Actions across U.S. on Feb. 4: No war on Iran

U.S.-based anti-imperialist and anti-war organizations have called for protest demonstrations against U.S. aggression aimed at Iran on Feb. 4, calling it a “global day of action.” As of Jan. 26, the movement had grown to include protests in 30 U.S. cities, plus cities in four other countries.

The demonstrators demand, in a leaflet posted on a few of the endorsing organizations’ websites: “No war, no sanctions, no intervention, no assassinations against Iran.”

While the organizations involved have varied assessments of the Iranian government, they all see that any intervention by U.S. imperialism in the oil-rich Asian country is not only a threat to the Iranian people, but also a threat of a much wider war in Asia.

Activists in Iran are also concerned about these dangers. The Iranian organization called The House of Latin America has been contacting its friends in the Western Hemisphere to work toward actions on Feb. 4.

Workers World spoke with Sara Flounders, co-director of the International Action Center, one of the original organizations to call for the Feb. 4 action.

“We are pleased with the quick responses to our call for an emergency action,” said Flounders. “Different combinations of the endorsing groups have already called for actions in 30 cities around the United States. Each of these groups has its own political program and analysis of the world situation, but they have agreed to give priority to fighting against this new and possibly devastating war that threatens humanity.

“Sometimes people in the U.S. fail to see how serious sanctions can be. Those the U.S. and the United Nations carried out against Iraq from 1990 to 2003 cost the lives of more than 1 million Iraqis, including at least half a million children. So imposing sanctions is itself an act of war and a provocation to the Iranians.

“We have received tremendous international support,” continued the IAC leader. “At Shannon Airport in Ireland outside Dublin, the movement is holding a protest. There will be demonstrations in India in Calcutta and a few other cities. In Bangladesh, there will be an action in Dhaka. And in Canada, there will be a demonstration in Vancouver, B.C.”

Flounders supplied the latest list of places where U.S. demonstrations are scheduled:

• New York City. 1 p.m. North end of Times Square/Duffy Square. March to U.S. & Israeli missions to U.N.
• Albany, N.Y. Noon. Wolf Rd. & Central Ave. March at 1 p.m. to mall recruiting station.
• Buffalo, N.Y. 3 p.m. City Hall Square. Then march.
• Saratoga, N.Y. Noon. Broadway by Post Office. Weekly vigil site.
• Boston, Mass. 1 p.m. Tremont & Park St. March to Israeli Consulate & Copley Square.
• Philadelphia, Pa. Noon. Independence Hall, 5th & Market.
• Harrisburg, Pa. Noon. State Capitol steps, 3rd St. side at North & Walnut.
• Baltimore, Md. Friday, Feb. 3, 5 p.m. McKelvin Square, Pratt & Light St.
• Washington, D.C. Noon. Lafayette Square, White House.
• Norfolk, Va. 1 p.m. City Hall Ave. at Saint Paul Blvd.
• Richmond, Va. Noon. Federal Building.
• Raleigh, N.C. 2 p.m. Federal Building, New Bern Ave.
• Nashville, Tenn. 2 p.m. Nashville Legislative Plaza, 6th Ave. & Deaderick St.
• Atlanta, Ga. 4:30-5:30 p.m. CNN Center, Marietta & Centennial Olympic Park.
• Tampa, Fla. Noon-2 p.m. March on McDill AFB CentComm, rally at Gandy Blvd. & Dale Mabry Highway.
• Detroit, Mich. 2 p.m. Grand Circus Park, Woodward Ave. at Adams.
• Kochville, Mich. Noon. Bay Rd. & Tittabawassee Rd.
• Milwaukee, Wis. Noon. East Capitol Dr. Bridge east of Capitol Ave. & Humboldt Blvd.
• Green Bay, Wis. Noon. Lambeau Field.
• Chicago, Ill. Noon. Federal Plaza.
• Minneapolis, Minn. 3 p.m. 3rd St. & Cedar Ave. S.
• Des Moines, Iowa. Teach-in AFSC office, 42nd & Grand.
• Des Moines, Iowa. 1 p.m. Civic Center, Nollen Plaza.
• Phoenix, Ariz. 2 p.m. Cesar Chavez Plaza, 200 W. Washington.
• Tucson, Ariz. 6 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 4831 E. 22 St.
• Los Angeles, Calif. Noon. Wilshire & Western Metro Stop.
• Los Angeles, Calif. 2 p.m. Westwood Federal Building, next to UCLA campus.
• San Francisco, Calif. Noon. Powell & Market, BART Plaza.
• Truckee, Calif. Noon. Donner Pass Rd. & Highway 89.
• Seattle, Wash. 1:30 p.m. Westlake Center. March to Military Processing Center.

People can follow developments on the Facebook link: No War On Iran: National Day of Action Feb 4, www.facebook.com/events/214341975322807/. There will also be updates, giving times and places of demonstrations, at the International Action Center website: www.iacenter.org.