Photos: Emergency Iraq Protest

ANSWER/WWP is a FAILURE!
The feeling of this march was dominated by the blundering obnoxious presence of ANSWER this ANSWER that ANSWER these and ANSWER those; money, tables, stickers, pre-printed signs, shirts, buttons, big stage, concert speakers, walkie-talkies, vests, security, personnel, 50 gallon drums to collect money( just kidding, they downsized to 2-gallon buckets for this march) trucks, barriers, humming generators, tents, backstage passes, vending, concessions, etc. ad nauseum. Is this the corporatization of our anti-war marches? I say 'our' because the marches belong to the people and should not be occupied by some sectarian group that behaves in an authoritarian way and tries to dominate every aspect of the march and take credit for everything. How about a little thought about who the target audiences are. The 1,000 people that marched(I wonder if ANSWER will try to claim 10,000 or something) seemed to me to already be in agreement with their particular interpretation of events and ideology. No surprise, then what is the purpose of the march? To preach to the choir, congratulate ourselves and please our egos and our friends with the radical outspoken-ness of our message? One young white ANSWER kid was wearing a palestinian scarf with a sign saying 'Avenge Yassin', holding it up to San Francisco shoppers, yeah all you SF shoppers avenge yassin dammit, as if one in ten even knows who Yassin is. Or should the message be something strategic and genuine and well thought out to communicate to those who come into contact with the march? Seems like common sense. What I saw was alot of 'cool people' like this couple, people that act all smug with long faces and a 'you're talking to me' like attitude. And then when anyone new gets involved thats how they learn how to act. Just try to greet one of their recruits who is dressed like a palestinian, ‘salaam alaikum’ and they look at me like I'm from Mars, well maybe they're jewish dressed like a palestinian, ‘mazeltof’, no response. Then I try a goofy hello, Oh, I need to give you money and take one of your signs, fliers, newspapers and t-shirts, Oh-kay. I guess its tribal, or commercial. It was like a big recruitment mixer for socialist-commie groups. There was a dominating presence of sectarian groups selling papers and leading the march with huge banners, oh yeah I forgot, the people on stage are sectarian paper venders(WWP) who empowered themselves off the public reaction to the war in Iraq. And they have propelled their sorry commie left asses all the way up on stage and on the front pages of their papers and the back pages of the corporate papers, and they SUCK! This shit is so far from progressive and pure lame-ass. A little research and voila... the quacks running the demo who call themselves ANSWER are the WORKERS WORLD PARTY(WWP) a wacky Stalinist group and the INTERNATIONAL ACTION CENTER(IAC) one of there many front groups to hide their ugly name. Wow all I can say is that these people really suck, and this is the grossest stuff that I have seen on the so-called left in all of my years. ANSWER is exposed on infoshop.org One other funny thing is the ‘celebrity’ speakers like Dennis Bernstein, is he a Stalinist too? I like Dennis but if these are his folks then I just don’t know. They taint whoever they come into contact with and people should think twice about signing on with these power hungry commies. Censure ANSWER/WWP/IAC and whatever front group they come up with next. CENSURE ANSWER for their failure of the anti-war movement. They should not be allowed to continue bullying and promoting themselves on the back of public anti-war sentiments.

Amen.

ANSWER certainly has its own agenda and their determination to push that agenda drives away many people who are opposed to the war. I was at the protest Saturday but I really didn't want to be there. Those people who were speaking and leading the protest certainly weren't speaking for me and I really don't like in any way being associated with their message.

I do appreciate them since they have provided me a forum in which to protest the war and the actions of our government.

I think ANSWER has 2 choises. It can either broader its focus and message which will draw people to the protests and help to end the war or it can insist on its narrow (pure???) focus and drive people away and prolong the war. From what I've seen of organizations like this in the past, I predict that it will insist on being true to its cause. If so, then I won't be there next time.

I'm sure ANSWER will be proud of being so pure.

It is legitimate to criticize ANSWER/WWP for their undemocratic methods, their rotten ambiguity on the issue of Stalin and their support for totalitarian countries like North Korea.

However, I appreciate their willingness to organize marches and galvanize the antiwar movement the same as I would if a liberal or pacifist group were organizing instead (and I am neither a liberal nor a pacifist.)

People who disagree with ANSWER should build up an organization/current/whatever of people who have a different method of organizing, different political agenda, whatever.

ANSWER rallies will continue to be dominated by ANSWER for the forseeable future. But they don't have a monopoly on the entire antiwar movement--anyone can organize protests, marches, teach-ins and workplace actions (if they can get enough support for their cause...)

The point I'm making: For all of our honest criticisms of ANSWER, we need to make sure we don't lose sight of the fact that we need to build an anti-war movement capable of ending the occupation--not just one that endlessly criticizes itself for its failure to be perfect.

One other thing to add: ANSWER controls the mic at the front of the rally and exercises a degree of authority in deciding who speaks and who doesn't.

I have not once seen ANSWER censor anybody's signs or contingents in the march.

If we don't like pre-printed signs or the message they convey, we should make our own and show up to make our presence felt.

Mainstream newspapers censor our ideas to a far greater extent than any left-wing group, no matter how sectarian, would ever be able to. And yet, we don't reject reading the SF Chronicle from time to time to glean the elite's perspective--we simply ensure we get a healthy dose of independent, alternative media alongside it.

Organize your own protest, or show up with your own politics at ANSWER's--but don't stay home. There will rarely if ever be a "perfect protest" where everyone sees eye to eye on every issue and our demands are immediately met.

I'll take an imperfect rally or action over inaction any day of the week.

The rambling anti-communist drivel by "Nate Redshank" has no place on this website nor in the peace movement. We love our peace rallies and we need to promote socialism everywhere. It is wonderful that our peace movement is now big enough that we have enough people at all demonstrations, including emergency demonstrations such as this 3,000 person emergency demonstration called in less than 1 week and a vacation week at that, to direct traffic, and do all the other tasks that make any demonstration possible. I am also thrilled with the fact that people are contributing enough money, thanks to the little buckets and the labor of the people circulating them, so that we not only have an excellent sound system and stage (an expensive feature that must be paid for and is very worthwhile) but also portable potties, very readable and colorful signs, banners, pins and stickers.

As to the socialist presence, it needs to be more obvious, not less, and all reds should carry large red banners, as is common in the rest of the world's peace marches. The reason for all these wars is the profit motive of capitalism and only a socialist society, made possible by a labor movement, can put an end to capitalism and its wars. As one comment stated, there is no censorship and that means all variety of socialists can and do appear at the peace rallies, with signs and literature. I look forward to buying all the socialist press as it is a good way to keep informed. That is also a good rule of thumb generally: Read everything you can get your hands on so that you can be as informed as possible. It is also a good way to maintain and build your language skills, which clearly "Nate Redshank" needs to do.

My only criticism is ANSWER allows some Democrats to speak. The Democratic Party is the twin capitalist war party of the Republicans. Mark Leno, who was allowed to speak is a local Democrat, a former county supervisor appointed by the fascist anti-tenant warmonger Willie Brown, who is now a California assemblyperson. He supported the Democrats' scapegoating of the homeless in the form of one of the Democrats' ballot initiatives. He is supported 100% by the top echelons of the Democratic Party, who are all staunch supporters of the war in Iraq, the fascist "Patriot" Act, the Homeland "Insecurity" legislation, and Israel. Some of the leading Democrats in this area have expressed some disagreement on tactics with Bush, but not on goals, namely promoting capitalism, which is to say war abroad and fascism at home. None disagree on their support of Israel, which is a US military base that exists to support capitalism. As far as I am concerned, the support of Israel is as good a litmus test as any, and Mark Leno is certainly a proud supporter of Israel.

I urge ANSWER to NEVER allow ANY DEMOCRAT to speak at our peace rallies.

I also urge ANSWER to have MORE SOCIALISTS of all organizations speak at our peace rallies.

In addition, I urge ANSWER to have more speakers describe the fact that 9/11 was a hoax, an inside job perpetrated by the CIA and the US military, a Reichstag Fire. We now have sufficient people who are informed as to how this event was staged both from a scientific/engineering prospective and from a political understanding and whose politics are progressive. The movement to expose the 9/11 hoax is growing by leaps and bounds and should be encouraged.

Father Louis Vitale is a shining example of a nonviolent soldier, who has consistently put his body on the line in civil disobedience actions, stood for rights, justice and struggle consistently, and been a leader in the Catholic church. A fine example of someone with a rational nonviolent stance, a strong stance for peace and justice that is a million times more effective and powerful than any hateful speech or radical rhetoric that is so chic. People really think that solidarity with Iraqis means rationalizing their violent, regressive and destructive actions. I say true solidarity would be for people to concentrate less on finding evidence for their radical theories and more time spent on trying to gain a clearer understanding of who Iraqis are before and despite western intervention. If these coalition groups had a clue then they would put forth Father Louis Vitale and hear his message and wisdom and make a commitment to nonviolence. It is truly laughable, not to mention dangerous, stupid and irresponsible to continually state 'violence is necessary', 'violence is okay', and 'by any means necessary' from a bunch of well fed middle-class people who aren't going to lift a finger and will never suffer the effects of protracted violence in the 'third world'. Spread Mahabba, Love not Hate, Violence Leads to a Police State, Nonviolence is Real Power.

Tell US Army Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, the chief spokesman for the Iraq invaders and deputy "operations" chief of the Falluja massacre your opinion, pro or con:

kimmitt.m [at] skynet.be

The truth shall prevail! Answer is only in it for the corporate dollar!!

The Recihstag Fire was started by a Dutch council communist, not the fascists. The only people who claim the Nazis started the fire are doctrinaire Stalinists. Even honest lefties admit as much...

I meant "Reichstag"

sorry about that...

typing too quick

;-)