Thousands of people gathered at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago Sunday afternoon, part of more than 6,000 vigils in more than 200 countries around the world last weekend. The millions who gathered in groups small and large had one mission: protesting the proposed U.S.-led war against Iraq.
Despite President Bush's threats and plans to invade the oil-rich nation, possibly as soon as this week, protesters tried not to be discouraged.
A rally with more than 200 people, many of them gay, lesbian, bi and trans, was held at Roscoe and Halsted at 7 p.m. Sunday, organized by Ryan Meher with the help of Lott Hill and Andy Thayer, of Chicago Anti-Bashing Network.
The Web site www.Moveon.org has been a central place for organizers around the world to post their events. Other sites: www.winwithoutwarus.org, www.CABN.org, and www.globalvigil.org .
The Lakeview vigil featured young and older, including many who remembered protesting during the Vietnam War.
Meher said he felt compelled to organize the vigil just five days earlier. It was one of dozens around the city and suburbs Sunday.
Thayer said there are some groups and individuals who are planning civil disobedience.
CABN stated: 'If the U.S. starts a full-scale war on Iraq, a large protest will take place at 5 p.m. at the Federal Plaza, Adams and Dearborn streets, in Chicago, the day the bombing begins. There will be a larger follow-up protest at the same time and place the day after. The morning after the attack, there will be a large civil disobedience action sponsored by the Iraq Peace Pledge, at 8 a.m. the next business day at the Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn. The school day after the attack, students walk out. See chicagoantiwar.org or Chicago.indymedia.org for scheduled walkout times.' Call (312) 458-9559.
Gays and Lesbians Skeptical
When asked in a recent survey how much confidence they have in President Bush and his administration to 'make the right decisions' regarding the use or non-use of the U.S. military to attack Iraq, six out of 10 (60%) of heterosexual adults nationwide stated they are somewhat or very confident. In sharp contrast only 31% of self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) adults said they felt the same.
These are highlights of a nationwide Harris Poll® of 2,271 adults, of whom about six percent (6%) self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT). The survey was conducted online between Feb. 19 and 25, 2003 by Harris Interactive, with analysis of GLBT data provided by Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a strategic public relations and marketing communications firm with special expertise in the GLBT market.
'American leadership at home and abroad requires public trust, especially at tough times like these,' said Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications. 'These findings make clear, however, that this often-marginalized group of citizens, GLBT Americans, expresses deeper feelings of alienation with the administration's decision-making and the prospects of a war in Iraq. Also, given that gays and lesbians would serve the nation bravely, yet are not allowed to serve openly in the armed forces, their skepticism may run even deeper.'
Almost seven out of ten (68%) GLBT adults feel that Bush prefers a military attack on Iraq rather than trying to achieve his main goals without an attack, compared to 51% of heterosexual adults. When asked, 'Would you favor or oppose military action in Iraq if Bush believes Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction but U.N. weapons inspectors cannot find any and the United Nations does not vote in favor of an attack,' over half (56%) of GLBTs say they would oppose attacking Iraq, while just over one-third (35%) of heterosexuals said they would oppose such an attack. The finding for all adults who were asked this question—gay and non-gay—was 45% in favor of attacking Iraq, 36% opposing, and 19% stating they don't know.
Regarding Hussein and Iraq's alleged ties to Al Qaeda, however, there appears to be a closer resemblance between the opinions of gay and non-gay adult Americans. Forty-five percent (45%) of GLBT respondents believe there is some link, and forty-nine percent (49%) of heterosexual adults agree.
Queers Against War Event
Queers Against War: Mobilizing LGBTQs Against the War is a forum scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 2-5 p.m., at Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington. Featured speaker is Leslie Feinberg, author of Stone Butch Blues and anti-war activist with International A.N.S.W.E.R.
Local speakers include Ifti Nasim of Sangat; Rev. Alma Crawford, Co-Pastor, Church of the Open Door; Yasmin Nair of Queer to The Left; Andy Thayer of CABN and the Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism. Organizers also include Neena Hemmedy. Co-sponsored by Queer to the Left, Sangat, International Action Center, A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now Stop War End Racism) and CABN. Call (888) 471-0874.