On Oct. 17, people stood up in San Francisco and 40 other cities against U.S. conducted and supported wars and occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine. In San Francisco, there was a militant march and rally at the Civic Center.
Michelle Schudel of the ANSWER coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) contingent led militant chants including, “Free, Free Palestine,” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation,” and “No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!”
The coalition of groups for the demonstration included, World Can’t Wait, Unite Here Local 2 Hotel Workers, the Painters Union, the National Assembly, Code Pink, the Peace and Freedom Party, the ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Chris Banks of Youth and Student ANSWER made connections between all countries in the scope of U.S. imperialism. He made the point that this is not just the 8th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan but he also brought up U.S. intervention in Cuba for the past 50 years and the Case of the Cuban 5. Five Patriotic Cubans who are in U.S. prisons for defending their nation against U.S. imperialism.
Professor Khalil Barhoum the Coordinator of Middle Eastern & African Languages and Literatures at Stanford gave a passionate speech about the current administration’s attacks on the governments of Iran and Palestine while it is openly friendly with Israel and other reactionary governments in the Middle East.
Cristina Gutierrez of the Latin America Solidarity Coalition gave a fiery speech. She stated in reference to President Obama, “Think, how can you forget if your daughters were sent to jail because of your political beliefs, how can you forget the bombs falling from U.S. planes that are murdering your babies, your women and your families. Tell me how you can forget that you elected a President in Honduras and with the help of the right-wing forces of the U.S. it is overthrown and you Mr. Obama continue to send money to that government so it can continue to exist by the horrible repression of its people.”
The October 17 march and rally sent a clear message to the warmongers in Washington that we will not stand for the continuation and proliferation of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Palestine. We will no longer stand for U.S. aggression directed at our sisters and brothers around the world.
