Amelia McDonald, Ian Thompson, Sunil Freeman, Ben Becker, John Beacham, John Peter Daly, Jane Cutter, Jon Britton, Tahnee Stair and Jack Smith contributed to this report.
Over 1,000 emergency protests were held on Thursday, Jan. 11, in cities and towns across the United States on less than 48 hours notice. In response to Bush’s speech announcing his plans to deepen the war in Iraq and send more soldiers and Iraqis to their deaths, people came out into the streets of their communities to make clear the growing and powerful public opposition to Bush’s war for empire.
When the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) circulated its appeal for local activists to stage
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“This is a clear indication that anti-war sentiment in the country has reached a tipping point,” stated Brian Becker, national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition. “It is not only a majority sentiment but it will, just as in Vietnam become an irresistible political force in domestic politics in the months to come.”
San Francisco
In San Francisco, 800 people gathered at 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Market and Powell to voice their opposition to the Bush administration’s complete disregard for the overwhelming sentiment of the people to end the occupation of Iraq. The demonstration was the largest protest in the country on Jan. 11.
There was a militant march and rally with speakers representing different community organizations. The protest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition. More than 15 other anti-war actions happened in the Bay Area that day as well.
Los Angeles
Around 20 protests were held in Los Angeles on Jan. 11. The largest was organized by the ANSWER Coalition.
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More than 300 protesters demonstrated against the war and troop escalation on the busy corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Western Ave. in Koreatown. It was a multinational protest with many young workers joining in and receiving anti-war literature from organizers.
Protesters chanted “No escalation, end the occupation,” as countless cars honked in support of the demonstration.
Another large gathering of around 100 people took place at the Westwood federal building. English- and Spanish-language media covered the protests.
Washington, D.C.
Several hundred protestors gathered in front of the White House on Jan. 11 to protest the war in Iraq. Speakers included congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Ca.), former congressman Tom Andrews, and Jeffrey Kovite, a member of Military Families Speak Out.
ANSWER members distributed signs and flyers announcing the March 17 march on the Pentagon.
New York City
Several hundred protesters assembled in front of a military recruitment station in busy Times Square for a spirited
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When images of Bush were projected on the jumbo Times Square television monitors, massive booing erupted from the protesters and passersby. Both the ANSWER Coalition and member group Party for Socialism and Liberation mobilized for the protest. They brought signs, banners and supporters to the anti-war action.
Chicago
Chicago saw a demonstration of over 200 people on Jan. 11. The demands of the protest focused on shutting down Guantánamo. It was also an anti-war action.
ANSWER Chicago participated with a lively contingent. At the end of the protest, eight activists were arrested after an act of civil disobedience at the federal building.
South Florida
In Ft. Lauderdale, the ANSWER Coalition and Broward Anti-War Coalition called a joint protest in Jan. 11. More than 50 people came out to the federal building and demonstrated militantly against the war and Bush’s announced plan.
There were six other actions in South Florida, including several in Miami and Boca Raton.
Seattle
Around 50 protesters gathered at Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle for a demonstration called by ANSWER to protest Bush’s call to send even more troops to Iraq. The protestors came together despite bitter cold and a snowstorm that had shut down most schools in the region.
Spirits were high as demonstrators chanted, “No escalation! End the occupation!” and “Occupation is a crime, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine!” The response was largely positive from rush hour commuters, bus drivers and passersby.
The Puget Sound area saw many localized emergency response
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Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, in the area to support Lt. Ehren Watada, held a noon-time protest at the gates of Ft. Lewis. A protest also was held in the working-class city of Burien, south of Seattle, as well as protests at the University of Washington, and in some northern neighborhoods of Seattle. The 4:00 p.m. protest at Westlake was reportedly the largest response demonstration in the area. The demonstration was covered by the Seattle Times and Channel 13.
San José and Santa Clara, Calif.
Actions organized on short notice in chilly weather at several locations in the San José /Santa Clara area drew close to 250 protesters Jan. 11 following President Bush’s announcement of his troop surge plan for “victory” in Iraq the previous evening.
One of the larger gatherings, initiated by South Bay Mobilization, occurred at the intersection of Stevens Creek and Winchester in Santa Clara. This is the venue for anti-war protest vigils spearheaded by Think First counter-recruitment activist David Ledesma, whose brother was killed in the Vietnam War, that have been held every Saturday and Sunday for more than three years.
Some 100 protesters came out to hold anti-war signs, chant “No more war, no more war,” and express outrage at the Bush escalation plan. Many groups mobilized for the action, including SBM, Think First, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the ANSWER Coalition, Party for Socialism and Liberation and others. Spanish-language channel 14 covered the action and interviewed Spanish-speaking activists.
New Haven, Conn.
The Connecticut chapter of the ANSWER Coalition participated in the three demonstrations that took place near New
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At 6:00 p.m., over 100 protested in front of the New Haven City Hall. Chants included, “Hey Bush what do you say, how many kids did you kill today?” and “The road to peace, U.S. out of the Middle East.” The anti-war protesters marched to the local NBC station.
New Paltz, New York
In New Paltz, more than 100 people formed a picket line in front of the local library. Signs and chants denounced the U.S. war on Iraq and Bush’s announced “surge” plan.
The Jan. 11 protests were a step toward upcoming anti-war actions including ANSWER’s planned march on the Pentagon on March 17, the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Well over 1,000 people have endorsed the action and transportation centers are being set up across the country to bring people to Washington, D.C., to participate in this Global Day of Action against the war.
Click here to get involved with the March 17 march on the Pentagon.
