The mobilization, sponsored by the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) was organized around the call: “Justice, not war! No to a new martial law! No to US troops in the Philippines!” It had the support of cosponsors GABRIELA Network USA, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Hunter College Student Liberation Action Movement (SLAM!), and Nodutdol for Korean Community Development.
NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 21, 2002 — Over fifty people marched, chanted, and sang outside of the Philippine Consulate on Fifth Avenue today. They were there to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of US-backed dictator Ferdinand Marcos' 1972 declaration of martial law. They called attention to its parallels to the current escalation of human rights violations in the Philippines as well as the relationship of these to a rapidly increasing presence and involvement of US troops in that southeast Asian archipelago.
The mobilization, sponsored by the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) was organized around the call: “Justice, not war! No to a new martial law! No to US troops in the Philippines!” It had the support of cosponsors GABRIELA Network USA, New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Hunter College Student Liberation Action Movement (SLAM!), and Nodutdol for Korean Community Development.
Loud chants echoed down Fifth Avenue, including “Stop the US war machine, from Iraq to the Philippines,” “Makibaka! Huwag matakot!” (Struggle! Don't be afraid!), and “US troops, US planes, No more killing in our names!” Participants were treated to cultural offerings by singer Athena and spoken word artist Ree Obana. Obana, a member of the Filipino Organization for Women's Advancement, Rights and Dignity (FORWARD), gave a fiery reading of her “Reality Show,” an indictment of the effects of the increasing militarization of the Philippines juxtaposed with references to the US media's escapist entertainment offerings.
The protesters joined in unison to read the Not in Our Name pledge (http://www.notinourname.net/), the closing words of which are “We pledge to make common cause with the people of the world to bring about justice freedom and peace. Another world is possible and we pledge to make it real.”
A solidarity message from a New York member of from Voices in the Wilderness, a group in the forefront of opposing US aggression against Iraq, was presented. Amanda Vender, a NISPOP member, spoke of her observations of extensive human rights abuses of Muslim civilians by the Philippine Army during her participation in the International Solidarity Mission to the southern Philippines in July.
Angela Bukowy of the Palestine International Solidarity Movement described the Israeli Army's systematic campaign to remove Palestinians in the West Bank from their land. Sukjong Hong of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development gave a detailed presentation on the effects of US military bases--and occupation--on the people of southern Korea. Sukjong recounted how a US Army tank engaged in training exercises ran over and killed two 13 year old girls in June.
Mekesia Brown of Hunter SLAM! described her inspiring experience at the July “Link Arms, Raise Fists: US Troops Out of the Philippines Now” conference in San Francisco. She spoke of the importance of unity between the victims of the US war machine and racial profiling at home and abroad.
Fernando Reals of the Quilombo Collective spoke on the links between the struggle of the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico to end the US Navy's bombing of their island home and the other struggles represented at the rally. He pointed out that bombs tested in Vieques end up being used in places like Palestine, Iraq and the Philippines. Reals emphasized that these links between our struggles underscore the need for all of us to link our resistance more powerfully in the future.
Finally, postal worker and labor activist Dennis O'Neil made an urgent announcement about Filipino progressives who are being threatened with deportation from the Netherlands by the Dutch government. He pointed out that this was a case of the Dutch government knuckling under to bullying by the US government. O'Neil urged participants to attend and help to build a mobilization to be held at New York City's Dutch consulate, One Rockefeller Plaza (at West 48th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues) at 5:00 pm on Monday, September 30.