Taking Protest to the Streets

Veterans and military families will lead the March 20, Washington, DC demonstration against war as more organizations and individuals connect the dots of racism, poverty and war.

http://www.veteranstoday.com/

Veterans and military families speak out

Veterans and military families are joining with tens of thousands of others who will be marching on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 20. 

If you are a veteran, active-duty service member or a member of a military family and would like to join the veterans, active-duty service members and military families contingent, click here.

[...]  We must continue the struggle. We must be louder than ever, as you will hear many tell us to shut up and go away. Don’t tell the public the truth that there has been no change … that we should not challenge the leaders of our country because they are now labeled Democrats rather than Republicans. As we have fewer voices, we must be louder now than ever before.

Read the entire release here:  http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/01/16/veterans-and-military-families-speak-out/

The group ANSWER is coordinating the demonstration:

All out for the March 20th March on Washington!

People from all over the country are organizing to converge on Washington, D.C., to demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan and Iraq.
On Saturday, March 20, 2010, there will be a massive National March & Rally in D.C. A day of action and outreach in Washington, D.C., will take place on Friday, March 19, preceding the Saturday march.
There will be coinciding mass marches on March 20 in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The national actions are initiated by a large number of organizations and prominent individuals. To see a list of the initiators, click this link. 
We will march together to say “No Colonial-type Wars and Occupations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Haiti!" We will march together to say "No War Against Iran!” We will march together to say “No War for Empire Anywhere!”
Instead of war, we will demand funds so that every person can have a job, free and universal health care, decent schools, and affordable housing.

http://answer.pephost.org/site/PageServer?pagename=m20_homepage

Prejudice: What is it good for?

I love those moments in all the Rush Hour films when Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker burst into "War:  What is it good for?  Absolutely NOTHING!"   The same can be said for prejudice.  Recent events in the Sunshine State of Florida have brought home the message that the ugly, smelly, nasty underbelly of white power and/or free-flowing racism is alive and well in Fort Lauderdale.  It's had a long nap and now is flexing its muscles, savoring a romp in the park or Fort, as it were.   Like this kind of crap:

"We have to see these billboards flourish in 2010 and leading up to the 2012 election when Obama will seek re-election," said Farah. "If he can't answer that simple question by then, he's toast. Help me make it so Obama can't go anywhere in the United States without seeing this sign."  Since Jesus was an immigrant, I guess these are Christian values in action!

Last Saturday there was demonstration requesting amnesty for aliens which turned into a street fight between ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and ALIPAC (Tea Parties Against Amnesty.  Actually, it's Americans for Legal Immigration PAC).

A video posted by ALIPAC  was so bizarre with it's pop-up comments that I felt compelled to deconstruct it, lest someone less compulsive than I sit through it and be misled and deluded.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekW3HmlnYS4

It's easier to watch if you turn off the sound and keep your finger on the pause button.  Ignore the pop ups, (very strategically placed) because reading them will obscure what your eyes see.

Shot from the perspective of someone across the street (let's call this person "Deep Wad"), we see a group of demonstrators organized around a corner while a man (call him "Jacko") stands in the street shooting a video directly into the face of an ANSWER demonstrator (good morning!).  Words are seemingly exchanged and Jacko walks behind, then into the middle of the group.  The ANSWER group turns to Jacko as a man in a black shirt (so ironic we could call him "Benito") leaps into the action (#8) with another video camera hoisted, already "shooting."  Benito joins Jacko as side-by-side they continue to endure (heroically or arrogantly?) more verbal confrontration from the ANSWER demonstrators who clearly had claimed that corner to express their First Amendment right.

Only now notice there's a guy in a brown hat ("Goose") to the far left (# 12) who ALSO has a video camera and has been taping (from yet a different perspective) Jack and Benito's great adventure of provoking a riot at a peaceful demonstration.

Things happen quickly now. As Jacko seem to leave by walking behind and past Goose, a black van cuts across Deep Wad's angle.  Although Goose is nearly obscured by a HUGE cartoony balloon directing us elsewhere, we can see Goose is clearly making gestures towards Jacko or Deep Wad, or maybe both. Goose turns towards Deep Wad and from here to #34 we can watch Goose cross the street and past Deep Wad's camera.  Goose avoids a direct look but smiles into said camera while using his brown hat to shield his face as he gets closer to Deep Wad.  Mission accomplis[h]ed?

Except provoking a riot is a felony, or so I thought based upon all the Black Panthers and Yippies and pacifists and progressives who've been busted for less.  And in the case of the Panthers, outright hounded and murdered.

I don't get paid to do this and need some sleep but I hope someone will use what I've noticed, continue the deconstruction and get it to the right places.


Back in the day there were plenty of slug fests started by hardhats and Nazis and yes, cops out of uniform against anti-war protestors, only this time THEY GOT THE SHIT BEAT OUT OF THEM!!!

What a surprise!

Here is ANSWER's response, appropriately titled:
Racism, Lies and Videotape
A statement from ANSWER Florida
Nov. 17, 2009
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2/1667236835?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=9225&news_iv_ctrl=1621

At least the majority of American people understand the stupidity of the birthers, Birchers, Tea Baggers and repuglicans.  There will be scuffling in the streets but we will continue to love and live as free Americans, despite their hatred.

The Peoples' Peace Plan, March 15, 2008

Demonstration and Nonviolent Civil Disobedience

March 2008 -- Washington, DC
Iraq Occupation 5th Anniversary

http://www.year5.org/
Join us on Saturday, March 15th for a massive demonstration in Washington, D.C., at which we will exercise our rights to assemble and speak on behalf of the majority of Americans, the majority of Iraqis, the majority of U.S. troops, and the majority of people around the world who all say: U.S. Out of Iraq! This gathering will support the Iraq Veterans Against The War Winter Soldier Testimonial.
Organizations participating are listed below (Initial list)

In Solidarity for Peace and Justice,
> Gold Star Families for Peace > Camp Casey Peace Institute > ANSWER Coalition > CODEPINK Women For Peace > AfterDowningStreet.org > Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation > Common Ground Collective New Orleans > Hip Hop Caucus > World Can’t Wait – Drive Out The Bush Regime! > ImpeachBush.org > Cindy Sheehan and Cindy for Congress > National Council of Arab Americans > Grassroots America > Democracy Rising > Voters for Peace

SIGN ON & SUPPORT THIS CALL: http://www.year5.org/