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news
Anti-war tactics
debated, action urged at forum
By Jeanne Hoffa
On-line Forty-Niner
World War I had
the assassination of Francis Ferdinand. World War II had the
invasion of Poland and the attacks on Pearl Harbor. The defining
moments which mark the beginning of World War III may be the
World Trade Center Attacks and America's response of bombing
Afghanistan, according to speakers at a Cal State Long Beach
anti-war discussion held at the University Library Thursday.
Speakers and more than 100 participants evaluated the goals
and effectiveness of American military intervention in response
to Sept. 11.
Jim Lafferty of the National Lawyers Guild who opened the
meeting said while the desire to make America safer is a laudable
goal, the actions of the government are actually making it
less safe.
Jon Hillson, a United Airlines union worker at Los Angeles
International Airport, said that unbeknownst to its citizens,
America often behaves as "the mother of injustice"
in the world, and now the price it will have to pay is a war
against the Bill of Rights.
"Now the government may follow you, watch you, tap your
phone and enter your computer," he said.
Dr. Maulana Karenga the chairman of the department of black
studies, said Americans must resist all calls to war, condemn
all forms of violence against innocent people and mourn the
loss of life that has happened all over the world. He quoted
Martin Luther King Jr. when he said that America will never
be secure if other people in the world are not secure.
Students said they thought the talks were fascinating.
"It's a discussion that we haven't heard. The other teach-ins
were more about history [and about Islam]," said communications
grad student Katie Bauer. "This was more about mobilizing
people to do something to stop the war."
High school students also participated in the discussion.
Jesse Mossier of Mira Costa High School skipped school to
attend the event.
"Once we understand what's going on, we'll act differently,"
Mossier said. "We are violating people's rights."
Jon Hillson closed by suggesting people pick up a book and
read something outside of their comfort-zone; such as anything
by Malcolm X, Fidel Castro or Che Guevara. Hillson said he
is especially fond of Castro.
"He's organized the biggest anti-war protest in the world,"
he said.
Students were urged to attend a rally for peace in Pershing
Square in downtown Los Angeles at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.
27.
The liberal studies department is sponsoring another Understanding
Sept. 11 Teach-In today at 1:00 in the University Student
Union Small Auditorium. The focus will be a discussion on
the psychology of hate.
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Cara
Garcia/On-line Forty-Niner
Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of the
Department of Black Studies, speaks at the "Stop the
War" panel discussion held in the Library, sponsored
by the Black Studies Department, the Chicanos/Latinos Studies
Department, and the La Raza Student Association.
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