BY ANDY BUCHANAN, CANDACE WAGNER, AND MARGRETHE SIEM
BOSTON - Some 350 people took part in a picket and march against U.S. war moves against Iraq February 11. Called by the newly formed Boston Emergency Committee Against War With Iraq, the lead banner of the march proclaimed, "No U.S. War on Iraq" and "End the Economic Sanctions," in English and Spanish. The march wound round Boston Common to the Arlington Street Church for a rally, followed by an organizing meeting to plan another demonstration and a teach-in against the war moves to take place at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Saturday February 21.

Two students at Newton North High School just outside Boston, heard about the protest at an organizing meeting for the upcoming Young Feminist Summit organized by the National Organization for Women. One of them reported that she had copied the leaflet and posted it around school, which "even got the teachers discussing this."

Andy Buchanan is a member of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees Local 311. Margrethe Siem is a member of United Transportation Union.

PHILADELPHIA - Students and others gathered outside the University of Pennsylvania at noon and again at 5:00 p.m. February 5 to protest the threatened bombing of Iraq and the continuing sanctions. Altogether about 50 people participated in the actions, including members of the Muslim and Arab student clubs, an Irish activist, and activists in a number of other organizations. One sign read "Iraq: People Live There."

Linda Mamoun, president of the Lebanese Club initiated the protests. She was one of 40 people picketing the Philadelphia federal building in a similar protest January 30. The federal building picket, organized five days before, was sponsored by 11 groups and individuals. Brenda Hanson and Shirley Smith work near the federal building. "I had no idea this protest was going on," Hanson exclaimed. "The U.S. should stay out of there. They send young men to die in war, before they've even had a chance to live."

After the picket 20 people attended a Militant Labor Forum at the Pathfinder Bookstore. Jason Coughlin spoke representing the Socialist Workers Party. "I was a GI during the Gulf War," he explained. "I questioned the war, had discussions with other GIs. I wasn't unique. We need to reach out to GIs about the current U.S. war moves."

LOS ANGELES - More than 80 people rallied in front of the Westwood Federal Building February 4 in response to a call for a picket line by the Save the Iraqi Children Coalition. Only one passerby vocally disagreed, yelling "bomb 'em" as he drove by the picket. Most who expressed an opinion gave a thumbs up with a few honks of support. A few Muslim students from the nearby UCLA campus stopped by and joined the protest. Demonstrators expressed differing opinions on the right of Iraq to possess "weapons of mass destruction."

"Its not fair to kill people because we don't agree with their government," said Brenda Martínez. "There must be some other alternative than bombing."

"It's a big smoke screen to confront Iraq," commented Suzanne Gather, who was born in Iraq. Washington "has chemical weapons, so why can't they?"

David Creed is a member of United Transportation Union Local 1544. Nestor Bazua, a member of the same local, contributed to this article.

DETROIT - More than 600 people, the vast majority Iraqi or Iraqi-American, attended a prayer vigil February 5 at the Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield, Michigan. Church leaders and officials of the Chaldean Federation of America, which opposes the U.S. threats against Iraq, addressed the crowd. Chaldeans represent about 5 percent of the population of Iraq. About 80,000 Chaldeans live in the metro- Detroit area. The next evening two representatives of the Chaldean community joined a speakout at the Detroit Militant Labor Forum titled "Oppose U.S. War Moves against Iraq." On February 7 about 125 people in Ann Arbor, Michigan, marched against the U.S. war moves.

Gary Boyers is a member of United Steelworkers of America Local 1299.  
 
 
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