THOUSANDS WILL MARCH TO PROTEST GEORGE W. BUSH in PHILADELPHIA on JULY 4

We invite you or a representative from your organization to attend an important meeting on Thursday, May 15th, 2003, at DC33 Union Hall, 3001 Walnut St., 5th Fl., Rm. 2, from 7-9pm to begin planning for a National March on July 4th in Philadelphia. The meeting is being called by an ad hoc committee that includes Philadelphia ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism, PRAWN (Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network), Minority Experience Network, Unite for Peace, and others. For information call 215-724-1618.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition congratulates the local Philadelphia organizations who have come together to issue a call for thousands of people to join in a national march on July 4 in Philadelphia protesting U.S. wars at home and abroad. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition urges its Organizing Centers and all people of conscience to be in the streets of Philadelphia on July 4.

Karl Rove, Bush's chief political strategist, corrected a student who challenged him last week by asking how the administration could justify war with Iraq when no weapons of mass destruction have been found. Rove responded: "First of all, its the battle of Iraq, not the war." He then explained that "the war" is an ongoing war against terrorism that has no fixed end date. This is the most explicit confirmation that the Bush administration plans to carry out regime change, either through invasion or stepped up covert operations, against all those who attempt to retain nominal sovereignty over their own land and natural resources. Syria, southern Lebanon, Palestine, North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Iran and other countries are slated for aggression. We must all come together to support the call of the local Philadelphia organizations in order to ensure the largest mobilization possible.

Following is a statement issued by a number of the local Philadelphia organizations about the July 4 national march. In addition to the July 4 national protest, a number of groups are sponsoring local and regional protests on that weekend. Philadelphia organizations involved in the local, regional and national protests include Philadelphia A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), PRAWN (Philadelphia Regional Anti-War Network), Minority Experience Network, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), Unite for Peace, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and others.

George W. Bush has been invited to the opening of the National Constitution Center. We need to be there to say No to U.S. Wars at Home and Abroad; No to Colonialism and Empire; End the Occupation of Iraq; No to Racism, Attacks on Civil Rights and Immigrants, the USA Patriot Act and the Shredding of the Constitution; and to Call for Funding of Social Programs - not the Pentagon's War Machine.

The 4th of July weekend offers a great opportunity to remind the world of our determination to oppose the never-ending series of wars in the various forms it is taking against people here and abroad. The Bush wars for empire require a massive transfer of wealth from social programs. While the administration hands out lucrative contracts to Bechtel, Halliburton, and Exxon, and pushes for major tax giveaways to the already very rich, it fails totally to address the problems of widespread unemployment, increasing imprisonment, and cuts in healthcare, education, transportation and housing. The income gap is widening -- the average CEO today makes 531 times the average worker. Repression is deepening --over 2.2 million people are incarcerated, 3,000 on death row and due process continues to be denied for U.S. political prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier and others. Bigotry is on the rise - thousands of immigrants are detained without trial, Affirmative Action is under attack, and rightwing politicians seem to feel they have carte blanche to attack the rights of workers,people of color, women and lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.

Many people are expressing fear and concern about the direction the U.S. seems headed in with the ultra-conservative administration of Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Perle, Wolfawitz and the rest. Congress appears unwilling to offer any real opposition, and the Supreme Court seems to be just a rubber stamp for administration decisions. It is up to the people of the U.S., in solidarity with the global movement for peace and justice, to take up the challenge.

Already groups are planning local, regional and national protest, actions and events for the first week of July: Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ATAC) has a protest for July 3; groups may be protesting the PA state budget cuts slated for July 1; and more.

Let's work together to support these events and to build for the National Protest.

International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@action-mail.org
En Espanol: iac-cai@action-mail.org
web: http://www.iacenter.org

I am so impressed with your post, but even more, I am impressed with your love of freedom and liberty.

A little over two decades ago, I lost my best friend during a deployment on a strategic missile submarine. He was one of six sailors I personally knew who died during the Cold War, in our fight against the Soviet Union.

When I was younger, I used to question why this young father of two children had to die on his last patrol. Now I know that his sacrifice and his death made a HUGE difference. The reason I know this is because of people like yourself.

The world we know today still carries Stalinist remnants of a people from long ago, who oppressed and ruled with a genocidal iron grip,but their days are numbered and they know it.The light of freedom that shines from Poland and other countries that suffered so hard under their rule is defnitely a sign of a brighter future.

The reason I know this is by your commitment to the virtues of Freedom, Liberty, and the freedom from tyrannical governments with no good intentions for their citizens, all learned from hard experience, just like our founding fathers. You are the next generation Matthew, and you will lead the way.

The freedom loving Polish people rose up with the Solidarnosc movement at the climax of the Cold War. God bless each of you for your bravery, because now millions are free from that yoke of tyranny due to Poland.

I, for one, salute you for your sacrifice on the alter of freedom, and your burning commitment to making the world a better place for future generations. You are one of the rare breed who doesnt critique history. You get off your tail and you make it. Best wishes from a fellow traveler!

I haven't seen anything on the Freepers about this, but it's been on the radio in this area. On July 4th, a big Moslem gathering (15,000 expected) will be in Independence Park in downtown Philly, with tents and speakers. They are planning to protest their treatment in the USA. Evidently this group meets every year, and plan to hold it in Philly this year. Anyone else hear about this?

I didn't know President Bush was going to be here on the 4th. I was doing a search on this Moslem group when I came across this thread.

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