Oct. 28: More than 5,000 Protest Iraq War in LA
With Thousands More Across the U.S. and Beyond

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More than 5,000 people marched through the busy streets of Hollywood in an anti-war protest initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and endorsed and supported by hundreds of additional groups and individuals. Chants like “Stop the war on Iraq," and “No justice, no peace; U.S. out of the Middle East” rang out from the multinational crowd of all ages.

The Los Angeles protest was the largest of dozens of anti-war actions across country on Oct. 28. More than 2,500 marched in San Francisco, 1,000 in Seattle, many hundreds in Minneapolis, and spirited demonstrations and actions also took place in Chicago, New York, Miami, New Haven, Conn., New Paltz, N.Y. and elsewhere. A.N.S.W.E.R.’s call to action was joined by anti-war groups in Canada and beyond.

Protesters marched through Hollywood on Oct. 28 to stop the war. Photos: Bethany Malmgren

People's Anti-War Tribunal at CNN in LA

After the march, people gathered for a People’s Anti-War Tribunal on the steps of pro-war media outlet CNN. The marchers arrived to revolutionary music from the young Latino ska group Los Caché.

A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer and Free Palestine Alliance member, Muna Coobtee, kicked-off the tribunal by listing the crimes of the U.S. government against the people of Iraq and the Middle East. Coobtee stressed the importance of marching against the war at this time: "Neither the Democrats or the Republicans want to put the war on the ballot and let the people of the U.S. vote. Today, we can vote against the war. And we can continue to organize an independent people's movement to stop the war and fund people's needs at home instead."

Cindy Sheehan, Los Angeles, Oct. 28	Youth and students say "no" to war and racism

Other featured speakers included Cindy Sheehan; Ron Kovic, Vietnam war veteran and author "Born on the Fourth of July"; Gloria Romero, California Senate Majority Leader; Arun Ghandi, Indian activist and grandson of Mahatma Ghandi; Jim Lafferty, National Lawyers Guild-LA; Mike Farrell, actor “Mash”; Mimi Kennedy, actor "Dharma and Greg"; Shiva Rose, actor and artist; Margaret Prescod, Global Women's Strike and KPFK host; Osvaldo Nataren, Frente Universitario Roque Dalton in El Salvador; Don White, CISPES-LA; Fernando Suarez del Solar, anti-war activist and parent of one of the first U.S. soldiers to die in Iraq; Bill Paparian, Green Party Candidate for U.S. Congress, 29th District; actor James Adomian as President George Bush; Carlos Alvarez, Youth & Student A.N.S.W.E.R.; Jennifer Caldwell, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition; Tina Calles, Committee for Democracy in Mexico; Liz Sunoo, Korean Americans for Peace; Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines; Harrison of Air America's "Harrison on the Edge"; and Ernesto Arce, Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Cindy Sheehan gave a rousing call to keep the anti-war movement going strong. “We can’t rely on the Democrats to end the war on Iraq. We’ve got to stay strong and stay in the streets,” Sheehan urged.

The tribunal closed with a people’s vote finding the U.S. government, headed by the Bush administration, guilty of war crimes. The vote also demanded an immediate end to the war in Iraq. The protest was covered by major English- and Spanish-language media outlets, including NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox News. 

Day of Anti-War Action

Later that night, a major event at Venice United Methodist Church honoring Fernando Suarez del Solar continued the anti-war day of action. Speakers included Cindy Sheehan; Preston Wood, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition; Frank Dorrel, Addicted to War; Don White; Vicky Castro, Gold Star mother; and more. It continued the anti-war spirit of the day after the mass protest in Hollywood.

Click here for more photos from the Oct. 28 LA protest.

Oct. 28 protest participants pledged to build for the next major anti-war march initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R. on March 17, 2007, the fourth anniversary of the criminal invasion of Iraq.

Video

Cindy Sheehan, Gold Star mother. “We have to hold corporate media responsible too.” Cindy Sheehan YouTube video (3:03)

Bill Paparian, (lawyer, candidate for Congress, former mayor of Pasadena) details the many laws that George Bush has broken. He then introduces James Adomian as George “the devil” Bush who attempts to defend himself. Bill Paparian/James Adamian YouTube Video (9:52)