\r\n

Oct. 27 Protests\r\n Throughout the United States
\r\n Over 100,000 People March to Stop the War!
\r\n From Los Angeles to Chicago, San Francisco to New York<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

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

\r\n
Donate today! We can’t\r\n do it without your help.
\r\n
\r\n <\/strong>The last three months have been an\r\n amazing period for anti-war organizing. Thousands of volunteers give their\r\n time everyday, but we can’t do it without the help of our donors. Help\r\n the movement keep growing by making an urgently needed donation today by\r\n clicking on this link.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n
\r\n
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
\r\nAct Now to Stop War and End Racism
\r\n<\/b><\/span>213-251-1025
\r\nhttp:\/\/www.answerla.org
\r\n<\/span>answerla@answerla.org<\/span><\/u>
\r\n137 N. Virgil Ave., #201
\r\nLos Angeles, CA 90004
\r\nJoin us every Tuesday for the ANSWER<\/span> activists meetings!
\r\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"answerla@answerla.org","link":"","address":"","phone":"213-251-1025","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"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, including well over 10,000 in Los Angeles.","numcomment":3,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2007\/10\/209184.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":209211,"heading":"LA march Numbers more like 2,000","article":"The march was more like 2,000 people.\r\n\r\nANSWER always inflates the actual number by 10 times.\r\n\r\nAnother boring pointless permit march with undercovers police everywhere.\r\n\r\nANSWER is not to be trusted they work with the police.\r\n\r\n Do NOT go to permit marches they are a trap.\r\n\r\nOrganize your own event and target the war machine where is counts. Never work with police. Do not go to federal buildings to protest. \r\n\r\nThe war rages on with no end in sight, thanks in part to groups like ANSWER that derail effective protest.\r\n","author":"ANSWER LIES","parent_id":209184,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2007-10-30 12:53:15","modified":"2007-10-30 12:53:15","fileurl":""},{"id":209248,"heading":"NEOCON ZIONIST THREAT TO AMERICA","article":"NEOCONZIONISTTHREAT.BLOGSPOT.COM\r\n\r\n","author":"NO MORE WARS FOR ISRAEL","parent_id":209184,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2007-10-30 19:17:49","modified":"2007-10-30 19:17:49","fileurl":""}]}