2 people Arrested at 9/14 anti-war demo

International A.N.S.W.E.R. ACT NOW TO STOP WAR & END RACISM
2489 Mission St., Rm. 24, San Francisco, CA 94110 o Phone: 415-821-
6545 o Fax: 415-821-5782
Email: answer [at] actionsfbay.org o Web:
http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
Sept. 14, 2002

THOUSANDS PROTEST NEW WAR AGAINST IRAQ IN SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES,
OAKLAND & OTHER CITIES

DEMAND "STOP THE WAR BEFORE IT STARTS" &
CALL FOR NATIONAL MARCHES IN WASHINGTON
AND SAN FRANCISCO ON OCT. 26 AS PART OF
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MASS ACTION

Thousands of people marched and rallied in San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Oakland and Fresno on Saturday, Sept. 14, to demand "Stop
the War Before It Starts." The demonstrations in S.F. and L.A. were
called on short notice due to the deepening Iraq war crisis.

In San Francisco, a march from UN Plaza to Jefferson Square Park grew
to 3,000 people. Demonstrators chanted "No new war against Iraq – end
the sanctions now," and "Who's gonna stop the war? We're gonna stop
the war" as they marched up Market St, receiving wide support from
people along the way.

A strong emphasis at the opening and closing rallies was on the
upcoming International Day of Mass Action, October 26, when mass
marches will take place in Washington DC and San Francisco as part of
a worldwide day of protest.

Strong support was expressed for the International Longshore and
Warehouse Union in their contract struggle. The Bush administration
has threatened to intervene militarily if there is a strike by the
ILWU.

At the opening rally, police arrested two protestors, Jackie Santos
and Zulma Oliveras, from the Comite '98, after an incident involving
a counter-demonstrator carrying a sign saying "Bomb Bagdad (sic)."
Zulma is being held on an outrageous bail of $40,000 on the equally
outrageous charge of 2nd degree robbery. Witnesses to the incident
are requested to contact the Int'l. ANSWER Coalition office.

Among the speakers at the Sept. 14 San Francisco rallies were:
Clarence Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer, Int'l. Longshore & Warehouse
Union, Lo. 10;Nancy Mitchell, Int'l. ANSWER-Act Now to Stop War & End
Racism Coalition; Rula Khalafawi, American Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee, SF; Rev. Dorsey Blake, Church for the Fellowship of All
Peoples; Barbara Lubin, Middle East Children's Alliance; Nazila
Bargshady, Bay Area Iranians for Peace & Justice; Tommi Avicolli
Meoli, Harvey Milk Lesbian/Gay/Bi /Trans Democratic Club; Walter
Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer, San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO);
Riva Enteen National Lawyers Guild; Ramiz Rafeedie, American Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee; Richard Becker, International Action
Center; Henry Clark, West County Toxics Coalition; Richard Mead,
President, ILWU Lo. 10; Margo Okazawa-Rey, East Asia-U.S.-Puerto Rico
Women's Network Against Militarism; Judy Greenspan, California Prison
Focus; Mario Santos, BAYAN – People's Movement of the Philippines,
and others.

For more information, call Int'l. ANSWER Coalition, 415-821-6545