Oct. 27 Protests
Throughout the United States
Over 100,000 People March to Stop the War!
From Los Angeles to Chicago, San Francisco to New York
* LA March, Rally & Die-In Report and
Photos
* Other City Protest Reports
The October 27 demonstrations represented another important step forward for
the anti-war movement in the United States.
Over 100,000 people took to the streets in coordinated regional and local
protests to demand an immediate end to the war in Iraq. The October 27
demonstrations took place just six weeks after the September 15 National March
and Die-In in Washington, D.C. that was led by Iraq War Veterans and family
members of soldiers and marines.
We have included below a brief summary from some of the events that took place
yesterday, along with some of the press coverage, including in depth
coverage of the Los Angeles March,
Rally and Die-In.
Anti-war sentiment is growing. The demonstrations yesterday, like the
September 15 March on Washington, were noteworthy for the large number of
young people - students and young workers - who are joining the front
ranks of the anti-war movement in the United States. The Arab American and
Muslim community was well represented. The participation of Iraq War Veterans
and their families continues to grow. The energy and spirit of the
demonstration is an indicator that the people of this country are fed up with
the criminal war and occupation of Iraq.
Everyday, the corporate-dominated media tries to convince people that the
anti-war movement is shrinking. That is a lie, as you can see from the reports
below. The same media lies to the people about the so-called progress made by
the “surge” in Iraq. The truth is that the U.S. military occupation of
Iraq cannot succeed. The Iraqi people insist on their right to determine their
own destiny. The people of the United States, who have no voice in either the
Republican or Democratic Parties or in the big business media, are determined
to find a way to end the war, which has taken hundreds of thousands of lives
and costs $3 billion each week.
The ANSWER Coalition, UFPJ and hundreds of other groups organized for the
October 27 protests. What is needed now is to intensify the mass organization
of the people. As it was in Vietnam, it will be the people, not the
politicians, who will bring this imperialist war to an end. Check the ANSWER
Coalition website for regular updates and reports on
future steps for the anti-war movement.
San Francisco
More than 30,000 people marched in
San Francisco in a demonstration sponsored by the October 27 Coalition, which
was initiated by the ANSWER Coalition. The demonstration was endorsed by over
150 political, religious, labor and community organizations, including all
seven Bay Area Central Labor Councils. Speakers included Cindy Sheehan,
leaders of the Arab American and Muslim community, American Indian Movement
co-founder Dennis Banks, Episcopal Bishop of California Mark Handley Andrus,
and prominent labor union leaders from the Bay Area. The march included a
dramatic Die-In on Market Street where the crowd lay down to symbolize the
almost 3,900 U.S. and over 1 million Iraqi deaths in the war. The march
included a strong labor contingent numbering nearly 1,000 and including
banners from many different unions. News coverage: Associated
Press
Local
television coverage
Los
Angeles
In Los Angeles, protesters marched
through downtown to the federal building for a mass rally and Die-In. The
California fire catastrophe did not keep people
from registering their opposition to the Iraq war in a major way, despite that
day's front-page Los Angeles Times article urging people to "stay
inside" because of bad air quality.
Crowd estimates ran from over 10,000 people to nearly 20,000. The march
spanned more than 5 blocks on Broadway and was densely packed across the whole
street and on the large sidewalks on both sides throughout. It was a huge
turnout; the fall's biggest anti-war action in Southern California by far. Click
here for photos.
The demonstration was overwhelmingly youthful, with students pouring into the
march from hundreds of Southern California schools. More than 250 people
joined the youth and student contingent organized by Youth & Student
ANSWER. Others lined the front banners, chanting "Iraq for Iraqis, troops
out now!" and "Alto a la guerra, stop the war!"
After the march, almost everyone present participated in a mass symbolic
Die-In. Ian Thompson of the ANSWER Coalition introduced the Die-In while
masses of people lay down. Thundering sound effects of air raids and bombs
exploding punctuated the action, followed by a solemn minute of silence for
the Iraqis and U.S. soldiers killed in the war. As protesters rose up after
the Die-In, all chanted "Stop the war!"
Preston Wood of ANSWER and Greg Akili of African Americans Against the War
spoke about the cost of war on people in the United States, urging everyone
present to become organizers in the anti-war movement. Muna Coobtee of the
National Council of Arab Americans spoke about the dire conditions facing
Iraqis due to the imperialist occupation.
Other speakers included actors Martin Sheen ("The West Wing"), Mike
Farrell ("MASH") and Mark Ruffalo ("Zodiac"). ANSWER
initiated the protest, which was organized by the Oct. 27 Stop the War
Coalition, a broad array of progressive, anti-war and social justice
organizations.
News coverage: Los
Angeles Times ABC
7 News
More Los Angeles protest photos: Photos
1 Photos
2 Photos
3
LA rally speakers and
rally facilitators included:
Martin Sheen,
actor
Ron Kovic, Vietnam vet, author "Born on the Forth of July"
Tim Goodrich and other members
of Iraq Veterans Against the War
Muna Coobtee, National Council of Arab Americans
Greg Akili, African Americans Against the War
Tim Kahlor and other members of Military Families Speak Out
Andy Griggs, United Teachers Los Angeles
Danny Park, Korean Americans for Peace
Farhad Nourzi, Muslim Student Association-West
Margaret Prescod, Global Women's Strike
Jim Lafferty, National Lawyers Guild
Juan Jose Gutierrez, Latino Movement USA
Mark Ruffalo, actor, speaking for World Can't Wait
Jollene Levid, GABRIELA Network
Mike Farrell, actor
Joneric Concordia, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines
Peter Thottam, LA National Impeachment Center
Marcy Winograd, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles
Ian Thompson, ANSWER Coalition
Marylou Cabral, Youth & Student ANSWER, Cal State Long Beach
student
Lupita Dominguez, La Red de Resistencia Obradorista en California
Carlos Alvarez, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Marian Gordon, United for Peace and Justice
Music by Conspiracy of Thought, Bambu, Rebels to the Grain and the cast
of the musical Hair.
Oct.
27 LA Stop the War Coalition members include: African
Americans Against the War, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the
Philippines, Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, ANSWER
Coalition-LA, ANSWER-Orange County, ANSWER-Ventura County, Campaign to End
Israeli Apartheid-SoCal, Coalition for World Peace, Codepink, Comite
Pro-Democracia en Mexico, Democratic Club of Westside Progressives, Frente
Amplio Popular Los Angeles, Free Palestine Alliance, GABRIELA Network, Global
Women's Strike, Hermandad Mexicana Nacional, Iraq Veterans Against the War,
Islamic Shura Council of SoCal, Int'l Socialist Organization, January 27th
Coalition, Korean Americans for Peace, KMB Pro-People Youth, LA Area Iraq
Moratorium, Los Angeles National Impeachment Center, La Red de Resistencia
Obradorista en California, Latino Movement USA, Military Families Speak Out,
San Gabriel, Los Angeles, Orange County; Muslim Student Association-West,
National Lawyers Guild, National Council of Arab Americans, Office of the
Americas, Palestinian American Women's Association, Party for Socialism and
Liberation, Pilipino Workers' Center, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles,
SDS-UCLA, Topanga Peace Alliance, US Labor Against War, VC Stop the War,
United Teachers Los Angeles, World Can't Wait and Youth & Student ANSWER.
Seattle
In Seattle, at least 7,000 people
marched. Buses and carpools came from the entire Northwest Region - from
Eugene and Portland, Oregon; Olympia, Tacoma, Everett, Mt. Vernon, Bellingham
and elsewhere in Washington State. There was a youth-and-community-oriented
opening program, followed by a march and lively rally. Speakers included
Fatimah Magsombol, Mindanao Bagsomoro Caucus; Michael Dixon, community
activist; Chanan Suarez Diaz, President, Seattle IVAW; Jeff Johnson, research
director, Washington State Labor Council, speaking on behalf of WSLC chairman
Rick Bender; Aracely Hernandez, Committee for General Amnesty and Social
Justice; Wally Cuddeford and Caitlyn Esworthy, Port Militarization Resistance;
Dr. Goudarz Eghtedari, American Iranian Friendship Council; MCs Cedric Walker,
Jane Cutter of Seattle ANSWER and Marie Marchand of Whatcom Peace and Justice
Center in Bellingham.
Chicago
In Chicago, tens of thousands marched. Organizers for the October 27
Mobilization Committee, the sponsoring group, estimated the crowd at 30,000.
The demonstration was the largest demonstration yet protesting the U.S. war
and occupation of Iraq to take place in Chicago. ANSWER organizers said at
least half of the participants were students and other young people. The
demonstration was very multinational with strong representation from the
African American community. There was a labor contingent from Service
Employees International Union (SEIU) and a smaller contingent from the
Teamsters Union. The ANSWER Coalition in Chicago had distributed tens of
thousands of flyers and posters to help mobilize for the demonstration.
New York City
The New York City demonstration
was initiated by United for Peace and Justice. There was a strong turnout
despite a steady downpour. UFPJ organizers estimated the crowd at 45,000. The
ANSWER Coalition mobilized people from many cities on the East Coast and
organized a spirited student and youth contingent.
Boston
The heart of Boston was filled
with anti-war energy on Saturday afternoon, as some 7,500 took to the streets
in protest of the war in Iraq. Braving inclement New England weather,
veterans, students, seasoned activists and many first-time protesters from
throughout the region rallied in Boston Commons. Led by veterans
organizations and military families, thousands later marched to Copley Square,
demanding "Bring all the troops home now!" one of five principal
demands. Speakers at the rally included Melida and Carlos Arrendondo,
historian Howard Zinn and Liam Madden of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW).
New England United, a coalition of local and regional organizations, organized
the demonstration and march. The ANSWER Coalition mobilized people from Boston
and several other cities in New England and organized a spirited student and
youth contingent.
Regional and Local Demonstrations
Nationally
Regional and local demonstrations
also took place in Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, New Orleans, Philadelphia,
Jonesborough and Chattanooga, Tenn.; Salt Lake City, Denver, Rochester and
elsewhere.
For more info call 213-251-1025 or email answerla@answerla.org.
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