BY MALIK MIAH
SAN FRANCISCO — Some 5000-7000 people rallied here on September 29 to protest the US war drive in response to the September 11 terror attack that levelled the World Trade Center in New York City and badly damaged the Pentagon.
Demonstrators expressed great pain for the loss of lives caused by the tragic events but also warned against taking revenge on civilians in other countries. Pakistani writer Zulfikhar Ahmad told the rally: "I am very afraid that there is a very big tragedy in the making and it will be the biggest dishonour to the memory of 6000 innocent people who have died."
The rally and speakers included a multi-generational mix of the Bay Area. There were high school and college students, children, airline workers, immigrants, service workers and artists and musicians. There were immigrants from the Middle East, Latin America and Europe.
Some demonstrators had marched against the Vietnam War. Others rallied against the Persian Gulf War. Many became active against globalisation after the Seattle protests. For others this was their first peace rally.
Groups protesting the annual meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund initiated the rallies. After the meetings were called off after the September 11 attacks, many liberal groups pulled out.
With polls supporting Bush's war drive running over 90% and conservatives and liberals attempting to stifle all criticism of the government under the slogan of "national unity" being waged by supporters of revenge, the size of the rallies and lack of counter-demonstrations was significant.
I heard only one loud supporter of the Bush war campaign shout at the marches as we went through the Mission District to show solidarity with Arab store owners who have faced harassment and violence. One of the demands of the protests was to defend the civil rights of Arab, Muslim and South Asian communities.
A teach-in is planned for October 13 and another rally on October 20.