Vol.62/No.5 February 9, 1998
Protesters: Stop U.S. War Threats On Iraq
Opponents of Washington's war drive against the people of
Iraq have called protests across the United States and
elsewhere. Below are reports received by the Militant on a few
of these actions.
MINNEAPOLIS - "U.S. Hands Off Iraq!" was the call that
brought 60 people out to picket the Federal Building on January
27. Protesters marched and rallied for an hour during the
afternoon rush hour. The various organizations in the ad hoc
committee sponsoring the action spent the previous week
promoting it throughout the Twin Cities.
Demonstration organizer Tom Fiske told the crowd, "We want
to make it clear to the U.S. government we have three demands:
Stop the economic sanctions! Stop the military threats!
Withdraw U.S. military forces from the Middle East!"
Chris Afang, a student at the University of Minnesota, came
to the rally with one of her friends. "We shouldn't have any
troops there because they are only there to protect the
economic interests of big corporations here," she said. "I felt
I had to come out to protest."
Arshad Modhum is a nursing assistant at Hennepin County
Medical Center. He came to the rally with a co-worker who
showed him a leaflet a few days before. "I come from Pakistan,"
he said, "and I have seen what it is like when there is no
medicine and no food. My job called me to work an extra day
today, but I told them `no,' I have to protest." Event
organizers ended the demonstration by urging all present to
help build the next action, which will also be at the Federal
Building on Friday, February 6, at 4:30 p.m.
Michael Pennock
*****
NEW YORK - "What do we want? Inspectors out! When do we
want it? Now!" and "Drop the sanctions now!" chanted about 30
people picketing the Federal Building in downtown Manhattan
January 22. The action was called by the New York Young
Socialists and the Socialist Workers Party. In addition to
socialist workers and YS members, a Palestinian professor and
some students joined the protest. The reaction by passersby was
polarized. Some, mostly well-dressed business executives who
are plentiful in that district, shouted at the picketers, "Bomb
Iraq now!"
Others welcomed the action. "I am really glad someone is
standing up to Washington," said a New York University student
who lived in the area and happened to ride by on his bicycle.
He stopped to talk to the protesters for a while. He also said
he is interested in socialism and asked to find out about Young
Socialists meetings. The socialists have called another picket
line at the same place for Friday, January 30, 5:00 p.m.
Argiris Malapanis
*****
TORONTO - Nearly 30 people picketed in front of the U.S.
consulate here January 22, chanting "Stop the threats against
Iraq!" and "End the sanctions." Some of the signs pointed to
Ottawa's support for Washington's war moves as well. The action
was called by the Communist League, Black Action Defense
Committee, and the Young Socialists. It was covered on the
local television news that night.
John Steele
*****
HARTFORD, Connecticut - A dozen protesters gathered at
Trinity College here January 27 where Hillary Clinton appeared
to give a speech on child care. They handed out more than 500
leaflets with the headline, "What about the children of Iraq?"
and stood with signs reading "End the Sanctions" and "Don't
Bomb Iraq" as students and visitors entered the Student Center
Building for her talk. Activists in the area are also planning
to hold a teach-in on the situation in Iraq at Central
Connecticut State University in mid-February.
Tim Craine
*****
Emergency picket lines are also planned in Miami for
January 29; in Montreal, Philadelphia, and Newark, New Jersey,
on January 30; and in Detroit February 2. The Militant
encourages its readers to send in photos and reports on these
and other actions.
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