Feb 1, 2003

George W. Bush attempted to win backing for his agenda of tax cuts for the rich and war on Iraq in his Jan. 28 State of the Union Speech. But mayors, governors, members of Congress and leaders of mass organizations sharply rejected his policies.

Faced with growing international skepticism, George W. Bush used much of his State of the Union Address in an attempt to build support for his drive to war with Iraq.

CHICAGO – “Everywhere you go someone is starting a new anti-war movement,” reported retired teacher and Philadelphia Communist Party (CPUSA) leader Debbie Bell about the upsurge of the labor movement in her hometown.

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – 100,000 representatives of the world’s peoples came together in the World Social Forum here to say in one thunderous voice: No to war, no to global capitalist military and economic domination! Another world is possible!

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut continues to reel from layoffs, as 600 Pratt & Whitney (P&W) workers join the ranks of 2,800 state workers who received pink slips in the last week.

In its criticism of the Bush administration, Human Rights Watch warns, “Leadership [in the field of human rights] requires more than a big stick and a thick wallet.

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, representing 360 unions and more than 800,000 members, unanimously passed a resolution against the Bush administration’s drive for war against Iraq, Jan. 27.

CLEVELAND: 50th city against war / JERSEY CITY, NJ: Council votes against Iraq war / PITTSBURGH: Freezin’ for peace / SANTA BARBARA, Calif.: Nobel scientists say peace, not war / UNIONTOWN, Pa.: Neighbors demand justice / CAMERON, W.Va.: Mine blast kills three workers / WASHINGTON, D.C.: Over the road drivers take strike vote

The name of Frank Lumpkin is not new to many of our readers. And recently his name has been added to the list of HistoryMakers.

WASHINGTON – Voices in the Wilderness (VITW), which has delivered medicine, toys and other humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people in defiance of U.S. sanctions imposed in 1991, announced Jan. 21 that they will not pay $50,000 in fines imposed by the Treasury Department and will stand beside Iraqis against a U.S. war.