ILPS Anti-Imperialist Contingent Marches on 8-12 in Solidarity with Lebanon and Palestine

(See pictures of the ILPS Anti-Imperialist Contingent at http://public.fotki.com/rebelwoman/ilps_march_against/ and http://poeticdream.com/gallery.php?gid=410)

In the first major ILPS demonstration in the U.S., the Anti-Imperialist Contingent rallied at Powell and Market in San Francisco, then stepped out onto the streets in a spirited march which later joined the march and rally called by International ANSWER. Wearing red shirts and yellow bandanas, with bright banners, ILPS flags and infectious chants, the Anti-Imperialist Contingent set a radiant, militant tone for the day.

Liz Derias from the School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL) started off a pre-rally by denouncing Israeli and U.S. aggression in the Middle East. Speaking as an Arab woman and for the contingent as a whole, Liz said, “We're here to show our solidarity with the Lebanese, Iraqi and Palestinian people and support their heroic resistance.”

Kristen Sajonas from the League of Filipino Students as SF State University traced the roots of the conflict in the Middle East to “racism, Zionism and imperialism. The birth of Israel meant the death of Palestine—a violent reality that is now being imposed on the people of Lebanon.” Sajonas connected Israeli and U.S. aggression in the Middle East to a similar brand of imperialism and terror wrought against the Filipino people, and to the cutbacks in education for students in the U.S.

Along with the contingent's main banners, “Long Live International Solidarity!” and “Support Self-Determination for the Peoples of the Middle East!”, there was a large Palestinian flag carried by sisters from the Free Palestine Alliance, the banner of the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, and the tall blue and red flags of BAYAN USA and babae (“women” in Tagalog). As we marched up to the main rally, we chanted in call & response: “Who Are We....Anti-Imperialists! We Believe...In Self-Determination! What We Want...An End to Occupation...in Iraq...in Palestine...in Lebanon!”

From the main stage, Mei-Ying Ho (of SOUL) spoke for ILPS and Lolan Sevilla (of babae) for BAYAN USA. Lolan brought greetings from the national democratic movement in the Philippines to the crowd. Mei-Ying introduced ILPS and the 15 member groups of the anti-imperialist contingent, and called on the crowd to “raise our voice, raise our fists. Now is the time for us to resist!”

As the main march of 5-10,000 pushed off, the anti-imperialist contingent grew from 75 to 300 people. We marched side by side with the Break the Siege contingent (which was initiated by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee and led by Palestinians, Lebanese and Iraqis. The growth of these contingents brings with it the challenge to better coordinate our efforts and message. Nevertheless, a strong spirit of resistance and unity prevailed.

Amplified by a mobile sound truck, one of the most popular rhythmic chants of the ILPS contingent rang out: “Free Palestine, Free Lebanon, End the Occupation!” Javad Jahi from the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement took the mike: “Because of U.S. and Israeli aggression against poor people of color all over the world, we are being treated like living hostages in our own lands. We cannot be free if the people of Palestine and Lebanon are not free. Free the Land in Iraq! Free the Land in Palestine! Free the Land in Haiti! Free the Land in New Orleans!”

A sister from Sri Lanka said she had joined the contingent because the same massacres are going on against the Tamil people. “We too need self-determination and we need justice for all people.” A young brother from VietUnity reiterated the slogan (used by the Vietnamese liberation forces) that was spray-painted on our yellow bandanas, “One Struggle, Many Fronts.” And a brother from India commented, “I am very pleased with the anti-imperialist slogan because it's the same struggle everywhere. Coming from South Asia, I can feel the pain the Lebanese people are going through.”

Many signs underlined the internationalist sentiments of the ILPS contingent. An African-American woman's placard said, “Stop Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine, Lebanon, New Orleans, Darfur and the Congo.” A group of women from Mexico City and their children wore bright yellow “Arab Sympathizer” stickers. Another sign read simply: “We are All Palestinians.”

At the end of the march, our energy was still high. In unison with chants to push forward and unite our struggles against U.S. imperialism, the marchers did a high-stepping “Hoy, Hoy” dance, a celebration of unity and struggle in the Philippines inspired by the fight against apartheid in South Africa. It was truly a day of One Struggle, Many Fronts.

The ILPS contingent was initiated by: ALAY, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Against the War, babae, BAYAN USA, Collision Course, Free Palestine Alliance, Friends of South Asia, League of Filipinos Students, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, POWER-People Organized to Win Employment Rights, SOUL-School of Unity & Liberation, and VietUnity.
The Alliance of South Asians Taking Action, the Chinese Progressive Association and the General Union of Palestinian Students also joined the contingent.