Mar 15, 2003

Growing opposition to a U.S. war against Iraq was clearly in evidence on March 10 when MoveOn.org, Win Without War, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Artists United to Win Without War delivered petitions bearing more than a million names from 200 countries to the United Nations Security Council. According to MoveOn.org, the signatures were gathered in only five days.

Commentary


We are at a rare moment in human history. Politics has become the overriding passion of hundreds of millions and the halls of political power have been transformed into sites where vast political and social forces collide in a battle over the future. As an activist in the trade union movement said to me only a few days ago, “The world has become politicized.”

When the Crossgates Mall tangled with freedom of speech, it got more than it bargained for.

The mall ordered Stephen Downs, 60, a local lawyer, to take off a T-shirt bearing the slogans “Peace on Earth,” and “Give Peace a Chance” or leave the mall, near Albany, N.Y., Mar. 3. When he refused, they called in the police and had him arrested for trespassing.

WASHINGTON – Humanitarian groups warn of “catastrophic” civilian casualties if George W. Bush forges ahead with his “Shock and Awe” attack on Iraq in which cities will be struck with 3,000 missiles in the first 48 hours of war.

NEW HAVEN – Nearly 5,000 workers are back on the job and negotiations have resumed at Yale University after a history-making five-day strike.

WASHINGTON – Warning that George W. Bush’s war could kill, maim, or starve millions of Iraqi women and children and squander funds needed here at home, 10,000 women, many with their families, marched on the White House, March 8, chanting “Money for the homeless, not for war.”

LOS ANGELES – Former Speaker of the State Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa made history on March 4 when he won an East Los Angeles seat in the 14th council district of the nation’s second largest city.

DENTON, Tex.: Books not bombs / LARAMIE, Wyo.: ‘Stop mad cowboy disease’ / EAST LOS ANGELES: Guerra no, paz si / PORTLAND, Maine: Support the troops, bring ‘em home / COLUMBIA, Missouri: GOP official resigns / SELMA, Ala.: Civil rights jubilee / PITTSBURGH: Steelworkers demand health care

CHICAGO – Rev. Jesse Jackson called March 8 “Peace Day” at his weekly rally and television broadcast at the Rainbow Coalition/Operation PUSH national headquarters.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Victor Hidalgo is a man on a mission. Even though the outspoken father of four was fired from his job as an unloader at a Cintas industrial laundry facility in Connecticut, he still goes to his plant nearly every day, to bring fliers to his co-workers and to keep the organizing drive going.