Filipinos and Solidarity Friends Call for US Withdrawal From Iraq at New York Demo : QC IMC

New York, March 19--The Justice Not War in the Philippines Campaign (JNW) joined the thousands who marched in the streets of New York and around the world to denounce the ongoing US occupation of Iraq, now into its third year. The march began in Harlem, one of New York's poorest communities, where it passed a military recruiting station as it made its way to Central Park. The JNW Campaign also projected opposition to the Hacienda Luisita massacre and a stand for immigrant rights.

"We marched because we wanted to show our spirit of resistance and commitment to justice," said Maria Doherty, Mass Campaigns Coordinator of Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Linking the Children of the Motherland). We need to demonstrate that people have power. If we dont continue the struggle, people wont rise up.

Jojo Geronimo of the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) and a staff member at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) described the importance of linking the issues of the Philippines to the situation in Iraq and in Harlem: "The invasion of Iraq is not just an isolated Bush initiative. Look at the Philippines. The US government is pursuing an imperialist, militarist agenda and an economy built on permanent war.

"This war hurts the majority for the benefit of the few. We can see who is being recruited to fight in Iraq. Its the poor African-Americans and other people of color. And its the corporations that are profiting. The Bush agenda is one of war, poverty and racism."

As the march wound through the Harlem streets, the JNW protesters chanted "Up with Harlem, down with the war!" and "Stop the US war machine from Harlem to Iraq to the Philippines!" while residents could be seen pumping their fists from their windows. A resident also joined in and flew the red, black, and green African-American flag alongside the Philippine flag, the JNW flag, and the flags of JNW's member organizations.

Ree Obana of Ugnayan spoke from the stage on behalf of the Justice Not War in the Philippines Campaign: "We're here to denounce the continuing occupation of Iraq. Our land too has been raped and ravaged by US colonizers."

"Our contingent was very hot," said Elena Shannon of DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association. "It was great to shout on the streets and to express that Bush lied to the people, the decision to go to Iraq was bad, and the US has to withdraw."

The Justice Not War in the Philippines Campaign marched with BAYAN-USA and CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities among other people of color organizations. The JNW Campaign was formed in February 2003 to oppose US intervention and human rights violations in the Philippines. Since its formation, the JNW Campaign has mobilized continuously to project these issues at all major anti-war demonstrations in New York and Washington DC. JNW's member-organizations are NISPOP, DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association and Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.