[Peace-discuss] Fwd:[ANSWER]: World Rises Up Against War

[jencart]

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THE WORLD RISES UP AGAINST WAR:
- February 15: Millions march around the world today to  say "No War Against Iraq"
- Organizing begins for March 1 Emergency Convergence on  the White House

It is one of the great ironies of recent history that the 
ultra-militarist policies of the Bush administration, 
threatening a catastrophic war of aggression against Iraq,  have been the catalyst to a global anti-war movement 
unlike anything that has existed for three decades -- that  is, since the close of the Vietnam War.

Large anti-war demonstrations took place in most of the  major cities of the world. All told, more than 600 cities 
and towns were the scene of simultaneous protests. In the  United States, most of the major anti-war coalitions fully  mobilized for the February 15 actions.

In New York City, the people defied police refusal to 
grant a march permit by turning the upper east side broad  boulevards into a sea of humanity. Hundreds of thousands  filled First Avenue, Second Avenue and Third Avenue. On  First Avenue the rally stretched from 52nd St. past 80th  St. Second and Third Avenues, and even over to Lexington  Avenue, were clogged with demonstrators who were prevented  by police barricades and checkpoints from reaching the 
main assembly site. The police also used horses, clubs and  pepper spray to carry out assaults against peaceful 
protesters. The National Lawyers Guild reports that over  320 people have been arrested, and that many are being  held in tight handcuffs without access to water, food or  bathroom facilities.

The following links are some photos of the NYC 
demonstration:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030215/168/3a6x9.html http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030215/168/3a88t.html

In Los Angeles, 100,000 demonstrated in the largest 
anti-war protest in many years. Opening the Los Angeles  rally, Michel Shehadeh of the Free Palestine Alliance and 
the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition welcomed the crowd with the 
words that "the demonstrations today taking place all over  the world are revealing the fact that the Bush 
administration's planned war of aggression is now in 
direct confrontation with the will of the people 
everywhere."

Demonstrations took place in scores of cities throughout  the United States. 5,000 marched in Houston, 7,000 in 
Chicago, more than 7,000 in Sacramento, thousands marched  in San Jose and Detroit. We are encouraging organizers in  different cities to send in reports about their actions.

Internationally, the demonstrations included some of the  biggest ever. The original call for the February 15 
demonstrations came from the European anti-war movement.  In London, the demonstration was nearly two million 
according to march organizers. Millions more marched 
throughout Europe -- in Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Rome and  throughout the continent. In Damascus, 200,000 marched.  Tens of thousands marched in Buenos Aires. In Toronto,  80,000 took to the streets. We will try to compile a list 
of the turnout at other demonstrations that took place on  all continents and have that list available tomorrow.

On March 1, there will be an Emergency Convergence on the  White House in Washington DC. In the coming days, we will  see whether the Bush administration intends to defy the  will of the people and plunge ahead with his criminal war 
plans. Everyone recognizes that it is critical that the 
movement maintain momentum and visibility as a means to  further ignite grassroots opposition everywhere. At the  White House convergence on March 1, thousands of people  will demand No War on Iraq. They will also call for George  Bush to be impeached for crimes commit