Photo Aurelio Cisneros
A nationwide protest organized by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER Coalition) was held on Saturday Sept. 7 at Justin Herman Plaza (which protesters are calling Chelsea Manning Plaza) in San Francisco to rally against the looming military strike by the United States against Syria.
Thousands of people in cities across the country marched in opposition of Obama’s proposed military strike against Syria’s citizens.
“This is the first time we’re seeing recently that public pressure is causing these war mongers to actually pause, and to remember Iraq and Afghanistan, and ask do we really need another war?” said Frank Lara of Answer Coalition San Francisco.
The perfect indian-summer day brought activists, students, teachers, and other supporters to “Say No! To The War On Syria,” as one fluorescent sign demanded.
At about 1 p.m., the group of 600 marched down Market Street to United Nations Plaza at Civic Center, occupying the entire right side while stopping traffic for over three blocks, as police on foot escorted protestors, with a paddywagon following.
Among the marchers was the Ali family from Los Angeles, clad in homemade white t-shirts fashioned with the black and red stripes and two green stars of the Syrian flag. They came as a group of 15, all women and children.
“My niece just moved to the United States to escape the absolute slaughter that’s happening. She has a newborn baby who has never met his father,” said Claire Ali. “The U.S. government is vilifying Assad to agitate war. The opposition groups the US is supporting are identical to Al-Qaeda.”
Sharon Fee of Grandmothers Against War, held a sign that read “Oslo Called, They Want Their Prize Back,” in reference to Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Fee was joined by Lenore Sheridan and Ruth Maguire, who have been protesting wars since Vietnam. Maguire said: “I would love to have our grandchildren grow up in a world of peace.”
A woman with the organization Veterans for Peace, who wished to be identified as “a veteran who was active in the ’80s,” said: “The U.S. wants to use white phosphorus to destroy Assad’s chemical weapons, in essence burying one dangerous chemical with another dangerous chemical, it doesn’t make sense.”
Stephanie Tang of the organization World Can’t Wait, said: “This protest happening nationally is the public saying that attacking Syria would be the highest war crime, committed by war criminals.”
On Monday, Pew Research, in collaboration with USA Today, released a poll indicating more Americans are against the possible direct military action now than they were just a week ago, up from 48 to 53 percent. Also, 45 percent strongly oppose the strikes, versus 16 percent who are for the strikes.
The United Nations report determining if chemical weapons were used is due by the end of this week, and is expected to clarify how the international community should proceed on this issue.
As we go to press, Obama is considering a proposal which would force Syria to surrender its chemical weapons to an international body to be guarded and ultimately destroyed, marking a possible step down from the aggression sought by the United States.
For more information and a schedule of future actions, go to www.answercoalition.org.