February 26, 2004

Racial Justice 9-11 National Call for March 20 Mobilization

Racial Justice 9-11, a national coalition of people of color organizations opposed to the “War on Terrorism,” is proud to join the call for a unified mobilization on March 20, 2004. On this one-year anniversary of the war, we believe it is vital that communities of color in the United States mobilize with millions around the world in public action against the war. So much is at stake for people of color and Third World migrant communities in the United States.  The War on Terrorism is indeed a Racial Justice emergency. When Bush invades (or threatens to invade) sovereign nations purported to be the enemies of America, we know that he is speaking of attacking our homelands, our relatives, our people’s histories and cultures. When Bush boasts of the record number of detention and deportations of “illegal” immigrants in the United States since the events of September 11, 2001, we know that he boasts of destroying the lives of innocent community members and their families – our brothers, sisters, fathers and friends deported/ detained as a means of blind retaliation for 9-11. When Bush speaks about “Code Orange” and the necessity of militarizing US ports of entry and the streets of major US urban centers, we know that he is speaking about increased racial profiling of all people of color and immigrants -- those that US racism has historically labeled menace/foreign/threat. When Bush speaks about the need for increased surveillance and the curbing of civil liberties as a national security imperative, we know that he is talking about further criminalizing political dissent and expression and rolling back on the major civil rights and racial justice victories that were won by people of color over the past forty years. When Bush speaks of spending billions of dollars to increase military spending, we know that he is doing so at the expense of human need, at the expense of affordable housing, access to healthcare, public education and social welfare programs. When Bush speaks of sending more troops to sustain the occupation of Iraq, we know that he is speaking of sending more low-income Black, Brown, Asian, and Native American youth to fight and die in an unjust war. 

For all these reasons and more, Racial Justice 9-11 calls on people of color community members to mobilize in support of the March 20 unified statement:

On March 20th, the one year anniversary of the U.S. war against Iraq, a Global Day of Action will bring hundreds of thousands of people into the streets in cities around the world. In New York City the March 20th Mobilizing Committee and the March 20th National Coalition are organizing a unified demonstration opposing the criminal and empire-building policies of the Bush administration and their impact abroad and at home. We will march for an end to the U.S. occupation and corporate control of Iraq and to bring the troops home now. We will march for an end to the occupation of Palestine. We will march to fund human needs, restore cuts in social programs and against the ever-expanding attacks on all immigrants, labor rights and everyone's civil liberties - and we will stand united against racism here and abroad. We represent diverse communities and organizations opposed to the Bush Administration policies for many reasons, but on March 20th we will march together. By working together our two coalitions are confident we will mobilize a massive turnout on March 20th and send a strong, clear message.

            As a signatory to the “Open Letter from Arab-American and Muslim Community to the US Anti-War Movement,” Racial Justice 9-11 will mobilize on March 20 against the colonial occupation of Palestine and in support of Palestinian self-determination, affirming its centrality to any peace and justice movement, as well as its inseparability to the anti-war movement.   

Racial Justice 9-11 recognizes that people of color fight the “War on Terrorism” each day—from organizing against detention and deportation to resisting the poverty/race draft. In this sense, mobilizing the community base for a rally requires increased energy and effort on the part of community leaders. In response, RJ911 seeks to support people of color and immigrant communities by providing outreach material and helping to organize people of color contingents and convergence space for the March 20 protest. For more information, please contact:  Mario Lugay 718.220.7391 ext. 19, |racialjustice911@riseup.net