2004 MARCH 20: Global Day of Action ..

MARCH 20, 2004

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION
on the FIRST ANNIVERSARY
of the U.S. BOMBING and INVASION of IRAQ

* BRING the TROOPS HOME NOW!
* END the OCCUPATION of IRAQ!
* MONEY for JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE and HOUSING - NOT
WAR!

On March 20, 2004, protests will take place all around the
world on the one year anniversary of the U.S. bombing and
invasion of Iraq. People are organizing on a global scale
to demand an end to the occupation of Iraq and an
immediate withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the
country.

Since the invasion began, hundreds of U.S. and British
soldiers and unknown thousands of Iraqi people have been
killed. The Iraqi people have clearly stated that
occupation is not liberation ­ that they want the foreign
soldiers occupying their country to leave not tomorrow,
but today. Growing numbers of U.S. soldiers and their
families are calling to bring the troops home now.
Increasing numbers of people in the United States are
helping to build a movement against the occupation as they
fight cuts to education, healthcare, job programs, housing
and other social service programs.

On October 25, 100,000 people took to the streets of
Washington DC to call for an immediate end to the
occupation and to bring the troops home now. Tens of
thousands more demonstrated in San Francisco and other
U.S. cities, and in cities around the world. On that day,
the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition began to circulate in the U.S.
the international call for demonstrations on March 20 that
has being made by groups around the world. We urge all
groups and organizations in the US to support this
international call and to work together to show the power
of a united movement on a global scale.

Begin planning now to hold a demonstration in your city on
March 20, 2004. Hundreds of cities around the world will
be issuing, circulating and joining this call.

We will have flyers, stickers and other organizing
material available in the coming days.

- In New York City, the demonstration is planned to
assemble at 12 noon at Times Square with a march to the
United Nations. Call 212-633-6646 for details about
upcoming city-wide planning meetings and for more
information.
- In Washington DC, the demonstration is planned to gather
at the White House at 12 noon. Call 202-544-3389 for more
information.
- For information about the San Francisco demonstration
call 415-821-6545.
- In Los Angeles, the demonstration is planned to assemble
at 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine. Call 213-487-2368 for
more information.

A full listing of March 20 activities will be available on
the A.N.S.W.E.R. website in the next days.

---

Email circulated by:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism

FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.InternationalANSWER.org
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.

New York 212-633-6646
Washington 202-544-3389
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

To make a tax-deductible donation, go to
www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html

Sign up to receive updates (low volume): www.internationalanswer.org/subscribelist.html

BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
END COLONIAL OCCUPATION FROM IRAQ TO PALESTINE AND
EVERYWHERE!

On March 20, 2004, the first anniversary of the U.S./U.K.
invasion of Iraq, people in cities around the world will
join together to demand: "End the Occupation - Bring the
Troops Home NOW!" In the U.S., major demonstrations are
planned in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and many
other cities.

We will demonstrate on March 20 to support the right of
the Iraqi people to self-determination without condition.
Since the invasion began, tens of thousands of Iraqi
people have been killed. Thousands of U.S. and British
soldiers have been killed or wounded. The Iraqi people are
resisting the occupation - they want the foreign soldiers
occupying their country to leave, not tomorrow but today.
Growing numbers of U.S. soldiers and their families are
calling for the troops to be brought home NOW. These
soldiers are being sent to kill and be killed for a war
that was based on lies and fraud perpetrated by the Bush
government. There is only one solution: to end the
occupation now! We believe, in the words of the National
Council of Arab Americans, that "internationalizing the
occupation gives colonialism a new marketable cover and
should not be accepted as a viable option for the global
popular movement."

We will also demonstrate on March 20 in solidarity with
the Palestinian people and their right to
self-determination, including the right to return to their
homes and land. The March 20 demonstration comes only ten
days before the anniversary of the historic March 30,
1976, Land Day in Palestine. Calling for liberty, right to
return, and self-determination for the Palestinian people
on March 20 is an essential political necessity, without
which the end to colonial occupations cannot be fully
realized. The U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq is part
and parcel of the administration's larger colonial project
targeting the people of the Middle East. While the Bush
administration spends $2 billion per week to occupy Iraq,
it spends $15 million each day to support Israel's war
against the Palestinian people.

We will demonstrate on March 20 to overturn the "USA
Patriot" Act, and to end the repression directed at Arab
American, South Asian, Muslim and immigrant communities.
We will defend the right to free speech and oppose Bush's
and Ashcroft's war on the Bill of Rights.

We will demonstrate on March 20 to call for money for
jobs, housing, health care and education, not for war and
occupation.

We will demonstrate on March 20 to demand an end to the
Bush administration's "Endless War" plans for global
domination. We stand for an end to U.S. intervention,
occupation and threats against Korea, Colombia,
Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, the
Philippines, Haiti and everywhere.

Only the people's movement offers hope that an effective
challenge can be mounted to the Bush administration's war
drive. While the Democratic Party offers candidates to
contend with Bush for the presidency, it agrees with Bush
about maintaining U.S. troops in Iraq and supports
continued aid to Israel as it wages war against the
Palestinian people. On April 20, 2002, 100,000 people
marched in an historic demonstration in Washington DC
under the banner "Free Palestine." Six months later, on
October 26, 2002, hundreds of thousands demonstrated
against the pending war of aggression against Iraq. On
January 18, February 15-16, March 15, March 22, April 12
and most recently October 25, 2003, tens of millions of
people went into the streets around the world to say no to
the Bush administration's war drive. This is a monumental
struggle waged by the people of the world who seek
self-determination, justice and peace. Global solidarity
is the centerpiece of the new mass movement that has
emerged to counter the forces of militarism and
colonialism. The outcome of this struggle will impact on
generations to come.

All Out for March 20, 2004

Call issued by (initial signers):
-A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
-Arab Muslim American Federation
-Free Palestine Alliance
-Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation
-Muslim Student Association

To ENDORSE, fill out the easy-to-use form at
www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m2...dex.html#endorsement
* * * * *

Begin planning now to hold a demonstration in your city on
March 20, 2004. Hundreds of cities around the world are
issuing, circulating and joining this call.

- In New York City, the demonstration is planned to
assemble at 12 noon at Times Square with a march to the
United Nations. Call 212-633-6646 for details about
upcoming city-wide planning meetings and for more
information.
- In San Francisco, the demonstration is planned to gather
at 11 am at Dolores Park (18th St. and Dolores St.) with a
march to the Civic Center. Call 415-821-6545 for more
information.
- In Los Angeles, the demonstration is planned to assemble
at 12 noon at Hollywood and Vine. Call 213-487-2368 for
more information.

If you are holding an event in your city, fill out the
form at www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/index.html#event

Downloadable flyers and more information is available at www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/index.html

---

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is circulating the recent March
20, 2004, Call to Action issued by the National Council of
Arab Americans (NCAA):

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARAB AMERICANS (NCAA) CALL TO ACTION
ALL OUT ON MARCH 20, 2004

The National Council of Arab Americans (NCAA)* joins the
call for mass mobilizations against the war on and foreign
occupation of Iraq, to be held on Saturday, March 20,
2004. Being also only 10 days before the anniversary of
the historic March 30, 1976, Land Day in Palestine,
calling for liberty, right to return, and
self-determination for the Palestinian people on that same
Saturday is an imperative complementary political
necessity, without which the end to colonial occupations
cannot be fully realized.

Marking only the latest assault on Iraq one year ago this
coming March, the NCAA well recognizes that only through a
systematic and organized grassroots effort that a halt to
perpetual war can be achieved. Although exposing US
strategic goals through education is of primary
importance, it is the ability of the American people to
marshal a united front anchored in the principles of
liberty, freedom and respect for self-determination that
has undoubtedly become priority one.

In formulating the organizational and political framework
of this united movement, the role of Arab-Americans and
Muslims is central. As a people who are at the primary
receiving end of the ravages of war and racism in their
multiple forms, our community must take difficult extra
steps to assert its constitutional right to free speech
and assembly despite all attempts and scare tactics to
abrogate these rights. Not only do we have this
responsibility to ourselves and to our children, history
has also placed upon us the task of halting the advance of
yet another form of McCarthyism and fear. To that end, and
despite many imposed hardships, we call on our communities
in all sectors nationwide to assume our just role in
shaping a better future for this country and the world by
mass mobilizing against war and racism.

Indeed, the people of the United States, inclusive of all
and barring none, have an historic duty and a collective
responsibility to: (1) terminate the escalating state of
war of an emerging empire, particularly against the Arab
people, by ending the occupation of Iraq and bringing the
troops home NOW; (2) stop all forms of economic,
political, and military support for the State of Israel,
and, instead, support the rights of Palestinians for
liberty, self-determination, and the full right to return;
(3) repeal the USA PATRIOT Act, terminate institutional
collective criminalization of Arab Americans and Muslims,
and secure constitutional rights for all; and (4) redirect
budgetary allocations to domestic reconstruction and needs
rather than militarism and colonial expansions.

It is precisely the multi-faceted nature of this
ever-expanding war that we are tasked to recognize.
Delinking issues for political and organizational
expediency by selectively focusing only on one aspect of
this war is wrong and dangerous. It not only weakens the
emerging global movement for freedom and liberty but also
marginalizes the voices of war's many victims.

True, the challenges before us are difficult and
monumental, but history, in particular during the past 2
years, has shown that we are equal to the task when some
waited in doubt. As evidenced on the days of October 26,
2002, January 18, February 15-16, March 15, April 12, and
most recently October 25, 2003, we are a people that have
repeatedly taken to the streets in the hundreds of
thousands representing millions from coast to coast as we
soundly stood with millions across the globe against war
in favor of peace. We have rejected colonialism in favor
of self-determination, opposed the USA PATRIOT Act in
favor of constitutional rights, and demanded funding for
education and health care instead of militarism.

But we also need to be clear on what we stand for in this
emerging movement. Positions such as "internationalizing
the occupation" give colonialism a new marketable cover,
and should not be accepted as a viable option for this
global popular movement. This is a time when political
clarity is a must. Regardless of the source, the notion
that the people of Iraq "need some form of Western
intervention", even if temporary, to secure their very own
stability is overtly racist and a real threat to
civilization. Self-determination should clearly preclude
the return of any "modern" form of the "Mandate" days of
the League of Nations. Such is the global grassroots
consensus; it must become so for the movement and popular
opinion in the United States.

Ending the ongoing foreign occupation of Iraq and stopping
the destruction and exile heaped on the Palestinian people
are inextricable dual tasks that require a reformation of
our vision towards the world and us as a people of a
variable mosaic. We must succeed in formulating a
strategic vision where we are partners in the community of
nations and in the building of our own neighborhoods and
school districts.

We cannot continue the path of perpetual domestic and
foreign confrontation and dominance.

All Out On March 20, 2004

The National Council of Arab Americans (NCAA) - December
24, 2003

*The NCAA is an all inclusive pan-Arab American national
council that was founded on November 29, 2003, in
Washington, DC, responding to the needs of our community
and people. For more information on the NCAA, please write
to: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser..

---

Email circulated by:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.InternationalANSWER.org
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.
New York 212-633-6646
Washington 202-544-3389
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltru...D299&lp=en_fr&tt=url

[ANSWER] March 20 Permits Secured for NYC Demonstration

MARCH 20 ANNOUNCEMENT FROM A.N.S.W.E.R.:
- Permits Secured for NYC Demonstration
- Location Announcement
- Updated flyers, logistics, transportation information
and more below

We are pleased to announce that permits have been secured
for the New York City March 20 demonstration. Thousands of
people from the Arab and Muslim community, military
families and veterans, trade unionists, students and youth
and others are uniting to participate in this massive,
permitted demonstration demanding "Bring the troops home
now!", "End colonial occupation from Iraq to Palestine and
everywhere!", "Money for jobs, education, healthcare and
housing - Not war!", and "Stop the attacks on civil rights
and civil liberties!"

Saturday, March 20

12 noon
Opening Rally
Madison Square Park
Madison Ave. and 23rd St.
(the crowd will flow north along Madison Ave.)

1 pm
March (approximate time)
We will march west on 23rd Street, north on 6th Avenue,
east on 40th Street, and south on Madison Avenue back to
Madison Square Park on 23rd Street. We'll be marching
through several busy commercial areas, so our march will
be seen by huge numbers of people.

A closing rally will follow the march.

The March 20 National Coalition, which includes the
A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition,
and the March 20 Mobilizing Committee, which includes
UFPJ, are uniting for to bring together the largest number
of people possible in the streets of New York City.

We need your help to make March 20 a powerful success!
Please make a donation at www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html

Updated, easy-to-download flyers with the rally location
are available on the A.N.S.W.E.R. website at www.internationalanswer.org/pdf/march20ny.pdf

Downloadable flyers are also available for the regional
protests in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, as
well as for buses being organized to New York City from
Washington DC and Boston. These flyers and more are
available at
www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/resources/index.html

Flyers for additional cities - along with posters,
stickers and more - will be available soon!

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION about March 20 in NEW YORK CITY
(directions, public transportation, housing, parking and
more) can be found at: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/logistics.html

* * * * * * * * * *

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE A.N.S.W.E.R. WEBSITE

Find out DETAILS ABOUT REGIONAL AND LOCAL EVENTS, and
transportation to them: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/m20transp.html
Contact the Organizing Center nearest you for details
about weekly meetings and joining outreach teams.

If you are ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION to a regional event,
fill out this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m2....html#transportation

If you are ORGANIZING A LOCAL OR REGIONAL EVENT, fill out
this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/index.html#event

Read the CALL TO ACTION issued by the March 20 National
Coalition: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/index.html#call

Partial listing of 1,500+ ENDORSERS: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/endorsers.html

ENDORSE the Call to Action: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m2...dex.html#endorsement

To read RECENT ORGANIZING UPDATES about March 20, go to: www.internationalanswer.org/news/update/mar20updates.html

To SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES, fill out the form at: www.internationalanswer.org/subscribelist.html

---

Email circulated by:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.InternationalANSWER.org
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.
Washington 202-544-3389
New York 212-633-6646
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

THE BATTLE FOR FREE SPEECH ON MARCH 20
THE BATTLE FOR FREE SPEECH ON MARCH 20

*please circulate far and wide*

TAKE ACTION to defend free speech rights on March 20! At
the end of this email there is a link to an easy-to-use
system that allows you to send a customized message to the
New York City Mayor and City Council. See below for
details.

* * * * *

Having been compelled to grant permits for the rally and
mass march in the heart of midtown Manhattan on Saturday,
March 20 calling for an End to Colonial Occupation from
Iraq to Palestine to Haiti and Everywhere, the New York
City police and the Bloomberg Administration are now
trying another tactic to discourage the tens of thousands
of people who are coming to the protest.

The whole antiwar movement must unite to reject this
message and tactic of intimidation which is aimed at
chilling the exercise of protected First Amendment
activity in New York City and is intended to prevent mass
assembly.

The March 20th demonstration will be a powerful mass
mobilization of the people who reject the Bush
Administration's lawless aggression in Iraq, the colonial
occupation of Palestine, Bush's "regime-change" coup
d'etat in Haiti, and the administration's war against
civil rights and civil liberties at home, and other
issues. March 20 is the one year anniversary of the war,
invasion and occupation of Iraq.

What is the core of the free speech struggle that is
shaping up on March 20th? The police and the government
are working to disrupt the large mass assembly at the
opening rally in New York City by illegally breaking the
crowd into segmented areas within each city block in an
attempt to impede free exercise of the First Amendment
right to association and assembly.

They hope that if they can get the word out about their
intended obstructions, they can discourage and frighten
people from joining the opening rally, or cause a boycott
of the demonstration. This blockading of streets is a
political act by police exercising an illegal and
unfettered authority that fundamentally negates the First
Amendment.

They couldn't deny us a permit so now they will spread the
word: "Don't bother coming to Midtown Manhattan" because
there will be "pens," and city blocks will be
"barricaded," etc. All of this is designed to discourage
people from participating in a lawful and permitted
demonstration. The people who are fighting for justice
will not fall for this trick.

The truth is simple: A.N.S.W.E.R. members, volunteers,
organizations and people from many different communities
are planning and organizing across New York City and
throughout the region to meet at Madison Square Park on
March 20 at 12 noon. Let's spread the word far and wide -
this is a permitted demonstration, bring your families,
your neighbors and your friends, and let the Bush
Administration know that we are united against his illegal
actions in Iraq, Palestine, Haiti and right here at home.

Free Speech on March 20 means one thing: the right to
gather in a mass assembly on Madison Avenue at 23rd St.
The illegal efforts by the police to prevent a mass
assembly even to a permitted antiwar demonstration can and
will be defeated by a massive outpouring of the people.
Only the massive and determined mobilization of the
people, who, refusing to be intimidated by illegal police
checkpoints and pens, can overcome this thinly veiled
assault on cherished constitutional freedoms.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, along with other members of
the March 20 National Coalition, and other organizing
coalitions, is expecting tens of thousands of people from
New York City and the region to participate in the rally
and mass march on March 20. More than thirty other cities
and towns are organizing buses and car caravans to come to
New York for the protest.

* * * * *

Click on the below link to send an email message to Mayor
Bloomberg and the New York City Council demanding that
they uphold the free speech rights of March 20
demonstrators to gather in a mass assembly opposing the
Bush administration's policies abroad and at home. We have
established an easy-to-use system that will allow you to
customize your message. Simply click on the below link:

capwiz.com/votenowar/mail/compose/?alert...omid=5323001&type=CU

* * * * *

We urgently need your help to make March 20 a success.
Please donate today. To make a tax-deductible DONATION to
help with the costs of organizing, go to www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html

For information about TRANSPORTATION TO NEW YORK CITY, and
about LOCAL & REGIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS taking place across
the U.S., go to www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/m20transp.html

If you are ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION to a regional event,
fill out this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/transportation.html

If you are ORGANIZING A LOCAL OR REGIONAL EVENT, fill out
this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/event.html

For DOWNLOADABLE FLYERS, STICKERS & more for New York City
and many other cities, go to www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/resources/index.html

LOGISTICAL INFORMATION about March 20 in NEW YORK CITY
(directions, public transportation, housing, parking and
more): www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/logistics.html

---

Email circulated by:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.InternationalANSWER.org
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.
Washington 202-544-3389
New York 212-633-6646
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

March 20 - Just one week away!

JUST ONE WEEK UNTIL
the MARCH 20 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION

*How you can help
*Flyers in English, Spanish and Arabic
*Transportation information and over 200 local actions
& more!

The March 20 Global Day of Action is in just one week and
momentum is growing on a local, regional, national and
international scale. There are now demonstrations in over
45 countries, including in over 200 U.S. cities in 36
states, which local organizers have posted to the
A.N.S.W.E.R. website. For the regional action in New York,
buses, vans, car caravans and trains are bringing people
from as far south as Richmond, VA to as far north as
Burlington, VT. Currently there are over 20 cities
organizing transportation to New York City. For
information on transportation to New York City or how to
plug into one of the over 200 demonstrations being
organized across the U.S., see below for links.

March 20 will be a powerful manifestation of the people in
the United States who are demanding "Bring the Troops Home
Now" and "End Colonial Occupation from Iraq to Palestine
to Haiti and Everywhere." It will be the first massive
outpouring since the October 25, 2003, demonstrations when
100,000 people came into the streets of Washington DC.

There are many ways that you can help out in this last
week. Here are a few:

1) MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

We urgently need your help - please make a financial
contribution to help us cover all of the vast expenses in
the last week. If you have made a contribution before, we
urge you to consider supporting this effort again. If you
have never contributed, now is the time. At a minimum, we
must raise $25,000 in the next few days towards meeting
the expenses of the demonstration.

Please make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE contribution now online
through our secure server at
www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html, where you
can also get information on how to write a check.

2) HELP SPREAD THE WORD

The "downloads" page on the A.N.S.W.E.R. website now
features new versions of flyers in English, Arabic and
Spanish for New York City, San Francisco, Sacramento
(buses to San Francisco), Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington
DC (buses to DC), Boston (buses to DC) and Philadelphia.
It also includes stickers for New York City, Washington DC
and Boston.

PDF and JPEG versions of these materials can be found at: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/resources/index.html

3) GET ON THE BUS TO NYC OR OTHER REGIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS,
OR JOIN A DEMONSTRATION IN YOUR CITY

For information about TRANSPORTATION TO NEW YORK CITY, and
about LOCAL & REGIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS taking place across
the U.S., go to www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/m20transp.html

If you are ORGANIZING TRANSPORTATION to a regional event,
fill out this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/transportation.html

If you are ORGANIZING A LOCAL OR REGIONAL EVENT, fill out
this form: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/event.html

4) TAKE ACTION TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH RIGHTS ON MARCH 20

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition issued an important message on
"The Battle for Free Speech on March 20." Please read that
message and take action through our easy-to-use system
that allows you to send a customized message to the New
York City Mayor and City Council.

To learn more and take action, click on the below link: www.internationalanswer.org/news/update/031204mar20.html

* * * * *

Updated LOGISTICAL INFORMATION about March 20 in NEW YORK
CITY (directions, public transportation, housing, parking
and more) can be found at: www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m20/logistics.html

---

Email circulated by:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.InternationalANSWER.org
Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.
Washington 202-544-3389
New York 212-633-6646
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

To SIGN UP TO RECEIVE UPDATES, fill out the form at: www.internationalanswer.org/subscribelist.html

[ANSWER] March 20 National Roundup

MARCH 20 NATIONAL ROUNDUP

On Saturday, March 20, millions of people around the world
came into the streets as part of the Global Day of Action
to "Bring the Troops Home Now" and "End Colonial
Occupation from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti and
everywhere."

In the United States - one of more than 60 countries that
held protests - demonstrations took place in over 300
cities, including major regional actions of 100,000 in New
York City, 50,000 in San Francisco, 20,000 in Los Angeles
and 10,000 in Chicago. The turnout at all of these
demonstrations far exceeded the expectations of the
organizers.

Internationally, people took to the streets in the
millions across the Middle East, Latin America, Asia,
Africa and Europe. A more detailed international round up
and photographs will be available soon.

New PHOTOGRAPHS of the demonstrations in New York City,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago and
Spain are available at www.internationalanswer.org/news/update/032004m20report.html

*New York City*

Chanting "Occupation is a crime from Iraq to Palestine"
and "Bring the troops home now," more than 100,000 people
marched in New York City. Starting at 23rd and Madison,
the march filled 45 blocks through midtown Manhattan,
north on 6th Avenue to 40th Street and back to the
original rally site. The demonstrators were so numerous
that the front of the march almost hit the back of the
march and had to come to a fifteen minute stop when it was
returning to the rally site in order to allow the end of
the march to proceed forward.

The demonstration was initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R.
Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) and United
for Peace and Justice, the two major anti-war coalitions
in the U.S. A large number of Arab and Muslim
organizations co-organized the event, including Al-Awda:
the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, the Arab Muslim
American Federation, Free Palestine Alliance, Muslim
American Society Freedom Foundation, and the Muslim
Student Association of the U.S. and Canada.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and the March 20 National
Coalition revised their main slogan for the demonstration
in recent weeks to highlight the U.S. occupation of Haiti
and the U.S. coup that ousted the democratically elected
president, Jean Bertrand-Aristide. The lead march banner
read "Bring the Troops Home Now, End Occupation: Iraq,
Palestine, Haiti & everywhere." A significant Haitian
contingent was part of the demonstration, as well as many
other contingents. Thousands of flyers were handed out for
the upcoming April 7 meeting in Brooklyn, New York,
opposing the U.S. occupation of Haiti.

*San Francisco*

The San Francisco march and rally of 50,000 was initiated
by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, San Francisco's main
anti-war group. Other sponsoring organizations included
the Free Palestine Alliance; Vanguard Foundation;
International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10; Bay
Area United Against War; Muslim Student Association; and
many other organizations.

The turnout more than doubled the expectations of
organizers. The march took two hours to begin leaving
Dolores Park in the Mission District, and finally finish
arriving in Civic Center Plaza, adjacent to City Hall.
Among the speakers were actor Woody Harrelson, United Farm
Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, Gloria La Riva of the
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Pierre
Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee, Henry
Graham-President of ILWU Local 10, Zeina Zaatari of the
Free Palestine Alliance, war resister Steven Funk, Richard
Becker of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and many others.

The front of the procession was crowded with banners and
signs in English, Spanish, and Arabic, supporting an end
to colonial occupation in Iraq, and freedom for Palestine.
Many veterans and veterans' groups marched. Also included
in the march were contingents of labor, students, and one
for same-sex marriage equality. A large contingent of dock
workers, including the ILWU Local 10 drill team joined
demonstration.

*Los Angeles*

The Los Angeles march and rally of 20,000 was initiated by
the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, LA's main anti-war group,
which includes the International Action Center; Free
Palestine Alliance; ADC LA/OC; BAYAN - USA; Mindullae;
Palestinian American Women's Association; and the National
Lawyers Guild. Other initiating organizations in LA
included Latino Movement USA; CAIR - LA; Al-Awda, the
Palestine Right of Return Coalition; Korean Americans for
Peace; US Labor Against War; Global Women's Strike;
Latinos Against War; Muslim Student Association - West;
and many other organizations.

The demonstration in LA exceeded the expectations of the
march organizers. Over 20,000 people marched 1.5 miles
from Hollywood & Vine, down Highland Ave. to Sunset Blvd.,
north on La Brea, and back around to Hollywood & Highland,
stopping for the main rally in front of the Kodak Theatre.
The demonstrators were so numerous that the march was over
14 blocks long, and the excitement on the street was
palpable along the entire route!

Many demonstrators carried coffins draped with the flags
of Palestine and Iraq. In addition, the march featured a
20 x 25 foot Palestinian flag carried by Arab Americans of
all ages. A large contingent of LA public school teachers
also joined the demonstration.

Congressperson Maxine Waters and veteran Ron Kovic spoke
to the huge crowd of protestors, as did representatives of
struggles against occupation and U.S. intervention in
Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and
everywhere. The rally also featured speakers from labor,
immigrants' rights groups, religious leaders, and many
others.

*Chicago*

From the Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism:

Mayor Daley's office had refused to grant a permit for
marchers to proceed down Michigan Ave. and police were
deployed in full riot gear in numbers perhaps as high as
2,500. Despite these anti-democratic actions by the
Mayor's office and the Chicago Police, thousands from
across the Midwest converged at the intersection of
Michigan and Pearson and marched peacefully to Federal
plaza.

City and Police officials refused to allow the march to
proceed down Michigan Ave. claiming "safety" would be
compromised if traffic flow was hampered. Nonetheless,
after routing the protest down Clark Street, officials
temporarily closed parts of Michigan to traffic anyway,
using the space to hold police vehicles and buses for
possible mass arrests.

This march commemorated both the invasion of Iraq and the
mass Chicago protest against that crime on March 20, 2003.
On that date Chicago Police conducted the mass arrest of
over five hundred peaceful protestors and bystanders. All
charges were either dropped or thrown out of court and a
lawsuit has been filed against the City.

For follow up information, photos and video of the march
please visit chicago.indymedia.org

* * * * *

We need your help to keep this important work going and to
build on the momentum of today's demonstration. Please
make a tax-deductible donation online through our secure
server at www.internationalanswer.org/donate.html
where you can also find information for writing a check.

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