DATE=12/18/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42189
TITLE=BOMBING PROTESTS
BYLINE=MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE=CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THOUGH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SUGGEST AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF
AMERICANS SUPPORT THE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, THE BOMBING
HAS TRIGGERED A SERIES OF PROTESTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RALLIED IN DOZENS OF AMERICAN CITIES THURSDAY,
AND ARE CALLING FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST ON SATURDAY. MORE
FROM VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND IN CHICAGO.
TEXT: // CHANTING ACT (FADE UNDER TEXT) //
A LOUD CROWD OF ABOUT 300 PEOPLE MARCHED OUTSIDE THE U-S
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDINGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENING RUSH
HOUR IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO THURSDAY. ORGANIZER DOROTHY POGOSA OF
THE EIGHTH DAY CENTER FOR JUSTICE READ A LIST OF CITIES WHERE
OTHER RALLIES WERE GOING ON -- FROM LARGE CITIES LIKE NEW YORK
AND LOS ANGELES, TO SMALLER ONES LIKE LANSING, MICHIGAN, AND IOWA
CITY, IOWA.
// POGOSA ACT //
IN CASE WASHINGTON IS WONDERING IF IT IS JUST A FEW (WHO
OPPOSE THE BOMBING), WE SAY NO, THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE TAKING IT TO THE STREETS. YOU DIDN'T HEAR US THE
FIRST TIME, YOU DIDN'T HEAR US THE SECOND TIME OR ALL OF
THE OTHER TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR US TODAY. (CHEERS
FADE)
// END ACT //
THE PROTESTERS CARRIED SIGNS READING, "STOP THE BOMBING," AND
"THIS IS THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE," SUGGESTING MR. CLINTON'S ORDER
TO STRIKE AT IRAQ IS WORSE THAN THE ACCUSATIONS HE FACES FROM THE
U-S CONGRESS. CHICAGO RESIDENT ALI ABUNIMAH WAS AMONG THE
MARCHERS.
// ABUNIMAH ACT #1 //
I DO NOT SEE THAT ANYTHING GOOD WILL COME OUT OF
BOMBING IRAQ. I DO NOT THINK IT WILL SOLVE THE
UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS WITH
IRAQ, AND ON THE CONTRARY, IT WILL MAKE THE CONDITION OF
THE IRAQI PEOPLE MUCH WORSE, PARTICULARLY SINCE THEY
HAVE BEEN SUFFERING UNDER SANCTIONS FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW.
// END ACT //
KEVIN MARTIN OF THE ORGANIZATION, "ILLINOIS PEACE ACTION,"
POINTED OUT THAT COUNTLESS IRAQI CHILDREN HAVE DIED AS A RESULT
OF THE SANCTIONS, WHICH HAVE LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF FOOD AND
MEDICINE AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY.
// MARTIN ACT //
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OLD, MYSELF. IF I
WAS UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN BORN IN IRAQ, THEY WOULD
PROBABLY BE DEAD RIGHT NOW FOR NO OTHER OFFENSE OTHER
THAN HAVING BEEN BORN IN IRAQ. THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ HAVE
NO MEDICINE, NO FOOD. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OR WITH SADDAM
HUSSEIN, BUT THEY ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE AND IT
IS IN OUR GOVERNMENT'S NAMES.
// END ACT //
// OPT // ON THURSDAY EVENING, THREE MEMBERS OF A CHICAGO
ORGANIZATION THAT OPPOSES THE SANCTIONS LEFT FOR BAGHDAD,
CARRYING FIVE DUFFEL BAGS FILLED WITH MEDICINE AND TOYS FOR IRAQI
CHILDREN. THEY FACE U-S GOVERNMENT FINES FOR VIOLATING THE
EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQ, BUT GROUP MEMBER MIKE BREMER SAYS THE TRIP
IS WORTH THE RISK, IF ONLY TO SHOW IRAQIS THAT SOME AMERICANS ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING.
// OPT BREMER ACT //
IT IS AS IF WE HAVE ONE TOOL IN OUR FOREIGN POLICY. IT
IS LIKE A CARPENTER WITH ONE TOOL -- A HAMMER. IF YOU
HAVE ONE TOOL, EVERY PROBLEM STARTS TO LOOK LIKE A NAIL.
THE ONE TOOL IN OUR FOREIGN POLICY IS MILITARY, IT IS
BOMBING.
// END ACT // // END OPT //
// OPT // IN OTHER PROTESTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THURSDAY,
SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE MARCHED OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY'S GRAND
CENTRAL TERMINAL. ONE WOMAN DRESSED AS A HAGGARD-LOOKING IRAQI
WOMAN, CARRYING A DOLL MADE TO LOOK LIKE A DEAD BABY. IN
PORTLAND, OREGON, DOZENS OF PROTESTERS BRIEFLY STOPPED RUSH-HOUR
TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN. SEVERAL PROTESTERS WERE ARRESTED TRYING TO
BLOCK THE ENTRANCE TO THE SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEAR THE CITY OF
SAINT LOUIS. // END OPT //
THE CHICAGO-BASED ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION FOR PALESTINE RELEASED A
STATEMENT THURSDAY CRITICIZING THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR INSISTING
ON A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO DISPUTES IN THE MIDDLE EAST, YET
RESORTING TO VIOLENCE TO SETTLE ITS DIFFERENCES WITH SADDAM
HUSSEIN.
RALLY ORGANIZERS ALSO FAULTED WASHINGTON FOR A BOMBING ATTACK
THAT MIGHT EXTEND INTO THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN. BUT ALI
ABUNIMAH SAYS THE ATTACK IS JUST AS WRONG NOW AS IT WOULD BE
DURING RAMADAN.
// ABUNIMAH ACT #2 //
MY OWN PERSONAL FEELING IS THAT BOMBING PEOPLE AT ANY
TIME, WHETHER IT IS DURING RAMADAN OR BEFORE OR AFTER,
IS OFFENSIVE. I DO NOT THINK IT FEELS ANY BETTER TO BE
BOMBED ON ANY OTHER DAY OF THE WEEK.
// END ACT //
SEVERAL PEACE ORGANIZATIONS ARE CALLING FOR A NATIONAL DAY OF
MOURNING AND PROTEST ON SATURDAY. ORGANIZERS OF THURSDAY'S RALLY
IN CHICAGO SAY THEY WILL STAGE A FUNERAL PROCESSION IN MEMORY OF
THE IRAQIS KILLED BY THE BOMBING, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
SINCE THE SANCTIONS WENT INTO EFFECT. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/KL
18-Dec-98 1:34 PM EST (1834 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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