BY DANNY BOOHER
CHICAGO - Carrying picket signs and chanting "U.S. Hands Off Iraq!" and "Self-Determination, Iraq is a Sovereign Nation!" some 25 people protested U.S. war moves against Iraq at the Federal Building here February 2. The picket, organized by the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialists, was the second of its kind at that site.

Mary Johnson, a Chicago-area activist involved in protests against the death penalty and police brutality, came to voice her opposition to Clinton's war plans. "I came here to oppose any attempts of war by Washington. Like in 1991, the U.S. government is using whatever pretext it can to carry out a war with Iraq," said Johnson.

As part of building the protest, the Young Socialists set up a literature table at Harold Washington University in downtown Chicago. One student from that campus decided to join the picket after getting a leaflet.

There was a heavier police presence than at the earlier picket. Four squad cars, a canine patrol wagon, and a number of police on foot were stationed near the demonstration. Frank Forrestal, a rail worker and an organizer of the protest, told the Militant, "This picket was different than the one we held January 20. This time more people showed their opposition to what we were doing. One guy, before he ran into the nearby subway stop, yelled over and over `Bomb them now! Bomb them now!' " Others showed their opposition by signaling thumbs down. Forrestal explained, "We can expect more polarization as the Clinton administration gets closer to actually dropping the bombs."

At the same time, others came by to find out more about the protest. Two former GIs, one of whom served in the Gulf War, approached the pickets to find out what the protest was about. They did not join in, but stayed to talk and exchange views. "These discussions were calm and civil," Forrestal said. Dozens of leaflets were handed out to passersby on their way home from work.

Wrapping up the picket, Forrestal told the marchers, "These protests are important. Although this protest was small it makes clear to the Clinton government that there is opposition to U.S. war moves. We need to have more pickets, teach-ins, and public forums to tell the truth about Washington's war moves in the Middle East and to demand U.S. Hands Off Iraq!"

PORTLAND, Oregon - More than 100 people marched in front of the Federal Building here February 3, protesting the latest U.S. war moves against Iraq. The protest was sponsored by Peace and Justice Works and individual activists.

Pickets chanted, "One, two, three, four, end the sanctions, don't start war"; "Hey, hey, ho, ho, UN inspectors got to go"; and "Don't kill children or their moms, end the sanctions, don't drop bombs."

MANCHESTER, England - Protesters carrying placards and speaking through a loud hailer held a lively protest in the center of Manchester for the second week running January 31. Workers and youth joined the picket, carrying placards saying "Stop The UK Warship," "Hands Off Iraq," "End The Sanctions," and "Oppose The UN Inspection Teams."

Activists from various organizations in Manchester were joined by passersby, for a total of 16 pickets. They took turns to explain why they opposed war moves and sanctions against Iraqi through a loud hailer. College student Matthew Conner said, "I walked past, then I heard the loud hailer. I know 600,000 kids died due to sanctions. I'm against war so I joined the protest." Conner handed out leaflets, and encouraged other youth to join the protest.

Many people stopped to talk. Some supported the protest, but others expressed strongly that the British government should take military action against Baghdad. Several people from Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East stopped to say they supported the protest and offered to phone other people they knew. The participants agreed to organize a weekly picket, and meet in the same spot on the day a military assault against Iraq starts.

DETROIT - The chant "No bombs, no troops, no sanctions" greeted people leaving the office buildings surrounding the U.S. Federal Building. Fifty people rallied during rush hour here on February 2, demanding "U.S. Hands Off Iraq!," "End the Sanctions Now!" "and Inspectors Out of Iraq!"

Holly Harkness, spokesperson for the Socialist Workers Party, told the protesters, "This should be only the first protest here in Detroit. The U.S. government plans to use its military might against the Iraqi people and working people in the United States should actively oppose all war moves."

Other speakers included a representative from the Workers World Party as well as a member of Pax Christi, a Catholic pacifist organization. Activists from Irish Northern Aid, Justice for Cuba Coalition, Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, and others joined the picket line.