FOCUS HAD BEEN MILITARIZATION OF SPACE: "STAR WARS" PROTESTS TURN INTO RALLIES AGAINST AFGAN WAR
By Heather Cottin
Peace activists around the world had planned for months to demonstrate on Oct. 11-16 in opposition to the U.S. militarization of space called the National Missile Defense program, popularly known as Star Wars. But when the war in Afghanistan eclipsed the scheduled events, what happened was a truly worldwide mobilization of tens of thousands against NMD as well as the brutal and illegal war in Central Asia.
The International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space was organized by the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space out of Gainesville, Fla.
On Oct. 11 Baltimore-area activists walked through an open gate at the National Security Agency at 7 a.m., despite the fact the area was on highest alert.
They carried a letter addressed to Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, head of the National Security Agency, demanding a meeting. However, a security breach alert was sounded, and at least nine vehicles, soldiers with drawn weapons and attack dogs soon arrived.
The NSA officials would not permit a meeting with Gen. Hayden, so two protesters poured their own blood on the asphalt to represent all victims of the NSA's work. Another held a sign saying, "Unmask the body of secrets ... No Star Wars ... Nonviolence now ... In ter na tional Days of Protest Oct. 12-13, 2001." Another banner read "No war on Afghanistan, Iraq, whomever; no spying, no Star Wars, work for peace, please!"
Each demonstrator was arrested and charged with trespass, carrying a penalty of six months in prison and a $2,500 fine; destruction of government property, one year; and conspiracy, five years.
In Amherst, Mass., speakers linked news about space-based weapons to a wide range of issues. They decried the food drops in Afghanistan in the midst of the world's most concentrated mine fields. They criticized media war propaganda, and opposed the training of terrorists at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga. And they praised the courage of Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, who opposed the war powers bill in Congress.
At Edwards Air Force Base in California, activists marched to protest both the war in Afghanistan and "nukes in space." In New York City and Washington, D.C., hundreds raised their voices against these threats to humankind.
In Canberra, Australia, several hundred gathered in Victoria Square before marching to the Parliament building. Australia's participation in the International Day to Stop the Militarization of Space was expanded in scope and militancy by a call to stop the war against Afghanistan
In Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan, peace activists came out to oppose the war and militarization of space. In Ireland, one peace activist said, "Together with our sisters and brothers across the world today, we join our voices in calling on your government to immediately stop the bombing of Afghanistan and to pursue your just demands for retribution through peaceful means."
In London, organizers were surprised at how many people turned up at the demonstration, which had been changed at the last moment to an anti-war rally in opposition to the war in Afghanistan. "The police expected 10,000 but we have far, far exceeded that,'' said Carol Naughton, chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which cancelled a planned demo against Star Wars in order to host the rally.
The police estimated 20,000 people were on the march from Hyde Park Corner to Trafalgar Square, but the organizers put the numbers at 50,000.
At the same time as the London rally, a brave group in Yorkshire protested at the Fylingdales radar base. They stood silently in line across the base entrance for three minutes in remembrance of those who have already lost their lives, and those who will be killed by bombs, bullets or starvation "if we do not stop the war in Afghanistan."
In Germany on Oct. 13, three major events attracted over 75,000 people. They thronged the streets to express their disgust about NMD and war generally.
The biggest demonstration was in Berlin with 50,000 participants, followed by Stuttgart with 25,000. Because of the war in Afghanistan, NMD was not the main point of convergence of the demonstrations. The slogan was: "No war-- Get up for peace, for solidarity and social justice."
Many students came out, from more than 70 universities. Many opponents of globalization attended the rallies. One speaker received tumultuous applause when he said, "The policy of the USA and its NATO partners, including the German government, surrenders completely to the military 'logic'-- that the answer to the mass murder on September 11 is the 'collateral' killing of innocent people."
He went on to invoke the solidarity of the worldwide peace movement, which now links its opposition to arms in space to antagonism to the war in Afghanistan.
"We remember the words of the great American and fighter for civil rights, Martin Luther King, who said more than 30 years ago that the chain reaction of wars that create new wars must be broken."
One of the organizers said, "It is not true that all Germans extend solidarity to the U.S. for military retaliation. And it is even less true that all Germans agree to participation of the German military in this, or any other, war."
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