------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the June 24, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
ANTI-WAR COALITION PLANS PROTEST AGAINST DEMOCRATS By Peter Cook Boston The eyes of the country and the world will be focused on Boston this summer when the Democratic Party holds its national convention here July 26-29. The Democratic Party as well as the city of Boston have been planning the convention for over a year, spending tens of millions of dollars to orchestrate the nomination of John Kerry. Despite this outpouring of obscene amounts of money and the tightest security ever, the Democrats will receive anything but a warm welcome when they arrive in Boston. The ANSWER coalition also has plans for the DNC. Unlike the Democrats, who have to hide behind a phalanx of security, and unlike those who hide behind the "anyone but Bush" mantra, ANSWER has called for a national demonstration in the streets of Boston on July 25 to protest this party of capitalism, racism, bigotry, imperialism and war. The protesters will hold a kickoff rally at the Boston Common starting at 12 noon. Then they will march through the streets of Boston. People from throughout the country are coming to Boston to participate not just in this protest but also in the many other protests scheduled during the convention week. Unions representing Boston city workers also have plans for the convention. For the past several months 32 unions, including the Boston school bus drivers of Steel Workers Local 8751 and Electrical Work ers Local 2222, have been meeting and holding protests to demand that their contract demands be met. Otherwise, they say, they will protest at the DNC. These protests have been extremely successful in building the community/ labor solidarity necessary to win a good contract. They are a precursor of what can be expected at the convention. The July 25 demonstration will focus on the role of Sen. John Kerry and the Demo cratic Party in supporting the Bush administration's war and occupation of Iraq. The demonstration will also oppose the government's post-Sept. 11 attacks on civil rights and civil liberties. It will demand funding for jobs, housing, education and health care, not the Pentagon's war machine. The Democratic Party leadership has been complicit in President George W. Bush's war against social, legal and civil liberties at home. According to a statement released by the ANSWER coalition: "The people are mobilizing in opposition to the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, which could not have happened without the complicity of the Democratic Party and its members in Congress. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed and many more wounded. More than 800 U.S. troops have been killed and thousands wounded and maimed. "John Kerry has made it clear that he not only supports the occupation of Iraq but that he would send more troops if elected president. Kerry has accused the Bush administration of not doing enough to over throw the elected government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Kerry has repeat edly outlined his support for Israel while it wages war on the Palestinian people. "Both parties are opposed to providing benefits and legal safeguards to undocumented workers and their families. Both parties have engaged in scapegoating and targeting of immigrant communities and their legal and social rights. "Both Bush and Kerry have expressed their opposition to equal marriage rights for the LGBT community and they have both stood in opposition to affirmative action. "Both the Republican and Democratic parties have been responsible for a massive transfer of wealth from badly needed social programs to the Penta gon's war budget. Devastating cuts in housing, education, job training, veteran's benefits, and health care are imposing a new level of human suffering, especially in working class and poor communities. Hard est hit are African-American and Latino communities. The Democrats and the Republicans are attempting to abrogate civil rights and liberties while simultaneously falsely positioning Arab-Americans and Muslims as 'enemies within' as exemplified by the passage of the 'Patriot Act.' "Both the Republicans and Democrats represent and are subservient to an economic and social order which puts the global pursuit of profits first and the rights of poor, working and oppressed people last. It is time to build an independent movement that will put an end to wars of conquest, racism and all forms of bigotry. The resources being used to fund the Pentagon belong to our communities and are needed for jobs, housing, health care and education." This protest comes at a critical time. U.S. imperialism is on the defensive. The much-vaunted economic recovery hasn't materialized. The adage that "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer" has never been truer. And there is increasing awareness that the Democratic Party fails to offer a real alternative. The ANSWER coalition is encouraging everyone to come to Boston on July 25 and participate in this demonstration and, if possible, stay for the whole week. Organizers say it is time for an independent movement of poor, working and oppres sed people. Fliers are available for download at www.answerboston.org. If you would like more information or would like to get involved in helping to build this protest please contact ANSWER Boston at 617-522-6626 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. 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