[Peace-discuss] A disgusting pro-Obama Democratic front operation

[C. G. ESTABROOK]

[A report from a participant in today's rally in Chicago.  --CGE]

The rally to praise Obama for supposedly ending the war in Iraq,  
sponsored
by Marilyn Katz, Carl Davidson, and "Chicagoans Against War in Iraq,"  
and
billed as a national marque event, turned up 30 speakers and paid staff
members in front of microphones. There were about 5-10 in the audience.
Dozens and dozens of prepared placards that said "yes we can" were in a
box, untouched. Among the speakers were the president of the Cook County
Board Toni Preckwinkle, Alderman Joe Moore, and Tom Hayden.
In opposition, holding placards, were some 15 or more from March 19th
Anti-War Coalition, Occupy Chicago, Iraq Veterans Against the War,  
Albany
Park, North Park, Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice, and others.  
The
placards included slogans "The U.S. War on Iraq is NOT Over" "Obama Does
Not Deserve Praise," "Obama is Continuing Illegal Illegal & Unjust  
Wars,"
"Obama Is Threatening Iran and Syria," "Free Bradley Manning," "No War  
on
Iran," "Orambo," "There Is Nothing to Celebrate" and others. Hundreds of
leaflets from the March 19th Anti-War Coalition were distributed to
passersby as well as those at the rally. --<tristan.sloughter at gmail.com>

On Dec 15, 2011, at 3:44 PM, Carl G. Estabrook wrote:

>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>>> From: Lauren Weiner <Weiner at americansunitedforchange.org>
>>> Date: December 15, 2011 2:25:45 PM CST
>>> To: Lauren Weiner <Weiner at americansunitedforchange.org>
>>> Subject: FYI: Activists From Across the Nation to Gather in  
>>> Chicago--Friday, 12/16 10:30 am
>>>
>>>
>>> NEWS ALERT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>
>>> Contact:
>>> Marilyn Katz
>>> MK Communications
>>> 312-822-0505
>>> 312-953-1225
>>> mkatz at mkcpr.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Activists From Across the Nation to Gather in Chicago at
>>> 2002 Rally Site to Mark Iraq War End
>>> “Determination of a few can change the world”
>>>
>>> (CHICAGO) Nine years and two months after the first large protest  
>>> against the then impending war in Iraq, organizers of the now- 
>>> famous rally will return there with anti-war leaders from  
>>> throughout the nation to mark the end of what they predicted to be  
>>> and has turned out to be an ill-conceived and costly war.
>>>
>>> “On October 2, 2002,” said Marilyn Katz, “to the surprise of  
>>> themselves and a nation still reeling from the events of 9/11,  
>>> thousands of people gathered in Federal Plaza to voice our  
>>> opposition to an impending war that we felt was built on lies and  
>>> would cost both the people of Iraq and America thousands of lives  
>>> and billions of dollars. Among the speakers that day was a  
>>> relatively unknown state senator – Barack Obama, who added a  
>>> strong voice in opposition when it was not yet a popular position.
>>>
>>> “What began as a few thousand people in Federal Plaza and places  
>>> like it grew to a movement of millions who opposed a war and  
>>> became a critical force in electing a president who promised to  
>>> end the war he had long opposed.  That movement has continued.   
>>> The promise has been kept.  We return to Federal Plaza to mourn  
>>> the losses all have endured and  to celebrate the difference that  
>>> citizen action can make in creating and changing  history – and to  
>>> honor those whose word is their promise.”
>>>
>>> Among those joining Among those joining Bettylu Saltzman, Marilyn  
>>> Katz and others who founded Chicagoans Against War and Injustice  
>>> (CAWI), the group that called the demonstration, will be Cook  
>>> County Board President Toni Preckwinkle; Alderman Joe Moore,  
>>> president of Cities for Peace; labor leader Tom Balanoff, SEIU;  
>>> anti-war stalwart Tom Hayden, Progressive Democrats of America;  
>>> Chuy Garcia, commissioner, Cook County Board; Bill Zimmerman,  
>>> media consultant to MoveOn.org and author of Troublemaker, a  
>>> memoir of the Vietnam antiwar movement; Ryan Canney, Move On.org;  
>>> Juan Andrade, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute; Julie  
>>> Hamos, director, state of Illinois Department of Healthcare and  
>>> Family Services; David Cortright, Win Without War; Bill MacInary,  
>>> Lynda Deforge, William McNary, Citizen Action; Carl Davidson,  
>>> Progressive Democrats for America; Adele Simmons, former president  
>>> the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; representatives  
>>> from VetVotes; and Ilya Sheyman, candidate for U.S. Congress.
>>>
>>>
>>> ###


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