Hundreds demand ‘stop the war’ at Democratic Party presidential debate

The ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) initiated a Jan. 31 demonstration at the final Democratic Party presidential debate. The debate took place at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, Calif. Several hundred protesters gathered directly in front of the theatre to demand an immediate end to the Iraq war.

The tone of the evening rally was set by Preston Wood, Los Angeles coordinator of ANSWER, in a live interview on

Protesters target the pro-war Democrats outside the Kodak Theater, Jan. 31, Los Angeles Photo: Travis Wilkerson

KPFK radio. He pointed out that Clinton and Obama have no intention of immediately ending the occupation in Iraq, and that as representatives of the ruling class, they are just as eager as President Bush to wield the power of U.S. imperialism in the Middle East.

As the staged debate was happening inside, the protest raged outside the theater. Chants lead by ANSWER activists and Party for Socialism and Liberation militants reverberated on the streets of Hollywood. Some of the chants repeated by the youthful crowd were “Democrats lie, GI’s die,” “Clinton, Obama you will see, the Iraqi people will be free,” and “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!” CNN and local media outlets covered the spirited anti-war action.

The demonstration culminated in a brief rally that featured speakers from several progressive organizations. Muna Coobtee, an ANSWER steering committee member in L.A., spoke on behalf of the National Council of Arab Americans. Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, also spoke, denouncing the U.S. warmongers for sending working people’s sons and daughters to die in an unjust war. A first-hand account of the atrocities of the occupation came from a young member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Military Families Speak Out, Codepink, ANSWER Ventura County, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, Gabriela Network, World Can’t Wait, Youth and Student ANSWER and other progressive groups also participated in the event.

The protest ended with a rousing speech by Gloria La Riva, the PSL’s presidential candidate. She is seeking the Peace and Freedom Party nomination for president in California. La Riva underscored the demands of the people to immediately end the war and to redirect resources to fund healthcare, education and housing instead. “Only the people can stop the war; not the rich candidates who represent big banks and corporations,” La Riva declared.

Hundreds of flyers and stickers announcing the upcoming March 15 anti-war protest were distributed. March 15 is the fifth anniversary of the criminal war of aggression on Iraq. There will be a mass regional march and rally to stop the war beginning at 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles that day.