arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

From: "A.N.S.W.E.R." <answer.general@action-mail.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 9:04 PM
Subject: [ANSWER]: Denounce government ban on Feb. 15 Peace March in NYC!

A.N.S.W.E.R. DENOUNCES GOVERNMENT BAN ON FEBRUARY 15 PEACE
MARCH IN NEW YORK

A.N.S.W.E.R. denounces Federal Judge Barbara Jones's
refusal to grant a march permit for the huge February 15
peace march in New York City as a dangerous and
politically-motivated assault on the movement's most basic
right to freedom of speech and assembly.

The New York City Police claim that they won't allow the
march on Feb. 15 in New York because of security concerns.
For months the police have been routinely invoking
"security concerns" as a reason to deny march permits for
political demonstrations, large and small, but not for
other assemblies and huge parades that don't have a
political point of view in opposition to government
policies. The right to join together with thousands of
other individuals in common cause and march on our streets
is a unique and powerful form of political expression no
less important than speech, and it is fully protected by
the Constitution. We demand that the courts reject the
"security" pretext used to deny the march permit for Feb.
15, and to deny other marches.

The real reason that New York City Mayor Bloomberg, the
police and the courts are trying to ban the anti-war march
is because Feb. 15 is going to be a powerful international
day of protest against the war on Iraq and the United
States government. The security concerns they really have
are not a threat of "terrorism" but the threat posed to
Bush's political agenda. Fearful of the political impact
of the march the government is trying to suppress the
event.

The peace movement, along with everyone who is threatened
by this outrageous violation of the rights of protestors,
must fight the march ban. A.N.S.W.E.R. joins with all
other groups in fighting for and exercising our right to
march in New York on Feb. 15, and in any other city where
the antiwar movement chooses to take to the streets in
order to stop the war.

For all of those who are planning to join the many feeder
marches to the rally, we encourage everyone to stay strong
and defy the city and federal government's attempts to
discourage participation. The most important thing is that
people come out in large numbers to show the country and
the world that the people of the United States are
mobilizing in opposition to a war of aggression.

The court system, working in cahoots with the police and
the Bush administration, is attempting to discourage
people's efforts to exercise their First Amendment Right
on February 15. The best way, again, to oppose this is to
come to the demonstration.

The New York City demonstration on Saturday, February 15
will assemble on 1st Ave. starting at 49th St. and going
north. The permitted rally will begin at 12 noon.

---------------------------------------

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING ACTIONS:
http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
http://www.VoteNoWar.org
mailto:dc@internationalanswer.org
New York 212-633-6646
Washington 202-544-3389
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545

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