[Peace-discuss] Strains in the anti-war movement

[C. G. Estabrook]

[The following is from the blog American Leftist.  It describes a 
difficulty I'm hearing about from other friends around the country.  --CGE]

What's Missing Here?

A couple of days ago, I received this e-mail announcement from United 
for Peace and Justice. Upon close textual analysis, I realized that 
there was something missing. See if you can figure it out:

     Saturday, April 29
     March for Peace, Justice and Democracy


     Assemble: 22nd Street and Broadway,
     10:30AM onward
     March: At noon down Broadway to Foley Square
     Grassroots action festival: 1:00-6:00PM,
     Foley Square
     See below and www.april29.org for more details.

     "If you've ever doubted that protest marches can make a difference, 
just look at the stunning example of the massive immigrant rights 
demonstrations over this past week. Millions of people have taken to the 
streets across the country with a simple, powerful message: Don't deny 
the promise of opportunity to those who only seek a better life. And not 
only did this grassroots outpouring transform the political debate -- 
but it's also stalled, at least for the moment, the most draconian 
anti-immigrant measures in Congress.

     "On April 29, large numbers will again take to the streets, to 
demand a dramatic change in direction. Too much is too wrong in this 
country. We will call for an immediate end to the Iraq war and for all 
the troops to come home now. We will demand an end to illegal spying, 
government corruption, and the subversion of our democracy. We will 
stand up for the rights of immigrants and women, and for all our civil 
liberties. We will call for this country's resources to be used to 
rebuild the Gulf Coast and other devastated communities rather than for 
never-ending oil wars and massive corporate subsidies.

     "We have reached an agreement with the New York Police Department 
for the April 29 march route and festival location. We will assemble 
beginning at 10:30AM at 22nd Street and Broadway. Starting at noon, we 
will march down Broadway through the heart of Manhattan, to Foley 
Square, site of the Federal Building and Federal Courthouse. Maps, plus 
information about gathering spots for contingents, will soon be posted 
at www.april29.org.

     "Bring signs and banners, bring musical instruments, and above all, 
bring friends and associates -- let's make this event massive, vibrant, 
colorful, and inspiring! (Please note: The NYPD prohibits the use of 
wooden, metal, or fiberglass sticks or poles -- only cardboard tubes may 
be used to hold up signs and banners.)

     "The march will culminate in an action-oriented grassroots festival 
in Foley Square from 1:00-6:00PM, designed to connect those who attend 
the protest with a wide array of organizations and campaigns, including 
the nine national groups who initiated the April 29 protest. At the 
festival, you'll find leaflets, how-to guides, activist toolkits, and 
other resources; learn more about the disastrous Iraq War and how you 
can plug into the many efforts underway to bring the troops home; and 
have an opportunity to talk to knowledgeable organizers involved in 
everything from counter-recruitment work to faith-based organizing to 
immigrant rights and civil liberties. You'll also be able to picnic on 
the grass, spend time with friends, listen to music, and watch 
performances. There will be a large tabling area for groups wishing to 
distribute literature or sell merchandise at the festival. Click here to 
reserve table space.

     "Spread the word! We have an opportunity to turn what promises to 
be an important event into an historic mobilization. But we need your 
help to make sure everyone knows about April 29th. Visit the April 29 
website to download leaflets for photocopying and distributing -- or, if 
you're in the New York City area, come by the United for Peace and 
Justice office and pick some up. Our office is at 261 West 36th Street, 
7th floor, and is open Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 7:30pm and on 
the weekends (call the office for exact times -- 212-868-5545). We also 
have stickers, buttons, and posters to promote the April 29 march."

Raise your hands, how many of you got the right answer? OK, what is it? 
Yes, scott-o, you are correct, the missing piece of the puzzle, the 
giant elephant in the room that goes unmentioned is . . .

IRAN

Stanley Heller apparently received the same e-mail, because he has an 
incisive article on the subject over at COUNTERPUNCH:

     In what country will a huge peace coalition hold an anti-war rally 
have nothing to say about Iran, Israel and Palestine or Afghanistan? Is 
the answer Israel? Turkey? Micronesia? Sadly it's the USA. On April 29 
United for Peace and Justice is holding a big demonstration in New York 
City called "March for Peace, Justice and Democracy". The only "peace" 
demand mentioned is bringing troops home from Iraq.

     The silence about Iran is staggering. On April 9 the Washington 
Post reported on US military planning for an attack. In includes this 
sentence, "Pentagon planners are studying how to penetrate 
eight-foot-deep targets and are contemplating tactical nuclear devices". 
Contemplating? We're not talking about mediation here, but dropping 
"tactical" Hiroshima-size atomic bombs. And UFPJ has nothing to say.

Of course, as always, the bottom line issue is that the demand for 
justice for the Palestinians must be abandoned, as Heller reveals in his 
description of what sadly transpired in Connecticut as a protest was 
being planned for the third anniversary of the launching of the war in Iraq:

     We started making plans for this year's March 18 rally last 
November, and we held two ultra-democratc votes about the 
demonstration's demands. Anyone who showed up at the meetings could 
vote. In November we proposed the slogan "End Israeli Occupation and 
Apartheid". We also had slogans for immigrant rights, opposition to 
persecution of Muslims and rejection of war with Iran.

     At our final meeting in January (with 125 in attendance) a number 
of people demanded a single issue rally, totally on Iraq, saying by 
going for the lowest common denominator we'd get labor, the Democrats 
and anti-war Jews. The majority wouldn't go for it. We weren't going to 
abandon the immigrants and Muslims and we'd be fools not to mention 
Iran, but we figured the real sticking point was Palestine. So we 
offered a compromise. Instead of the slogan "End Israeli Occupation and 
Apartheid" we offered the vague "Justice for the Palestinian People".

     People voted for the compromise by a large majority. Still the very 
notion that the Palestinians were the victims was too much for some and 
others were afraid of offending the Democratic Party and the Democratic 
Party oriented labor leaders. So the Israel-apologists, the Peace 
Council and some labor leaders went off and did their own thing. They 
held a rally on March 19, a day after ours and formed a group with the 
acronym COW, Connecticut Opposes War.

     On March 18 we marched 20 blocks from a largely Latino neighborhood 
and held and rally on the New Haven Green that according to the AP 
attracted 1,000. We think it was larger. Perhaps 10% were Muslim and 
Palestinians. We had pro-immigrant speakers in English and Spanish and a 
section of the Green with Spanish translators. It was a great demo, but 
we had expected double that number to attend and we blame it largely on 
the split.

     So how well did the splitters do on the 19th in Hartford? 
Politically the rally sucked. It was two blocks from Senator Lieberman's 
office and none of the speakers denounced Lieberman. Neither Democrat 
Ned Lamont who was challenging Lieberman for anti-war reasons nor Ralph 
Ferrucci who was running as a Green were invited to speak. The only 
chant was this embarrasing bleat,"We are Americans, This is Our 
Country". Imagine after three years of the war they still think we have 
to defend our patriotism? All the speeches denounced one person and one 
person only, George Bush. As if the Democrats hadn't pushed for the war 
enthusiastically and as if they weren't still supporting it. Iran was 
mentioned in one sentence. And, of course, they didn't say a word about 
Israel's constant pressure for war against Iraq and Iran or the fact 
that Gaza is now without flour.

     But the bottom line is numbers. Did they draw out the "silent 
majority"? No. Their rally was about the same size as ours (and included 
many of our people). It was hardly the breakthough that COW was 
predicting. There were a dozen Democratic state legislators. As for 
labor, state AFL-CIO President John Olsen spoke and there was a sizeable 
presence by SEIU-1199, maybe 50 or so union officials and members. That 
was about it.. Organized Jewish presence was invisible. No one saw a 
single sign from a Jewish organization and only one person objected to 
the tons of pro-Palestinian rights literature we gave out. On the other 
hand whatever was gained from the "middle" was lost from the fact the 
Muslims were conspicuous by their absence.

     The COW strategy is a model for what shouldn't be attempted on 
April 29th . .

A movement that seeks to change the world without offending the 
establishment is as alluring as a revolution without dancing. No wonder 
the occupation of Iraq proceeds without hindrance, as we accelerate out 
of control towards another war, possibly nuclear, with Iran.

<http://amleft.blogspot.com/>

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