After a sharp downturn, the mass anti-war, anti-occupation movement is showing signs of renewed life, internationally and locally in Vancouver. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Washington, Oct 25, in the biggest display of public opposition since the US conquest of Iraq.

Two main organizations, ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and United for Peace and Justice, joined forces to promote a massive outpouring of opposition to Bush’s foreign and domestic policies. These organizations argue that peace and anti-war movements played a decisive role in ending the Vietnam War and can do so again in ending the occupation of Iraq.

The main theme of the march was ending the occupation of Iraq and bringing the troops home. Marchers condemned massive cuts of educational and social services at a time when Bush is asking US taxpayers to foot the enormous $87 billion bill for the occupation. Instead marchers demanded money for education and jobs, not war and occupation.

October 25 is also the second anniversary of the US Patriot Act, which has led to political arrests, indefinite detentions and racial/religious profiling. The mass march was a counter to the climate of fear and intimidation created by “the War on Terrorism” and repressive legislation.

The renewal of mass action reflects a shift in public mood. There is a growing realization that the war and occupation are not over and the conquest of Iraq has not created a better or more secure world. Tony Blair is in deep trouble in Britain. Too many lies have dented even George Bush’s credibility. The utter fallacy of Bush’s weapons-of-mass-destruction pretext, ongoing casualties and huge costs are regularly discussed in the corporate media, previously a cheerleader for war.

But only the re-emergence of a mass-based anti-war, anti-occupation movement in the streets and an upsurge in social struggles can make Bush and the war machine pay the price for imperialist aggression. Unfortunately, despite the march in Washington, the international movement is nowhere close to the heights reached in February of 2003, before the official onset of war.

Challenges in Vancouver

Since last fall there has been a major demonstration in Vancouver almost every month. The Stop War coalition has become the main organizing body and we were part of the massive world-wide mobilization February 15, with a march of over 30,000 people in downtown Vancouver. These thousands were not brought into the street by our agitation alone. We tapped into a widespread alarm and gave people a chance to express themselves.

Like in many cities across Canada, February was the highpoint of the movement. As it became apparent that the US and the “coalition of the willing’ would go ahead regardless of world opinion, the demonstrations got smaller. The rise of the movement late last year and into the spring of this year allowed us to build a broad, inclusive movement, from labour and religious groups to radical youth. However, the decline of the movement exacerbated the differences and eroded the unity of the coalition. Other coalitions have been subjected to similar strains.

In Vancouver a core of activists continue anti-war, anti-occupation organizing. Stop War continues to engage in anti-occupation work, despite the US conquest of Iraq. A number of organizations are also active in solidarity work with Palestinians. Resistance continues in Palestine, 36 years after Israel occupied the part of Palestine it had not conquered in 1948. More people are drawing the conclusion that the occupation must end, and the Palestinian cause has a higher profile among a new generation of radicals.

Stop War organized a feisty march of over 1,000 against the occupations of Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan on September 28. Close to 1000 again came out for the October 25 International Day of Action. We marched to the Beatty St. armoury to highlight Canadian complicity in the occupations of Iraq and Palestine and Canada’s military role in Afghanistan.

Though not huge, the actions gathered initial parts of a necessary coalition in the streets and, while they were not organized on an explicit anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist platform, speakers included people with explicit anti-imperialist politics and there was a visible anti-imperialist presence

What next?

A wide variety of tactics are required to build a living movement ranging from broad mobilizations to creative direct actions.

It is essential to organize unitary actions that combine different forces. But periodic mobilizations on international days of action are not sufficient. Public education is also important to raise the level of political consciousness and historical understanding of the nature of the occupations and the role of imperialism.

The duplicitous Chrétien government won some credibility by steering clear of direct participation in Iraq. However, the government is clearly involved in the “war on terrorism” domestically and internationally (See accompanying Afghanistan article.) There is much to be unmasked. Anti- imperialist activists face the complex task of seeking to both radicalize and enlarge the movement and increase its broad public influence. Outreach to multiple communities is a key.