Antiwar Movement Becomes Anti-Imperialist Movement (Hollywood Demonstration with pictures)

The antiwar movement has passed its second important test.

The first test was when we turned out in unprecedented numbers to oppose a war of aggression even before it started and while it was underway.

But now, as an eventual military victory over a nearly-defenseless nation seems all but assured, we face our second test--that of transforming our understanding from "thou shalt not kill" to "thou shalt not dominate and repress the nations of the world."

If today's demonstration in Hollywood is any indication, the antiwar movement is well on its way to making that fundamental and necessary leap. Yes, our numbers were somewhat reduced, perhaps to seven or eight thousand today by my own informal estimate. But the quality of those who remained was strong, and both the signs and the people were grounded in a solid understanding that this is not just a sunny day's outburst of anger but a long-term struggle, with a world to win, and lot more to lose than our chains.

Our demographic continues to remain broad-based, as well, covering the entire range of ages, ethnicities and national origins.

Now is our time to consolidate, to build secondary leadership around our original core group of organizers. As soon as it becomes apparent beyond denial that Iraq is just the beginning--that now we are in for a long-term occupation, and that the U.S. military intends to find fault with and invade as many oil-rich Middle Eastern nations as it can--a new wave of demonstrators will take to the streets.

This time, we will draw them into long-term strategic organizing, building a solid movement that does more than show up for a day of marching and listening. The people I saw today, all of you, are just the ones who can do it.