We stopped by the EndUSWars “No You Can’t!” Anti-Escalation Rally in Washington, D.C. today. We offer below audio from the event featuring a performance from The Mayor of DC Hip-Hop, Head-Roc, speeches from and interviews with Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Cynthia McKinney and members of the DC Statehood/National/International Green Party. In our interviews one question we continued to ask is about the seeming disinterest among those who come to DC to protest anything but what actually happens in DC.
We continue to argue, similar to comments made today by Head-Roc, that “IF” — meaning “Indigenous First” — we do not address the fact that the oppression this nation doles out to the world is built upon, fueled and made possible by the initial oppression of those here than we are foolish to expect such a nation to be any better towards similarly viewed “others” and “lesser-thans.” Where are the national rallies against poverty, police brutality, mass incarceration and gentrification or in support of reparations and the freedom for political prisoners? How about an end to that escalation? We support the struggles of many people around the world, we just think they are doomed if this current peace movement is their best hope. For it remains that “the bombs we drop overseas explode at home.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Good evening,
Well, Dr. Ball, there is one more DC Statehood Green Party member you did not get a chance to talk to, Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture, who’s been a member of the DCSGP since 2003.
I became an organizer for this rally a mere 2 1/2 weeks ago at the request of 2008 Green Party presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney. And as someone who used to work for her, that was a great pleasure. And so when the Hon. Cynthia gives you assignment, you can’t say no.
And so with that I became one of several organizers with End U.S. Wars, a new, national anti-war coalition.
I had the pleasure to introduce Chioma Oruh, who spoke representing the Black Is Back Coalition, a new anti-war coalition here in Washington, DC. They are an important coalition because they represent those African people, true progressives/radicals, who are not at all afraid to publicly criticize Pres. Obama and his policies, most of those continue the policies of former president George Bush.
I made some brief comments as part of my introduction of her/BIBC. Basically, I said that we must continue to organize against this war, that though the crowd was small, it was good because it represented those who are sincere against this war. I also stated that as an African woman, I was embarassed that so many of my people where not at the rally, some will not criticize Pres. Obama, even though they know he is wrong, etc. It seems that my remarks were well received my many in the audience.
Lastly, there needs to be a candid, honest discussion about the current status of the anti-war movement, its current strengths and weaknesses, where do we go from here, strategies and tactics, the current political climate in this country, etc. Regarding your question of political maturity, it is not immature to ask Obama supporters why they supported him, even when they knew Obama was never a true progressives; people like Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Alice Walker, Dr. Cornel West, Bill Fletcher and the original founders of Progressives for Obama, etc., need to explain themselves to the public. This is not only their responsibility as scholar/activists/public intellectuals, it is also your responsibility as a journalist. These are urgent things that we all need to know. Thank you . . . for justice, for all.
Thanks. I know Asantewa and probably left before she got there, I dont remember seeing her and I left early. I also know Chioma and am also a part of Black is Back.
But thanks!
JAB