by Rockero
Monday, Mar. 14, 2011 at 5:05 PM
rockero420@yahoo.com
Saturday, March 12, 2011
POMONA, California - With shouts of "Down with dictatorship!" and "The union's under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!" a group composed primarily of local youth sent a strong statement of solidarity with the people of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as with union workers in Wisconsin and elsewhere at the corner of Mission and Garey.
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Needing to react to crises at home and abroad, young activists from throughout the Inland Empire decided to hold a demonstration just prior to Pomona's art walk, which draws hundreds, in order to maximize their impact. Gathering at about 5:30 in front of the library for a speech decrying the violence, the demonstrators marched to the corner, unfurling a banner reading "Solidarity with Wisconsin workers" and signs reading "Free Libya" and "From Madison to [the] Magreb, we're with the workers!" shouting "Hey hey! Ho ho! Qaddafi's got to go!"
They local youth were joined by students and professors from the Claremont Colleges, youth from San Bernardino, and representatives from Claremont's teacher's union.
"We're here today in support of our sisters and brothers in Libya, in Egypt, and everywhere else people are fighting back against autocracy, including in Wisconsin where the workers are having their voices silenced. We're tired of our government claiming to be democratic on one hand and then financing dictators all over the rest of the world who violate the rights of their own people!"
The protest featured the normal fare of chanting, but also included the singing of several songs of social justice, including "Solidarity Forever" and "We Shall Overcome."
As darkness fell, several announcements were made about upcoming actions, including a demonstration against the fascist element in Claremont scheduled for next Saturday. The neo-nazi National Socialist Movement, no doubt drawn to the Claremont area by the anti-immigrant group ridiculously titled "We the People, California's Crusader," which claims to be based in Claremont.
"We didn't have huge numbers," said one attendee, "but we succeeded in taking a stand and sending the message."
