Operation Infinite FReep: Opposition Update

We encourage feedback from organizations and individuals from around the country to the following proposal from the A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) coalition steering committee that seeks the maximum level of unity among anti-war forces on April 20. This proposal was introduced on March 15 at the second informal meeting of various coalitions that are planning activities in Washington DC between April 19 and 22. Please give us your feedback by email to ANSWER@afgj.org.

What follows is background information and A.N.S.W.E.R.'s scenario plan and proposal for Saturday, April 20.

On March 7, the representatives from the four coalitions who have been planning events over the weekend of April 19th through the 22nd held important informal meetings to communicate, coordinate and seek to develop a practical framework to maximize the unity of the progressive movement that recognizes the diversity and independent political views of each coalition. This included the National Colombia Mobilization, International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, A20 Stop the War mobilization and the Mobilization for Global Justice.

In this unity discussion and one following specifically between the two anti-war coalitions, a number of proposals and scenarios were identified that would provide for the coalitions to maintain independent identity and actions while maximizing the ability of the thousands of people who are coming to Washington D.C. that weekend to participate together in activities including marching and rallying together in solidarity.

In the separate meeting following the four coalitions’ meeting, the two coalitions planning anti-war activities on April 20 (A.N.S.W.E.R. and the A20 Stop the War mobilization) explored possible march and rally scenarios which each agreed to discuss with their Steering Committees. Each of the potential scenarios that were discussed in that brainstorming session included independent opening rallies, followed by marches that would merge at some point along the route bringing together thousands of people in the streets of Washington, and the two coalitions’ marches would then proceed together to a concluding rally (see below for more information). As agreed in that meeting, the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition representatives took these ideas back to the A.N.S.W.E.R. steering committee for the purpose of developing concrete proposals.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition recognizes the deep desire by tens of thousands of activists to build such a united front and to experience a new solidarity in the streets of Washington in April. This desire has been expressed in a flood of emails, phone calls, and letters from organizations and individuals all over the country.

In this spirit the four major coalitions have agreed to a common calendar that would identify the activities of April 19-22, to work towards building a Friday night unity panel discussion which each of coalitions would participate in, and logistical coordination in areas including transportation, housing and food.

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Steering Committee has proposed the following Unity Scenario that intends to recognize and respect each coalitions’ independent political framework and activities, while allowing for the merging of the various movements so that people on April 20 can march shoulder to shoulder and rally in the largest possible numbers to challenge George W. Bush’s war drive.

A.N.S.W.E.R. will hold a mass rally of thousands that will begin its assembly at the White House (on the Ellipse) starting at 11 am. We will have a permitted march that goes east on Pennsylvania Ave. in front of the White House and continues on Pennsylvania Ave. to the Justice Department at 10th St. Our march route encircles the Justice Department down to Constitution Ave. and back to Pennsylvania Ave. We will hold a rally at the Justice Department, which is across the street from the J. Edgar Hoover FBI building, where we will protest John Ashcroft’s racist attacks on civil rights and civil liberties, and demand the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

We have proposed that the A20 Stop the War Coalition march following their independent morning rally, the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition march and any other marches taking place that day converge somewhere on Pennsylvania Ave. between the White House and the Justice Department, and that we proceed to march together to a concluding rally.

The program for this unity rally would be organized and co-chaired by any or all of the major coalitions organizing activities for that weekend in addition to the two anti-war coalitions. A.N.S.W.E.R. has obtained a permit for Upper Senate Park on the north side of the Capitol for a final rally at the conclusion of the march, and A20 Stop the War has applied for a permit at 3rd Street on the Mall (to the West of Capitol Building). A.N.S.W.E.R.’s proposal for a unified joint rally among the mobilizing coalitions could be at either location.

This powerful concluding rally of thousands of people would continue in the same spirit as Friday’s panel discussion and would not require mutual endorsements or an identity of viewpoints in order to provide a strong visible force for progressive change.

It is not unity for unity’s sake. Unless we can build a broad, unified, massive movement of opposition, the Bush administration will have a free hand as it prepares to plunge the United States further into war, including launching a major ground and air war against Iraq. This war will lead to a catastrophe for all. It represents a mighty danger to the entire world. At the same time the Bush administration has launched an assault on civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. A massive movement of opposition will tell the administration and the world that the people of the U.S. will not allow themselves to be deceived and divided by appeals to nationlistic frenzy and super-patriotism.

Simultaneously, the people all over the world who are the victims of U.S. military aggression - overt and covert, from Colombia to the Philippines to Palestine and elsewhere - are looking to the people of the United States to see if we can mount a truly effective movement for peace and solidarity.

Despite political differences we call on the entire progressive movement - the hundreds and thousands of organizations and individuals who want to act now to stop George Bush’s mad war drive - to make its clear that all forces must unite in word and in deed.

Issued by the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition steering committee: IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Mexico Solidarity Network, Nicaragua Network, Partnership for Civil Justice LDEF, Kensington Welfare Rights Union, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Committee for Justice to Defend Palestinian Rights, International Action Center, Bayan USA (Filipino community), and the Korea Truth Commission.

A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION UNITY STATEMENT & CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
http://www.internationalanswer.org

A.N.S.W.E.R. APRIL 20 CALL TO ACTION:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/april/call.html

FULL LIST OF ENDORSERS:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/april/a20-endorsers.html

A.N.S.W.E.R. COALITION ENDORSERS:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/endorsers.html

TO ENDORSE, GO TO:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/a27/a27-endorse.html#endo

DOWNLOADABLE FLYERS & MATERIALS:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/download.html

BUSES, VANS & CAR CARAVANS COMING TO DC FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/april/contacts.html

*SIMULTANEOUS WEST COAST MARCH IN SAN FRANCISCO*
http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/april/contacts-sf.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Email: ANSWER@afgj.org , or call New York 212-633-6646, Washington 202-543-2777, Chicago 773-583-7728, San Francisco 415-821-6545. http://www.InternationalANSWER.org

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Thank you for your efforts here, Dave. Judging from this thread, you're going to have the A-team in DC on Apr. 20th! Those of us who can't be there can pray for your efforts and your safety that week, that anniversary of so many US tragedies. Funny that these people claim to be against war and racism, yet that's what they do for a living....incite anger, fear, jealousy for power's sake....the definition of terrorism. Perhaps a one word, bus-sized banner would prick their buried remnants of conscience:HYPOCRITES! Too harsh?

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