[R-G] FYI: Lerner/ ANSWER

[DavidMcR at aol.com]

Dear Andrea,

I had been getting wind of this problem but had not wanted to comment, in 
part because some folks are willing to pick a fight with Workers World aka 
ANSWER when we should be focusing on Bush, and in part because the word I had 
been getting was muddlied - the writers referred to "Sunday, February 15" and 
this made it clear they were not in close touch.

However your letter does move me to write in dismay. 

Freedom of speech within the movement is crucial - it is one of things many 
of us believe in (I don't think Workers World does, but again, that is my own 
position - show me a Leninist who believes in freedom of speech and I'll show 
you a Leninist who hasn't read the basic texts) and it separates us from Bush 
and his cronies, whom I KNOW do not believe in full exchange of views.

It is almost impossible to find a responsible movement leader who has not, at 
some point in the last ten years, voiced irritation at Workers World and its 
various fronts.

To conclude in advance that anyone who has had a harsh word to say about 
Workers World/IAC/ANSWER can't speak strikes me as, to put it mildy, a 
profoundly wrong position.

The point of our mobilization is NOT that we all agree to love one another. I 
detest much of the policies of ANSWER, I detest the subtle anti-Semitism of 
their courting of the Palestinians, and I detest their race-baiting, which 
I've experienced as part of the price one pays for disagreeing with them.

But I have, do, and will defend their right to be in a broad coalition (my 
problem is their tendency to control the coalitions). I have, AT NO POINT, 
advocated they be excluded. I would welcome Republicans, Democrats, etc., 
just as swiftly - and would be sort of stunned if I was told that "only 
speakers who had not disagreed with the Democrats or Republicans" can speak.

You have made a very serious error. What you all do later is up to you. Right 
now we need to build the coalitions here, there, and everywhere, and not 
allow the folly of the actions in the Bay Area to prevent us from 
mobilization. 

We can learn from mistakes. It is also important to realize when serious 
mistakes have been made. In this case they were. 

Peace and struggle,

David McReynolds
 -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: Statement from SF event organizers re. Rabbi Lerner
 Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 18:02:36 -0800
 From: Andrea Buffa <andrea at globalexchange.org>
 To: <ufp_com at yahoogroups.com>
 
 Dear friends,
 
 We are still trying to work things out with Michael Lerner. I hope to 
 have
 more to say tomorrow. Until then, this statement at least clarifies what
 actually happened. Feel free to forward it if you think it would be 
 helpful.
 
 More soon,
 Andrea Buffa
 
 _______________________________________________________________________
 
 Bay Area United Against War € International A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop 
 War
 and End Racism) € Not In Our Name € United for Peace and Justice
 
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:            CONTACT:
 February 11, 2003                 Bert Knorr    (510) 644-8071
                                  (415) 307-8028 (cell)
 
 STATEMENT FROM FEB. 16 ANTI-WAR COALITIONS REGARDING RABBI MICHAEL 
 LERNER
 
 We would like to clarify the misunderstanding regarding Rabbi Michael
 Lerner¹s perception that he was ³banned² from speaking at the peace 
 rally.
 His charges are untrue, and we wish to set the record straight.
 
 As the Bush Administration continues its relentless drive toward war, 
 the
 mass mobilizations in cities around the world on the weekend of Feb. 
 15-16
 have taken on great significance. Millions of people are expected to
 demonstrate in cities around the world in what may be the last 
 opportunity
 to stop a new war on Iraq before it starts.
 
 In the San Francisco Bay Area, four coalitions - each comprised of many
 organizations and individuals - have come together to sponsor a broad 
 and
 united anti-war march and rally on Sunday, Feb. 16. The four coalitions 
 -
 Bay Area United Against War, Not In Our Name project, United for Peace &
 Justice, and the International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End
 Racism) Coalition ­ have been working together successfully for the last
 several weeks to maximize the turnout on Feb. 16.
 
 One of the first agreements that was made between the groups organizing 
 the
 Feb. 16 anti-war protest was that none of the coalitions would propose 
 rally
 speakers who had publicly attacked or worked to discredit one of the
 coalition groups. When members of the Tikkun Community, who have 
 actively
 participated in the organizing meetings for Feb. 16, suggested to Bay 
 Area
 United for Peace and Justice, that it propose Michael Lerner as a 
 speaker,
 it was explained by members of UFPJ that since he had publicly attacked
 A.N.S.W.E.R in both the New York Times and Tikkun community email
 newsletters, his inclusion in the program would violate the agreement 
 among
 the Feb. 16 organizing groups.
 
 It was this issue‹Michael Lerner¹s public attacks against one of the
 anti-war coalitions‹that resulted in his not being formally proposed as 
 a
 speaker on Feb. 16; his views on Israel and Palestine had nothing to do 
 with
 it. Within the anti-war movement, there is a wide spectrum of diverse 
 and
 opposing views regarding Israel and Palestine, and those views will be 
 heard
 on Feb. 16. On that day, two rabbis, David Cooper and Pam Frydman-Baugh,
 both of whose views are similar to those of Michael Lerner, will be
 speaking. To reiterate, the fact that Michael Lerner was not invited to
 speak on Feb. 16 was not the consequence of a veto by the A.N.S.W.E.R.
 Coalition. None of the coalitions have veto power over the Feb. 16 
 program
 
 We strongly abhor all forms of racism and bigotry, including 
 anti-Semitism.
 At the same time, we don¹t believe that criticism of Israeli government
 policies should be labeled as anti-Semitism any more than criticism of 
 U.S.
 government policy should be labeled as anti-American.
 
 On the eve of a terrible war, we call upon everyone to join together in
 making Feb. 15-16 a massive and powerful statement for peace and 
 justice. We
 are heartened by the broad range of participation that is developing for
 Feb. 16, including within the Jewish community, and encourage one and 
 all to
 join with us in our efforts to stop the war on Iraq. >>