From Coast to Coast - and around the Globe, The People Say "Stop War on Iran!"
Actions in more than 100
cities
As the threat of war and sanctions against Iran grows, “No War on
Iran” was a slogan and chant that resonated across the U.S. on the
weekend of Aug. 1-2 as emergency marches, rallies, vigils, teach-ins, honk for
peace picket lines and leaflet distributions were held to protest U.S.-Israeli
war threats against Iran.
In response to the Emergency Call to Action issued by the Stop War on Iran Campaign in mid-June,
anti-war activists in more than 100 cities voiced their opposition boldly in
the streets despite the short notice in which the initial call was made and the
difficulty of organizing during the summer.
Besides bringing attention to the real threat of a military strike against the
sovereign country of Iran, activists also raised the new round of economic
sanctions against Iran, which is another form of war. Activists also
connected Iran to the wars and occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine
which have cost hundreds of billions of dollars and maimed and killed an untold
number of civilians and soldiers. Many events connected the staggering
financial cost of the war with the lack of health care, housing, and other
human needs, as well as the foreclosure crisis and the skyrocketing cost of
gas.
Below we have included reports from a handful of the many actions that took
place over the weekend. Reports are still coming in, and more will be
posted on the Stop War on Iran blog - http://stopwaroniran.wordpress.com
in the coming days.
This weekend's actions were an enormous display of opposition to
Washington's plans for an attack on Iran. But we must do
more - we have to continue to organize to stop another criminal
war. The Stop War on Iran campaign is mobilizing to stay in the streets -
over the next few weeks, we are preparing placards, banners, and literature to
take to St. Paul, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado, for the Republican and
Democratic National Conventions. If you're planning to be there, look
for our banners and organizing tables and find out how you can help get the
word out.
We also need your help to keep the message on the streets and to continue to
help build a peoples movement to Stop War on Iran. Please consider making
an emergency donation to Stop War on Iran at http://stopwaroniran.org/donate.shtml
to help with the costs of printing literature, preparing placards, and
transportation to St. Paul and Denver.
New York City
An estimated 700 to 1,000 activists refused to allow two torrential
thunderstorms dampen their spirits and determination to rally at Times Square
and then take to the streets. Thousands more who were
shopping or just passing by stopped to listen to speeches, chants and songs
that connected the wars abroad with the wars at home against the workers, the
poor and the oppressed. Joyce Chediac, a Lebanese activist and journalist
and LeiLani Dowell, a Fight Imperialism, Stand Together (FIST) organizer
chaired the rally. Chants from the stage were led by activists from
Nodutdol for Korean Community Development and CAAAV: Organizing Asian
Communities.
Larry Holmes, a leader of Troops Out Now Coalition, spoke on the imperialist
nature of U.S. wars and why it is in the interest of the people in the U.S. to
support self-determination, not the U.S. government. Kazem Azin, an
Iranian activist, told the crowd that the Iranian people will continue to
defend their homeland against U.S. and Israeli aggression. Former U.S.
Attorney General, Ramsey Clark, urged the crowd to keep organizing and
resisting. Other rally participants represented the American Iranian
Friendship Committee, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Million Workers March
Movement, New York Katrina/Rita Solidarity Coalition, World Can’t Wait,
Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Justice Committee, Peoples
Justice, BAYAN-USA, New York Free Mumia Coalition, International Action Center,
Veterans for Peace, Raging Grannies, World Can't Wait and many more.
Activists read solidarity statements from Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chairperson,
International Coordinating Committee International League of Peoples
Struggles (ILPS); and from the IAPSCC - International Anti-Imperialist
and People's Solidarity Coordinating Committee in Kolkata, India; and from
the Mobilization Against War and Occupation in Vancouver.
Following the rally, a youth-dominated, multinational and militant march took
to the streets. When the police tried to force the marchers on the
sidewalk, they stood their ground and stayed in the streets until the march
ended at Union Square, 25 blocks later. There was a large youth
contingent from Nodutdol for Korean Community Development along with organizers
from the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), FIST, International Action
Center and many others.
Washington, DC
On Aug. 2 a protest took place in front of the White House. One hundred and
fifty protesters carried signs that included: "Iran
Didn't Foreclose on My House" and "U.S. Out of
the Middle East". At a rally in a park, Rostam Pourzal from
Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Invention in Iran spoke along with a
representative from the D.C. Stop War on Iran Campaign.
The protest was multinational with a large number of people from the Iranian
community along with Black activists, particularly youth, as well as Code Pink
members and other anti-war activists. Media coverage of this protest included
Al Jazeera, CNN and Youth and Politics Beat. The Baltimore All
Peoples-Congress members also participated. Activists are meeting on
August 12 to plan future actions.
Los Angeles, California
Two hundred anti-war protesters gathered and marched in Downtown Los Angeles
Aug. 2 despite 20 violent pro-shah and pro-U.S. war counter protecters that
tried to stop it. The counter protecters were violating a permit obtained by
the Stop the War On Iran Coalition. In fact, the only action the police took
was to attempt to arrest one of the coalition monitors defending the Stop War
On Iran protest.
About 15 demonstration monitors were able to isolate and force the counter
protecters out of the park to allow the program to resume. Speakers and
initiators of the march represented BAYAN-USA, World Can't Wait, FMLN,
FIST, IAC. Other speakers represented South Asian Network, USLAW-Los Angeles,
SEIU Local 721, Al-Awda, Anti-Racist Action, Union of Progressive Iranians and
more. The march was very visible along Broadway's mostly Latino and working
class population. Some observers joined the militant march. Press included Fox
news, the local Pacifica station - KPFK and Tehran News. For updates and
to find out how to get involved, see http://www.iacenterla.org.
Raleigh, N.C.
The protest convened at the State Capitol building. Rima L’Amir
from FIST made opening remarks. Twenty pro-war men with U.S. flags tried
to provoke the anti-war activists but were unsuccessful. The march
stopped at U.S. Congressman's Bob Ethridge's office downtown where
Larkin Coffey from FIST and a speaker from the Durham Bill of Rights Defense
Committee spoke. The march went to Barack Obama's local campaign
headquarters where Rev. David Foy from Black Workers for Justice spoke. Many of
the Obama volunteers came outside and began registering people to vote.
Another FIST speaker talked about the role of the Democratic Party. While
marching past the bus station many riders joined in on the anti-war chants and
started dancing and took Stop War on Iran literature. Ben Carroll from
FIST was interviewed on National Public Radio. For more information and
updates, see http://raleighfist.wordpress.com.
Houston, Texas
TONC organized an open mic protest to denounce plans to make war on Iran Aug. 1
in 100-degree heat for two hours at the Mickey Leland Federal Building.
“We have so many issues to fight right here at home. We don’t
need to make war on Iran,” said Alma Diaz, co-host of KPFT
Pacifica’s “Protecto Latino Americano”. “Tomorrow
morning we are going to confront the racist Border Watch at a job site and we
urge you to join us.”
Signs that read, "Honk to Stop War" evoked continuous honking by
drivers, waving and making peace signs from car windows. People signed
petitions for "No War on Iran". Council on American-Islamic
Relations representative, Ali Khalili, stated, "Enough is enough. In
our name, with our money, they are killing people across the world. We waged
war in Iraq. More than a million innocent men, women and children have
died.”
Other activists represented there were from the Harris County Green Party,
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Houston Peace
Forum, Houston Peace and Justice Center, Code Pink, and Houston Coalition for
Justice. Njeri Shakur from the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement, stated,
"People’s lives are in a crisis with the rising gas prices, rising
rents and food costs…people are sick of war and want our tax money to be
spent on the real needs of the people.”
Boston, Massachusetts
Over 200 activists picketed the Army Recruitment Center Aug. 2 in downtown
Boston in an action jointly organized as a Counter Recruitment Day called by
the UMass/Boston Antiwar Coalition and Boston Stop War on Iran Campaign.
Shouting “We support war resisters, they’re our brothers.
They’re our sisters”, the picket line stretched an entire block and
was joined by activists from TONC, IVAW, Greater Boston Stop the Wars
Coalition, Workers World Party, International Socialist Organization, Vets for
Peace, Smedley Butler Brigade, Women’s Fightback Network, Stonewall
Warriors and Boston School Bus Drivers Union Local 8751 USW.
Mike Spinnato from IVAW told WW that, “Reading Howard Zinn’s
People’s History of the United States opened my eyes to the reality of
what armed forces recruitment was really about”.
FIST organizer, Miya, spoke on the connection between the military recruiting
oppressed youth to fight and die abroad and the need for jobs for youth, not
jails and war. To get involved with the Boston Stop War on
Iran Campaign, see http://www.iacboston.org.
Springfield, Massachusetts
50 people attended an Aug. 2 noontime news conference in Court Square, across
from City Hall, followed by a public speak-out. The speakers included
State Representative Benjamin Swan, a civil rights activist who marched with
Dr. King, and award-winning Latino poet Martin Espada. Iranian born
Behzad Samimi, now a U.S. citizen, made a strong case against a U.S.-Israeli
attack on Iran.
They were joined by Don James, President of Arise, a poor people’s rights
group; Dr. "Marty" Nathan of Physicians for Social Responsibility;
student John Collura of the S.T.C.C. Mobilization Against Poverty, Racism and
War, along with representatives from Out Now, Wally Nelson Veterans for Peace
and the American Friends Service Committee.
All three Springfield T.V. stations covered the news conference, as well as The
Springfield Republican newspaper. Nick Camerota of the Western Mass. IAC
was interviewed prior to Aug. 2 on two African American radio programs about
the protest. Other protests in the state were held in Pittsfield, Orange
and Tisbury.
Detroit. Michigan
Over100 multinational protesters joined a spirited protest in downtown Detroit
at Hart Plaza Aug. 1 declaring "US-Israel: Hands off Iran and "Money
for Housing, Not for War!"
The emergency action, sponsored by the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War
and Injustice (MECAWI) (see http://www.mecawi.org) was joined
by members of Peace Action, the AFT and UAW, the Moratorium NOW! coalition,
Latinos Unidos, Pax Christi, the Green Party, the Michigan Coalition for Human
Rights, the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, 11th Hour 4 Peace,
Iranian community members and others.
A speak out took place were speakers linked the U.S.'s planned war on Iran
to the domestic war most notably in relation to foreclosures, school closings,
police brutality and the increasing costs of living. A similar action took
place in Ann Arbor Aug. 2.
Woodstock, NY
Some three dozen people gathered on the Village Green in Woodstock, NY, to
protest the potential invasion of Iraq. There was an overwhelming supportive
response from passersby on foot and cars, despite the heavy rain. Rene
Imperato, of the Woodstock Solidarity Committee, spoke on the plight of
veterans and the horrible effects of exposure to depleted uranium by American
and other occupying forces as well as the Iraqi people. Dale Wise of Veterans
for Peace read poems from wounded Iraq veterans. Veterans for Peace,
Following the rally, protesters drove to Kingston to join a picketline of over
two dozen people across a busy thoroughfare from the local army recruitment
office at the Kingston Valley Plaza mall.
Woodstock Vietnam Veterans Against the War and www.mid-eastcrisisresponse.org.
endorsed the Woodstock demonstration which was called by the Woodstock
Solidarity Committee.
Atlanta, Georgia
More than 80 anti-war activists lined both sides of a busy midtown Atlanta
street to oppose any economic sanctions or military attack on Iran. There were
honks of approval from many passing cars and cheers from pedestrians. Leaflets
urging people to contact their elected officials and voice their rejection of
any blockade of Iran as contained in House Resolution 362 were distributed to
shoppers.
The IAC and the Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta action drew a
number of youth and students and members of the Iranian community, some of whom
came in response to a half-page "No War on Iran" ad placed in a
weekly newspaper.
Chicago, Ill.
Over 125 anti-war and progressive activists attended a rally at the State of
Illinois Building organized by the Chicago Coalition against War and Racism to
oppose the bipartisan war threats against Iran.
The speakers’ list included public housing activist Beauty Turner;
immigrant rights activist Jorge Mujica from the March 10th Coalition; Iranian
activist Ali Akbari from Evanston Neighbors for Peace; Al Sutton of Chicago
Labor against War; and Angie Haban of the “Holy Name 6”, activists
who face charges for staging an anti-war protest during the 2008 Easter service
at Holy Name Cathedral. The protesters marched to the Cook County Republican
Headquarters, the Israeli consulate, and the Democratic National Committee
headquarters.
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
(From http://www.worldwidewamm.org/home.html)
At noon on Friday, August 1, the anniversary of the collapse Interstate-35
Bridge into the Mississippi River, exposing the condition of U.S.
infrastructure, Women Against Military Madness, held a demonstration in
Minneapolis outside of Senator Amy Klobuchar's office, one block from the
site of the bridge. National and international organizations called for
worldwide emergency actions on the next day, but we held ours one earlier to
coincide with the bridge collapse. Senator Klobuchar was one of the sponsors of
Senate Resolution 580. The protest called for "Bridges Not Bombs!
Don't Bomb Iran!" and was attended by 40-50 activists. Many cars and
bicyclists honked and gave thumbs up and thanks on the street at the edge of
downtown Minneapolis. Although news crews from major TV stations fueled up at a
gas station across the street as they cruised up and down Washington Ave. to
take photos of the bridge, the stories in the media focused on healing and
heroes after the tragedy and making the connection between the decaying U.S.
infrastructure and the cost of war and the threat of war did not fit into their
story line.
Vancouver, Canada
200 people, including many Iranians, rallied at the
Vancouver Art Gallery to demand “No War On Iran!” In Canada,
besides activists in Vancouver, British Columbia, there were also events
organized in Calgary, Alberta and Sydney, Nova Scotia, in conjunction with this
international call.
The rally in Vancouver was organized jointly by Mobilization Against War and
Occupation (MAWO) and the Iranian Community Against War (ICAW). MCs Payvand and
Arash from ICAW opened the rally with chants of “Don’t Attack
Iran!” and “No to Sanctions on Iran!”.
Many community activists from a variety of unions, grassroots organizations,
and ethnic communities spoke at the rally, including: Alison Bodine, MAWO
Co-chair (by phone from San Francisco), Phillipa Ryan, Coast Salish elder and
social justice activist, Dustin Langley, a central organizer with Stop War on
Iran (reading a solidarity statement via phone from New York), Ladan, an
Iranian social justice activist and supporter of the Iranian Community Against
War, Charles Boylan, radio host on Co-op Radio’s “Wake Up With
Co-op” program and a member of the Communist Party of Canada
(Marxist-Leninist), Cesar, an organizer with the Solidarity Coalition for a
United Latin America, Fred Muzin, President of the Hospital Employee’s
Union of British Columbia, Ali Yerevani, ICAW organizer and political editor of
the Fire This Time newspaper, Nita Palmer, executive committee member and
Acting Co-chair of MAWO. The rally was closed with a resolution read by Meaghan
Griffiths, high school student and MAWO organizer - for a full
report from MAWO and text of resolution, see http://www.mawovancouver.org/reports/080802photos.html
. Activists are planning a public forum on August 12 to continue to organize
and mobize - for more information, see:
http://www.mawovancouver.org/materials/posters/080821-IRAN-FORUM-SURREY.pdf
Other Aug. 2 protests
In Cleveland antiwar groups demanded “Don't Iraq
Iran” as they marched past the federal building to a rally at a downtown
park. Congressperson Dennis Kucinich made opening remarks charging the
Bush administration with using the same lie--weapons of mass destruction--to
justify another war. Other speakers represented the Iranian community, Peace
Action, World Can't Wait, U.S. Labor Against the War, AFSC, WILPF, Vets for
Peace, Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network, TONC, Middle East Peace
Forum, and others. A protest was also held in Columbus.
In Buffalo, a demonstration was sponsored by Buffalo Forum,
the Western New York Peace Center, IAC and WWP. The anti war coalition in
Buffalo recently shouted John McCain out of Buffalo.
A rush hour protest in downtown Baltimore was held Aug.
1. Hundreds of workers honked their horn and waved as activists held
signs that read, “Foreclose the war, not our homes. Roll back gas prices,
not war on Iran.”
In Hicksville, Long Island, 65 people rallied, joined in a
lively action at the railroad station and then took a “peace” train
to the NYC rally. Activists from Vets For Peace, Code Pink, LI TONC, Pax
Christi, Hicksville SDS, as well as Hicksville Students Against War
participated.
The IAC organized a Stop War on Iran picket line at the Federal Courthouse in
Seattle and then marched to city center. This march joined
forces with a vigil against the U.S.-Israeli war and occupation against
Palestine called by Voices of Palestine. There was another demonstration
organized by IVAW, GI Voice and Olympia SDS at the gates of Ft. Lewis which
made an appeal to the soldiers not to fight Iran.
Nearly fifty people came out in 103 degree heat in Denver to
protest war threats made against Iran from the Bush regime. Banners and
signs held up by the activists received many responses from passing
motorists.
In Bozeman, Montana, a vigil to Stop Wars on Iraq and Iran was
held at the Gallatin County Courthouse. Overwhelmingly, passersby, many
on their way to and from a local fair, supported the demands by honking their
car horns, giving peace signs or raising their fists in support.
In Tucson, a discussion was held on how the local anti-war
movement can educate people about the Bush administration's lies regarding
Iran. One speaker, who had visited Iran last summer, gave a firsthand account
of the gains the Iranian people have made since overthrowing the Shah in
1978.
Other Stop War on Iran protests were held in Kennebunkport,
ME; Salt Lake City, UT; Louisville, Ky., Fairbanks, AK; Hilo, HI; Gate 1 of the
Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Va., Naples and Miami, FL,
Madison, WI and many more. Go to www.StopWarOnIran.org for full report
backs on other actions and pictures -- and to help organize for the next stage
of the struggle to Stop War on Iran.
Many activists have posted videos of local actions on YouTube and elsewhere -
check the Stop War on Iran
blog for links to videos
and news coverage.
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