Millions March Feb. 14-16

The World Says No to War in Iraq

Revolutionary Worker #1188, February 23, 2003, posted at rwor.org

February 15 and the surrounding days: Huge rivers of humanity poured through cities across the world. The marches were so large that precise estimates are impossible to make--but clearly, millions of people spoke out together saying "No to War on Iraq."

Many have remarked that these days of protests manifested one of the most powerful acts of world-wide political resistance in history. In city after city, the crowds vastly overshot the expected turnouts--sometimes by five or ten times.

It has been estimated by march organizers that people acted together in over 600 places across the world. Millions have been drawn into outraged political protest. Many have taken special responsibilities to target their "own" government. They have publicly and forcefully rejected the claim that this war would be for their interests. Again and again, people raised banners, songs and slogans that insisted this attack on Iraq was motivated by oil and imperialist geo-politics--not by any official desire to make the people "safe."

People defied police and the war- makers, they mocked the small-minded cruelty and swagger of President George Bush. And they expressed together their profound and moving solidarity with the besieged and threatened people of Iraq.

These actions were especially powerful in those countries where governments are pressing for war, including the U.S., Britain, Italy, and Spain. In the U.S. close to a million people demonstrated in one hundred cities and towns--including major marches in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle, Portland OR, San Francisco and other cities. The days of action were organized by United for Peace & Justice, a broad coalition of antiwar forces.

Across the planet, millions expressed anger--and a profound sense of betrayal and disgust--at the relentless pursuit of war by the U.S. government and allied countries.

The following are sketches from this world-wide experience of protest.

*****

New York City:

The authorities tried to forbid a march past the United Nations and denied the people any legal permit to take to the streets of Manhattan. The response of hundreds of thousands of people was simply defiant: Over 60 different groups announced plans for banned feeder marches, and moved in groups of hundreds and thousands through New York streets to the rally site.

The NYPD declared the highest level security alert--using the language of "anti- terrorism" directly against the protests of the people. Police formed barricades, shut off some subways, and tried to divert the marches. And everywhere, this city became a moving sea of antiwar activity. New York City, Ground Zero of September 11, issued its powerful rejection of the government plans to make Baghdad a Ground Zero in 2003.

Andrew Rice, whose brother David was killed in the World Trade Center, told the press: "Any idea that we should kill innocent Iraqis to avenge 9/11 is cynical and wrong. We can't exploit our anger to murder children halfway around the world."

Over 500,000 converged toward the United Nations, packing the east side of Manhattan for 30 blocks, and spilled westward across three or four major avenues. They were greeted by enthusiastic speakers: Author Arundhati Roy phoned her message from India. Actors Rosie Perez, Susan Sarandon, Ossie Davis and Danny Glover rose to speak. Families For Peaceful Tomorrows, whose loved ones died in the attacks on September 11th, opposed the war. From the podium: singer-activist Harry Belafonte, Miles Solay of Not in Our Name, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee; Julian Bond, Chair of the NAACP; a former Israeli Army officer who refused to fight in occupied Palestine; Richie Perez, National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights; Rev. Al Sharpton; Bishop Desmond Tutu; and Leslie Cagan, Coordinator, United For Peace & Justice. The singer Richie Havens and poets Steve Coleman and Suheir Hammad moved the crowd with their art. Blocks from the rally site people watched on big video screens and tuned into radio WBAI.

Blocks away, where the crowds spilled deep into Midtown Manhattan, mounted police viciously attacked. Over 300 people were arrested.

RW correspondent Osage writes: "At times, the cops on horses would charge through, trampling crowds they had cornered as other cops pummeled them with their clubs." Rebel voices from the youth feeder march chanted "Fuck this police state!" and "Whose streets? Our streets!" And next to them, fellow marchers, less used to conflict with the cops, added, "You're not heroes to me anymore!" Someone shouted: "Get those animals off those horses!"

Children from the grade school P.S. 3 brought a 15-foot balloon of the earth patched up with duct tape. "We're trying to fix the world," one 10-year-old girl slyly quipped.

RW correspondent Bill Swain interviewed one middle class woman who said: "I think it's about empire. That's what really frightens me. There is really a shift. Bush is trying to destroy the world. I think we have an extremist government that was not elected. We came because we wanted to show the rest of the world and the people in Iraq that there are many people in the U.S. who don't support these policies. I want the people of Iraq to know that it is not the American people."

Los Angeles:

The heart of Hollywood in Los Angeles was packed with people as over 70,000 joined one of the most massive anti-war protests in the history of the city. Highlights included the participation of actors, writers, musicians and veteran activists, including Gore Vidal, Ed Asner, Mike Farrell, Martin Sheen (with fellow cast members from "West Wing"), Alfre Woodard, Tom Morello, Anjelica Houston, David Clennon, William Baldwin, Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, Christine Lahti, peoples lawyer Leonard Weinglass, James Cromwell, and Michelle Shocked.

"Act like it's a globe, not an empire"-- seen on a banner created by artists.

A contingent organized by the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade marched under red flags--their banner read: "The world belongs to the youth, not the U.S. imperialist murderers." Their chant caught on along the march: "Rise up with the people of the world."

The LAPD later attacked and brutalized a radical contingent that separated from the main march-- arresting at least seven.

Other cities in the U.S.

In city after city, broad numbers of people came together--including many who had never protested before, with highly visible participation of radical youth, immigrant and Arab communities and veterans of the 1960s.

* In Seattle, our RW correspondent estimated that 40-50,000 participated. In Chicago, almost 10,000 reportedly gathered in the heart of the South Asian community--opposing war and expressing solidarity with immigrant communities under siege.

* As we went to press on February 16, our correspondents in San Francisco wrote that the main plaza in San Francisco's financial district was completely packed, with the crowd spilling onto Market Street for blocks.

* Thousands marched in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in Portland, Maine.

* In Austin, Texas, thousands turned out to denounce Bush. "We're saying `No!' to the boy from our hometown," University of Texas professor Robert Jensen said to applause.

* In Colorado Springs, Colo., police fired tear gas at anti-war protesters after they blocked a major thoroughfare. About 3,000 protesters emptied into the street after a rally at a neighboring park.

"The World Says No To War"

* In Britain, organizers estimated that as many as one or two million people filled the streets of London--the largest demonstration in British history. They skewered Prime Minister Blair as a lapdog and partner-in-crime of U.S. imperialism, and sharply rejected the intense moves toward war on Iraq.

* The prowar governments of Spain and Italy received unmistakable repudiation from the people. Over 2 million antiwar marchers filled Rome. In Spain, over one million marched in Barcelona and another million in the capital Madrid. And almost every other city and major town in Spain reported massive marches filling their streets.

* Berlin: close to 500,000 gathered at the heart of the German capital.

* Paris was filled with protest. Some estimates said 300,000, others said more than twice that many. Many demanded that the French government stop its slow creep toward endorsing a war in March--and use its veto in the UN Security Council to deny the U.S. any figleaf of international approval.

* Other cities worldwide with tens or hundreds of thousands of people protesting included: Seville, Melbourne, Athens, Montreal, Dublin, Brussels, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Toronto, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Glasgow, Oslo, Seattle, Montevideo, Stuttgart, Thessaloniki, Copenhagen, Berne, Switzerland, Sao Paulo, Vancouver, Goteborg, Tokyo, Budapest, Vienna, Lyon, Perth, Montpeilier, Luxemburg, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Helsinki, Mexico City, Canberra, Trondheim, Kolkata, Johannesburg, Minneapolis, Zagreb, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Edmonton.

* In Tel Aviv, several thousand bravely took to the streets. Thousands marched in Istanbul, Turkey. In Baghdad, many thousands marched to express their courage and determination in the face of U.S. war threats. In Singapore, people tried to march, and the police simply arrested every single person. There were reports of street-fighting in Athens, Greece.

For first hand reports from RW correspondents see the new RWOR Online resource page at rwor.org/resistance/ (in Spanish rwor.org/resistencia/)

This article is posted in English and Spanish on Revolutionary Worker Online

rwor.org

Write: Box 3486, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654

Phone: 773-227-4066 Fax: 773-227-4497

Gee, still on that subject, huh BushBlower...

"It don't matter how many people protest

it don't

it don't

it don't

it don't matter how many people protest

it don't

it don't

it don't..."

Fuckin' douchebag!

...a wonderful photo.

and with a fill-in word

balloon.

In Desert Storm I, the Internet was largely denied us due to huge flame wars whipped up by people who would troll discussion groups accusing others of treason. I never did find out whether any of this activity was organized, but at the time it looked very much as if it was.

The net has millions of times more bandwidth now, but there are also millions more computers connected to it. Therefore it is still best not to feed the trolls, moles, finks, and provos by eating bandwidth arguing with them.

This has been shown to speed up their reproductive cycles and lead to overfeeding.

This country has been instrumental in the liberation of many. We have been the conquerors of none. We are not about deciept and corruption. You from Old Europe should know this better than anyone. Were it not for us you would likely be part of the United Socialist Republic. I'm sure you were not opposed to our intervention in that matter. Do not be so quick to criticize and point the finger of guilt. If you believe this war is about the aquisition of oil I suggest you re-figure your math. We have always purchased oil and will continue to do so. Just as your coutry does. To gain oil through a massive military campaign and to occupy and rebuild post war Iraq, and to keep troops in Kuwait for such an extended period of time all with the idea of saving a couple of pennies on a barrel of oil? Not likely. Were we to govern using such tactics this country would go bankrupt over night.

We are not so short sighted as to think it in our benefit to wage an unjust war, to blatently steal oil from another country. And all in front of our long time friends in the UN. to risk aquiring that type of reputation all for a few barrels of oil.

You express the opinion that we have kept 5000 tanks in Kuwait with the intention of invasion or as you put it for future action. Yes we have kept 5000 tanks in Kuwait for future action. Of that you are absolutely correct. We kept them there because we liberated Kuwait from Iraqi ocupation. We kept them there to prevent Saddam from invading again. It was our obligation to do so and we honored our obligation as did many other countries who kept garrisons there. It was a humanitarian act not an evil scheme. Give us some credit at least. We are not your enemy. We are your allies. We are the ones who will come to your call for help if ever your country is in dire need. It astounds me that so many like you would spite us so.

As far as your ideas about a massive U.S. government plot against it's citizens I ask you. To what end? Our government is not ruled by Bush. We have a complete Congress, Federal as well as State and Local government systems. We have Democrats, and Republicans, and even independent parties all who have political sway. We have thousands of minds with their own agendas and differing interests who hold each other in check, and all express the views of their respective citizens. Even were Bush of a mind to do such a terrible thing he would not have the political support to bring such a plot to fruition. He has no ability to single handedly pass legislation. It requires a 2/3 congressional approval for any bill to pass into law. And once a bill is submitted to congress it has to pass through the House of Representitivesas well as the Senate, before the president even has the chance to do anything with it, wether it be to veto, pocket veto, or let it pass into legislation. It is a process that is not taken lightly. In each branch of congress you must also remember that it is governed by a bi-partisan system. No one can get something through congress without critical and extensive debate argument and blood sweat and tears. It is no easy process and is designed this way to prevent such a scenario as you are suggesting from ever taking place. Even if a president causes damage during his term in the oval office, his administration can only be in office for a maximum of two four-year terms. And that is to say he's re-voted into office after the first term. After his administration the next president can undo whatever damage was done. And let us not forget the ability to impeach. No we are not the helpless Americans others may wish to think we are. We are far from the helpless Americans others would perhaps wish to convince us we are. And I can tell you that If you have heard of intelligence gathered through foreign means and that information has filtered down to you. Might I remind you that we also have a free press who tends to be at times over eager to report whatever information they get ahold of. Our government has little or no control over what they do report and that information would have filtered down to us as well. Unless that information was of course heresay and food for rabble rousers.

And yes Bush did say you are either with us or against us, but I see you take that particular sentence out of context. In a time when he was doing everything he could to prevent the 9/11 attack from breeding caos and fear, he spoke those words as encouragement to all of us, not just US citizens, and as a warning to those who would dare attack us with such cowardice an act as those exibited by terrorists world wide, and that inflicted upon us at the time of his speach. He spoke that warning to BinLaudin and those who support his ilk.

You say that America is amassing this great force of killing machines of ever growing effectiveness in some plot of which you are ambiguous at best. You say this with an air of doom for the world and yet just recently America implored the other members of the UN to advance and to strengthen their respective militaries. This would not be in the benefit of some grand American scheme.

As for the rest of your statement disregarding the benevolent actions of America in the name of liberty and freedom. I would like to refer you once again to the statement I made previously. Were it not for us you would likely be part of the United Socialist Republic.

I suppose you would have preffered us not to intervene.

And we are not enguaged in occupation of your country now are we. Your words ring with accusation and paranoia.

I am sorry if I have offended you or anyone who reads this statement but I would hope that friends of America would choose not to see only bad in us and to not let suspision turn their minds to misplaced fear and hatred. We are not out to get anyone. We are subjuct to the same fears as any other country. People fear what they do not understand, it is a natural reaction. I simply ask you to understand us before you pass judgment. We did not make the Iraqi into a suffering people. Their own leader did that, Saddam did that. I hope you can find it in your logic if not in your heart to understand that our people are a peaceful people. We are a caring people who love liberty and value our freedom. We embrace all other cultures because we are a mix of them. We are open minded and objective by nature. We are not a suspicious people and we truely believe in the values and principles that this fine country was founded upon. I thank you for your concern, though your opinion seems somewhat biased, for our well being and assure the feelings of concern are returned in kind.

If we do go to war with Iraq I hope the UN is with us. It is the right way to go about it. I hope more so that Saddam will conceed to the UN and dissarm willingly and prevent war alltogether. These weapons in his hands or in the hands of terrorists pose a threat to you too. I hope you can understand that. He has a willingness and a means to use them, he is held in check by nothing and no one if not the UN. And the UN he continually defies.

And finally to the last of your article. Yes, I repeat, YES we do believe in freedom and democracy. If you live here in this country you will feel it flowing from every soul as a nearly tangible substance. It is part of our very beings, and when we say we are fighting in the name of democracy and freedom we mean it with all our heart.

And I can assure you once again that were your country in need of aide we would be the first to jump to your cause. Sincerely, Joab Rubio

Arguing with the Trolls accomplishes nothing. I should know I've tried. All I have to show for it are a bunch of short essays.

So, the question is how to deal with them?

Pee on their posts.

By Peeing on their post I mean respond immediately.

Do not address them per se but what they have tried to put on the table.

When a Troll posts don't argue - refute.

Refute simply means to convincingly counter. It does not mean argue it means disproving the lie they are trying to forward.

Generally they are like a broken record and have only a handful of inflammatory comments intended to get your goat so that you will waste time arguing with them. Get even don't argue. Refute.

When I say refute I mean post a response that demonstrates the lie(s) in their post.

One way to do this effectively is to build up a library of links to well documented articles that demonstrate how they are lying.

For example: Depleted Uranium is not a problem. Get the link from Rense.com that contains the report of the Army Doctor who categorically states that it is a problem that is killing people - people in Iraq and our own soldiers who handled DU munitions that they were told (lied to) were safe.

Do not overpost. Decide on which one or two most apply and post only those. Otherwise people are not going to read them. You might feel good about it but it accomplishes nothing but wasting your time.

If you can zing them with a good one or two line satire of their position go for it. This is one of their tricks turned back on them.

And Pee on their posts as soon as you can.

Remember don't argue.

Keep it short and to the point.

Do satirize their position (after all they don't really believe it anyway they post the party line).

Don't let them get away with a lie. Follow the JFK Motto: "Don't get mad get even." Even better: Get Ahead.

I'll have more to say on this. Trolls are here to stay - at least until the NAZI's like Bush Admirer get their way and push Patriot II finishing the buttfuck trifecta on the Constitution. If we learn to effectively counter them we win the war of ideas. And believe me ideas move mountains.

"Live Free or Die"

That's all fine and good Dio, but I'm sharper and better informed than you are. You'll have to "pee" for quite a while.

Here's a good example of what I was talking about. A personal attack aimed at getting me to respond to my wounded ego. Arrghhh!!

MEDIC!

Jesus. You lose credibility lately with every new post. Rense.com????? C'mon. Christ could you pick a more hackneyed conspiracy theory site? UFO's??? Life after Death???? Isreali Shuttle sabotage???? another one gone. Dio is now officially irrelevant.

As well the post above by aspartame laced death drink is designed to get me to waste time.

Don't flatter yourself pud - I responded only because you provided a great teaching opportunity.

Remember they want you to respond to their insults, get you rattled and defensive. Know that and believe it and you will find very quickly that you are now immune to their childish taunts.

Nice stragety to defeat anybody else with opposing views. Instead of actually debating the issue like a normal person, you Hussein love-mongers don't even actually respond to debate, you just spam your propaganda. Nice. And now I wonder why the silent majority of Americans are for the war, maybe because they realize your side is completely intolerate, ignorant, and you guys force everybody to take your side, otherwise you spam them to death. Dirty Hussein Lovers.

The one thing that really drives the Trolls berserk is to render them impotent by not responding to their attempts to jerk you off.

Also notice another tactic in use here - refer to my long post above - but when someone makes a good point the trolls will immediately spam the thread to move your point off the screen. Correct Reply? Repost your point with the reason.

Spare me. Obviously we both have loads of time. You're dying to respond and get reactions just like the rest of us. I'd love an actual discourse but it never happens. If i dare to even start to express my views the typical name calling starts right away and it's over. And I'll admit, at that point I give in to it. So lets be honest, this entire forum is for nothing else but riling each other up (evidently). It's fun. None of this matters.

Arguing with the Trolls accomplishes nothing. I should know I've tried. All I have to show for it are a bunch of short essays.

So, the question is how to deal with them?

Pee on their posts.

By Peeing on their post I mean respond immediately.

Do not address them per se but what they have tried to put on the table.

When a Troll posts don't argue - refute.

Refute simply means to convincingly counter. It does not mean argue it means disproving the lie they are trying to forward.

Generally they are like a broken record and have only a handful of inflammatory comments intended to get your goat so that you will waste time arguing with them. Get even don't argue. Refute.

When I say refute I mean post a response that demonstrates the lie(s) in their post.

One way to do this effectively is to build up a library of links to well documented articles that demonstrate how they are lying.

For example: Depleted Uranium is not a problem. Get the link from Rense.com that contains the report of the Army Doctor who categorically states that it is a problem that is killing people - people in Iraq and our own soldiers who handled DU munitions that they were told (lied to) were safe.

Do not overpost. Decide on which one or two most apply and post only those. Otherwise people are not going to read them. You might feel good about it but it accomplishes nothing but wasting your time.

If you can zing them with a good one or two line satire of their position go for it. This is one of their tricks turned back on them.

And Pee on their posts as soon as you can.

Remember don't argue.

Keep it short and to the point.

Do satirize their position (after all they don't really believe it anyway they post the party line).

Don't let them get away with a lie. Follow the JFK Motto: "Don't get mad get even." Even better: Get Ahead.

I'll have more to say on this. Trolls are here to stay - at least until the NAZI's like Bush Admirer get their way and push Patriot II finishing the buttfuck trifecta on the Constitution. If we learn to effectively counter them we win the war of ideas. And believe me ideas move mountains.

"Live Free or Die"

Yes, this is entertaining actually. I like arguin with you guys because I'm always right. I also think its funny that we're not even talking about the war anymore because you have no more propaganda to spam me with that you havent already. Damn, you moved my post out of the screen already, dirty spammer mass murderer supporter.

amen brother,

great post. the only thing i'd take issue with is that you give these people too much credit to say they are on par with a 10 year old. even a 10 year old can reason... these people don't seem to be able to do that.

my favorite is the "no blood for oil" line.... i've asked everyone who has spewed it forth how exactly this war is for oil...and not one of them has been able to tell me... though they are sure it is about the oil.

and then there is the ever popular "don't bomb iraqi babies"....because that's exactly why we are going to war...to bomb iraqi babies... these protesters are pure genious.

what these challenged individuals need to realize is that the majority of american support Bush, even if it means war. those of us with such realistic views just don't feel the need to carry signs in the street stating such (though i do have a sign in my car which reads....BOMB SADDAM...i hold it out the window when passing protesters).

finally, let's hope Jessica Lange never gets another role again, though that seems obvious. that anti american bitch should join arms with Sean Penn and plants themselves in the desert as human shields.

but hey, let's look at the bright side.... regardelss of what all these pro-saddam anti-american war protesters have to say.... we will go to war, we will liberate the iraqi people, we will improve the safety of our own country by doing so, and we will remember those who hated america in the process.

god bless american, our troops, and george bush.

Eric - There are four kinds of people in the world:

1 - Smart and Energetic - They make good Capitalist entrepreneurs - high achievers

2 - Smart and Lazy - The perfect college professor

3 - Dumb and lazy - The perfect infantryman or garbage collector

4 - Dumb and energetic - This is the combination that makes for a loyal anti-war protester.

Now do you understand?

They don't debate because they don't have the ability to debate.

Is not to talk to the weasel

but to just poke the diseased

thing with a stick and move back to

the main point.