Activists Converge on Washington, D.C.

by Becky Alper, WAMM

My friend Sarah and I had finally arrived in Washington, D.C., for the March Against War and Racism. The excitement and anticipation we had carried across 1,500 miles and two weeks reached a crescendo the morning of April 20, 2002. We were in our nation's capital to speak out in favor of peace, to let our government know what we thought of foreign policy, and to experience being part of a huge movement.

We started and ended our journey with a 24-hour bus ride. People from all walks of life came with a common cause. I discussed the upcoming French elections for president with a French woman, bonded with people from Veterans for Peace, and chatted with two women from Iran and Pakistan. Throughout our wakeful nights and long days, I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet fellow activists and learn from their lifelong struggle for justice. Sarah and I passed the time working on homework, listening to music, and watching informational videos with the rest of the travelers.

At 9:00 a.m. on April 20, we arrived at the Ellipse for the morning rally. We marched around carrying banners against corporate terrorism and against U.S. policy abroad. The sun shone brightly and I was glad to be away from the chilly winds of Minnesota. At the rally, I was amazed and heartened at the number of Palestinian and Arab Americans. I liked the signs that read "No more U.S. aid to Israel" and the chant "Hey, ho, the occupation has to go."

At the same time, I was dismayed at the message many people brought with them: Signs equating the Nazi swastika with the Star of David and chants encouraging the intifada as long as the Israeli occupation continued overwhelmed me. Where were the peaceful messages for which I was looking? Why were bigoted statements against Jews tolerated?

The afternoon march brightened my spirits and Sarah's, as we became part of a larger group opposing war in general, not just the Palestine-Israel conflict. We proudly held our giant Plan Colombia banner and marched down Constitution Avenue toward the Capitol with swarms of people from around the country. I took photos of the thousands of people marching together and admired posters such as "Nukes, Never!" and "Peace is Patriotic."

When the march broke up, Sarah and I wandered over to the Vietnam Memorial. The somber tone at the monument contrasted greatly with the surge of hope coming from the march. When I look back on this trip--on this voyage of discovery--I plan on remembering the fun I had and also the fact that I was one of many people who have the power to make change. That way, we will never have another Vietnam.

Word Up!

"Alia Kate, sixteen, a high school student in Milwaukee, wanted to go to Washington, D.C., for the protests Saturday, April 20. She was looking forward to demonstrating against the School of the Americas and learning how to lobby against U.S. aid for Colombia.

"She had an airplane ticket for a 6:55 p.m. flight out of Milwaukee on Friday, April 19, and she got to the airport two hours ahead of time. But she didn't make it onto the Midwest Express flight. Neither did many other Wisconsin activists who were supposed to be on board. Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies pulled aside and questioned twenty of the thirty-seven members of the Peace Action Milwaukee group--including a priest and a nun. The travelers were not cleared in time for takeoff and had to leave the next morning, missing many of the events.

"What tripped them up was a computerized 'No Fly Watch List' the federal government now supplies to all the airlines. The existence of this No Fly list was confirmed by members of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, Midwest Express, the New York Port Authority, and the Department of Transportation. The airlines today are required to cross-check their passenger lists against this No Fly list."

--Matthew Rothschild in "The No Fly List," The Progressive, June 2002, www.progressive.org.