2008 Woodie Awards
Hollywood Protest Marks War's Fifth Year; 4,000 U.S. Deaths
Fabiola Prieto
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
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But since the amount reported by police was 2,000, it became one of those "you had to be there" things; just as with many other protests since the war started, this one too, was undermined by corporate media.
The demonstration initiated by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition was one of the many events held throughout the world in remembrance of the launch of "Operation Iraqi Freedom," on March 19.
"The cost of war extends to U.S. civilians. The government spends $425 million a day on contracts for war profiteers while slashing billions from education, health care, housing and job training programs," ANSWER said in a press release.
During the event, which lasted more than three hours, marchers condemned what they call an "unjust and unnecessary war," and remembered the deaths of the nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers, as well as the deaths of over a million Iraqis since this war began.
"When you talk about destruction, don't you think you can count us!" read the banner carried by students Jessica Pineda, 22, and Channel Scebur, 20. The march proceeded undisturbed. No arrests were made during this demonstration.
Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, author of the book "Born on the 4th of July," led the march. "This is what democracy looks like," he said as he took to the stage to begin his speech.
"I used to see him back in the '80s at the anti-nuclear war protests," said Lynn Cohen, 50, who cheered as Kovic came on stage.
Other speakers included U.S. presidential candidate Gloria La Riva, of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Malalai Joya, a former member of the parliament in Afghanistan.
"[US policy in Afghanistan] is a mockery of US foreign policy and a mockery of the war on terror," Joya said.
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