Thousands cheer anti-war contingent at MLK Day Parade

On Jan. 15, 10,000 people cheered the Fort Lauderdale, Martin Luther King, Jr. parade anti-war contingent organized by

the Broward Anti-War Coalition and ANSWER Coalition-Florida (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). The contingent was strong and gained further inspiration from the anti-war sentiment of the crowd.

“It’s very frustrating for mothers to see their sons over there; a lot of innocent kids are going to Iraq only to benefit oil,” said Julie Barrett, a Jamaican immigrant who joined the anti-war contingent with her five children.

“Children, mothers, fathers and grandmothers’ hunger for change was reflected in the crowd’s interest in the anti-war leaflets,” said Melida Arredondo, a Gold Star Family stepmother whose step-son died in Iraq in 2004.

Over 3,000 leaflets were distributed during the two-mile march that ended at the park adjacent to the African American Research Library and Cultural Center on Sistrunk Blvd.

A joint statement by BAWC and ANSWER entitled “In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. let’s join together to demand: Out of Iraq Now!” featured a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. with his famous quote “The bombs in Vietnam explode at home.”

The March 17 march on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., was promoted, along with an upcoming South Florida anti-war calendar of events.

Also marching with the contingent was the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.