Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor

When Rocky Anderson and Cindy Sheehan speak out against President Bush and his policies Wednesday, they probably will be cheered by thousands who agree.
But more Utahns will see them as aiding the enemies of the United States, according to a poll conducted for The Salt Lake Tribune.

This is the opening paragraph of the headline article in today’s online version of the Salt Lake Tribune.

Forty-five percent of poll respondents said war protesters such as Sheehan and Anderson aid U.S. enemies. Just 27 percent embrace the alternative view – that they “play an important role in the national debate over U.S. policy in Iraq.”

The article also delves into the dissatisfaction by the state’s republicans over the involvement of Salt Lake City Mayor Anderson’s role in the protest at the City County Building.

….anger over Anderson’s participation in the protest could rally Republicans.
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, who is holding a fundraiser Thursday afternoon with Bush, said Anderson shouldn’t have invited Sheehan. “He has a right to protest if he wants to, but he also has an obligation to welcome people to our beautiful city. And when the president of the United States comes in, even though Rocky doesn’t like him, he is still the president of the United States. It is an office we ought to respect.”

The Governor of Utah, however, sees it differently:

But Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has no heartburn over Anderson’s activism.
“It’s an important and symbolic message that here in our state we can organize and speak out on both sides of the issue – and do so respectfully and safely,” Huntsman said.
As for Sheehan’s involvement: “She lost her son in combat in Iraq – which is commendable. If we’re going to fight for [freedom of speech] internationally, it would behoove us to do it here.”

This article from The War Resisters League publication of The Nonviolent Activist has generated my thinking a lot lately on how we organize activist events here in Utah.

Blacks, Military Recruitment & Antiwar Movement – Not Showing Up

By Kenyon Farrow

When I was the Southern Region Coordinator for Critical Resistance I once spoke at an event in New Orleans entitled “What Now: War, Occupation, and the Peace Movement.” I was asked specifically to address why more people most adversely affected by systems of oppression were not involved in local antiwar work. Many of the white attendees were very concerned about how to bring Blacks into antiwar organizing work.

One white attendee from a local organizing project told a story of his organization’s commitment to “connecting the war abroad to the war at home.” The demonstration of that desire to connect with Blacks was to make the march route cut through one of the housing projects in New Orleans. I suggested this was a faulty strategy, since the march would draw additional police presence in an already overly policed community, in a city infamous for police brutality against Blacks.
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In my conversations the past week with folks who want to come the Bush Protest rally on Wednesday, I’ve heard a LOT of complaints about the time of day of the rally. Many folks (especially those working low-income jobs) CANNOT take the time off work to attend this. And those are the folks most affected by the Bush Regime’s policies.

Upon reviewing the program schedule for this rally, I see that there are **eleven** speakers scheduled, something which I do not think is a good idea for an outdoor rally. It looks like Rocky Anderson and Cindy Sheehan are scheduled last.

So here is my suggestion to those of you who have to decide what portion of the rally to attend – IF you can take the time off of your jobs.

Come at noon so you can hear Sheehan. You may have the opportunity to hear the other speakers some other time, since they are local and some of them have repeatedly been speakers at other rallies so you may have even heard them before. But hearing Cindy Sheehan in person (assuming she will be well enough to keep her schedule) may be a once in a lifetime opporunity – so that should be your priority if you are faced with that decision.

The Latino Community was right on target with the immigration protests back on April and May – Weekends and evenings. This ensured that folks could make the rallies when they WEREN’T WORKING there (often) multiple jobs. And they got the numbers.

In the future event/rally organizers need to be sensitive to the fact that those that are most affected by America’s discriminatory policies need to be able to attend these things and be sure to plan accordingly to get these people out. We all too often cater to the armchair upper middle class activist popluation only and ignore those who are most affected. They have voices too and we need to hear and support them.

Come at noon – August 30 – City/County Buidling, Salt Lake City, 400 South 200 East.