300,000 Surround White House, 50,000 March in San Francisco, and 50,000 March in LA in Largest Antiwar Protest Since War Began

Photos: September 24 Anti-War Mobilizations

With the support of everyone in the antiwar movement around the country, the September 24th demonstration was a magnificent success. We had hoped for 100,000 people in Washington D.C and more than 300,000 joined the protest. We received media coverage all around the world. The Washington Post article below took up the front page of the newspaper above the fold. Also below is front-page coverage of the demonstration from The San Francisco Chronicle and New York Times. The ANSWER Coalition initiated this demonstration on May 12, 2005 under the slogans "Stop the War Against Iraq" and "End Colonial Occupation from Iraq, to Palestine, to Haiti and Everywhere." We later connected the war in Iraq with Bush's criminal neglect in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. On May 12, we also proposed to the United for Peace and Justice that our two coalitions enter into a united front for the purpose of maximizing the broadest possible turnout in the streets of Washington, D.C. We believe that the final agreement to organize a joint rally and joint march in DC was in the best interests of launching a wider struggle against the war-makers.

Everyone should feel very proud in the success of this demonstration, and the large-scale protests that also took place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and in other cities. Fifty-thousand people marched in San Francisco and another fifty-thousand in Los Angeles. More than 350 cities and towns organized transportation to come to Washington, DC. The commitment and self-sacrifice of local organizers speaks to the fact that this movement has taken off.

If you could not go to the demonstration or you know a friend or family member that could not go, but would like to have gone, you can now join the demonstration from home! We've set up an easy mechanism so you can let the politicians know that you stand with the 400 thousand people at the Sept. 24 marches on and are demanding Bring the Troops Home Now, spend money on human needs - not war and occupation!

We want to send a special "thank you" to the hundreds of A.N.S.W.E.R. volunteers who helped with stage and sound set up, takedown, fund collection, march security, and the tireless around-the-clock work that was necessary to make the demonstrations so successful. Many volunteers hardly slept in the days leading up to September 24.

We want to send a special "thank you" to all of those who have also made a financial contribution. This movement exists because of the commitment of those who can make a financial contribution. We have to keep up the momentum. If you would like to continue to sustain the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and build on this national success to take the next steps, please make a generous donation.    

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Your help is needed!

You can support the work of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition online at www.progressunity.org. You can make a donation via credit card over the phone by calling us at (415) 821-6545.

To volunteer, call (415) 821-6545 or e-mail answer@actionsf.org