Antiwar Movement Makes
New Links
Peace, Global Justice
and Immigrant Rights
by Andrea Buffa
Since the U.S. attack on Iraq, a new pattern has been taking shape in
the antiwar movement. Peace activists have been linking their work against
the occupation of Iraq to other issues, especially nuclear disarmament,
globalization and immigrant rights.
In September antiwar activists from United for Peace and Justice and
others joined with farmers, workers and activists from around the world
in Cancún, Mexico, to protest the WTO agenda of expanded corporate
globalization.
They believe globalization erodes human rights, workers' rights, environmental
protections and democracy in the interest of corporate control. They also
organized more than 60 "solidarity" demonstrations throughout
the United States that linked the issues of corporate globalization and
war.
"The Sept. 11 anniversary fell on the same week as the WTO meeting
in Cancún so we educated people about the intersection of war and
corporate globalization. Both wreak violence upon innocent people's lives--whether
that violence is physical or economic," said Kelly Campbell of September
11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and United for Peace and Justice.
Antiwar activists also plan to turn out in full force to protest against
the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) during an important meeting
of trade ministers in Miami on Nov. 20 and 21. (See www.stopftaa.org)
"Many Latin American social movements have prioritized stopping the
FTAA as their number one goal. They understand that militarism is the
way that elites enforce unjust economic exploitation--now it is up to
us in the U.S. to do the same," said Deborah James of Global Exchange.
BUSH'S WAR TARGETS IMMIGRANTS
This September peace activists also joined the movement for immigrant
rights. Several peace groups supported and participated in the Immigrant
Workers Freedom Ride that was organized by labor and immigrant rights
groups and culminated in New York City on Oct. 4. (See article here)
"The fight for immigrant rights is a part of the struggle for peace,"
said Arnoldo García of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee
Rights.
"Immigrants have been some of the primary targets of Bush's domestic
'war on terrorism' through round-ups, detentions and deportations. And
Washington is offering fast-track citizenship to Latino non-citizens in
order to encourage them to join the U.S. military."
Although they have broadened their work to include issues like global
justice and immigrant rights, most peace groups continue to focus on the
occupation of Iraq.
On Sept. 27 and 28, U.S. antiwar groups joined with antiwar movements
throughout the world in protest of the occupation. The largest action
took place in London, where 40,000 participated. On Oct. 10 United for
Peace and Justice plans a massive call-in day to Congress to oppose the
Bush administration's request for another $87 billion for the Iraq war
and occupation.
And on Oct. 25, a mass march on Washington opposing the occupation of
Iraq is being co-organized by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism and United
for Peace and Justice. Both groups have a track record of organizing very
large antiwar protests and hope the Oct. 25 march will show just how much
the opposition is growing to the Bush administration policies of pre-emptive
war and occupation.
In the spirit of linking the issues, the Oct. 25 protest will also feature
speeches on issues like the Patriot Act and the vast cuts to education
and social service programs that are affecting communities throughout
the country. See www.internationalanswer.org
and www.unitedforpeace.org.
Andrea Buffa works with Global Exchange and United for Peace
and Justice.
|
