ANTI-WAR PROTEST LARGEST
SINCE VIETNAM WAR

n Saturday, October 26^th, this nation saw what was likely the largest anti-war demonstration held in this nation's capital since the Vietnam War. Bearing all manner of banners and signs, (one of the most popular being "Regime Change Begins at Home") well over a hundred thousand people of different ages, colors, cultures and backgrounds converged on Washington, DC to send this government a strong message that we, the people, do not want its ugly, unjust war on Iraq.

And it wasn't just the same ol' people you see at all the protests who attended it, either. There were individuals such as Rebecca Hergatt who, with her sign "Sunday School Teachers Against the War," had traveled from what she called the "little Republican town" of Mansfield, Ohio. This was her first political march. The same for Marie Johnson of Columbia who stated, "I've never in my life done anything like this before. What I wanted to do was say that even though Bush puts forth that everyone supports going to war against Iraq, some of us don't. I just thought it was important for me to do something to show how I felt."

This sentiment was representative: people came because they believe this war is wrong and they must say so. Stated Ramon Perez, who works with International ANSWER, a coalition of anti-war groups that coordinated the demonstration, "As I watch, listen and read the news, I'm not even close to being persuaded that we're under risk of being harmed by Iraq. So I'm here just as a matter of conscience - the thought of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the destruction of a developing country without justification motivates me to do whatever I can to help stop this war."

Jasmin Cruz, also of ANSWER, said she was there because "The voice of the people is much more powerful than the government portrays it to be. I feel that it's important to be a part of expressing that voice." Shirelle Fletcher, who is with the Not in Our Name Coalition, added, "It's all about capitalism and money for a few. It can't possibly be good for the people as a whole."

A profound view was expressed by Randol Aircrash who spoke of the battle we all wage within ourselves that is reflected outside of us. "I believe that by showing up for this event you're using your energy positively," he explained. "When energy comes together at a mass gathering such as this one, you can create a change that can ripple throughout the country and even throughout the world." John D. Smith, a member of the National Action Network, said simply, "I'm against the Bush administration, and I am for peace all around the world. We cannot accomplish that if we are planning an illegal war on any country."

Among the many speakers who addressed the rally were former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, UN weapons inspector Scott Ridder, long-time peace activist Father Daniel Berrigan, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and actress Susan Sarandon. There was also Gulf War veteran Charles Sheehan-Miles who said, "My father is a Vietnam vet, my grandfather is a World War II vet, and I didn't question it when I was sent to the Gulf. But when my division wiped out a retreating Iraqi division two days after the ceasefire, it started me questioning."

Reverend Herbert Daughtry, minister of the mainly African American House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn, commented that while many in the Black church "oppose this mad rush to war, knowing it is our sons and daughters who will be fodder for their cannons, the churches were late to oppose Vietnam, and we're late today."

One of the speakers who drew the most applause and cheers was possible Presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton. This was the first time many of the white people from different parts of the country had the opportunity to see him in person. They clearly loved what they heard, and they showed it.

"We're here because we have a President who's put the interest of big business over the interest of human life," began Sharpton. He went on to say of Bush, "He didn't ask for unilateral power to deal with the problems of public education, public health care, with the problems of our seniors who can't afford prescription drugs. George Bush is bent on having a war over oil while there are eminent dangers for Americans right at home that he ignores." And speaking directly to Bush he said, "So we have come to tell you that you will not declare this wicked war in our names!"

Commenting on the diversity of the protesters, Sharpton continued his message to Bush, saying, "We may not agree on every issue, but we agree that it is time to challenge you. There may have been some who folded in the Senate but there are those of us who will not bend, that will not buckle, that will not bow and that will not in any way defer to a war machine built for profit at the expense of people."

Sharpton drew tremendous applause as he said, "If you really want to make allies around the world, there are 1.1 billion people that need fresh water. Why aren't we getting engineers and scientists to get it to them? There are 2.6 billion people who need sanitation. Why aren't we sending sanitation engineers around the world?" And he stated resoundingly, "The world does not want our weapons. They want us to help heal and bring the world closer to one that is built on human rights and human dignity."

He went on to talk about how, when we were children, we played "Bogie man." He said this is what Bush and his administration is trying to do with us now - get us scared about some bogus threat in order to keep our minds off the real issues. "They tell us don't worry about the problem of unemployment; don't worry about the problem of education; the Bogie Man is coming!" But, he said, "We are not children. We're grown and we're not falling for the Bogie Man!"

Sharpton ended his speech amidst cheers and whistles as he asked and answered, "Why do we march? Because that's how women got the right to vote. Why do we march? Because it took us from the back of the bus to the front of government. Why do we march? Because it took Lynden Johnson out of Vietnam and sent him back to Texas - where we're going to send George Bush!"

When the demonstrators moved out into Constitution Avenue for the march which followed a route encircling the White House, the number of people was so vast that walking shoulder to shoulder they filled the entire boulevard for twenty five city blocks - over two miles. And when marchers at the front approached the end of the route, which concluded where it began, they had to wait for half an hour to allow demonstrators at the tail of the march to pass onto the avenue before they could re-enter the rally grounds!

While this was going on in DC, sister marches were taking place in other US cities such as San Francisco where another hundred thousand protestors marched through the city's downtown area, and Juno, Alaska which had a much smaller but very significant turn out. Additional cities throughout the world, including Mexico City, Rome, Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo and some in the Middle East held protests as well.

All in all, it was a great day throughout the globe for speaking truth to power on this monumentally important subject.