IRSN Anti-War Action
19 Oct 2009
Comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in a rally calling for US Troops OUt Now from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was part of a nation-wide mobilization to commemorate the beginning of the Afghanistan war. The San Francisco rally was organized by a broad coalition called the October 17th Coalition. There was a short rally, then a march, and the main rally after marchers returned to United Nations Plaza.
While participation was fairly small, those in attendence were enthusiastic. In addition to ending the wars, issues raised included the so-called "health care reform," process and the economic collapse. Those speaking at the rally on health care financing reform, which is really what it is, supported publicly-funded single payer.
There were a variety of anti-war viewpoints from the stage, including from the religious community, Code Pink, Cindy Sheehan, and Daniel Ellsberg. Ellsberg gave an almost-Zen-like talk about how this was just the first anti-war demonstration against the coming wide-scale war in Afghanistan. He pointed out that we must protest, we have no choice be to do so, and we don't know now what impact we're actually having on the system.
The IRSN table got a lot of notice. Unlike at previous demonstrations, folks who saw the identifying sign, "International Republican Socialist Network," either understood it, or asked, "What do you mean, republican? socialist?," and were receptive to the definition. Comrades also saw a lot of old friends, including a couple of people who worked with the "Free Roisin MacAlisky Committee." A lot of folks asked about the INLA annoucement of last week, and IRSN comrades were able to answer those questions. The struggles in Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Catalonia, Quebec, and Puerto Rico were also discussed.
IRSN comrade and Peace and Freedom Party candidate for the special election to the 10th District in California, Mary McIlroy, helped staff the table and had information on her candidacy. Comrade Peter Urban answered many questions rally attendees had. Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to attend many more of these rallies in the years to come.
Mary McIlroy
Comrade, International Republican Socialist Network
Comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in a rally calling for US Troops OUt Now from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was part of a nation-wide mobilization to commemorate the beginning of the Afghanistan war. The San Francisco rally was organized by a broad coalition called the October 17th Coalition. There was a short rally, then a march, and the main rally after marchers returned to United Nations Plaza.
While participation was fairly small, those in attendence were enthusiastic. In addition to ending the wars, issues raised included the so-called "health care reform," process and the economic collapse. Those speaking at the rally on health care financing reform, which is really what it is, supported publicly-funded single payer.
There were a variety of anti-war viewpoints from the stage, including from the religious community, Code Pink, Cindy Sheehan, and Daniel Ellsberg. Ellsberg gave an almost-Zen-like talk about how this was just the first anti-war demonstration against the coming wide-scale war in Afghanistan. He pointed out that we must protest, we have no choice be to do so, and we don't know now what impact we're actually having on the system.
The IRSN table got a lot of notice. Unlike at previous demonstrations, folks who saw the identifying sign, "International Republican Socialist Network," either understood it, or asked, "What do you mean, republican? socialist?," and were receptive to the definition. Comrades also saw a lot of old friends, including a couple of people who worked with the "Free Roisin MacAlisky Committee." A lot of folks asked about the INLA annoucement of last week, and IRSN comrades were able to answer those questions. The struggles in Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Catalonia, Quebec, and Puerto Rico were also discussed.
IRSN comrade and Peace and Freedom Party candidate for the special election to the 10th District in California, Mary McIlroy, helped staff the table and had information on her candidacy. Comrade Peter Urban answered many questions rally attendees had. Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to attend many more of these rallies in the years to come.
Mary McIlroy
Comrade, International Republican Socialist Network