United in Struggle!
Proletariër - 15.09.2002 19:42
14 September 2002: Thousand anti-war demonstrators at the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco gather to protest the impending war with Iraq.
VS - San Fransisco, 14 september 2002.
VS - San Fransisco, 14 september 2002.
1,000 march against Iraq invasion plan.
SAN FRANCISCO, 14 september 2002 - Hundreds of anti-war protesters marched down Market Street in downtown San Francisco on Saturday to denounce the Bush administration's call for war against Iraq.
The largely peaceful event drew about 1,000 people. Two demonstrators and a bystander were cited for misdemeanor battery after a dustup at U.N. Plaza.
The demonstrators listened to several speakers condemn plans for attacking Iraq. Hillary Lehr, a UC Berkeley student. was among them, participating in her first protest.
"Politically, it's not a good idea to go to war with Iraq," Lehr, 18, said. "It will only incite revenge attacks."
Jennifer Kelley, a student at Sonoma State University, agreed.
"It's really wrong that we're even considering attacking Iraq," she said. "The Iraqis have made no offensive move. It just seems like (Bush) wants to finish his father's war."
At the San Francisco rally, participants held signs saying, "Stop the War In Iraq" and "Stop Bush's War At Home and Abroad."
In Los Angeles, about 300 people marched and chanted "George Bush, what do you say? Change regimes in the USA." at a federal building near the UCLA campus.
Betty Ortez, an 80-year-old retired member of the Raging Grannies, said going to war with Iraq is not the best path.
"I think we need to speak out loud and clear that this is not the answer," Ortez said.
"We believe that this war can be stopped if the people intervene in the political process," said Richard Becker of the International Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition.
"This is the beginning of a campaign to stop a new war against Iraq," said Becker.
Becker said Saturday's rally, which traveled throughout the city's civic center, is the first of a campaign of anti-war demonstrations, including one slated for Oct. 26 in San Francisco and Washington D.C.
In attendance were groups including the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism.
Two people were arrested at the rally following a confrontation between protesters and a heckler, Lt. Larry Minasian said.
(San Fransciso Chronicle) (with additional material by AP)
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United in Struggle!
14 september 2002:
 http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2002/09/6354.shtml
13 september 2002:
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2002/09/6327.shtml
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