Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
February 16th Demonstration in SF
PLEASE NOTE: THE DATE OF THE ANTIWAR ACTION IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS BEEN
MOVED FROM FEB. 15 TO FEB. 16.
IN THIS MESSAGE
1) Presentation: After Jan. 18, Join Us to Build the Feb. 16th
Antiwar Protest in SF! -- by Eddie Rosario and Alan Benjamin, OWC
Co-Coordinators
2) Letter from Outreach Committee of Bay Area United Against War
coalition urging support for February 15th March and Rally against
the U.S. war on Iraq
3) Resolution adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council On Jan. 13
in support of the Feb. 15th antiwar demonstration
**********
1) Presentation: After Jan. 18, Join Us in Building the Feb. 15th
Antiwar Protest in SF!
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
At its regular delegates' meeting on Jan. 13, 2003, the San Francisco
Labor Council voted to endorse an antiwar demonstration planned for
February 15th in San Francisco. Feb. 15th is the date when millions
of people around the world, including 11 European countries, will be
marching against a U.S. war on Iraq. New York City will be the site
of a national antiwar demonstration called by a national network,
United For Peace.
International ANSWER, which has spearheaded the antiwar work in the
Bay Area and across the country, is an endorser of the Feb. 15th
protest action, which in this region has been initiated by Bay Area
United Against War.
We are sending you below the letter sent out by the Outreach
Committee of the Bay Area United Against War coalition, followed by
the text of the resolution adopted Jan. 13th by the San Francisco
Labor Council.
We call on all unionists and labor activists to join our Labor
Against War contingent this coming Saturday (Jan. 18). The march is
expected to be HUGE, so please make sure you make it to gathering
site (Market and Drumm, in front of the Hyatt Hotel) no later than 11
a.m. Please bring your union banners and colors.
If you can help distribute flyers for the Feb. 15th protest action,
please contact Bay Area United Against War at the addresses and
numbers listed below.
Finally, please help us distribute widely the National Labor Antiwar
Resolution adopted in Chicago on Jan. 11 by the new U.S. Labor
Against War Coalition (USLAW). This text is, indeed, historic -- as
it was adopted by union bodies representing 2 million organized
workers in this country.
Join us to stop this war before it begins!
In solidarity,
Ed Rosario and Alan Benjamin
Co-coordinators,
OWC Continuations Committee
********************
2) Letter from Outreach Committee of Bay Area United Against War
Dear peace activist,
This letter is an invitation for you and your organization to join
us, Bay Area United Against War, in an urgent, massive, united,
antiwar demonstration on February 15th in San Francisco against the
U.S. government's plans to invade Iraq. We will gather at 11:00 a.m.
at the Embarcadero at Justin Herman Plaza and march up Market Street
to Civic Center for a 1:00 p.m. rally.
The demonstration is to: Stop the War on Iraq! Money for Human Needs,
not war! No racist scapegoating, Defend civil liberties!
Following on the heels of the January 18th antiwar action (which we
are actively building, and which we expect to be huge), Feb. 15th is
the date when millions of people around the world, including eleven
European countries, will be marching against a U.S. war on Iraq. New
York City will be the site of a national antiwar demonstration called
by a national network, United For Peace. In California, another
regional demonstration on Feb. 15 will take place in Sacramento.
This letter requests the following:
1. The endorsement of your organization for the February 15th
demonstration.
2. A financial contribution to pay for the expenses of organizing a
large-scale action.
3. Your help in spreading the word of this demonstration in your
geographic area.
4. Your participation in a mass organizing meeting on Saturday,
January 25, 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Bethany United Methodist Church,
Clipper and Sanchez Streets in San Francisco.
The antiwar movement is in a race against time to organize massively
enough to cause the U.S. government to pull back from its plans of
invasion and first strike. Bay Area United Against War has organized
itself, not in competition with existing peace organizations, but as
a means of bringing all the many antiwar organizations together in
common, united actions that will complement all of our organizing
efforts. We function democratically with one person, one vote. Later
this year, on April 26th, we are planning a United Peace Parade, but
for now we are focusing all our attention on January 18th and
February 15th.
Please join us.
Yours for peace,
The Outreach Committee Bay Area United Against War
For more information, email us at info@bauaw.org
or visit www.bauaw.org
Please Note:
Flyers for the Feb. 15th demonstration can be picked up:
In San Francisco: at Global Exchange, 2017 Mission Street (at 16th),
Suite 303, (415) 255-7296 x311
In Marin: from the Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, (415) 721-2844
In the East Bay: at A Jewish Voice for Peace, 1611 Telegraph Avenue,
Suite 500, Oakland, (510) 465-1777
In the South Bay: at the Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, 457
Kingsley Avenue, Palo Alto, (650) 326-8837
********************
3) Resolution by S.F. Labor Council in Support of Feb. 15th Antiwar
Demonstration
[Note: The following resolution was adopted unanimously by the San
Francisco Labor Council on Jan. 13, 2003. The resolution was
submitted by Howard Wallace (SEIU Local 250) and Alan Benjamin (OPEIU
Local 3).]
WHEREAS, the American people have no reason to go to war against the
people of Iraq, and have no desire to trade human blood for oil and
empire;
WHEREAS, the Bay Area United Against War is an emerging regional
coalition formed to oppose a U.S. war on Iraq;
WHEREAS, the Iraqi people, already suffering from 12 years of
sanctions and continuous bombing -- responsible for the deaths of 1.6
million people, including 500,000 children -- will be innocent
victims of the war;
WHEREAS, it is intolerable for the United States to spend billions on
weapons at any time, but especially while poverty, unemployment, and
homelessness are rising;
WHEREAS, racist scapegoating directed against people of Middle
Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim background continues to escalate
across the United States
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Labor Council
opposes this unprovoked war on behalf of the American people, who cry
out for a re-ordering of our national priorities. Society's resources
must be allocated for jobs, education, health care, a clean
environment, and social justice. We also oppose this war for the sake
of all people in the Middle East, who will see their communities
destabilized and threatened by further U.S. wars;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Labor Council affirms
its unflinching attachment to the defense of civil liberties and
democratic rights, which today are under increasing attack. When
dissent is stifled in the name of "national security" and
fighting
terrorism, everyone's liberties are in danger;
BE IT YET FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Labor Council
opposes the racist scapegoating directed against people of Middle
Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim background;
FINALLY BE IT RESOLVED, the San Francisco Labor Council endorses the
February 15, 2003, March and Rally in San Francisco -- called by Bay
Area United Against War -- around the four central demands: Stop the
War on Iraq! Fund Human Needs, Not War! Stop the Racist Scapegoating
of People of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Muslim Background!
Defend Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights!