Global Day of Protest: 3 Million In 65 Countries: Worldwide Movement Back In Streets

By John Catalinotto

A coordinated worldwide protest against U.S. militarism and aggression followed the sun on March 20, starting in Sydney, Australia, Manila, the Philippines, and Tokyo, and moving west across six continents to Honolulu.

Over 3 million people in 600 cities in 65 countries came out into the streets to demand an end to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.

Rome (credit: Indymedia)

This movement first sprang to life six months before the war's onset. It reached its numerical height on Feb. 15, 2003, when over 10 million marched in a desperate attempt to prevent the looming U.S. aggression.

 

1.Manila: (credit: Indymedia)
2. Sydney (credit: http://www.cat.org.au/mar20-04/index.html)

Last April many asked whether the move ment would survive Washington's unilateral aggression and rapid military victory over the Iraqi Army.

Now, after almost a year of occupation, the Iraqi people have proven they have the will to resist. In turn, their courage has stimulated the worldwide movement to continue its opposition to the occupation.

This movement has not only survived. It has edged in a more anti- imperialist direction, impelled as well by the increasing brutality of the U.S.-backed Israeli regime against the Palestinian national movement.

The call for a March 20 worldwide day of protest won support at the European and World Social Forums, at the Mumbai Resistance, and from most national anti-war coalitions, including the ANSWER and UFPJ coalitions in the United States.

Anti-imperialism and especially anti-U.S.-militarism was strongest in protests outside of Europe and North America. In Calcutta, India, in Cairo, Egypt, in Damascus, Syria, and Amman, Jordan, demonstrators burned either U.S. flags or effigies of George W. Bush.

In Manila they fought against water cannons in an attempt to reach the U.S. Embassy.

Calcutta (credit: AIAIF)

In Peshawar, Pakistan, people demonstrated not only to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq but also to stop Pakistani troops from killing civilians in Waziristan, a region along the border with Afghanistan.

 

 

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Sant Diago, Chile; in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Montevideo, Uruguay, demonstrators targeted not only the occupation of Iraq but also the U.S. attempt to impose the Free Trade Area of the Americas on Latin America and the Caribbean. They protested the recent coup and occupation in Haiti and marched in defense of Cuba and Venezuela, whose people also joined the worldwide protest.

 

 

 

1. Sao Paolo (credit: Indymedia)
2. Montevideo (credit: Indymedia)
3. Puerto Rico (credit: Indymedia)

 

 

 

 

San Diago, Chile (Indymedia)

Continued page two