New York, NY – Over 100 students are occupying the 65 5th Avenue building of the New School. The occupation began Wednesday, Dec. 17 and has the broad support of faculty and staff at the university. The New School in Exile, as the building occupation is called, is organized by the Radical Student Union (RSU), a coalition of Students for a Democratic Society, Student Environmental Action Coalition and United for Peace and Justice at New School.
- On March 25, over 250 protesters gathered at the Federal Office Building in downtown Minneapolis at 7 a.m. for the Anti-War Committee’s rally against the war on Iraq. Protesters then marched through downtown streets to the federal courts building. As they approached the Federal Building, activists peeled off from the march to cover entrances, preventing people and cars from entering the building. While the outside entrances were blocked, activists who were masquerading as visitors did a die-in, blocking the metal detectors inside the building. The march continued to the front plaza, where a legal rally was held in solidarity with the demonstrators doing civil disobedience and with the people of Iraq. 67 protesters were arrested. Police held some for 12 hours.
Fight Back! interviewed Eric Eingold, a member of the New School chapter of Students for a Democratic Society and one of the leaders in the New School in Exile. The New School in Exile was an occupation of a campus building to demand the resignation of president Bob Kerrey, among other demands (see Students Occupy New School, Demand President Kerrey Resign, Fight Back! December 2008). The occupation lasted for two days and won significant victories that have strengthened the student movement in the United States.
Washington D.C. – Over 500 students, trade unionists and solidarity activists gathered here, March 4 – 6, for the National Venezuela Solidarity Conference. They founded the Venezuela Solidarity Network and united the forces struggling against U.S. intervention in Venezuela. The conference was a huge success. Attendees gathered in support of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, lead by President Hugo Chavez.
Washington, D.C. – June 5, over 60 Minnesotans marched in the largest national protest against the U.S. and NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia. March organizers estimate that 10,000 people marched in Washington, D.C., from the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial to the Pentagon. The demonstration coincided with similar protests in San Fran-cisco, London, Prague, Aviano Air Base, Italy, Amsterdam, Mexico, Brussels, and Melbourne, Australia. This march is a sign of a growing anti-war movement in the country.
For 78 days the people and government of Yugoslavia resisted attempts by the United States and NATO to occupy the province of Kosovo. In Belgrade and other cities, patriotic people gathered on bridges, in factories and TV stations to thwart NATO bombing runs. NATO responded by destroying hospitals, nursing homes, and churches. The destruction of the Chinese embassy, an act of premeditated murder, sent the clear message, “We will stop at nothing.”
Brussels, Belgium – Hundreds of people defied police in Brussels, Belgium on April 3, and demonstrated against the U.S./NATO war against Yugoslavia. Authorities had banned the demonstration and attacked with helicopters, water cannons, and tear gas. Michael Colon, a journalist with the newspaper of the Workers Party of Belgium was severely beaten, along with others. A bus from a nearby town was surrounded by police who arrested all passengers.
Minneapolis, MN – The Twin Cities-based Emergency Committee Against US Intervention in Yugoslavia sent a solidarity statement to an October 16 anti-war demonstration in Brussels, Belgium. The protest was a response to threats by the U.S.-dominated military alliance, NATO, to attack Yugoslavia. Demonstrators organized by the Workers Party of Belgium demanded, “No NATO Bombings, NATO out of the Balkans.”
Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities peace organizations are mobilizing to stop the U.S. war threats to Yugoslavia. The White House is planning a new round of intervention in response to the conflict in Kosovo.
