S.F. coalition sets antiwar priorities
1986 1986-06Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 2 →
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Educational Conference Saturday, June 14, 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.—Revolution in South Africa The Fire House, Fort Mason, San Francisco For more information, call (415) 821-0458 2 SOCIALIST ACTION JUNE 1986 SAN FRANCISCO—The Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and Justice steering committee met on May 21 to evaluate the April 19, 1986, San Francisco demonstration. The protest attracted 25,000 people, making it the country's largest response to the U.S. bombing of Libya and the government's push to provide more aid to the contras.
The demands of the march and rally were the following: No U.S. intervention in Central America/Caribbean; Freeze and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race; End U.S. Support to South African Apartheid; and Jobs and Justice, Not War.
Over $30,000 was spent publicizing the demonstration during the five-month organizing effort. Endorsements and financial contributions came from major labor, religious, peace, and community groups.
The Mobilization was also able to build new ties with several large gay community groups such as the Lesbian and Gay This pamphlet by Carl Finamore discusses the road to building a mass movement to stop the warmakers.
(24 pp., 75 cents; $1.10 + postage)
Order from: Socialist Action, 3435 Army St., Rm. 308, San Francisco, CA 94110 Freedom Day Parade Committee and a major national sports organization, Athletes United for Peace. An important addition to the broad union support was the agreement of United Mine Workers of America President Richard Trumka to speak at the rally.
Mobilization steering committee members unanimously recognized the significance of the April 19 demonstration, which took place in spite of a prevalent mood of political pessimism among many anti-intervention groups. No other major local coalition nor any large national peace, community or labor organization sponsored broad protests this spring.
The lack of nationally coordinated spring actions affected every local area. It noticeably diminished the participation of many peace and solidarity groups inside the Bay Area Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and Justice.
Mass-action strategy needed
The reasons for this lack of a united response to the escalating U.S. war drive are political: Many activists, unfortunately, ignore the bipartisan character of U.S. policy in Central America. Almost all the important national and local peace, solidarity, and anti-intervention groups emphasize lobbying Congress. This flows from their unfounded view that the maneuvers of Congressional Democrats will block U.S. intervention.
This false political conception leads to an equally damaging orientation. It points the movement toward concentrating on the whims of capitalist politicians rather than on building an independent movement capable of mobilizing existing mass anti-intervention sentiment.
The limited active participation of the trade unions in April 19 was also related to labor's longstanding priority of relying on the election of Democrats as an alternative strategy to mobilizing its own membership and allies in a fight against the employer offensive.
Still, the success of April 19 shows that anti-intervention sentiment is deep enough to significantly overcome these problems.
The Mobilization steering committee believes that a powerful national movement can be built if strong commitments for mass action are obtained from major peace, solidarity, and labor forces. The coalition steering committee voted to encourage this development and authorized its leadership to actively consult and collaborate with national organizations.
While many coalition activists are confident that major national spring protests can be organized next year, most groups will probably continue to focus on Friday, June 13, 8 p.m.
Forum: Eyewitness Nicaragua 3435 Army, Rm. 308, San Francisco, 94410 9:30 a.m.. 11:30 a.m.- Marxism: Its 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.-Lunch Up.m.-Prospects for Socialism in the November 1986 elections. This will most likely prevent any broad convergence of forces for a fall action.
The downturn in public protest activity comes at a time when Nicaragua faces increased military attacks and strong diplomatic pressures to reach a settlement with the murderous contra mercenaries. Anti-interventionist organizations should respond by organizing rallies and demonstrations this fall opposing renewed efforts to fund the contras and protesting all forms of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua.
The Mobilization voted to schedule a fall activity in order to maintain the visibility of antiwar sentiment and to maintain the coalition's accumulated network of important contacts. Steering committee members also pledged their support for an immediate response to any dramatic U.S. military escalation in Central America.
The next meeting of the coalition on June 26 will consider suggestions for fall activities and discuss the responses to its inquiries for united spring demonstrations in 1987.
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A Mass Action Strategy for Peace, Jobs and Justice