Momentum Builds
for Sept. 24 Mass March
in Washington DC
The importance of the mass antiwar protests being organized on September 24 is driven home by two major new stories appearing today (M ay 19). A front-page article in the New York Times, headlined "Generals Offer a Sober Outlook on Iraqi War", is further confirmation of what has become crystal clear over the past month: The U.S. war strategy is in deep crisis and there is no more a "light" at the end of the tunnel in Iraq than there was in Vietnam. Pulling back from their rosy assessments of just a m onth ago, one unnamed top officer stated that the war could last "many year s."
"The rising econo mic cost of the Iraq war" is the headline in the Christ ian Science Monitor. By 2010, according to the Congressional Budget Of fice, "war expenses might total $600 billion." The Congressional Research o ffice predicts another $458 billion, on top of the $320 billion already app ropriated a total of $758 billion (more than three-quarters of a trillion d ollars) by 2014.
The cost in human lives and critically needed resources has already been enormous. More than 100,000 Iraqis have been killed and untold numbers wou nded. Living conditions have declined drastically in most of the country, w hile the indices of malnutrition, sickness and illiteracy have all risen sh arply, astounding statistics given the fact that the baseline for measureme nt was a society that had lived for 13 years under genocidal sanctions. Mor e than 1,600 U.S. soldiers have been killed, and over 28,000 have suffered from serious wounds (many causing permanent disability), injuries and illne ss.
We must emphasize that as George Galloway, an antiwar member of the British Parliament, pointed out this week, the "case for war w as a pack of lies." Galloway's testimony to a Senate sub-com mittee headed by Sen. Norm Coleman was a devastating blow, not only to the right-wing, war mongering senator, but even more so to the administration's now-discredited justification of the invasion of Iraq. As Galloways o eloquently explained in a presentation unprecedented in the mainstream me dia here, all the killing, dying and suffering in Iraq has been sold to the people on false pretenses.
At the same time, we know that the Bush administration and its supporters, Democrat as well as Republican (the Senate vote for next year's wa r appropriation was 99-0), plan to continue the war and occupation in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Haiti and elsewhere, the threats against other cou ntries from Korea to Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, Syria, etc., and the attacks on living standards here, until they forced to stop.
It is this reality that underlines the importance of holding a u nited mass action on September 24 in Washington DC. On that day, thous ands will assemble at the White House at 12 noon and march through the stre ets of DC. Parallel mass protests are planned for the West Coast in San Fra ncisco and Los Angeles.
As the Call to Action states, "There is nothing more urgent than to construct unity in the face of Empire. Real unity cannot be bu ilt by sacrificing the rights of some but rather it will be forged by embra cing everyone's rights and just struggles for liberation. United we a re the majority. United we can fight and win."
Momentum Builds:
- Over 2,000 endorsers in just one week
- Transportation already planned nationally
Since the call for United Mass Action on September 24 in Washington DC - with coordinated actions in San Francisco and Los Angeles - was issued jus t one week ago, mobilizing has begun in cities and towns across the country . It is clear that activists are united on the importance of holding a mass ive mobilization in Washington DC on September 24 - and using every day ava ilable to mobilize.
In the first 5 days, over 600 endorsements were received - and in the la st 3 days that number has more than tripled. There are now over 2,0 00 endorsers who have signed on to the September 24 Call! Fill out the Endorsement Form to add your name to this important Call to Action (endors ements from individuals and organizations are welcome - public listing is o ptional).
Many of the endorsers are from local peace and social justice organizati ons who are also planning to mobilize their members and constituencies to b e in DC on September 24. Already, plans are being solidified for bu ses, vans and car caravans to travel from across the United States to be in Washington DC for the Mass March on September 24, as well as in S an Francisco and Los Angeles for the coordinated actions.
In southern New Jersey, buses are picking up from in front of malls and courthouses in several locations before heading to DC. In northern New Jers ey, picks ups are from two train stations and a university. People have off ered to drive their cars from locations as diverse as Dallas, Texas (21 hou rs from DC) and Farmville, Virginia (3 hours from DC) to come Washington DC with as many people as they can fit. There is a van planning to drive over 14 hours from Montfort, Wisconsin. Coordinated transportation is coming fr om Charlotte, North Carolina. And that's just to mention a few.
Begin to make your plans today! Use the next four months to fill as many buses as you can to be in DC on September 24. Fill out the Transportation Form to list your city and contact information so that we can help spread the word. If you have never organized transportation from your city before, contact the National Office of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition by c alling 202-544-3389 x14 or emailing info@internationalanswer.org. We are happy to help with advise and answers to any questions you might have.
Here's how you can get involved:
- Read the Demands and the Cal l to Action
- Spread the word by forwarding this email (you can use the "Email this page" button at the top of the email, or your email program's forwardi ng mechanism) or by handing out flyers (see below)
- Download flyers
- Endorse
- List transportation from your city
- Funds are urgently n eeded
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERcoalition.org
info@ internationalanswer.org
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3389
New York City: 212-533-0417
Los Angeles: 323-464-1636
San Francisco: 415-821-6545
For media inquiries, call 202-544-3389.
Oh sure. I should be recovered by then. ;)