its nefarious
reasons for wanting this war with Iraq, and Congress almost unfailingly
does what Israel wants."
Signs referring to an "Axis of Evil,"
that included photos of the slippery Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary
of Defense; the shadowy chicken hawk, Richard Pearl; and National
Security Advisor, Condoleeza Rice, could be seen raised in the
multitude, along with banners demanding "End Palestinian
Apartheid;" "No War on Iraq;" "No More Blood
for Oil;" "Bush is a Warmonger; "Muslim Students
Against War; and, "Money for Jobs and Education: Not for
War." Placards denouncing Israel's repulsive Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon as a "war criminal" were also prevalent
in the boisterous throng.
As the enthusiastic marchers, at least
50,000, got closer to the finish line of the event, near the
Executive Office Building, which is close to the White House,
this loud chant went up among their ranks: "Blacks, Latinos,
Arabics and Whites; No racist war, No more, No more; Defend our
Civil Rights." They even had a rousing drumming group, "Rhythm
Workers Union," who entertained the crowd with a continuous
"jamming for justice" gig.
There were so many organizations present
at the affair, it would be nearly impossible to list them all.
The "Act Now to Stop War & End Racism" coalition,
(A.N.S.W.E.R), deserves great credit for getting this important
initiative off the ground and running.
The bottom line: The Oct. 26 mass rally
and demonstration was a resounding success. It was also a last
warning to the War Hawks!
William Hughes
is the author of Baltimore
Iconoclast. He can be reached at liamhughes@mindspring.com.
© William Hughes 2002
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