US gears up for massive anti-war rallies

A US soldier's boots and a symbolic flag-draped coffin at the anti-war protest in Washington (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173308.html

Thousands of anti-war activists are set to hold rallies in New York and San Francisco to deplore the US military's interventions in the Middle East and North Africa.

The United National Anti-war Committee and the Muslim Peace Coalition, representing national and local Muslim organizations in the US, are the main organizers of the major national anti-war rallies at Union Square in New York on Saturday April 9, and in San Francisco on Sunday April 10, one of the organizers, the International Action Center (IAC), stated on its website.

More than 500 peace, justice, labor, civic, religious, and civil liberties organizations have unanimously endorsed the planned rallies to protest wars, condemn terrorism, fight Islamophobia and support the Islamic awakening surging throughout the Middle East.

Imams from New York are calling Muslims in the state to come out in droves for the rally and express their outrage at the US military's interventions in Libya and other Middle Eastern countries.

Organizers say they intend to turn a harsh spotlight on the urgency of responding to ongoing US-led military strikes on Libya, and underscore the need to put an end to the costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The plight of Gazans in the occupied Palestinian territories and continued harassment of Muslims in the US are widely expected to be brought into a sharper focus during the massive protests.

"Because of the dangerous escalation of attacks on Muslims across the US, solidarity and unity of the antiwar movement with our Muslim sisters and brothers has become a major focus of these 2 major national rallies," the IAC added.

The group, founded by former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark, is an organization which "opposes US military intervention in all circumstances."

Meanwhile, in a statement endorsed by 100 Imams of New York, they said, "We, 100 Imams from the Muslim community in New York area, stand together to thank our neighbors who have defended the Muslim community against Islamophobia."

The protesters are also to voice their anger over new attacks on labor unions and their collective bargaining rights namely in the US state of Wisconsin, and a new rounds of cuts in social programs, particularly hitting the African-American and immigrant communities.

Anti-monarchists hold demo in Japan

Protesters waving Japanese flags shout slogans in Tokyo.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164812.html

Japanese protestors have called for an end to the imperial system during holiday celebrations of the emperor system and the foundation of the nation.

For the more genteel sections of the society, it is a day for parades and brass bands. They march through the streets showing off their many years of practice. But on this day, all they needed to brave was the fierce cold and the heaviest snowfall of the year in Tokyo, the Press TV correspondent in the Japanese capital reported.

Across town, however, a more formidable scenario was unfolding, with protesters on the march to call for an end to Japan's imperial system.

The protesters declared that they are opposed to war and the stationing of US troops in Japan.

One of the protesters said he is worried about a new war breaking out in East Asia.

A woman told the Press TV correspondent that the imperial system lies at the root of discrimination in the Japanese society.

At one point, the protesters had a confrontation with riot police when they became annoyed with the police's efforts to videotape the protest march.

Shortly afterwards, Japanese ultranationalists appeared. Using powerful loudspeakers, they insulted the anti-war protestors and even threatened them with violence.

“Although these people talk about Japanese nationalism, they are not thinking about the problem of China and North Korea,” one of the ultranationalists said.

A nearby representative of a conservative political party gave a similar message, saying, “We believe that it's important to honor our nation on its birthday. As a political party, we also like to show our will and determination to defend our nation against political threats.”

National Foundation Day has thus become a political battlefield for left and right in Japan. Both sides say they want to establish lasting peace in East Asia, but they have very different ideas about how to achieve it.