Despite heavy rain, over 100 people gathered in Los Angeles on the
corner of Hollywood and Highland to demand an end to the U.S. wars on
Afghanistan and Iraq. People came from as far as Riverside to protest,
braving what Southern California media outlets have dubbed the “storm of
the decade.”
The demonstration, initiated and led by the ANSWER Coalition, broke
the routine of holiday shopping and garnered support from activists and
even passers by, who joined in chanting “Money for jobs and
education—not for war and occupation!” and “Occupation is a crime—Iraq,
Afghanistan, Palestine!” Protesters held banners reading, “U.S./NATO Out
of Afghanistan!” and “Yes to jobs, housing and education—no to war,
racism and occupation!”
Speakers at the demonstration included
representatives of Korean Americans for Peace, ANSWER Coalition, KmB
Pro-People Youth, Veterans for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation
and National Lawyers Guild.
Jollene Levid of anti-imperialist
women’s organization AF3IRM said, “More than half the victims of these
imperialist occupations are women who are raped, beaten and killed with
impunity. End the wars now!”
The energy of the demonstration
reflected a re-emerging anti-war movement spearheaded by students and
young workers. Tamara Khoury, a Palestinian American student and Youth
and Student ANSWER leader at California State University, Fullerton,
said, “Billions of dollars are spent every year on bombing and
oppressing innocent people that look just like me in lands thousands of
miles away, while we have our education stolen from us with budget cuts
and tuition hikes—we’ve got to keep fighting to end these attacks abroad
and at home.”
The Los Angeles action took place on the heels of a
major civil resistance action in Washington, D.C. led by veterans and
anti-war organizers, where more than 130 people were arrested.
The
next major anti-war event announced by the ANSWER Coalition and allies
is a mass march, rally and civil resistance on March 19, 2011, which
will gather at 12 noon at the corner of Hollywood and Vine in Los
Angeles.
