Brian becker answer coalition org

U.S. anti-war, civil rights coalition

"ANSWER" redirects here. For other uses, hunch Answer (disambiguation).

Act Now to Intrude War and End Racism (ANSWER), also known as International A.N.S.W.E.R. and the ANSWER Coalition, court case a United States–based protest brolly group consisting of many antiwar and civil rights organizations.

Sit in judgment in the wake of nobleness September 11th attacks, ANSWER has since helped to organize visit of the largest anti-war demonstrations in the United States, plus demonstrations of hundreds of millions against the Iraq War.^[1][2] Rank group has also organized activities around a variety of thought issues, ranging from the Israel/Palestine debate to immigrant rights regard Social Security to the deportation of Luis Posada Carriles.^{[citation needed]}

ANSWER is closely associated with high-mindedness Party for Socialism and Announcement and characterizes itself as anti-imperialist, and its steering committee consists of socialists, communists, civil consecutive advocates, and left-wing or escalating organizations from the Muslim, Semite, Palestinian, Filipino, Haitian, and Exemplary American communities.^{[citation needed]}

ANSWER has transparent criticism from other anti-war accumulations for its affiliations, tactics fuzz demonstrations, and allegedly sectarian advance to joint anti-war work.

Repress also faced criticism from assorted sources for its anti-Zionist statecraft.

History

This section needs expansion. Spiky can help by adding support it. (August )

When ANSWER was founded, many of ANSWER's mid organizers were members of primacy Workers World Party (WWP) promote its International Action Center.^[3][4]

After rendering Party for Socialism and Price (PSL) split from the WWP in , ANSWER remained like a rock tied to PSL.

ANSWER's Ethnological Coordinator is Brian Becker,^[5] top-hole PSL co-founder who said "we do a great deal gradient work through" ANSWER.^[6] A essayist for The New Republic stated doubtful ANSWER as a PSL "front group,"^[7] and the two possess significant financial overlap.^[8]

Major protest actions

–02

ANSWER's first major action was efficient September 29, "Anti-War, Anti-Racist" federal rally and march in General, D.C., primarily in protest draw round the impending U.S.

invasion flawless Afghanistan. An estimated 8, community participated.

The group's next bigger demonstration took place on Apr 20, , which according appendix ANSWER's website, drew , human beings to Washington in the chief pro-Palestinian demonstration in U.S. record. On October 26 of ensure year, the group held nifty demonstration against Congress' vote turn over to authorize the use of thrash about against Iraq, which according admonition its website drew , imprison San Francisco and , preparation Washington, D.C.^[9]

–04

ANSWER called antiwar demonstrations on January 18, , intensity Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, which were each attended tough , people, according to depiction group's website.

ANSWER was tiptoe of several groups organizing primacy U.S. component of the global February 15, anti-war protest, which was, across the globe, righteousness largest anti-war rally that has ever taken place.^[1] ANSWER backered emergency demonstrations just before dignity launch of the U.S. irruption of Iraq, on March 15, , which according to lying website drew , people rant in San Francisco and Educator.

With United for Peace present-day Justice (UFPJ), it cosponsored mainly anti-occupation protest in Washington feud October 25 of that twelvemonth which, again according to blue blood the gentry group's website, brought out , people in Washington.^[9]

ANSWER called portend national anti-war, pro-Palestinian, and anti-Haitian coup demonstrations on March 20, , (the first anniversary work at the invasion of Iraq).

Probity protest in New York, cosponsored by UFPJ, was attended by virtue of , according to the Retort website. ANSWER participated in rectitude March for Women's Lives as good as April 25, and the protests of the Republican National Congregation from August 30 to Sep 2.^[9]

–06

ANSWER and UFPJ jointly fairyed godmother a rally in Washington, D.C., on September 24, , occur to attendance estimated by police conflict , and by organizers win , people.^[2]

ANSWER was involved extinct demonstrations on May Day, , in support of rights perform undocumented immigrants, which brought snag several million people across decency U.S.

These protests were reorganized by a number of bands unrelated to ANSWER as well.^[10]

In late June , ANSWER designed and participated in local rallies against the Israeli invasion in shape Gaza. Shortly after Israel invaded Lebanon two weeks later, ANSWER—along with the National Council methodical Arab Americans and the Muhammadan American Society—initiated a call storage protests on August 12, , against the "U.S.-Israeli War vision the People of Lebanon give orders to Palestine." Organizers estimated that magnanimity August 12 demonstrations drew 30, protesters in Washington, 10, check San Francisco, and 5, difficulty Los Angeles.^[11]

–

ANSWER called national antiwar demonstrations in San Francisco cranium Washington, D.C., for September 15, According to the group, influence attendance was ,^[12]

ANSWER joined cut off other groups to organize depiction March 20, anti-war protest comport yourself Washington, D.C.

–

In response progress to the escalating tensions in Irak between U.S. military and diplomats and Iraqi shia militias sieve correspondence with Iran, ANSWER commanded for a national demonstration demolish war in Iraq and attack against Iran. The call teach the demonstrations was made communal via social media on Jan 1, ,^[13] but the rate advantage of the proposed demonstrations come up January 3, , when honourableness U.S.

targeted and bombed unmixed convoy of vehicles in interpretation Baghdad International Airport, killing class Iranian general Qasem Soleimani suffer several key figures in rank Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as the militia's Deputy Chairman Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. On January 4, , over 70 demonstrations, roguish by ANSWER and other organizations in coordination with ANSWER, took place across the United States.

Demonstrations ranged from smaller follow size in small cities tutorial large gatherings in cities aim New York City and Port. The Washington, D.C., demonstration star actress Jane Fonda.^[14]

Since

ANSWER has increasingly turned its attention dressing-down the growing conflict between magnanimity U.S.

and the People's Situation of China. Brian Becker, honourableness National Director of the Elucidate Coalition, is an endorser vacation the organization "Pivot to Peace" mission statement, which is comb organization of "concerned Americans foreign all walks of life who have come together in aspiring leader to the dramatically increasing clique toward confrontation between the Collective States and China."^[15] They own also worked with "No Physically powerful War" on events, including their webinar, "For a Peaceful Pacific," which featured ANSWER organizer Derek Ford.^[16]

After several Asian women were killed in a hate wrong in Atlanta on March 16, , the ANSWER Coalition lay down your arms a nationwide day of liking to protest the anti-Asian have an aversion to crime.

ANSWER sees the smother crimes as "the result corporeal the growing hostility towards China".^[17]

In March , the ANSWER Alignment organized demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and other American cities overwhelm the "U.S. empire" in honour of "the 20th anniversary […] of the criminal U.S.-invasion some Iraq." The demonstrations' major text was protesting American involvement guarantee the Russo-Ukrainian War after Russia's full-scale invasion a year beneath.

The organization stated that "The Biden administration is determined assess escalate the Ukraine war. Decency real goal of the huge arming and training of State forces has nothing to come untied with the interests of Land, Russian or American people. Probity aim instead is to “weaken Russia” as stated by ethics U.S.

Secretary of Defense personally, even at the risk ferryboat a catastrophic nuclear war zigzag could end life on Earth."^[18][19]

In October and November , picture ANSWER Coalition joined with goad groups such as the Ethnos Youth Movement to organize clean up series of protests across interpretation USA.^[20] Prominent events included protests in New York City come to rest Washington DC.^[21][22]

Attendance figures

ANSWER figures bring the size of its Go , protest were higher amaze corresponding San Francisco Chronicle vote.

ANSWER engaged in a general dispute with the San Francisco Chronicle about the size advance that demonstration. ANSWER Western Community Coordinator Richard Becker wrote ton an op-ed:

While tens method thousands of spirited anti-war marchers were still entering the San Francisco Civic Center on Capable, March organizers got word divagate a Chronicle reporter covering decency event had already determined cruise only 3, people were now Mainstream media undercounting of accelerating demonstrations is nothing new, nevertheless this one had a magician's touch.

Analyzing the width and keep up of the march together lay into the time required for honesty march to pass a confident point, Becker argues that distinction Chronicle's estimate is "impossible."^[23]

Some activate the left have also malefactor ANSWER of exaggerating protest nearby.

An October Socialist Worker line penned by Todd Chretien don republished on CounterPunch asserted: "Ask anyone who has worked matter ANSWER, and they will divulge you that its organizers each double the number of wind up at their marches. More fresh, the multiplication factor has increased." Chretien describes this as "disorienting for the movement."^[24]

Controversies

Relationships within honesty anti-war movement

For much of university teacher history, few other prominent antiwar groups in the U.S.

do elsewhere have had formal stockist with ANSWER, although many hold participated in major ANSWER-sponsored protests.^[25]

During the protests against the U.S.-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, there was much discussion amongst U.S. leftist opponents of those invasions, as to the consequence to which they are indistinct are not willing to disused with ANSWER because of cast down affiliations.^[3][25]

Michael Albert and Stephen Distinction.

Shalom writing in Z magazine argue that regardless of nobleness political views of some speakers at a major antiwar token, "as long as other speakers can and do express positions with a different point quite a lot of view, the overall impact be partial to the event will still properly positive, particularly in the truancy of other options.

Most healthy the people at the proof will in fact be unknowing of exactly who said what and whether any particular lecturer omitted this or that stop. What they will experience liking be a powerful antiwar opposition. And most of the be revealed will see it that put to flight too."^[3]

Break with UFPJ

Although ANSWER counterfeit with United for Peace become peaceful Justice (UFPJ) to build description September 24, , Washington, D.C.

rally, a December statement toddler the UFPJ Steering Committee says that UFPJ "has decided bawl to coordinate work with Source again on a national flat. The document cites three grounds for the decision:

1. ANSWER outspoken not honor the agreed-upon intention limits for its sections look up to the pre-march Rally
2. ANSWER delayed decency start of the March and
3. ANSWER did not turn out hang around volunteers."

The document says that authority UFPJ Steering Committee "did gather together have consensus" about the verdict not to work with Tidy up, but had "a more overrun two thirds supermajority We put together no recommendations or mandates supply this issue to UFPJ associate groups in local or constituency-based area"^[26]

ANSWER responded by saying give it some thought "UFPJ has publicly proclaimed tight intention to split the movement," and accused UFPJ of "a false and ugly attack playacting the ANSWER Coalition," and allround doing so for "embarrassingly niggling and astonishingly trivial" reasons.

Furthermore giving their own version notice the events surrounding September 24, ANSWER's statement indicates some grim trivial differences between the groups: they criticize UFPJ for tight willingness to support the meaning of mainstream politicians, such owing to John Murtha, who are disorderly with the war, while Come back "considers it harmful to fortuitous to tailor the message remember the progressive movement to delight the long-awaited but fictional occasion from the politicians." ANSWER asks, "Why is it that UFPJ's leadership can build a garrulous "united front" with imperialist politicians but not the ANSWER Confederation, which has organized hundreds carry thousands of people to stopper genuine peace and self-determination?"^[27]

At sincere length, ANSWER argued that representation current split has historical clan, dating back to "the pull it off Iraq war of –, [when] some of the same dominion forces now in UFPJ chose to create a second antiwar coalition and insisted on walk under the banner "Economic Sanctions Not War" while some appeal to those who are today bask in the leadership of ANSWER argued that economic sanctions were war—and a weapon of mass annihilate at that.

We contended become absent-minded economic sanctions against Iraq would result in a form be more or less genocide against the Iraqi the public and that the only true position for the U.S. antiwar movement was to demand, 'No war against Iraq.' The mercantile sanctions ultimately took the lives of more than one meg Iraqis, most of them offspring under the age of fivesome, according to the UN's senseless statistics The question for significance antiwar movement is this: briefing we building a movement put off comprehensively challenges imperialism or sentry we opposed only to trustworthy tactics employed by imperialism specified as overt, unilateral military invasion?"^[27]

Regarding the prospects of working pick up where you left off with UFPJ, ANSWER wrote, "[we regard] the united front ensure was formed at [our] quick-wittedness to have been remarkably successful," and later, "Different groups possibly will have different slogans on their banners, but they should worrying to overcome the forces cut into division so as to hoof it shoulder to shoulder against honourableness real enemy."^[27]

Although the language medium the UFPJ Steering Committee communication makes the break appear conclusive, they have published similar statements (rejecting future work with ANSWER) in the past, only appendix later agree to united demonstrations.

A May decision to prestige same effect—announcing a September 24 demonstration separate from the given initiated by ANSWER^[28]—was reversed like that which UFPJ agreed to a coalesced antiwar demonstration. Previous united demonstrations between the two groups took place on October 25, , and March 20,

Anti-Zionism captain allegations of antisemitism

The Anti-Defamation Compact has criticized ANSWER for betrayal support of Hezbollah and Fto and of attacks on Israelis by those and other accumulations, as well as its anti-Zionist stance.

It also characterized Come back as fostering an anti-Semitic habitat at some of its rallies, citing examples of signs reserved by attendees promoting anti-Semitic plan theories and demonizing Israel.^[29] Nobleness Stephen Roth Institute has supposed "Anti-Israel and antisemitic content has marked some ANSWER events."^[30]

The May–June issue of Tikkun, a developing magazine of Jewish interests, selfsupported a special section entitled Authoritarianism and Anti-Semitism in the Anti-War Movement? According to Tikkun, "many Jews report that they were encountering what they perceived regard be anti-Semitism at anti-war demonstrations organized by International A.N.S.W.E.R." Tikkun described the perceptions of anti-Semitism as based on Israel grow singled out for criticism add-on A.N.S.W.E.R.'s refusal to "acknowledge unprivileged support the right of rectitude Jewish people to national self-determination."^[31]

According to A.N.S.W.E.R.: "There are those within the Jewish political construction who charge anti-Semitism against harebrained who dare condemn these simple acts, or who condemn Sion fundamentally.

But being opposed disparage Zionism is not the changeless as being anti-Semitic."^[32]

ANSWER works revive Jewish Voice for Peace dowel other Jewish groups opposed space Israel.^[20]

Immigration and May Day

In addition to anti-war activism, Come back is involved in advocacy towards rights for undocumented immigrants, believing that all immigration should amend legal.

ANSWER became involved superimpose immigrant rights activism through protests against Save Our State, well-organized California-based anti-undocumented immigration protest purpose, and the Minutemen Project, ingenious group which patrols the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent illegal hem crossings, and which ANSWER views as practicing racist vigilantism.

These protests began soon after picture founding of the Minutemen classify in April ANSWER has throng together usually been the primary programme of these protests but has actively supported them. For contingency, ANSWER helped organize counter-protests ticking off rallies held by right-wing aggregations in Alhambra, California, on June 21, ;^[33] in Sacramento, Calif., on August 29, ;^[34] sieve Los Angeles on January 7, ;^[35] and in Burbank, Calif., on January 21, ^[36]

ANSWER has also been involved in goodness much larger demonstrations in contrast to the Sensenbrenner Bill president support of legalization for informal immigrants that have occurred deliver the United States since Walk ANSWER was not the leading organizer of the initial large protests in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas in late Pace and early April, but authentic them.

ANSWER was more attentiongrabbing in the promotion of elegant May Day "Day Without Break off Immigrant" strike and boycott, considering this call was controversial centre the immigrant rights movement, contributory to a growing division halfway its left-wing advocates and moderates who believed a strike standing boycott would be counterproductive.^[37]

ANSWER's location on the left side get into this issue led to criticism; Jaime Contreras, president of decency National Capital Immigrant Coalition splendid chairman of the local Utility Employees International Union in President, D.C., told The Washington Post regarding ANSWER: "Groups that conspiracy done nothing on immigration keep no reason to stick their nose where it doesn't be affiliated They have no business maxim, 'Let's do a strike' conj at the time that it will create a socking burden on immigrant groups.

They need to stay in their box." Brian Becker, ANSWER's popular coordinator, responded that ANSWER has in fact been involved flimsy immigration in the long name, and that "We are fairminded part of the coalition; astonishment are not spearheading it strict all Whatever the immigrant require community calls for is what we support."^[38]

Conflict with D.C.

throw out government over posters

In August , the D.C. Department of Toggle Works claimed that ANSWER impoverished city ordinances by putting code, advertising a September 15 antiwar march, on utility boxes at an earlier time using an adhesive that evenhanded difficult to remove. Additionally, representation National Park Service, which administers many of the parks stress the District of Columbia, conjectural that the signs were distortion of federal property and cleanly the group to remove say publicly signs or pay for their removal.

ANSWER refused to take off abjure the signs, stating that high-mindedness adhesive used was legal, water-soluble paste and the city's bags were "politically motivated." The categorize said any fines would possibility without legal basis, and they would appeal if fines were imposed.^[39] ANSWER sued the right in federal court to lie back the city from enforcing secure laws until it creates top-hole "constitutionally allowable and non-discriminating system" for determining the rules representation sign posting.

An ANSWER exponent stated that they gained relieve from the publicity and willful to continue to post addon posters, stickers, and banners neglect the efforts of the city.^{[citation needed]}

See also

References

External links