[R-G] Possible concession by ANSWER may open road to uniting the September 24 protests

[Fred Feldman]

I have come to the conclusion that the latest material circulated by
ANSWER (see below) suggests they are considering or have decided to make
a substantial concession that justifies reopening discussions to unite
the demonstrations.

The current division blocks the real mass protest that is possible, and
also fosters exclusionary practices and attitudes, and ultimatistic
postures on both sides.

Actually, I have concluded that I reached a partially incorrect
assessment from my first read of the material sent out by ANSWER.
Preconceptions formed by long experience governed my reading.
 
In their letter, the Troops Out Now coalition states:
 
"We propose that the unifying demand for Sept 24 should be the complete,
unconditional and immediate withdrawal of all U.S. occupation troops
from Iraq. Beyond that, we propose that each coalition raise the
additional demands, and political views that they choose to.  We intend
to demand money for jobs, healthcare, education and housing, not war,
and at the very same time call for an end to Washington and Wall St.'s
war against Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Afghanistan, Haiti,
the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and other countries that are on imperialism's
hit list."
 
This shows a recognition that real unity in the antiwar movement today
must center on Iraq. This means that there is no FORMAL attempt to make
the right of return for Palestinians (a just and necessary part of
resolving the Palestine issue) part of the common demands of the
demonstrations, along with other demands put forward by ANSWER.
 
I am not sure that ANSWER itself supports this concession by Troops Out
Now, although their circulation of the material certainly indicates they
are open to it.
 
I think this justifies stepping up the pressure on UFPJ to reopen the
discussion. Without this concession ENDORSED BY ANSWER, further
discussions would not have a clear basis.  With it, we have the makings
of a new ball game -- a true united front.
 
Among other things, that must include guarantees against initiatives by
ANSWER-backed forces to capture the platform for banners that are not
the common demands of the march, so that the platform proclaims "The
Right of Return for Palestinians" or other specifically ANSWER slogans
rather than the slogans that unite both sides.  This also includes
opposing mini-coups that "spontaneously" add speakers at the last minute
who are not approved by both sides and similar gimmicks.  This should be
a genuinely broad NONEXCLUSIVE demonstration.  No administrative coups
that attempt to resolve political dispute through muscle power on the
platform rather than convincing the entire coalition.
 
This also means that UFPJ must be genuinely prepared to accept the
presence of  slogans and contingents whom some of their members will
disagree with. There should be no kvetching afterward if tens of
thousands of Arabs and Muslims (as I hope) show up from a wide range of
organizations, including some targeted by Israel and Washington, who
make the connection between Iraq and Palestine in the way they choose.
 
Of course others, who disagree with the supporters of Palestinians to
one degree or another, have the right to present the connection in the
way they choose as well.
 
ANSWER and its allies have to swallow their customary radical swagger
and approach UFPJ as people who have to be part of a genuine united
front.  "Unity" on a radical platform they oppose is a fake and a fraud,
and will not be sold this time around since UFPJ has decided to insist
on its right to carry out antiwar activity in its way, not ANSWER'S way.


Only an aggressively FRIENDLY AND POLITICALLY OPEN approach by ANSWER to
UFPJ (and by UFPJ to ANSWER as well) really rally the pressure from the
UFPJ's base that is needed to assure that a united event takes place. I
think the fact has to be faced that ANSWER has not always been
completely loyal to the spirit of unity agreements -- which is why I
stress, for example, that the banners and slogans that physically
dominate the platform are THE COMMON DEMANDS OF THE ENTIRE
DEMONSTRATION, not the ones that are the focus of disagreements.  The
broad speakers list -- I am afraid it will have to be fairly long --
must start out from this united basis to take up a range of issues --
some of which might be opinions of one coalition (UFPJ or ANSWER) such
as the right of return or support to Democratic candidates.
 
Perhaps we are beginning to approach breaking out of stalemate. I still
think the first step toward this was UFPJ's demonstration to come to
Washington on its own antiwar basis.  This broke the stalemate created
by the ANSWER program of demands for the protest, which were bascally a
public invitation to UFPJ to stay out of Washington that day.
 
Fred Feldman



An Invitation to a Discussion on Unity and Strategy 


SATURDAY JUNE 11 
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
The New School Lang Center 
55 W 13th St New York, NY 


GETTING U.S. TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ NOW! 

THE WORLD DEMANDS IT - WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? 

Sisters and brothers, 

Since the Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) added its views to the
discussion about uniting the antiwar movement prompted by a unity call
circulated by USLAW, September 24 has been set as the date for an
antiwar march on Washington. We believe that September 24 should be
embraced by all as a critical opportunity to revive a determined and
popular struggle to shut this war down.  The road to that end is not
paved yet. The ANSWER coalition and then UPFJ have both called for
marches on Washington DC on Saturday Sept. 24. ANSWER has asked for a
united event on this date with UFPJ.  In a letter announcing it's Sept.
24 plans, UPFJ says it will not have a united event on this date with
either the Troops Out Now Coalition or ANSWER, citing as their reasons
the anti-imperialist politics of TONC and ANSWER, and past difficulties
working with these coalitions. 

At its meeting on May 26, TONC decided to also issue a call for a full
mobilization to Washington DC on Sept. 24. We do not envision 3 separate
events in Washington DC on Sept. 24. We propose that the 3 coalitions
and other forces come together to plan a strong united effort for
Sept.24. 

We appeal to UFPJ to reverse their rejection of a united mobilization
with ANSWER and TONC and others on Sept 24. We believe that all should
put aside anything that will create obstacles to realizing the potential
of Sept. 24. 

We propose that the unifying demand for Sept 24 should be the complete,
unconditional and immediate withdrawal of all U.S. occupation troops
from Iraq. Beyond that, we propose that each coalition raise the
additional demands, and political views that they choose to.  We intend
to demand money for jobs, healthcare, education and housing, not war,
and at the very same time call for an end to Washington and Wall St.'s
war against Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Afghanistan, Haiti,
the Philippines, Zimbabwe, and other countries that are on imperialism's
hit list. 

We have not found our anti-imperialist positions to be a hindrance. To
the contrary, we have found them to be essential to relating to people
in this country as well as people all over the world. 

TONC also takes the Millions More Movement's march on Wash. DC on
October 15 very seriously and we are already beginning to strategize as
to how we can best unite the struggle against the war with that effort.
We don't want the two dates, October 15, and Sept. 24, just three weeks
apart, to compete with each other. Central to TONC's strategy will be to
utilize Sept. 24 to build the Millions More Movement events in mid Oct. 

As we said in our unity call, unity does not mean uniformity. Our
challenge as a movement is to think big and act big so that we can
really help to set back the Empire's designs on the rest of the Middle
East, and the world. 

Bush has already lost the war abroad. It's up to us to make sure that he
loses it at home. If our movement can seriously dedicate itself to this
goal, we will be helping all of the peoples of the world who are
struggling against the empire. 

All are welcome to participate in TONC's Strategy Meeting on Saturday
June 11 at the New School For Social Research, 55 West 13 street, from
11:AM to 5:PM in New York City, where we will be devoting a session of
the meeting to a continuation of the unity discussion. 

The Troops Out Now Coalition 



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Endorse the CALL for UNITY online 

Unity Call to the Anti-War Movement from the Troops Out Now Coalition 

The Troops Out Now Coalition (TONC) wholeheartedly and unreservedly
joins the activists and groups who are calling for a united mobilization
against the war in the fall. The absence of such unity amongst the
anti-war coalitions only serves to demoralize rank and file anti-war
activists and local forces across the country. The grassroots of the
movement are looking to those of us who make decisions to put our
differences aside in the interests of the struggle to get the U.S. the
hell out of Iraq. 

Achieving unity isn't easy but the power of unity is the thing that will
give everyone the confidence to do what needs to be done. Moreover, the
people of Iraq and throughout the Middle East need the movement in this
country to unite. The whole world is looking to us to do it. TONC
welcomes the sentiments of all who have signed on to the unity statement
that is being circulated by USLAW. TONC would add to that call that the
movement needs to reach out in a more serious way not only to trade
unionists that are active in the anti-war movement, but also to working
people and people of color. In the Million Worker March Movement you
have trade unionists that are people of color at the helm. 

These trade unionists are leading the way in helping to bring the
workers movement and the anti-war movement together. Let us make sure
that our appeal extends to them as well as others including immigrants
who are all too often under-represented. 

An important part of forging any meaningful unity will, of necessity,
require that the anti-war movement both acknowledges and unites with the
struggle of people of color and the events that carry their message. The
call for a "Millions More March" on the tenth anniversary of the
"Million Man March" has gone out far and wide. The Millions More March
will extend over 3 days next fall, October 14, 15 and 16, including a
massive march on Washington DC. It goes without saying that many of us
will be pre-occupied with this important mobilization. This is something
that needs to be respected. 

TONC believes that the time has come for all of us to unite around the
demand to bring the troops home immediately. This in no way means that
other demands should not be put forth. 

We absolutely must talk about the war budget and how it's robbing
workers and poor people. 

We must talk about the prospect of the draft being revived. We must find
ways of reaching out to resisters inside the military. 

Moreover, we don't believe that uniting must mean censoring, silencing
or excluding the positions of those who are participating in that unity.


The antiwar movement must not turn its back on the Palestinian people
and their struggle. In addition, the position that the Iraqi people have
a right to resis t occupation by whatever means they choose cannot be
censored or excluded. 

We don't think that it helps us to make no mention of the threats
against Venezuela or Cuba or Iran or North Korea and simply pretend that
these problems don't exist. We believe that the movement must address
the ongoing occupation of Haiti and Afghanistan; the imperialist designs
on Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Colombia and all the peoples of Asia, the
Middle East, Africa, Caribbean and Latin America. Others may have
different priorities. The anti-war movement must ensure that all
oppressed communities have an equal place at the table, where their
issues and concerns are represented. 

Unity does not mean uniformity--the main thing is for the basis of unity
to be clear. 

It's not necessary for us to ask of each other that we forget neither
our differences nor the unpleasantness of past conflicts. All that is
required is that we not let any of that get in the way of joining hands
to grasp the opportunities that only unity makes possible. 

There is a high road. On that road, questions are answered, problems are
solved and the means and methods necessary to move forward are found. 

Nothing is more important at this moment than for all to walk together
on the high road to unity. We believe that what we all do will be
decisive. We must and we can stop the war and get every U.S. soldier out
of Iraq. 

It is up to all of us to do whatever is necessary for our movement to
rise to this challenge. 

TONC is holding a regional meeting on Saturday, JUNE 11. A special
session of this meeting will be devoted to continuing the discussion on
unity and we will be extending invitations to groups to participate in
that discussion. 

You can help! Endorse this call. Pass it on to others. 

Endorsers include: (The updated complete list of more than 600 endorsers
is available online. ) 

Action 21, Jersey City, NJ
Al-Awda, NY
Artists and Activists United for Peace
BAYAN-USA
Code Pink, Bremerton, WA
Cuba Solidarity New York
Fanmi Lavalas
F.I.S.T. - Fight Imperialism, Stand Together!
Guerrero Azteca Project, Escondido, CA
Harlem Tenants Council
International Action Center
Korea Truth Commission
Millions for Mumia
Movement in Motion
Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines - NISPOP
New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine
NY Committee to Defend Palestine
North Carolina Free Speech League, Winston Salem, NC
NYC Labor Against the War
Phil Berigan Institute for Nonviolence, Reading, PA 
Queers For Peace And Justice, New York, NY
Tejanos For Truth, Austin, TX
USWA Local 8751, Boston School Bus Drivers, Boston, MA
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099, Waynesville, NC
Womens Fightback Network, Boston, MA
Michael Berg Wilmington, DE
Jack Dalton, columnist, Project for the Old American Century.org*,
Portland, OR
Rev. Arthur Donart, PhD., Prince of Peace Catholic Parish*, Clinton, IA
Beatrice Einhorn, UFT (AFL-CIO)*, New York, NY
Leslie Feinberg, National Steering Committee, National Writers'
Union/UAW*, Jersey City, NJ
Stephen Funk, Conscientious Objector, US Marines*, San Francisco, CA
Steve Gillis, President, USWA Local 8751 Boston School Bus Drivers*,
Boston, MA
Teresa Gutierrez, NYC Coordinator, Committee to Free the Cuban 5*, New
York, NY
Isolt Lea, MFSO, GI Rights Hotline*, Gainesville, Florida
Siu Hin Lee, Peace No War Network, South Pasadena, CA
Ardeshir Ommani, Coordinator, American-Iranian Friendship Committe,
Armonk, NY
Andre' Powell, Executive Board, AFSCME Local 112, Maryland*, Baltimore,
MD
Minnie Bruce Pratt, lesbian writer, National Writers Union*, Jersey
City, New Jersey
Sharon Smith, National Organizer, International Socialist Organization,
Chicago, IL
Fernando Suarez del Solar, Guerrero Azteca Project, Escondido, Ca

*=for identification only

*=for identification only 

How You Can Help:

Forward this email 
Endorse the CALL for UNITY online 
Form a local organizing center 
Donate to help with organizing expenses 



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LETTER FROM UFPJ ON THE ANTIWAR MOBILIZATION IN WASHINGTON DC - SEPT 24-
26 

Dear UFPJ Member Groups: 

We're writing to update you on a major change in our coalition's plans:
the national steering committee of UFPJ has decided to shift the
anti-war mobilization planned for September 10 in New York City to a
September 24-26 mobilization in Washington, D.C. We are excited about
the new plans and will soon be circulating our call to action. But first
we want to make sure all of the UFPJ member groups understand the
decision. Please take a moment to read this memo and then share it with
others in your group. 

At the UFPJ National Assembly in February, there was tremendous support
for organizing a major anti-war demonstration this fall. More
specifically, the Assembly agreed that UFPJ should organize a
demonstration in New York City on September 10, which would be right
before heads of state come to the United Nations for the Millennium+5
Review. 

Soon after the Assembly, we learned that there were serious problems
with that date. The Central Labor Council of NYC will be holding its
annual Labor Day parade on September 10, a parade that usually includes
upwards of  100,000 trade union members. It would be both impractical
and politically unwise for us to call for some other major action that
same day. In addition, a large international coalition of groups that
work on global debt and poverty issues have targeted September 10 as a
day they will be issuing a call for action. While we can see a clear
connection between the hundreds of billions of dollars poured into the
war in Iraq and the urgent need to re-order global economic priorities
in order to eradicate hunger and poverty, we do not wish in any way to
compete with those groups' desire to keep the public spotlight squarely
on their issues that weekend. 

The decision to change the date and location was not made lightly: these
issues were discussed at several steering committee meetings as well as
within the administrative committee. Th e UFPJ National Steering
Committee took into account the range of other political priorities set
by the National Assembly, and particularly the clearly stated desire for
the peace and justice movement to increase the pressure on pro-war
politicians in Congress. 

Therefore, United for Peace and Justice has decided to organize a
weekend of action - Sept. 24 - 26 - in Washington, DC against the U.S.
war and occupation in Iraq: 

Saturday, Sept. 24: massive march, rally, and festival Sunday, Sept. 25:
interfaith religious service; trainings in direct action and grassroots
lobbying Monday, Sept. 26: lobby day and mass nonviolent direct action
and civil disobedience These three days of actions will send a clear
message to the White House and to Congress: this immoral and illegal war
must end. Our demands will call for a new direction: Bring the troops
home now, leave no bases behind; stop bankrupting our communities with
war appropriations, and get militar y recruiters out of our schools. 

The steering committee's discussions about this started at its first
in-person meeting over the April 9-10 weekend. In the six weeks since
then there have been several steering committee and administrative
committee conference calls. On the May 2nd steering committee conference
call there was agreement to explore both the Sept. 17th and the Sept.
24th weekends, with the intention of trying to decide on a date as
quickly as possible. 

As our discussions took place other developments were unfolding, which
we want to be sure our member groups are fully informed about. Several
weeks ago US Labor Against War (USLAW), a member group of UFPJ with
representation on our National Steering Committee, initiated a public
process aimed at pulling together UFPJ, ANSWER and the Troops Out Now
Coalition (led by the International Action Center) for a meeting to
discuss the possibility of a joint demonstration this fall. In light of
past problems working with these groups, the UFPJ National Steering
Committee expressed serious reservations about such a joint action, but
agreed to participate in such a discussion, should USLAW convene it. The
UFPJ co-chairs and national coordinator had several conversations with
USLAW leadership expressing concerns about their process and relaying
the decisions of the steering committee, including our willingness to
take part in such a meeting. 

In the meantime, while our steering and administrative committees were
engaged in discussions about the feasibility of organizing a September
17 or 24 action in D.C., ANSWER, on the morning of May 12, issued a
public call for a national march on Washington on Saturday, September.
24. Their call to action has these major demands: Stop the War in Iraq;
End Colonial Occupation from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti. Other demands
in their call are: Support the Palestinian People's Right of Return;
Stop the Threats Against Venezuela, Cuba, Iran & amp; North Korea; U.S.
out of the Philippines; Bring all the Troops Home Now; Stop the Racist,
Anti-Immigrant and Anti-Labor Offensive at Home, Defend Civil Rights. 

In the evening of that same day the leadership of ANSWER sent an email
to UFPJ that proposed what they called "a united front between our two
coalitions" to jointly organize a Washington, DC demonstration on
September 24. It should be noted that the ANSWER memo to UFPJ came well
after their call to action had already been released. As has happened in
the past, ANSWER publicly announced the political platform of the action
and then called for "unity" around their demands. Members of the UFPJ
steering committee were troubled about this process and there was
further discussion about how to proceed. On May 16th, the Troops Out Now
Coalition then issued their letter supporting the ANSWER call, adding
their view that, "the Iraqi people have a right to resist occupation by
whatever means they choose cannot be ce nsored or excluded." 

On the most recent conference call of the UFPJ steering committee (May
18), a decision was made to proceed with our plans as outlined above.
This means that while we applaud all efforts and activities to end the
war and occupation in Iraq, UFPJ will not join with ANSWER (or the
Troops Out Now Coalition) in the planning and organizing of the
September 24-26 mobilization in Washington, DC. We will organize a
massive march, rally, and festival on September 24; ANSWER may well
decide to have a separate event in Washington on that day. We want to be
clear. Our call will be an open invitation to groups who want to end the
war and bring our troops home now, and who agree with our demands, to
join us in the streets. We welcome everyone, including ANSWER and the
Troops Out Now Coalition, to organize contingents or feeder marches into
our demonstration that day. Our steering committee agreed that should
USLAW still decide to convene the meeting described a bove that UFPJ
will participate, but only to discuss logistical concerns for that
weekend. 

This was not an easy decision. The UFPJ Steering Committee recognizes
that there is widespread interest in seeing many antiwar forces working
together. But based on our past two and a half years experience, it will
not be possible to work with ANSWER or the Troops Out Now Coalition on a
joint action this fall. We believe any efforts to work together must
begin with developing common, jointly agreed upon political demands and
be based upon a style of organizing grounded in mutual respect. We take
very seriously the mandate of the UFPJ National Assembly to build the
broadest, most diverse anti-war movement possible as a key strategy for
bringing an end to this war. Our primary commitment is building this
movement, including the fall mobilization, in a way that makes it
possible for the largest and widest array of people to come together in
opposition to the war, including military families, Iraq war veterans
and other veterans, and the labor movement. This commitment has an
impact on everything we do: from the nature of the program, to the
articulation of our demands, to the ways we do our organizing. 

UFPJ is also committed to building a movement culture based on trust,
respect, principled action, democratic decision-making, and good-faith
communication. Both the national coalition and a number of our regional
remember groups have had extremely negative experiences on all these
grounds throughout our history of working with ANSWER or the
International Action Center. While professing to desire unity, ANSWER
and the IAC have repeatedly misrepresented the positions of, attacked,
and attempted to isolate and split UFPJ and other antiwar groups, even
when we were supposedly in alliances. Now, they once again have
announced a political platform and a date for a demonstration without
any consultation with us, while on the other hand calling for uni ty. 

Every day the war in Iraq rages on and people are killed and maimed,
lives are ruined, and a once sovereign nation is under the military
occupation and corporate control of the United States. We must stay
focused on our priorities: building the strongest movement possible in
order to end this war, bring our troops home and prevent future wars! We
ask all UFPJ member groups to join in the effort to ensure the most
successful September mobilization possible. 

In the coming weeks you will be getting more information about the plans
for the Sept. 24-26 weekend, including specific ways your group can get
involved. But there is no need to delay: we encourage you to start
convening local and/or regional meetings of UFPJ member groups and
others to beginning your organizing for the fall mobilization. We look
forward to working with you in the coming months. 

Leslie Cagan, national coordinator (lesliecagan at igc.org) George Friday,
national co-chair (george.friday at parksandpeople.org) Judith LeBlanc,
national co-chair ( jleblanc at cpusa.org) George Martin, national co-chair
(gmartin8 at wi.rr.com)