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Eyewitness Report, Honolulu O26
by Carolyn Hadfield
Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002 at 12:01 PM
carolina@lava.net
Following are some of my thoughts on the October 26th march and rally that I sent to some of my friends. You're free to share it as you see fit.
About 1100 people turned out for the Stop the War march and rally at Ala Moana Park in Honolulu. According to several veteran anti-war activists, this may have been the largest anti-war march in recent history (including during the Vietnam War)!
When the march left Ala Moana Park to begin its route around the huge Ala Moana shopping center there were about 600 people. All along the route, people joined up. By the time the march returned to the park the numbers had swelled to just under 1,000 (someone actually counted at the footbridge near the rally), and there were more than a hundred people waiting at the rally site! One thousand one-hundred people showing up for an anti-war rally in Honolulu is amazing!
The march was colorful and lively, though slow enough to make it possible for small children, seniors and people in wheelchairs to participate. The diversity was incredible! Young and old, pacifists and revolutionaries, veteran activists from the 60's and rebellious youth, representatives from unions, churches, the sovereignty movement, and lots who said they'd never taken part in a demonstration before. Some with drums and some in costume. The march was "eye candy". A big "War Without End? Not in Our Name!" banner led the march but there were signs and banners in every color and style speaking to all aspects of the war: "Stop the War", "Stop Attacks on Immigrants", "Peace is the Answer", "Capitalism Sucks", "USA - Creating Global Poverty", "We Will Not Be Silenced By Fear", U.S. Hands Off Iraq", "U.S. Military Out of Hawai`i", "No Blood for Oil", and hundreds more. Some people held up pictures of the globe; others held copies of last week's cover from the Honolulu Weekly reading "No War".
The response from people passing by was wonderful: lots of horns, shakas, thumbs up, and shouts. When the march returned to Ala Moana Park a drumming group was already playing, and many began to dance. Others crowded the tables set up by UHPA (the faculty union), American Friends Service Committee, DMZ Hawai`i, Refuse & Resist, Revolution Books, University Peace Initiative/Professors Opposed to the War, or picked up refreshments.
Hundreds stayed for a rally that included speakers, poets, performers and musicians. Speakers spoke out passionately against the war -- some calling on people to sing and dance, others to protest, others to meditate, and still others to pray. But what came through loud and clear was that we all need to unite to oppose the war in every way possible.
Many people told me that the march and rally had broken through their feelings of isolation and fear. All through the day I heard people saying how happy they were to learn that their friend, their acquaintance, their co-worker, or their teacher was on the streets with them. A youth speaker at the rally told me how surprised and happy he was when his high school teacher was waiting off-stage to congratulate him . A prominent speaker announced from the stage that she had been so depressed that she didn't want to come, but when she got to the event her spirits lifted at the sight of such a strong and determined crowd.
I had no doubt that the march and rally infused many with the very real hope that it is going to be possible to build a movement strong enough to stop the war.
One of the high points for me was when more than 30 young people crowded the stage to lead the crowd in repeating the "Pledge of Resistance" from the Not in Our Name Campaign. Throughout the day these youth infused the event with their strength, their energy, and their determination -- whether on the bullhorns leading chants, sharing their poetry and music, talking to people individually, or speaking out against U.S. attacks against people around the world from the stage. So often I hear older people dissing the youth for being apathetic and ignorant.
I trust that after October 26th they'll treat the youth with new respect. They are the future!
At some point during the day I stopped to think about the small group of activists who had gotten together about three weeks earlier to talk about "doing something." At the time the Not in Our Name "Statement of Resistance" was about to be printed in the newspaper, and the outpouring of support from the community had been so overwhelming that we felt compelled to do something more. So the march and rally was called on the 26th - only three weeks away. Some wondered whether it would be possible, but so many people made it happen. New organizers joined up and took on major responsibilities. People picked up stacks of leaflets faster than they could be printed, distributing them at colleges, high schools, workplaces and churches. Food was donated. Signs and banners were made. The ACLU and other lawyers helped with getting the permits. A sound guy brought his system and spent the entire day at the boards.
October 26th was a great beginning and I think it went a long way toward bringing reality to the dream of building an anti-war movement strong enough to Stop the War! Now we have a lot more work to do! We live on the most militarized piece of land in the world. Soldiers are being deployed from Hawai`i. More land is being grabbed. The challenges we face will be enormous, but if the spirit of unity that I felt at the October 26th march and rally is any indication, I think we'll be able to meet the challenges ahead. But we must stay in touch.
Announcements about anti-war events by dialing 534-CALL (534-2255), by going to the Hawaii Indymedia website (www.indyhawaii.org), or by stopping in at American Friends Service Committee or Revolution Books. There are weekly vigils at the Federal Building every Friday from 4-6 pm. I know there are many, many other activities happening against the war, and hope that we will find ways to connect.
Carolyn Hadfield
That it?
by amused
Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 at 6:08 PM
1100 people was more than they got to rally for vietnam? In a city with over a million people?
Damn: you leftists are pretty much margininalized on this island: I've seen better turn-outs for family reunions!
love and anarchy from seattle
by M
Thursday, Dec. 05, 2002 at 9:37 AM
seattle
Really, amused? What does this say about your city? What does this say about you? Pathetic. The 1100 who showed up should be praised for their courage and their morality...Two things you are obviously lacking...
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