SAY NO TO U.S. AGGRESSION AGAINST CUBA!
 PROTEST BUSH'S SPEECH ATTACKING CUBA
 
MAY 19-20:
Days of nationally-coordinated local actions protesting 
 Bush's new attacks on Cuba
 
 On May 20, President Bush is scheduled to speak in Miami, 
 announcing a new round of hostile and aggressive measures 
 against Cuba. On May 19 and 20, people across the country 
 will be holding demonstrations and press conferences 
 opposing a new U.S. war and threats against Cuba. The 
 A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition urges all of its Organizing Centers 
 and affiliate groups to organize demonstrations or to join 
 already-planned demonstrations that show solidarity with 
 the Cuban people at the time that the Bush administration 
 strengthens the criminal blockade of Cuba and intensifies 
 its hostile and aggressive measures against Cuba.

 The May 20 speech by Bush will be the next step in a 
 longer process initiated by the ultra-right wing foreign 
 policy team in the White House and Pentagon who seek to 
 overthrow the Cuban government and return Cuba to a state 
 of colonialism. In recent weeks, the A.N.S.W.E.R. 
 Coalition has issued a statement in solidarity with Cuba 
 in the face of this new aggression by the Bush 
 administration. Nearly 5,500 people have signed that 
 statement in the last two weeks. Now is the time to take 
 action. The global anti-war movement that now exists in 
 all countries can, through its united actions, strengthen 
 solidarity with the Cuban people at this critical hour.
 
 We encourage people to consider Federal Buildings and 
 other central locations for demonstrations in your city or 
 town. Please respond and let us know about local 
 demonstrations and press conferences by filling out the 
 easy-to-use form at
 http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/cuba/m20.html#event
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
 THOUSANDS WILL MARCH TO PROTEST GEORGE W. BUSH
 in PHILADELPHIA
 on JULY 4
 
 The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition congratulates the local 
 Philadelphia organizations who have come together to issue 
 a call for thousands of people to join in a national march 
 on July 4 in Philadelphia protesting U.S. wars at home and 
 abroad. The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition urges its Organizing 
 Centers and all people of conscience to be in the streets 
 of Philadelphia on July 4.

 Karl Rove, Bush's chief political strategist, corrected a 
 student who challenged him last week by asking how the 
 administration could justify war with Iraq when no weapons 
 of mass destruction have been found. Rove responded: 
 "First of all, its the battle of Iraq, not the war." He 
 then explained that "the war" is an ongoing war against 
 terrorism that has no fixed end date. This is the most 
 explicit confirmation that the Bush administration plans 
 to carry out regime change, either through invasion or 
 stepped up covert operations, against all those who 
 attempt to retain nominal sovereignty over their own land 
 and natural resources. Syria, southern Lebanon, Palestine, 
 North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Iran and other countries are 
 slated for aggression. We must all come together to 
 support the call of the local Philadelphia organizations 
 in order to ensure the largest mobilization possible.
 
 Following is a statement issued by a number of the local 
 Philadelphia organizations about the July 4 national 
 march. In addition to the July 4 national protest, a 
 number of groups are sponsoring local and regional 
 protests on that weekend. Philadelphia organizations 
 involved in the local, regional and national protests 
 include Philadelphia A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & 
 End Racism), PRAWN (Philadelphia Regional Anti-War 
 Network), Minority Experience Network, Avenging the 
 Ancestors Coalition (ATAC), Unite for Peace, International 
 Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and 
 others.
 
 *********
 
 George W. Bush has been invited to the opening of the 
 National Constitution Center. We need to be there to say 
 No to U.S. Wars at Home and Abroad; No to Colonialism and 
 Empire; End the Occupation of Iraq; No to Racism, Attacks 
 on Civil Rights and Immigrants, the USA Patriot Act and 
 the Shredding of the Constitution; and to Call for Funding 
 of Social Programs - not the Pentagon's War Machine.
 
 The 4th of July weekend offers a great opportunity to 
 remind the world of our determination to oppose the 
 never-ending series of wars in the various forms it is 
 taking against people here and abroad. The Bush wars for 
 empire require a massive transfer of wealth from social 
 programs. While the administration hands out lucrative 
 contracts to Bechtel, Halliburton, and Exxon, and pushes 
 for major tax giveaways to the already very rich, it fails 
 totally to address the problems of widespread 
 unemployment, increasing imprisonment, and cuts in 
 healthcare, education, transportation and housing.
 
 The income gap is widening -- the average CEO today makes 
 531 times the average worker. Repression is deepening -- 
 over 2.2 million people are incarcerated, 3,000 on death 
 row and due process continues to be denied for U.S. 
 political prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier and 
 others. Bigotry is on the rise - thousands of immigrants 
 are detained without trial, Affirmative Action is under 
 attack, and rightwing politicians seem to feel they have 
 carte blanche to attack the rights of workers, people of 
 color, women and lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
 
 Many people are expressing fear and concern about the 
 direction the U.S. seems headed in with the 
 ultra-conservative administration of Bush, Cheney, 
 Ashcroft, Rumsfeld, Perle, Wolfowitz and the rest. 
 Congress appears unwilling to offer and real opposition, 
 and the Supreme Court seems to be just a rubber stamp for 
 administration decisions. It is up to the people of the 
 U.S., in solidarity with the global movement for peace and 
 justice, to take up the challenge.
 
 Already groups [in Philadelphia] are planning local, 
 regional and national protest, actions and events for the 
 first week of July: Avenging the Ancestors Coalition 
 (ATAC) has a protest for July 3; groups may be protesting 
 the PA state budget cuts slated for July 1; and more.
 
 Let's work together to support these events and to build 
 for the National Protest on July 4 in Philadelphia.
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------

 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
 AGAINST WAR, COLONIAL OCCUPATION
 & IMPERIALISM
 
 MAY 17-18
 New York City
 
 These and other action plans and proposals will be a focus 
 of discussion at the upcoming National Anti-War Conference 
 in New York City taking place this May 17 & 18. In 
 addition to mapping a national action plan for the next 
 months, hundreds of anti-war activist and organizers from 
 across the country will share information and discuss the 
 most pressing issues of the day in exciting and 
 informative workshops and plenary sessions.
 
 For details about the conference - including the schedule, 
 logistical and housing information, an online 
 pre-registration form, transportation from your area & 
 more - go to
 http://www.internationalanswer.org/campaigns/m3/index.html
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
 There is an important and major story in the Monday, May 
 12 Washington Post that reports on the ground-breaking 
 free speech lawsuits litigated by the Partnership for 
 Civil Justice -- one of the member organizations in the 
 A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition steering committee - on behalf of 
 the progressive movement:
 
 STIRRING A CAUSE
 When Things Get Rough For Protesters, These Lawyers Go On 
 The March
 By David Montgomery
 
 The D.C. police want everyone out of 18th Street NW, and 
 they mean now. They're pushing their batons hard against 
 rib cages and backs. They're grabbing shoulders and 
 shoving.
 
 For the full article, go to:
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43018-2003May11.html
 
 To find out more about the free speech lawsuits, go to
 http://www.civil-rights.net
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
 RAMSEY CLARK ON C-SPAN
 
 Ramsey Clark was the featured speaker at the National 
 Press Club luncheon today. He gave an important talk 
 entitled "U.S. Militarism Threatens the Destiny of 
 Humanity," with a question and answer period that 
 followed. Mr. Clark gave an eloquent and impassioned 
 explanation for the case for impeachment of George W. Bush 
 and others in the administration for the commission of 
 high crimes and misdemeanors, citing the war of aggression 
 against Iraq and the assault on civil rights and civil 
 liberties at home. This National Press Club luncheon is a 
 don't miss TV experience.
 
 His address will be aired on C-Span at 12:06 am and 4:38 
 am (on Tuesday, May 13). Please check the C-Span schedule 
 at http://www.c-span.org for schedule changes and future 
 air times. The video can also be viewed on the C-Span 
 website. Search "Ramsey Clark" in the Video Search section 
 in the upper right hand corner of the website and select 
 "U.S. Militarism Threatens the Destiny of Humanity."
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 
 Email circulated by:
 A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
 Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
 
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 http://www.InternationalANSWER.org
 info@internationalanswer.org
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