Feature Archives

On November 3rd, approximately 5000 people gathered in San Francisco to protest the war in Iraq. The march, organized by Not In Our Name, went from Powell and Market to 24th St. and Mission. While there were many groups within the march the loudest and most organized was the Anti-imperialist Contingent initiated by SIAFU, Global Intifada and the Heads Up Collective.
The Anti-imperialist Contingent, led by people of color and immigrants, had a brief rally in front of the Mission Police Station where speakers accused the SF police of collaborating with the INS and violating San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city.
At the end of the March a group of 150 people burned an effigy of Bush and US flags. The group continued to march north on Mission St., breaking windows of Bank of America and Wells Fargo while throwing newspaper boxes and urban debris into the street. After being briefly detained between 20th and 19th streets the SFPD allowed the group to continue until 6th St. and Market St. where a mass arrest of 45 people took place, they are all being charged with unlawful assembly.
Breaking News from the March | Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Video

Other Nov. 3rd Actions:Portland, San Diego, Washington DC

11/21/2004:: Over 16,000 people protested at the gates of Fort Benning in Georgia today. At least 20 people were arrested today in acts of civil disobedience- some climbed a 10-foot fence to try to gain entrance to the base. Photos Initial Report
The School of the Americas Watch and Veterans For Peace roadtrip to Fort Benning, Georgia left San Francisco Saturday morning, November 6th. It had 8 major stops before it arrived at Fort Benning.

From November 19-21, 2004: Thousands of protesters converged on Ft. Benning in Georgia for the annual protest against the School of the Americas (now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHISC). For over a decade, students, religious, labor, veterans, human rights, and social/global justice groups have been converging every November at the gates of Fort Benning, GA to speak out in solidarity with the people of the Americas and to engage in nonviolent direct action (Legal info about civil disobedience at this year's protest). This year's protests were viewed as part of the struggle to close the SOA and to change the policies it represents.

This fall, SOA Watch and protesters everywhere won a significant legal battle. On Friday, October 15, 2004, the court ruled unanimously that the Columbus City policy of metal detector searches at checkpoints at SOA Watch protest sites violates the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution. The decision stated that protesters may not be required to pass through metal detectors to enter the rally site. “We cannot simply suspend or restrict civil liberties until the War of Terror is over, because the War on Terror is unlikely ever to be truly over,” Judge Gerald Tjoflat wrote for the three-member court. “Sept. 11, 2001, already a day of immeasurable tragedy, cannot be the day liberty perished in this country.” SOA Watch says, "Since September 11, we have seen a dramatic increase in attacks on civil liberties, including the unconstitutional limiting of the ability of citizens to peaceably assemble and 'to petition the government for redress of grievances.' This ruling has far-reaching implications and importance not only for SOA Watch but also for all of us struggling to uphold human rights and civil liberties." More info about this case

Protest Organizing Info Enough is Enough revolutionary contingent for Humanity and against Neoliberalism SOAW Run on 11/19-20. Peace Pilgrimage 11/13-21

Two hundred high school students stayed after school on Oct. 20th for a press conference and teach-in against the war and for SF proposition N organized by fellow students at Lowell High. Prop N asks: "Shall it be City policy to urge the United States government to withdraw all troops from Iraq and bring all military personnel in Iraq back to the United States?"

Towards the end of the rally, a quiet young man in a black trench coat stepped up to the stage to explain that he is a soldier in the Army, that he just got back from Iraq a few weeks ago, and he didn’t have any speech to make. However, he wanted people to understand that people here don’t really know how bad it is Iraq—both for the US troops and Iraqis. He described endless house-to-house raids, kicking in doors, and terrifying the people. “Many people in my unit had no problems with what we were doing, but I could see we were making more enemies every day.” More including Photos

11/3/2004: Not in Our Name was one of the initiating organizations of today's Anti-War March and Rally End the Occupation. Planned messages of the march and rally included "Out of Iraq Now! No matter who is elected, we say no to war and repression!" The demonstration gathered at 5PM at Powell & Market, and will then march to 24th & Mission. Poetic Report | Photos: 1 | 2 | Audio | Text of breaking news from the demo | Speech by Anti-imperialist contingent
"On November 3rd, the night after the elections, we will still be against the unjust war and occupation, the police state restrictions of the Patriot Acts, and the ongoing attacks on our immigrant communities."

Barbara Lubin, Executive Director of the Middle East Children's Alliance, said: "The lives of children around the world—especially in Palestine and Iraq—are in danger every day because of the militarism and misguided foreign policies of both political parties. Meanwhile, those who speak up for children and provide humanitarian aid are coming under increasing scrutiny and pressure. The Middle East Children's Alliance is proud to join Not in Our Name in its call to stand up to war and injustice—for the sake of all our children."
Participants were encouraged to bring flashlights, drums, and noisemakers to this permitted event. The march featured the Loco Bloco Drum and Dance Ensemble. Leaflet For more info, more leaflets and posters, and a list of endorsers, see www.nionbayarea.net

October 19th, 2004: A dozen people gathered outside of a military recruitment facility in downtown Oakland this evening at 5pm. Photos Flyer
October 18th, 2004: A group of reservist soldiers from the fuel platoon of the 343rd Quartermaster Company refused to go on a delivery mission last Wednesday. The soldiers, from a unit north of Baghdad, told family members that they considered the convoy destined for Taji to be a "suicide mission", citing the poor condition of their vehicles and the absence of ground and air support to protect the convoy. The equipment concerns had to do with the fact that their tanker trucks had been filled with diesel fuel without being purged of jet fuel. Soldiers worried that the fuel was thus contaminated, and could endanger helicopter crews. Soldiers were also worried about equipment problems such as inadequate armor.
According to reports from last week, 17 of the 19 soliders are being "investigated" for resisting orders. Apparently the soldiers were worried about the safety of their equipment, and they mutineed rather than risk their lives. Refusal to obey orders in a combat zone is a serious military offense. However, the occupation has become a dangerous undertaking, with more than 1,000 US troops killed since the invasion. the wife of one of the soldiers told the Clarion Ledger newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi that the members of the 343rd were read their rights and moved from military barracks into tents. Several members of the group have since been reassigned into other units that have better equipment, while the other soldiers had heard rumors that the transferred soldiers would receive general discharges.

AFP Article | GI Fightback Traveling Soldier Online | Bohemian Mama Article | 10/18 Democracy Now Report

10/13/2004: BERKELEY – At a press conference organized today by the Middle East Children’s Alliance, Palestinian-Israeli surgeon Dr. Matani Hasan described the difficulties of providing medical services where otherwise denied. As a family doctor practicing at an outpatient clinic for Israeli Health Services, and as an active member of Physicians for Human Rights/Israel, he described his frustration in trying to cope with the deteriorating health care situation for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. “The problem is the unlimited [US] support for Israel, even though it continues to occupy territories, continues to destroy houses, continues to humiliate the Palestinian people, and continues to use the American weapons to kill Palestinian civilians. What is needed for Americans to know about this conflict is that there is an occupying force, and an occupied people … I’ve not saying people should not support Israel to build the health systems, universities and services for all people, but not to kill the Palestinians.”

Middle East Children's Alliance | Photos | Indybay's Palestine Page

10/5/2004: Rumors of a planned military draft for the year 2005 proved themselves to be a real threat today, as emails stating that the House of Representatives would vote on HR 163 without any discussion this evening began circulating this afternoon. The bill was, as expected, defeated. It would have required every U.S. citizen and every other person residing in the country between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, either as a member of the reserves or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. The bill was defeated by a vote of 402-2.

Observers believe that H.R. 163 will be defeated because Republicans will not want to be seen as voting for a draft just before the Presidential Election. The bill was introduced by progressive democrat Charles Rangel, and co-sponsored by several other progressive representatives. Statement from Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Candidates Bush and Kerry have said that they do not want to institute a new draft. Another bill to watch out for, this time in the Senate: S 89, which would require "that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes." It was referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Organizations such as the Friends Committee on National Legislation have been following this bill from the beginning. FCNL statement before the vote. Statement from Rock the Vote and Alliance for Security | Selective Service System Website | Libertarian Party's End the Selective Service Campaign | Draft Resistance.org | Snopes.com article about the draft | The Final Call article by Min. Louis Farrakhan

Statements from Indybay Readers: 1 | 2 Report from NYC Indymedia The Unofficial Draft More articles about countering the military's recruitment efforts, and about helping people to avoid military service, are further down on Indybay's Anti-War Page