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Surging Movement Faces New ChallengesThe antiwar movement is growing by leaps and bounds. But the Republican victory in the November election shows that this movement faces tremendous challenges if it is to stop or limit President Bush's war drive. In the past three months, says Kevin Martin of Peace Action, antiwar sentiment has broadened from a base primarily among political activists to one that includes important parts of the political and social mainstream. Even many Republicans are suspicious of or in downright opposition to a major U.S. attack on Iraq.
A Pew Research Center poll released Oct. 31 found that support for a massive attack on Iraq has dropped from 64 percent in mid-September to 55 percent. Support for war plummeted to only 27 percent if the U.S. acts unilaterally, down from 34 percent in September. The antiwar movement showed new strength in September when it inundated Congress with calls and faxes in opposition to the congressional bill in support of war against Iraq. After Sept. 11 only Rep. Barbara Lee opposed the president's war resolution. This time 156 voted no to war. Hundreds of thousands participated in October antiwar demonstrations throughout the country. Washington, D.C. and San Francisco hosted the largest events. But cities like Honolulu, Atlanta and Minneapolis also staged peace actions that rivaled those at the height of the Vietnam War. NEW PEACE FORCESNumerous organizations like the National Council of Churches, Rainbow/PUSH, the NAACP, the Progressive National Baptists, and the National Organization for Women are taking important peace initiatives. The National Student Coalition for Peace and Justice is growing rapidly. The Washington State Federation of Labor and the Roman Catholic bishops in the U.S. also recently came out against war on Iraq. The Chicano Moratorium, formed in opposition to the Vietnam War, is being revitalized and is spearheading a new antiwar effort in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Dozens of celebrities have signed peace statements.
Even the election had some bright spots. As author Roger Burbach pointed out, "The few Democrats who did take courageous stands on principles numbered among the few resounding Democratic winners in the Nov. 5 elections. Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington state, along with two other Congressmen, went to Iraq in late September and declared that 'U.S. war is not a solution.' Republicans tried to tar him as 'Baghdad Jim'...But McDermott won reelection with 75 percent of the vote." Antiwar Congresspersons Dennis Kucinich and Barbara Lee were reelected by 74 percent and 90 percent of their respective votes. Before his untimely death, Sen. Paul Wellstone surged ahead of his opponent after he voted for the congressional antiwar resolution. Still, the elections showed that the peace movement still has a long way to go if it is to affect policy in this country. Hany Khalil of Racial Justice 9/11 says, "The movement needs to be much more skillful at linking different social issues with the war. While focusing on fighting to end the war in Iraq, the movement must also speak to the millions of people directly affected by Bush's 'war at home:' by issues of race, civil liberties, immigration and economic downturn."
Organizers say unity is also a key problem. There is great unity in the peace movement in medium sized and smaller cities, but the antiwar movement is still often divided in the large cities and at the national level. Although the Oct. 26 antiwar demonstration in Washington, D.C. was quite powerful, it was also limited because many of the largest antiwar groups did not endorse or fully mobilize for it. "We don't all need to be part of one big coalition or share the same strategy," says Khalil, "but we must all unite at key junctures like this one in order to maximize our impact and growth." Bob Wing is managing editor of War Times. |
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