FB: From New York: A Call to Join a New Anti-War Coalition
(19.09.2001)
Aus New York vom dortigen „International Action Center“ (IAC) schrieb uns unser Freund John Catalinotto und bat die Informationsstelle Militarisierung folgenden Aufruf einer weltweiten Antikriegskoalition mit zu verbreiten und zu unterzeichnen. John Catalinotto war im Mai 2000 auf unsere Einladung hin in Tübingen (vgl. https://www.imi-online.de/archiv/2000/5/1.html). Seither haben wir enge politische Kontakte. Hier der Originaltext:
Our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences are with all those whose loved ones were lost or injured on September 11, 2001. At this moment, we would all like to take time to reflect, to grieve, to extend sympathy and condolences to all. But we believe that we must do more. We must act now. We are assembling International A.N.S.W.E.R. to call for worldwide rallies against war and racism. On September 29, there will be a national march and rally at the White House in Washington DC, as well as marches on the West Coast of the U.S. and around the world. We call on all people of conscience and progressive organizations to take up this call and organize rallies around the world.
We join with people all over the world who condemn the horrific killings of thousands of innocent civilians on Sept. 11th . But unless we stop President Bush and NATO from carrying out a new, wider war in the Middle East, the number of innocent victims will grow from the thousands to the tens of thousands and possibly more. A new, wider U.S. and NATO war in the Middle East can only lead to an escalating cycle of violence. War is not the answer. We must also act against racism. Arab American and Muslim people in the United States, in Europe and elsewhere, as well as other communities of color, are facing racist attacks and harassment in their communities, on their jobs and at mosques. Anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism is a poison that should be repudiated.
The U.S. government is attempting to curb civil liberties and to create a climate in which it is impossible for progressive people to speak their mind. The Bush administration is attempting to take advantage of this crisis to militarize U.S. society with a vast expansion of police powers that is intended to severely restrict basic democratic rights.
On September 29, tens of thousands of people had planned to demonstrate against the Bush administration’s reactionary foreign and domestic policy and the IMF and World Bank. In light of the current crisis, with its tragic consequences for so many thousands of people, we have refocused the call for our demonstration to address the immediate danger posed by increased racism and the grave threat of a new war. We call on people to demonstrate around the world on that day. Now is the time for all people of conscience, all people who oppose racism and war to come together. If you believe in civil liberties and oppose racism and war, demonstrate on September 29 in front of the White House and around the world. October 12-13 will be International Days of Action Against War and Racism. We urge all organizations internationally to join together at this critical time and take action.
Initial Signers:
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
Samia Halaby, Al-Awda Palestine Right of Return Coalition
Barbara Lubin, Exec. Director, Middle East Children’s Alliance
Jews Against the Occupation
Rev. Lucius Walker, Pastors for Peace
Ben DuPuy, former deputy ambassador at large, Haiti
Teresa Gutierrez, Co-Director, International Action Center
Nania Kaur Dhingra, Sikh Student Organization, George Washington University
Michele Naar-Obed, Plowshares activist, Jonah House, Baltimore
Pam Africa, International Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
Wolfgang Richter, President, European Peace Forum
Nino Pasti Foundation, Rome, Italy
African Immigrant and Refugee Coalition of N. America
Dominican Workers Party, NY
Chuck Kaufman, National Co-Coordinator, Nicaragua Network
Ray LeForest, Labor Organizer, 1707 AFSCME
Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
Tom Hanson, Mexico Solidarity Network
Kriss Worthington, Berkeley City Council
Leonora Foerstal, Women for Mutual Security
Asha A. Samad, Human Rights Center
April 25 Movement of the Dominican Republic, NY
Njeri Shakur, Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement
Michel Shehadeh, Los Angeles 8 Case Respondent
Muslim Student & Faculty Association
Leslie Feinberg, Transgendered author, Co-Founder, Rainbow Flags for Mumia
Kadouri Al Kaysi, Committee in Support of Iraqi People, NY
Minnie Bruce Pratt, writer and ant-racist activist
Vieques Support Campaign
Mahtowin Munro & Moonanum James, United American Indians of New England
SAFRAD Somali Association Arab Cause Solidarity Committee, Madrid, Spain
Korea Truth Commission Congress for Korean Reunification
Michel Collon, Belgium Anti-War Journalist
Elmar Schmaehling, Retired Admiral, German
Navy Struggle Against War Coalition, Italy