500,000 in New York City Say No to Bush
New York, NY - More than a half million people gathered here Aug. 29 to reject Bush, his agenda and his war on Iraq. The marches passed the convention hall at Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention.
“This demonstration sent a message to the Bush administration and the rest of the world that the people of the U.S. do not support this war,” said Erika Zurawski of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee. Zurawski was one of the leaders of a bus full of Minnesotans who drove overnight to attend the demonstration. Rallying the crowd, she chanted on a bullhorn, “Who is a terrorist? Bush is a terrorist!”
The voices chanting along were from a broad spectrum of people, ranging from students and youth attending their first protest to experienced activists who have been in the struggle since the American war in Viet Nam. Despite attempts at intimidation by the FBI and efforts by New York authorities to stop the protests, the Aug. 29 demonstration showed that the anti-war movement in the U.S. is as strong and broad as ever.
Protesters came from all over the U.S. and many other countries to participate in this historic event. Among the issues raised were the Bush administration’s attack on labor unions and workers rights, cuts to welfare and education as well as women’s and queer rights. The predominant message of the day was the opposition to the war and the continuing U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Sarah Standefer, a member of Women Against Military Madness and a grandmother of four, observed, “The movement is growing exponentially. All of the smaller protests across the country are building up to these big ones.” Many protesters said that they were representing many others who could not be there. Some protesters had friends and family that were stationed in Iraq and were demanding that the troops be brought home immediately.
The energy of the crowd was electric. Paul Nadolski of Queer Force stated, “We’re angry and we’re not going away no matter who’s in power!” Nadowski spoke of using the energy and information from the protest to bring back home to his organizing efforts in voter registration. Other protesters spoke of being able to bring this protest back to their communities as an organizing tool. This protest was more than a one-time uprising response to the Bush administration. It is the product of years of organizing for a change in direction for the U.S.
This was not just an anti-war crowd. This was a crowd that wanted a regime change. John Sniadajowski, a student from Wisconsin, noted, “Both parties need to change.” It was a sentiment that was echoed throughout the day and throughout the week as protesters took to the streets all week long.
Protesters also made it clear that it was more than simply getting George W. Bush out of an office he never won in the first place. “The message to both parties was against this war,” said Mark Fangmeier of St. Paul, Minnesota. “The majority of Americans are against this war, and the majority of the world is against this war and it’s about time that you listened to us.”
This protest - and the ensuing week of actions, each with thousands attending - is all a part of this growing movement that did not stop with the historic international anti-war protests of Feb. 15. These protests are part of a growing sentiment that Americans will no longer accept the status quo. They will not simply ask for a change; they are taking to the streets to demand this change.
Brad Sigal, treasurer of AFSCME Local 3800 said, “The dominant message was against the war, but the overwhelming message was a hopeful message that politicians cannot do whatever they want without accountability.”
Among the marchers were supporters of this newspaper, who distributed thousands of copies of Fight Back! In a separate leaflet, they also distributed thousands copies of an editorial on the elections written by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization that appeared in Fight Back!. The editorial stated, “The November 2004 elections are a referendum on Bush and everything he stands for. Kicking Bush out of office will send a powerful message to the rich who rule this country and to the people around the world who are resisting ‘empire.’ By building a movement against Bush - a movement that stands for peace, justice and equality - we will be in a better position to fight for the things we need, no matter who takes office in January 2005.
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