MArch 20, 2004--More than 50,000 protesters filled the streets of San Francisco today to demand: "Bring the Troops Home Now" and "End Occupation of Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, and Everywhere". The S.F. march was one of hundreds on every continent, as millions of people around the world participated in a Global Day of Action Against War and Occupation today.

Other demonstrations in the U.S. included more than 100,000 in New York, 20,000 in Los Angeles and 10,000 in Chicago. More than 1 million jammed the streets of Rome, Italy and millions more joined protests from Tokyo to Johannesburg to Madrid.

The San Francisco march and rally was initiated by the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), San Francisco's main anti-war group. Other sponsoring organizations included the Free Palestine Alliance; Vanguard Foundation; International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10; Bay Area United Against War; Muslim Student Association; and many other organizations.

"The March 20 Global Day of Action proves that opposition to the Iraq war and occupation is deep and it is worldwide," said Richard Becker, spokesperson for the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition. "The turnout in San Francisco more than doubled our expectations."

The march took two hours to begin leaving Dolores Park in the Mission District, and finally finish arriving in Civic Center Plaza, adjacent to City Hall. Among the speakers were actor Woody Harrelson, United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee, Henry Graham-President of ILWU Lo. 10, Zeina Zaatari of the Free Palestine Alliance, war resister Steven Funk, Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition and many others.

The front of the procession was crowded with banners and signs in English, Spanish, and Arabic, supporting an end to colonial occupation in Iraq, and freedom for Palestine. Many veterans and veterans' groups marched. Also included in the march were contingents of labor, students, and one for same-sex marriage equality. A large contingent of dock workers, including the ILWU Lo. 10 drill team joined demonstration.

"March 20 is a powerful manifestation of the people in the United States who are demanding 'Bring the Troops Home Now' and 'End Colonial Occupation from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti and Everywhere,'" said Leilani Dowell of the ANSWER Student and Youth National Coalition and student at San Francisco State University. "Youth and students from across the U.S. are organizing to tell Bush that they will not fight his wars and we are demanding that the 2 billion dollars a week he is taking from us to spend on war and occupation in Iraq be spent instead for schools and jobs and to meet human needs."

The ANSWER Coalition also initiated or co-sponsored rallies in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Over 300 cities across the U.S. participated in the March 20 Global Day of Action. -

Donations for the March 20 Global Day of Action can be made online at www.progressunity.org, and are tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to International ANSWER or tax-deductible donations to Progress Unity Fund/ANSWER and mailed to 2489 Mission St. #24, San Francisco, CA 94110. Credit card donations can also be made over the phone at (415) 821-6545.

Your support and generosity are appreciated, and contributed to Saturday’s success.