BY JIM ALTENBERG

SAN FRANCISCO - Tens of thousands of people marched here April 14 in a spirited protest against a broad range of attacks working people face today. Sponsored by the National Organization for Women (NOW) and endorsed by some 600 community and political organizations, trade unions, social service groups, and others, the "March to Fight the Right" was called to defend affirmative action and abortion rights; fight racism and attacks on immigrants; and protect badly needed social services such as welfare and Medicare.

Organizers said 40,000 people joined the march and rally; the police gave an estimate of 13,000. A large number of participants were young, including many college students from campuses across California, Oregon, and Washington state. Some came from Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.

Many demonstrators said they came to answer the continued drive by California politicians against affirmative action. Last July the University of California Board of Regents, including the state governor, Peter Wilson, voted to end affirmative action programs in admissions and hiring at UC. Although their decision has not yet been implemented, students and faculty at the university continue to protest each move the Regents make.

A ballot measure, the "California Civil Rights Initiative," which bans affirmative action programs by the state and local governments, will be up for a vote in the November elections. Hundreds of marchers carried signs condemning this "Civil Wrongs Initiative" and rally speakers called for its defeat.

"I am a direct recipient of affirmative action, and I have a direct responsibility to wake up other women," said one San Francisco woman. "We can't lose affirmative action. We can't take for granted the advancements that have taken place." She brought two younger women with her to the march.

The continued attacks on immigrant workers, and particularly the recent beating of two Mexican workers by cops in Riverside, California, was on the minds of many at the rally. Hand-lettered signs were sprinkled throughout the march with slogans such as "We are all immigrants" and "No human being is illegal" in English and Spanish.

"This started as a march for women's rights, but about a month ago the immigrant issue became part of it," said a young woman from San Francisco State University. A student from Eugene, Oregon, said he thought all borders should be taken down.

"I'm here because of those cops who beat up that immigrant woman," said a Nicaraguan woman who with her mother. "She was Hispanic and no one said anything. Hopefully this march will help the fight for immigrant rights." Commenting on the action, she added, "There's a lot of different fights here. I like that."

Two University of Oregon students, Jenny Kressel and Susan, pointed to a large banner proclaiming "Victory Over Bigotry -Oregon" and spoke about the fight they had waged against anti- gay legislation that right-wing forces had tried to enact there over the past few years. Susan said she came to the rally to "support women, lesbian rights, and to stop hate crimes." These rallies give her "an awareness of the power of the masses," she said.

A group of Salt Lake City high school students who have been battling their school administration over the right to have a Gay-Straight Alliance and other school clubs also attended the rally. Kelli Peterson, a Gay-Straight Alliance activist, spoke from the platform.

The Utah high school students presented a workshop on their fight at a "Young Feminists Bonding Night to Fight the Right" the evening before. More than 50 youth attended the overnight event, organized by the San Francisco NOW chapter to provide inexpensive housing for high school students attending the march and as an opportunity to exchange experiences.

Other speakers included NOW president Patricia Ireland, San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, and United Farm Workers vice president Dolores Huerta. Democratic Party politicians Jesse Jackson and Bella Abzug, as well as feminist author Gloria Steinem, also spoke.

Jim Altenberg is a member of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 1-5 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Janine Dukes from Salt Lake City contributed to this article.  
 
 
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