ISO Report from September 29 Syracuse Anti-War March

Over 2,500 people marched through the streets of Syracuse, NY on September 29th to call for Immediate Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Billed as, 'Soldiers and Civilians Speak Out!', members of Iraq Veterans Against the War lead the march along with a rowdy contingent of over 200+ students from the Campus Antiwar Network. As the march snaked through Syracuse University campus, many students waved from their dorm-room windows and some even joined the march. Iraq Vets Michael Blake and Phil Aliff gave stirring speeches about resistance inside the US military, Ken Love from the Campus Antiwar Network delivered a 'Post-Patraeus Report', Ashley Smith from the International Socialist Organization demanded we build an alternative to the spineless politicians in Washington, and Dalia Wasfi, an Iraqi doctor who has family living in Iraq, reminded the crowd of the devastation being wrought on Iraq. This march was unique, not only because it was the largest in upstate New York since the Vietnam War, but because it brought soldiers, students, labor and the mainstream city groups together in a way not seen enough in today's antiwar movement. Groups like Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, the Green Party and SEIU 1199 came together to demand Immediate Withdrawal of US troops, funding for vets when they get back, reparations for the Iraqi people, and funding for healthcare. Initiated by the Ft. Drum chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, organizing involved 10 cities, and many individuals, over a 2 month stretch, through weekly conference calls, a website hosted by the Syracuse Peace Council and a face-to-face meeting at Rochester's Antiwar Storefront. The result was mobilization from all parts of New York state and a great openness to not only discuss the war, but the health care crisis, the devastation of our inner cities, the poor treatment of our veterans, and the racist scapegoating of Arabs and Muslims here in the US. Locally, Rochester Against War sent 2 buses full of students and Rochester activists, with the Declaration for Peace, Peace Action and Education Task Force of Metro Justice, Rochester Indy Media, the local chapter of Military Families Speak Out, and many others contributing to the mobilizing effort. In total, around 250 activists from Rochester made the trip to Syracuse. Following the march numerous networking meetings were held for soldiers and vets, students and youth, and city organizations to solidify the links made while organizing and to discuss what the next steps for the movement. Joanna Love, protester and mother of a student activist Ken Love, put it best, 'I am so proud of everyone's sons and daughters who are taking up the fight. I think this march will have a great effect on people, but we need to get louder and louder until we stop these war criminals!'

<p>Over 2,500 people marched through the streets of Syracuse, NY on September 29th to call for Immediate Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Billed as, 'Soldiers and Civilians Speak Out!', members of Iraq Veterans Against the War lead the march along with a rowdy contingent of over 200+ students from the Campus Antiwar Network. As the march snaked through Syracuse University campus, many students waved from their dorm-room windows and some even joined the march. Iraq Vets Michael Blake and Phil Aliff gave stirring speeches about resistance inside the US military, Ken Love from the Campus Antiwar Network delivered a 'Post-Patraeus Report', Ashley Smith from the International Socialist Organization demanded we build an alternative to the spineless politicians in Washington, and Dalia Wasfi, an Iraqi doctor who has family living in Iraq, reminded the crowd of the devastation being wrought on Iraq.</p> <p>This march was unique, not only because it was the largest in upstate New York since the Vietnam War, but because it brought soldiers, students, labor and the mainstream city groups together in a way not seen enough in today's antiwar movement. Groups like Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, the Green Party and SEIU 1199 came together to demand Immediate Withdrawal of US troops, funding for vets when they get back, reparations for the Iraqi people, and funding for healthcare.</p> <p>Initiated by the Ft. Drum chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War, organizing involved 10 cities, and many individuals, over a 2 month stretch, through weekly conference calls, a website hosted by the Syracuse Peace Council and a face-to-face meeting at Rochester's Antiwar Storefront. The result was mobilization from all parts of New York state and a great openness to not only discuss the war, but the health care crisis, the devastation of our inner cities, the poor treatment of our veterans, and the racist scapegoating of Arabs and Muslims here in the US. </p> <p>Locally, Rochester Against War sent 2 buses full of students and Rochester activists, with the Declaration for Peace, Peace Action and Education Task Force of Metro Justice, Rochester Indy Media, the local chapter of Military Families Speak Out, and many others contributing to the mobilizing effort. In total, around 250 activists from Rochester made the trip to Syracuse.</p> <p>Following the march numerous networking meetings were held for soldiers and vets, students and youth, and city organizations to solidify the links made while organizing and to discuss what the next steps for the movement.</p> <p>Joanna Love, protester and mother of a student activist Ken Love, put it best, 'I am so proud of everyone's sons and daughters who are taking up the fight. I think this march will have a great effect on people, but we need to get louder and louder until we stop these war criminals!'</p>