Update on the APRIL 12, 2003, National March to Stop the War on Iraq

Update on the APRIL 12, 2003, National March to Stop the War on Iraq / April 1 March to Defend Affirmative Action in Washington DC

In New York City, two-color leaflets and stickers are now available in massive quantities. You can pick up leaflets and stickers at 39 W. 14th St., #206. We have printed 200,000 flyers for distribution all over the area. You can also download and reproduce flyers yourself (see below for details). Call 212-633-6646 for more information.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition believes that the war against Iraq has never been about disarmament of weapons of mass destruction or about creating a more democratic or humane regime in Baghdad. The people of the Middle East recognize that this is a war for empire, for conquest and domination in a region that possesses 2/3rds of the world's oil supply. The Bush administration's vision of the future under the rubric of the so-called war on terrorism, with all of its shifting rationales, is to plunge the United States government into a state of endless war. Their geo-strategic fantasy of world domination based purely on military prowess will lead to a catastrophic escalation of the cycle of violence.

All aspects of the Bush administration's war against Iraq -- its preparations and actions before the war and during the first week of the war -- have proven to be based on gross miscalculations.

The people of the world can and have shown that they can unite to offer a different vision. Peace and social justice will not be a gift presented to us by the Bush administration. On the contrary, their vision of reckless adventurism and the use of limitless violence against their opponents can only spell disaster, but the Bush administration is not the ultimate arbiter of the historical process. Peace and social justice can be achieved by the strengthening of the worldwide people's movement that has sprung into existence in recent months.

The upcoming April 12 International Day of Protest, including a mass march on the White House, is essential to maintaining the global momentum of those who stand against the war worldwide.

Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians are suffering from the absence of food, medicine and water. Thousands more are being made into refugees. The very young and the very old, the most vulnerable sectors of society, are undoubtedly perishing directly from the hardships caused by the war. As the resistance of the Iraqi people stiffens, the U.S. high command is changing its war plans and so-called rules of engagement, allowing for the quick targeting of civilians. The Bush administration is not concerned about the young working class men and women who are being sent into combat. They are afraid, however, that high casualties will create a political backlash in the U.S. population.

On April 12, the world will demand that the carnage in Iraq be ended. The Iraqi people must be able to determine their own destiny free from invasion and occupation. Anyone who cares about the lives and safety of U.S. GIs will demand that the troops be brought home now.

A large number of U.S. military veterans will be participating in the April 12 demonstrations in Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is noteworthy that the Bush administration is slashing benefit programs for U.S. military veterans. The House of Representatives recently voted to cut $25 billion in veterans' healthcare and benefits programs. Plagued by these recent budget cuts, the veterans' administration has had to resort to charging new veterans entering into its system a yearly fee of $250 in order for them to receive treatment. How disgusting that the Bush administration can ask for $85 billion to wage a bloody invasion of Iraq and just a few days after slash the tax rate paid by the very rich while it carries out an assault on veterans benefits.

The world is indeed uniting on April 12. We have just learned about more protests taking place internationally. The huge Australian peace movement has decided to hold a major protest that weekend. The Bolivarian Circles of Venezuela are holding actions in Caracas and throughout Venezuela on April 12, as well as calling on Bolivarian Circles around the world to take part in the International Day of Protest. Anti-war activists in Cyprus will hold a demonstration. Actions around the world on April 12 will also take place in London, England; Brazil; Mexico; Nicaragua; Puerto Rico; South Korea; the Philippines; Spain; Italy; Denmark; Sweden; Germany, and the U.S. The list of countries holding protests continues to grow every day.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT APRIL 12

In Washington, huge numbers of people will gather at the Washington Monument at 12 noon. Joint U.S. actions will take place in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

*In New York City, two-color leaflets and stickers are now available in massive quantities. You can pick up leaflets and stickers at 39 W. 14th St., #206. We have printed 200,000 flyers for distribution all over the area. You can also download and reproduce flyers yourself (see below for details). Call 212-633-6646 for more information.*

To DOWNLOAD LITERATURE, go to http://internationalanswer.org/campaigns/resources/index.html

BUSES, VANS AND CAR CARAVANS WILL TRAVEL FROM THE EAST COAST, MIDWEST AND SOUTH to be at the White House on Saturday, April 12. For a listing of transportation being organized from cities around the country, go to: http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/a12/a12transp.html

If you are ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION, fill out the easy-to-use form at http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/a12/index.html#a12transp so that we can help spread the word to others (if the link does not take you directly to the form, scroll down)

To make a tax-deductible DONATION to support the work of the anti-war movement, go to http://www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html

Please check the April 12 page on the A.N.S.W.E.R. website at http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/a12/index.html frequently for additional organizing information. This will include additional pieces of downloadable literature; a daily update to the list of cities organizing transportation; logistical information; & more.

APRIL 1 March to Defend Affirmative Action

No to the War Against Iraq! No to Racism at Home! Yes to Affirmative Action!

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition calls upon all students and activists around the country to rally at the Supreme Court in Washington DC on Tuesday, April 1st, in defense of affirmative action.

As millions around the country mobilize to stop Bush's war against the Iraqi people, we must also mobilize to stop his racist attacks on the people at home.

Affirmative action has come under attack by right-wing, racist forces in the form of a lawsuit filed against the University of Michigan's affirmative action program. The lawsuit has made its way to the Supreme Court where it awaits a decision that could destroy the rights of millions of people of color to have access to a higher education.

It is the people who won affirmative action through the heroic struggles of the civil rights movement in the 1960's and 1970's. We call upon today's people's movement of anti-war and anti-racist activists to mobilize in defense of this important gain. Neither the courts nor Bush will determine our fate!

Only the People Can Stop the War and Save Affirmative Action!

All out for April 1st at the Supreme Court!

The rally starts at 9 am at the Supreme Court (E. Capitol & 1st St NE), and will be followed by a march.

For more info, go to http://www.bamn.com/wdc