After U.S. assault on Falluja Protests across U.S., world

The murderous Pentagon onslaught that began April 6 against the people
of Falluja and the newly liberated cities in southern Iraq aroused an
immediate angry reaction from the anti-war movement around the world.

The biggest demonstration was in Baghdad itself on the Moslem Sabbath
on April 9. Some 200,000 people, including those from both Sunni and
Shiite communities, came out in solidarity with the resistance. In other
mostly Moslem countries, demonstrations started after Friday prayers.

The quickest reaction was perhaps that in Montreal and Toronto, where
demonstrations took place April 7 during the evening rush hour.

The most widespread actions, however, were those in the land of the
perpetrator of war crimes in Iraq, the U.S. itself. Groups in 60 U.S.
cities hit the streets between April 9 and April 12, responding to a
call from the ANSWER Coalition—Act Now to Stop War & End Racism—to
protest the latest U.S. escalation.

ANSWER showed its strength by acting decisively in a crisis, issuing its
call to action in the wee hours of April 7. Founded in mid-September
2001, following the 9/11 attacks, to oppose Bush’s announced march to
war, ANSWER has taken the lead at critical moments to stand up against
U.S. imperialism.

Whether the protests were large or small, the people understood the
importance of taking action.

Standing in front of the federal courthouse in Minneapolis April 9,
protester Meredith Aby said what many demonstrating believed: "We knew
it was more important to take a stand and say this was wrong than
building up a larger turnout."

The protests both measured and expressed the changing mood of the U.S.
population, which now for the first time registers a clear majority
opposing the occu pation of Iraq in the polls. Also for the first time
George Bush was behind in an election poll by 50-43 percent, a drop in
support strongly related to the Iraq war and Bush’s loss of credibility.

Many articles in the corporate press more fairly described the
demonstrators as regular people and did not distort their views as much
as in the past. Before, much of the media had attempted to marginalize
the protesters.

Along with the growing number of people now passively opposing or at
least questioning the war on Iraq, a section of the anti-war movement
was beginning to express a more open solidarity with the Iraqi
resistance. They could still march together with those who identified
with U.S. soldiers whose lives are also on the line. Both marched under
the slogans, "End the occupation and bring the troops home, now!"

Another slogan ANSWER promotes—"Money for jobs, health care and
education, not for war and occupation"—appeared throughout the
weekend’s protests.

From coast to coast

The largest U.S. protest was in San Francisco on April 10, where 3,000
people rallied in United Nations Plaza. Its major sentiment was in
support of the growing popular resistance by the Iraqi people. The crowd
included relatives of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and veterans.

One person held a picture of his brother, asking that he and the other
soldiers be brought back from Iraq. Another carried a sign, "Long live
Falluja."

Speaking for the Free Palestine Alliance and ANSWER, Eyad Kishawi
reminded the crowd that "The slaughter of hundreds of Iraqis in Falluja
by the U.S. is taking place on the 56th anniversary of the massacre of
250 Palestinians at Deir Yasin by Israeli death squads. We will
commemorate the massacre of Deir Yasin, the massacre of Jenin and the
massacre of Falluja as we continue to rise up in the face of
imperialism."

Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee condemned the U.S.
occupation of Haiti. "What did the Haitians do for the U.S. military to
come down on them, besides having a democratically elected president?"

In New York, 700 to 1,000 people marched through mid-town Manhattan in
rush hour on April 9, which was the Good Friday holiday. A protest of
500 took place at the same time in Los Angeles.

In Washington, D.C., where 500 marched on April 10, people came out of
restaurants, homes and businesses to join with the marchers. Chants of
"Impeach Bush" echoed through Lafay ette Park at the opening rally
across from the White House. Another 500 demonstrated in Boston that
day.

In downtown San Diego April 10, several hundred people held signs and
banners and, led by ANSWER leaders Carl Muhammad and David Tworkowski,
chanted against U.S. aggression in Iraq. Pro testers also attended a
rally, whose speakers included Fernando Suarez de Solar, the father of a
soldier killed in Iraq. Activists then marched to the San Diego Federal
Building, where they joined forces with a large group of Somali people
who were demanding the release of their community leader Omar Abdi
Mohammed, held by Immigration and Customs Enforce ment officials, a
victim of post-9/11 racial profiling.

Dozens of demonstrations occurred throughout the U.S. in other big
cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Birmingham. In Seattle at least 100
people turned out and cars driving past on Second Street honked in
support of the demonstrators.

In small cities, too

Protesters also turned out in medium and small cities and towns—
including Fayetteville, Ark.; Ferndale, Mich.; Pocatello, Idaho; and
Gettysburg, Pa. Over 70 anti-war activists and supporters gathered in
downtown Buffalo on April 12 at supper time, with many joining their
first antiwar protest.

In Charlotte, N.C., 200 had come out on April 5 to protest a Bush
appearance at a fund-raising luncheon. A march started at Central Pied
mont Community College, where Bush had the nerve to give a speech on the
economy and job re-training. Many students joined the march. A favorite
chant was "What do we want? Regime change. Where do we want it? The
White House." Many joined another protest on April 10 to protest the
escalation in Iraq.

Over 150 antiwar protesters took part in a picket line, rally and march
in the small city of Kingston, N.Y., on April 10. The day before over 40
people had attended a rush-hour demonstration at Mason Square Triangle
in the heart of the working-class and oppressed communities in Spring
field, Mass., on only 24 hours’ notice.

In Europe, Japan

European countries were in the midst of Easter holidays. Nevertheless,
protest actions were scheduled in cities in the Spanish state, in Milan,
Italy, and in Brus sels, Belgium. In Germany, where pacifist marches are
often planned for Easter, some protests also reflected the new
developments. There was also a protest in Melbourne, Australia.

Perhaps the most dramatic protests were in Japan. In reaction to the
deadly U.S. offensive, members of the Iraqi resis tance had seized many
foreigners in their country. Three of those seized were young Japanese
known back home as anti-war activists.

The resistance fighters who seized them demanded that Japanese troops
leave Iraq. The Japanese anti-war movement agrees with this demand.
Thousands of protesters have brought the demand daily to Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi’s office. The movement puts the responsibility for the
safety of their three comrades clearly on the Japanese government.

The Japanese groups described the situation to Muslim religious
activists in the international anti-war movement. After being reached
through the Arab television network Al-Jazeera, the resistance group
that seized the three agreed to let them go. However, Koizumi was about
to meet with U.S. vice president and chief warmonger, Dick Cheney.
Playing tough, the Japanese prime minister insulted the resistance
fighters by claiming Japan would "never yield to terrorists." Apparently
this insult put the turnover of the three on hold.

Meanwhile, the Japanese movement is continuing to demand that the
government act in good faith by removing its troops from Iraq. The
movement holds U.S. and Japanese imperialism responsible for putting the
three activists’ lives at risk. It is hoping that the strength, courage
and mercy of the resistance fighters can bring about a good end to this
story.

[Bill Hackwell, Brenda Sandburg, Bob McCubbin, Jane Cutter, David Dixon,
Bryan Pfeiffer, Jack Smith, Bev Hiestand and an ANSWER news release
contributed to this report.]