One Year Since U.S. Invasion

March 20: Planetwide Demos Against U.S. Occupation of Iraq

Revolutionary Worker #1234, March 28, 2004, posted at rwor.org

One year ago, Iraq was being pounded by the "shock and awe" of U.S. attack. Iraq's people have now lived a year under brutal occupation--as U.S. invaders seek to impose a new pro-U.S. government at the point of a gun.

On March 20, 2004, hundreds of thousands of people around the world took to the streets, in over 300 actions in dozens of countries. Powerful outpourings of protest and resistance denounced the U.S. occupation of Iraq and demanded an end to U.S. attempts to dominate the world through threats and war.

*****

As we go to press, reports on March 20 are starting to arrive, and accurate estimates are still hard to come by.

In Rome, Italy, some journalists estimated the crowd as high as one million. In Barcelona and Madrid, in Spain, hundreds of thousands of people denounced the war and demanded the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq.

There were major actions in the U.S. itself and a daring demonstration of Iraqi people in the heart of Baghdad.

In Britain, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, marches demanded that their governments withdraw military contingents that have joined in the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Our RW correspondent in New York City wrote: "A massive river of people moved through the center of Manhattan, packed together for dozens of blocks, from curb to curb. March organizers estimated the crowd at 100,000--who gathered in the face of a heavy-handed police presence. People had come to reject, denounce and ridicule George W. Bush and everything he represents in this world. This defiance jumped out from banners and homemade signs. A 20-foot statue of George Bush was toppled down in the middle of the street. In the crowds this day, the question that buzzed was how to pull this whole Bush agenda down for real."

An RW correspondent in San Francisco reported that 50,000 people marched in a festive and defiant mood. The dock workers contingent (ILWU) announced that they had called for a work stoppage and no ships were being unloaded in the Bay Area. A "Not in Our Name" contingent staged periodic die-ins. Police attacked a break-away march, arresting over 80 people. Later police justified surveillance and detentions saying they were authorized by the federal Patriot Act.

In Los Angeles, 15,000 people marched down Hollywood Boulevard to the rolling sounds of drums. Marches of thousands took the streets in Chicago, Denver and Pittsburgh. And actions took place in at least 200 other U.S. cities and towns.

A thousand people converged in desolate Crawford, Texas, to protest directly at the Bush ranch.

Many marches prominently featured the voices of U.S. military families and veterans--including an important protest of 1,500 held outside Fort Bragg in North Carolina. "I hate George Bush and everything he stands for," one 72-year-old disabled Navy veteran told the press.

Meanwhile, on Friday, March 19, thousands of people dared to take the streets in the heart of Bagdad, Iraq's capital. This rally reportedly brought together contingents of Shia and Sunni people to make a single statement against the U.S. occupation. This is especially bold since the U.S. occupation authorities there have banned public demonstrations and repeatedly ordered their troops to shoot into crowds of protesters. Marchers denounced the conquest and occupation of their country--and protested the repeated killing of Iraqis by U.S. troops and the refusal of U.S. authorities to allow families to visit prisoners. One sign said "Human rights have disappeared."

In addition significant actions took place in almost every major capital and city on every continent from Dublin, Ireland to Hong Kong to Melbourne, Australia to Santiago, Chile to Johannesburg, South Africa to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Thousands marched in Turkey's cities to denounce the occupation and the planned visit by George Bush.

Thousands protested in Egypt with a banner that read: "No WMD, but 20,000 Iraqi civilians killed.this is Bush's democracy!"

Protesters scaled the Big Ben clocktower in London and unfurled a banner that simply said "Time for Truth."

In Manila, capital of the Philippines, police attacked marchers in front of the U.S. embassy with water cannons.

*****

Everywhere on March 20, people expressed their deep opposition to the ugly occupation of Iraq and their determination to defeat the U.S. attempt to dominate the whole world.

In New York City, there was widespread talk about preparing for this summer when the Republican National Convention will be the focal point of massive actions to repudiate the whole agenda of war and repression.

http://rwor.org/resistance -RW resource page on resisting the juggernaut of war and repression

A "brutal occupation"? How do you figure? (Do you forget which government came before this one?)

Speaking of brutality, can you imagine the bloodshed that would occur if the US forces left Iraq? And you call the demonstrations last week a movement for "peace"? You are either ignorant or callous.

"A "brutal occupation"? How do you figure? (Do you forget which government came before this one?) "

...well then, how about "an occupation marginally less brutal than the dictatorship that preceeded it, or the chaotic aftermath that will be strewn in its wake."

..kinda makes ya swell with pride, huh?

The pissant whinings of "the world" aka that ragtag collection of dictators, kleptocrats, socialists and other myriad thieves and cowards with no backbone or will are of no concern to the USA.

When we clean house in these faraway shitholes we get called imperialists. When we sit out wars we get blamed for doing nothing to "stop the atrocities." Yet the accusing countries never reject U.S. aid.

It's all part and parcel of being #1 and is not to be worried over either way.

Waiter: "The world...is a shithole"

...but you live in Texas, so we undertand why you have that perception....

"an occupation marginally less brutal than the dictatorship that preceeded it"

The world knows about the brutality of Saddam's regime. So what evidence do you have of the occupation being only marginally less brutal? Do you have information the rest of the world doesn't know about? Share it.

Waiter: "The world...is a shithole"

"...but you live in Texas, so we undertand why you have that perception...."

>>> nice editing, oneyedglans. you should work for CNN or the NY times.

say hello to willie horton for me when you lunch at the compound.

if you're the best your sorry side can come up with....

Are you really a bitter, toothless, withered has been? Sure sound like one.

"Do you have information the rest of the world doesn't know about?"

Oh, the rest of the world knows...you're the ignorant one....

"Oh, the rest of the world knows...you're the ignorant one...."

Oh, where 'Rest of the world' = conspiracy websites

Yes, and the "rest of the world" knows about the alien abductions and the crop circles.

..sadams tot. rule vs. U.S. style demo?

Is there a harder ques. around?..maybe?

Libyans have a name for this, or phrase: Libyanaration knowingly or fuck you, and they speak to the entire ME, btw.

>Yes, and the "rest of the world" knows about the alien

>abductions and the crop circles.

Don't forget the chemtrails, cruise missle into the Pentagon, remote control planes, and explosions pre-positioned in the World Trade Centers.

....hmmm, the "Ignorant and Damn Proud of It" Brigade...

"...well then, how about "an occupation marginally less brutal than the dictatorship that preceeded it, or the chaotic aftermath that will be strewn in its wake."

Having reread my statement, it never occured to me that "less brutal" would be better than no change at all. It's like, if I had a brain and could feel pain, 9 nails driven into my skin would still be better than 10.

But, such things as that require thought, something I'm not too good at.

....douchbag......

Hmmm....republican wit...

...pardon the oxymoron....

"...pardon the oxymoron...."

I actually meant to say "Pardon that *I'm* a moron".

Won't happen again. Or not.

.........retorating lipdrones....................

...followed by another fine example...

And another.

I'm the asinine twit who impersonated KPC in this thread.

Please hack and spam my ignorant, Islamophobic website.

www.kobehq.com

"The world," by and large, is a shithole

This is a highly negative comment that reeks of hatred for other countries.

I've been to Texas and found a racist, violent society.

There are worse problems than what we have in our country in other places of the world. Why don't you straighten up and act like a Man, Walker, Texas Plumber, instead of just being a malignant mal-content who acts culturally ignorant? Yes, I took offense to your statement, and how dare you call Arabs "'Rabs". After all, the Bin Ladens are very very good friends with the Bush family. How dare you make fun of a fellow God loving Texans' friends!

Get a real life, Walker, Texas Plumber. You're wasting away...

--DrMurph

----"The world," by and large, is a shithole

This is a highly negative comment that reeks of hatred for other countries.

----Or maybe I plainly speak the truth, the bane of socialists and liberals everywhere. Note that I didn't say anything about the world's populations in general, who for the most part are unfortunate serfs with no rights. They hate who they're told to hate, just like American liberals.

----One fourth of the world (China) is communist and the people there have no rights. Elsewhere people are starving, without clean water or basic medicine, fighting to survive in violent slums. Meanwhile the other serfs are ruled by socialist scum whose failed policies are depleting the wealth of once proud, mighty nations.

I've been to Texas and found a racist, violent society.

----And I've been to Berkeley and found a bunch of self-righteous spoiled rich kids dressed in rags. The ignorance was palpable, a tie-dyed ghost of failure and frustration. Of particular note was the filthy dirtbag who sold "F**k the Police" t-shirts in the street. My only regret was not wearing a nice suit as I walked among the deluded human refuse.

There are worse problems than what we have in our country in other places of the world.

---Rubbish. Pick a better country, if you can. Your garbage disposal eats better than 30% of the world. Women in America bitch about wolf-whistles while in other lands girls' vaginas are mutilated by savages. You read that right, pal: SAVAGES.

There's no starvation or mass graves in Texas, or even Taxachusetts for that matter. Oh, and before you bring up the "plight" of 'African-Americans,' more black families are middle class and own homes than ever before. That's not due to heavy taxation, it's in spite of it.

Why don't you straighten up and act like a Man, Walker, Texas Plumber, instead of just being a malignant mal-content who acts culturally ignorant?

----I don't need a lecture from some sandal-toed, bleeding ponytail about who should act like what. Preach your marxism to your students who don't know any better. Kollij is a rest home for aging hippies.

Yes, I took offense to your statement, and how dare you call Arabs "'Rabs".

----You don't have a right to go thru life unoffended...that's a nonexistent right, unlike the right to bear arms.

---Now why don't you go apologize to your toweled Midle East friends for my boorish behavior? Be sure to bring a self-addressed box with you so they know where to mail your head.

After all, the Bin Ladens are very very good friends with the Bush family. How dare you make fun of a fellow God loving Texans' friends!

----Wow. Such insight. Put on a ratty-ass baseball cap and we'll have another Michael Moore.

Get a real life, Walker, Texas Plumber. You're wasting away...

---But you and your kind are a waste of space. Don't mess with Texas, Dr. Giggles.