The San Francisco Anti-War March

Do Blacks Support the Anti-War Movement? 

By Marvin X

Was it or was it not ironic that the only person I saw carrying an authentic American flag was a Negro?  Was it or was it not ironic that the only Negroes I saw carrying protest signs were two ladies who were embarrassed when they heard me talking on my cell phone telling a friend they were the only two Negroes carrying signs in a march of 200,000 people. Was it or was it not ironic that the two best known black ministers in San Francisco spoke at the rally in Civic Center but had none of their congregation in the crowd? Was it or was it not ironic that only a handful of Negroes bothered to show up at the rally, yet they will be the first to die on the battlefield as they were in America's war to defeat the English colonial masters-remember Crispus Attucks!

Yes, on the positive level, it was a pleasure to see white people protesting, even though most of their sons and daughters will not be cannon fodder for the Texas oil barons. As I told Radio Free Santa Cruz in an interview, "I am elated that the 85% of the deaf, dumb and blind Americans are waking up."

But I am more in harmony with the gentleman who perused my book and said, "I am happy you called for a General Strike because we must move beyond protest." I agree, we must close down America, close down the White House, close down the Congress, prevent them from getting to work-this is the next level of struggle. As my New York comrades taught me it's liberty or death! We must show the imperialists the exit door, let the Bush devil, the Colon Powell, Condolezza the Skeeza, Rumsfeld the Scoundrel, pack their bags and allow the American people to have a regime change, to destroy their weapons of mass destruction in the form of drugs (chemical warfare), germ warfare (AIDS), ignut public schools and non thinking colleges and universities.

Let us celebrate the world wide protest against imperialism and colonialism in the new era. What a pleasure to see the peoples of the world uniting against American imperialism and globalism. Thank God people see a new day, a new possibility, a new hope for humanity.

In conclusion, I will accept no excuse for the absence of the African American people in the ranks of the protesters. The failure of protest leaders to do outreach in the hood is inexcusable. The failure of African American leaders who spoke at the rally is unacceptable. If they found their way to the rally, their congregations should have found their way as well. No excuse is acceptable or justifiable. Rev. Cecil Williams and Rev. Amos Brown, put up or shut up-at the next rally have your well heeled congregations present or don't pick up the mike. And you Muslim Imams and ministers do the same.

posted 16 February 2003

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update 30 July 2008