BY
ALISON DELLIT
“I’m not ashamed of my beliefs, nor of my role in organising students
to protest against the war on Iraq. It’s those who support the slaughter
of Iraqi people who should be ashamed”, Kylie Moon told Green Left Weekly.
Moon is one of the key activists in Books Not Bombs, the group that
organised the March 26 national student strike against the war, and she
is also the national co-ordinator of the socialist youth organisation Resistance.
Since the police attacked the March 26 BNB protest, Resistance and Books
Not Bombs have come under fire from NSW Premier Bob Carr and the corporate
media.
Carr started the socialist witch-hunt on March 27, arguing that “Marxists”
were responsible for “provoking violence” at the protest in order to “recruit
youngsters”. Over the next few days, BNB representatives were kept busy
refuting these claims on many radio stations, including ABC stations, MMM,
2GB, 2UE, 3AK and 3AR.
While the Daily Telegraph concentrated its fire on raising racist
hysteria, it still managed to find some time to condemn “socialist extremists”
on March 27. On March 29, the paper followed up with a half-page attack
on Resistance, written by Michael Duffy, which it wrongly claimed organised
the protest.
Another deceitful article was printed on the front page of the Australian
on March 28, written by Patricia Karvales. Karvales accused Books Not Bombs
of “targeting” Middle-Eastern students, although Moon told her clearly
that that was untrue. Karvales also implied BNB was a Resistance “front”.
“Books Not Bombs gives young people the space to organise against the
war”, Moon told GLW. “It’s a group run by young people, to organise
young people. We help each other set up groups on our schools and campuses.
We’ve organised two of the most energetic, vibrant and loud national days
of protest against the war yet.
Moon argued that the attacks on socialists were just a “clumsy” way
to break up the united anti-war movement.
“Resistance members, like some members of the Greens, are part of BNB,
but most members of BNB are not members of any political organisation —
Books Not Bombs is a broad group”, Moon explained. “I’m proud that Resistance
helped initiate BNB, but they are not the same organisation.”
“Resistance doesn’t just want to stop this war, we want to stop all
wars. Our slogan is `regime change begins at home‘: we want a system where
there is real democracy and people's lives are put first. We’re very up-front
about our politics, we welcome all young people who want to join our movement
for human liberation.”
Some radio hosts have attacked Moon because of her long history of campaigning
for social justice. “I’m committed to fighting all forms of injustice,
and encouraging all young people to do so as well. What’s wrong with that?”,
Moon replied.
From Green Left Weekly, April 2, 2003.
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