[Peace] The pre-emptive power of protest: Northwestern U.

[David Green]

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Crowd protests against Israeli government acts
Despite cancellation of  speech, activist groups voice
opposition to war, racism, U.S. support of Israel
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By Janette Neuwahl and Jerome C. Pandell
The Daily Northwestern

Tuesday, February 5, 2002

About 70 people gathered near the Arch on Monday
protesting Israel's treatment of Palestinians and
local police's questioning of at least three Arabs.

Protesters chanted slogans condemning the Israeli
government and demanded that Northwestern guard
information about its Arab community.

"Northwestern shouldn't give information to the
government with no evidence," said Bridget Broderick,
a Chicago resident and member of the International
Socialist Organization. "This policy is like racial
profiling and other universities haven't done it."

The protest was originally planned to criticize a
scheduled appearance by former Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who canceled on Saturday because
of security concerns.

"We are part of the victory in stopping Netanyahu from
speaking tonight," Lars Johnson, a Weinberg freshman
said through a megaphone. "This demonstrates the power
of organized protest."

Chanting "Hey! Hey! Ho, ho, Netahyahu's got to go!,"
the protesters, made up of various anti-war, socialist
and communist groups, condemned the decision to bring
Netanyahu to campus and the Israeli government's
actions in general.

Phil Kaplan, a Weinberg senior and member of NU's
Socialist Organization, helped plan the protest by
e-mailing and calling members of other activist groups
whom he met at anti-war events in Chicago.

He said he thinks security concerns were not the true
reason behind Netanyahu's canceled appearance.

"I think it was canceled because he's afraid of
dissent. We scared him off," Kaplan said. "The U.S. is
the only government on earth that supports Israel's
policies and once there is public outrage against his
human rights violations, then he runs away with his
tail between his legs."

Johnson, a member of Northwestern Opposes War and
Racism, led the event by rallying participants in
various chants and eventually leading them in a
circular march.

NU students were joined in the protest by members of
eight activist organizations from Evanston and
Chicago. Many protesters said they came to demonstrate
their opposition to the United States' support of
Israel.

"Citizens need to be aware of what's going on and we
are here to let it be known that we don't support the
policies of Netanyahu and his government because they
aren't good for the Palestinian people or anyone,"
said 24-year-old Eddie Casarez, a member of the
Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, a group
formed after the events of Sept. 11.

"All (the U.S. government does) is support
corporations and their plundering," he added.

Protester Tony Goodes spent part of the protest
passing out copies of the Proletarian Revolution, a
newsletter for the League for the Revolutionary Party.
The party is itself a subgroup of the larger
International Communist organization.

"Each group has their different reasons, but we are
all here because we (identify) with the plight of the
Palestinian masses," Goodes, 32, said.

But Weinberg junior Yelena Shapiro said she wished
there were more people at the protest who and could
articulate Israel's side of the story.

"Palestinians have proven they are the terrorists,"
Shapiro said. A recent arms shipment reportedly from
Iran to the Palestinian government and suicide
bombings by terrorists led her to that conclusion, she
said.

Weinberg junior Tehseen Ahmed, who is Muslim, said she
came to join in on the protest because she disagrees
with Netanyahu and his policies.

"I feel he comes to propel hate and not peace," Ahmed
said. "The bloodbath ensuing over there is because of
policies created by him."

Copyright (c) 2002 The Daily Northwestern

http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/daily/issues/2002/02/05/campus/c-protest.shtml




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