Photos by David Bacon
Special to AsianWeek
Thousands of demonstrators from California and across the West gathered in San Francisco Saturday for a rally and march to protest a potential war against Iraq.
Demonstrators filled a mile-long stretch of city blocks as they marched from the financial district to City Hall holding signs that said, “Money for jobs, not for war” and “No blood for oil.”
The demonstration was part of an international campaign of anti-war actions being held in Washington, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Mexico City and Rome. At one point, the crowd here numbered 42,000, a San Francisco Police Department spokesman said.
Middle-aged couples pushing baby strollers mixed with aging hippies, retirees and young punk rockers sporting mohawks. They waved cardboard peace signs and chanted, “One, two, three, four, we don’t want your racist war.”
“I’m out here because I think this whole idea of bombing Iraq is atrocious,” said Hilary Hann, a 43-year-old social worker from San Francisco. “Everybody should be out here doing what I’m doing because it’s the only way we’re going to have any voice.”
Several people drove for hours to attend the anti-war demonstration, which organizers said was among the largest ever on the West Coast.
“I’m here to help prevent the war, but I don’t think Bush is going to do it anyway,” said Fat Mike, of the punk rock band NOFX.
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, the lone member of Congress to vote against military action in Afghanistan, told those gathered next to City Hall that they were “true American patriots.”
“Keep the heat on!” she said.
One of the event’s organizers criticized the Bush administration’s plan, including the possibility of a “regime change,” saying it was designed to take control of Iraq’s oil away from the Iraqi people. The result would be more terrorism and war to maintain power in American hands, activist John Parker said.
Iraq wasn’t the only thing on people’s minds. People carried signs for causes ranging from environmental issues to the liberation of Palestine.
Scott Valentino, of Fairfax, who lost his brother in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, said he was participating because revenge is not an answer to terrorism.
“What I see is blame, retaliation, vengeance and war, and it doesn’t help,” Valentino said. “It doesn’t do anything except cause more bloodshed and endanger more Americans.”
— Angela Watercutter,
The Associated Press
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