On Jan. 27, an anti-war demonstration drew 150,000 people to the streets of
first national demonstration against the Iraq war since the November mid-term elections and the announcement of Bush’s proposal to escalate the war. It attracted a crowd of families, anti-war groups, labor unions and anti-racist organizations from around the country.
Speakers included well known celebrities and political activists such as Jane Fonda, Sean Penn, and Jesse Jackson, as well as U.S. Congress members Maxine Waters and John Conyers. The action was sponsored by the anti-war group United for Peace and Justice.
Protesters showed their frustration with the war on
Other signs and banners demanded that Bush and Cheney be charged as war criminals for their actions in
Many protesters expressed rage against the new Democratic controlled Congress that, despite all the rhetoric about fighting the “Bush agenda,” has refused to force the president to withdraw troops by cutting off military appropriations. Instead, many Democratic Party members of Congress say we need to “support the troops.”
Military families and veterans groups were represented in the protest. Thousands of hand-written signs in the massive crowd Saturday simply read: “Bring the troops home.” Mothers, fathers and grandparents held signs with pictures of their dead and wounded sons and daughters. Military spouses marched with their children with signs, pleading to bring their mothers and fathers home alive. Military Families Speak Out, and organization representing anti-war families of active member military in
The ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and member group, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, mobilized for the protest and had a very large presence there. ANSWER distributed thousands of signs and stickers promoting the upcoming march on the Pentagon on March 17. News of the march on the Pentagon received overwhelming support from tens of thousands of people who took flyers or received information at the ANSWER and PSL booths set up along the mall.
Despite the patriotic and pro-Democratic Party political messages emanating from the stage, the people in the crowd on Jan. 27—the workers who feel the real effects of this war on their lives everyday—were spirited and willing to turn their frustration against the U.S. government as a whole, a government that uses war and racism to further line the pockets of the ruling class.
All out to march on the Pentagon on March 17!
