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Anti-war March on US Republican Convention
an article by Leslie Cagan
National Coordinator of United for Peace and Justice
Yesterday, on a hot and humid day in St. Paul, Minnesota,
upwards of 40,000 people marched to the front door of the Republican
National Convention to say 'US Out of Iraq Now', 'Money for Human
Needs, Not War'; 'No to the Republican Agenda'; 'Yes to Peace, Justice,
and Equality'.
photo from INDYSTAR
click on image to enlarge
Like most major marches, no one knew for certain how many people
would turn out for the March on the RNC. The media coverage of the long
struggle with local officials for permit rights had, in the end, helped
organizers get the word out throughout the Twin Cities area for the
march. Groups all around the upper Midwest organized buses, vans, and
carpools to bring people into town. It was clear that this was an
opportunity not to be missed. As the Republican Party was beginning its
four-day gathering to nominate John McCain as their presidential
candidate, we would be on the streets to raise a clear strong voice
addressing the war and a range of other issues.
The demonstration began with a two-hour rally that felt even
longer. It was hot as the sun beamed down. The weak sound system
prevented lots of people from hearing the speakers on the stage, one of
which was UFPJ's Co-Chair George Martin. Yet, everyone was patient,
knowing that it was important to give people time to gather before
heading out for the march.
A little after 1:00 PM, the march kicked off and was led by a
contingent of veterans and military families - some of the people most
impacted by the war in Iraq. I watched the march go by, and what a
sight that was! People from many walks of life, some young, some old,
some from close-by in St. Paul and Minneapolis, some from faraway
places - all of them gathered for the march. Contingents of immigrants,
labor, poor people, young people, doctors, religious, and faith-based
groups and much more took part in the march, carrying tons of great
homemade signs and banners. Literally, tens of thousands of people
united in their call to end the war now!
It was a powerful statement of the deep opposition to the war
in Iraq that exists in every corner of this country. It was a clear
call for an end to the threats of war with Iran. You couldn't miss the
demand to turn our nation's priorities around and start meeting the
needs of our communities and stop feeding the machinery of war with our
tax dollars.
(click here for continuation of article)
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The
march took a route that went in front of the Excel Center, the site of
the RNC - though, once in that area, marchers had to walk in an area
with huge fencing on both sides of them. While there was hardly any
police presence at the rally site or with the march itself, there was a
massive police operation in the downtown area, especially near the
Convention Center. The march route turned around at this point and
returned to the starting location on the lawn of the State Capitol. All
but a few hundred people left the downtown area, exhausted and hot but
glad to have been a part of this important mass mobilization against
the war.
Some people stayed downtown; and before too long, there
were confrontations with the police. I was not in attendance downtown
during the melee, and I'm not able to report back firsthand, but from
the information that I have received and heard, it is clear that the
police overreacted and used excessive force, using pepper spray,
hitting people with batons, pushing people back with horses, and much
more. Regardless of how we feel about the activities of the some of the
people in downtown St.. . ...more.
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