Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war activist whose son was killed in the Iraq war and who became nationally known during her extended protests outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, will take the stage with black leaders and activists in Washington D.C. on November 7th to denounce the continuation of U.S. wars under the Obama administration.
"I am honored to be asked to speak at the Black is Back Coalition march and rally", Sheehan wrote in her blog. After she was arrested last month at the White House in a protest against Obama's continuation of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Sheehan stated, "I think the mood of the country and the mood of our movement is getting a little bit more desperate, and (that) this will be the time to be able to translate our tireless activism and work for peace."
The Black is Back! Coalition's leaders and founding members span the spectrum of black political voices, from elected officials to civil rights veterans, nationalists, socialists, civil libertarians, community activists, political prisoners, journalists, hip hop artists, and radio personalities.
The coalition's Call to Action states, "Many well-meaning people in this country and around the world are afraid to take more progressive political positions for fear of being seen as anti-Black…We need to remind people of the absolute lack of 'progress' since new faces assumed leadership of this nation. Many of the leading concerns of Black people, Latinos and working people in this country remain insufficiently addressed. Black and Brown people continue to suffer the brunt of un/under-employment and predatory loan scandal crises.
"Military spending under Obama has increased as have the warfare this nation continues to export to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Venezuela and Colombia. Mass incarceration, police brutality and political imprisonment remain rampant and the most negatively impacted by the levee breech in post-Katrina New Orleans continue to be without homes, jobs or health care assistance."
Demands of the November 7th March and Rally include:
* Reparations Now! Pass HR 40!
* Single Payer Health Care/Medicare for All!
* Stop Gentrification and Home Mortgage Foreclosures! Bail-out the victims!
* End Mass Black Incarceration! Count Them Home for Census!
* STOP Police violence, Black Community Containment Policy!
* NO AFRICOM!
* US Out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, the Middle East! Hands off Iran!
* Rescind the Patriot Act!
* Free Mumia Abu Jamal, Jamil Al-Amin, all US political prisoners/pows/exiles!
For more information on the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations and about the mobilization on Nov. 7 vist www.blackisbackcoalition.org.
