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Texans Rallied for Peace 10/5/02
The Austin marched stretched from 4th
Street almost to the Capitol. Around 2,000 people!
Texans United Against War (TUAW) initiated a statewide march and
rally against the impending invasion of Iraq on October 5. We began the day
with a meeting of activists at Threadgill’s restaurant in Austin. About 50
attended.
Dallas reported success with a billboard that cost about $800. A
second one was in the planning stages. The web site gets several hundred hits
per day. For links to peace groups click here. A local
peace rally was planned for October 7. The reporter opined, "People are
really waking up."
Ft Worth reported legislative lobbying meetings vigils, and leafleting.
The reporter said that labor organizations oppose the war.
Houston reported success with getting people to say the Pledge
of Resistance that begins, “Not in our name…” They had 300 at a Town Hall meeting
with Councilwoman Ada Edwards. They held
meetings with with anti-war congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
They use community radio (KPFT) and tabling to reach more
people.
Austin had a number of people stand up to speak. They were
working with Legislator Lloyd Doggett. Had a "packed" town hall
meeting. They urged focus on the statistics of death in the Middle East. They
were planning another rally on the 26th 11 AM at the Capitol followed by a
conference. The American Friends Service Committee is working on training that
prepares people to succeed with civil disobedience. Houston recommended the
film, "Hidden Wars of Desert Storm." One man suggested that peace
activists should support the Longshoremen on the West Coast (ILWU) who are
locked out. A statewide bus tour to outreach smaller areas
Was suggested.
Both Dallas and Houston reported success with clerical meetings.
These solutions were listed in a brainstorming session:
Non-violence
No pre
emptive strike
Economic
justice
Protect
civil liberties
Against
racism
Respect
int'l law
"End
of Militarism"
Several people then took the position that they would rather
have fewer slogans for the statewide coalition.
It was recommended that legislative work be a priority because letters
& calls to congressmen wererunning 9 to 1 against war!
Most of the coalitions have “standing calls” relating to the
escalation of the war in Iraq. Dallas, for example, will rally when Bush signs
new empowering resolution and again when bombing of Iraq escalates.
The march began at a park on 4th & San Antonio. Several
spoke there while the crowd gathered. We then went over to Congress, where our
length reached almost to 1 block from the Capitol. I'm pretty sure we were
adding people. I asked a dozen people, and finally decided that we ended the
march with about 2,000 people. I was told that the march organizers had
predicted 1,000
We turned right one block shy of the Capitol and went a couple
blocks to the federal building plaza where a stage was set up. The sound system
was really sorry. There seemed to be a moderate amount of press there. One
woman risked all of our efforts by running around topless, but I don't think
any harm came of it.
There were many peace rallies during weekend 10/5/02. At least
two Dallas network-affiliated TV stations covered the Austin events. However,
the Dallas Morning News continued to
ignore the voices of the people.
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