April 2004
St r e e t v i b e s Protesting the Iraq War - Around the Globe, Millions Gather on One-Year Anniversary Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide rallied March 20 against the war in Iraq. Hundreds gathered in downtown Cincinnati on the one-year anniversary of the American-led invasion. There were over 300 events in the U.S and protests in more than 60 countries. In more than 600 cities and towns around the world, people took to the streets to say yes to peace and no to preemptive war and occupation, calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq and President Bush’s foreign policies. Hundreds of thousands of activists also raised their voices at rallies in London, Cairo, Tokyo and other cities in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. In the United States,
Chicago police in full riot gear lined downtown streets as thousands of war opponents marched about two miles to the city’s Federal Plaza. The Rev. Jesse Jackson told Chicago demonstrators to express their opposition to the war by voting against President Bush. In Europe, one of the biggest protests was in Rome, where up to 300,000 marchers jammed the streets. Protesters demanded that Italy withdraw its 2,600 troops from Iraq. And in London, two protesters climbed the Big Ben clock tower. Early Saturday morning, the two anti-war demonstrators wearing climbing
notable protests included a 100,000 person march and rally in New York City. The event was peaceful, unlike a demonstration one year earlier that drew 100,000 people and produced several clashes between demonstrators and police. An event in held in San Francisco was attended by more than 50,000 people. In Crawford, Texas, where President George Bush owns a ranch and often vacations, 1000 protesters converged to repudiate his militaristic policies and call for a diversion of the billions of dollars that are being spent on war to domestic programs like schools, health clinics, housing and homelessness. Military families and veterans led a protest that drew 1500 to Fayetteville, North Carolina, outside the Fort Bragg military base.
gear scaled the Big Ben clock tower at the Houses of Parliament and held up a small banner that read “Time for Truth” before coming down several hours later. (The Big Ben stunt sparked concerns about security around the capital’s landmarks, which is supposed to be at a high level to guard against a possible terrorist attack) London’s Metropolitan Police estimated that some 25,000 people took part in the rally between Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square in the center of the British capital. In Cincinnati, hundreds of protestors
story and photos by Jimmy Heath
met downtown at Cincinnati’s Fountain Square to join the March and Rally Against War and Occupation. The message during the event in downtown Cincinnati was that even though rally organizers support US troops, they do not support US policies that sent American troops into Iraq. The war in Iraq has claimed the lives of two tristate residents – over 500 American soldiers have died since the invasion, and 10,000 Iraqis have been killed in the conflict. Banners listing the names of individual soldiers who have died in Iraq were displayed on Fountain Square. The rally program included a series of speakers, a memorial to those who have died in Iraq, and a short march followed by another gathering on Fountain Square. Rally participants marched around the block to the Federal Building and then back to Fountain
Square while pounding on drums and chanting anti-war slogans. Although police estimated the crowd size at 250, organizers say the numbers were much closer to 800. Over three dozen groups were represented at the rally. The collaborative effort was intended to give strength to individual organizations participating in the event. “Each person at the rally represents someone else who could not be here,” says Sister Alice Gerdeman CDP, of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center and coordinator of the event. “I was pleased with the spirit of the participants, and with the energy generated by this event. The real measure of success will be when people take this energy and are able to change policy,” said Gerdeman. (For more information call the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center at (513) 579-8547 Visit their website at: www.ijpc-Cincinnati.org.)
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless