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MLK's Legacy Continues: Hope and Action in the Midst of War

By Frida Berrigan, AlterNet. Posted January 16, 2003.


Millions of Americans are speaking out against war and violence, making Dr. King's vision of peace and justice a reality.

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This week Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 74 years old. On his birthday, it is easy to look around the country and the world and be thoroughly depressed. The disastrous war on terrorism, the impending war against Iraq, the ballooning budget deficit and the calls to solve that with major social spending cut backs (not a decrease in military spending), increased poverty and desperation, and the fact that the WorldWatch Institute warns that the human race only has a generation (maybe two) in which to save the world.

But we draw energy and hope from the fact in every corner of this country, people are embodying Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of peace and justice and working to make it a reality.

Even a casual perusal of regional newspapers turns up countless articles on the peace movement. Read these headlines for a jolt of hope and energy:

Los Angeles: Thousands Rally Against War in Iraq, Push Peace...
Minneapolis: Demonstrators Rally to Protest Possible War with Iraq...
Hundreds in San Francisco Protest INS Registration...
81-Year-Old Picketer: 'The Time to Act is Now'...
Sept. 11 Victims' Kin Protest in Iraq...
"Human Shield" Peace Activists Mobilize for Iraq...
Highway Protests: Citizens with Signs Stand Up for Peace...
Pacifist Hopes Human Shield Will Halt US March to War...
On the Coast of Maine a Peace Sign Shines Bright in the Night...
Anti-War Organizers Welcome 'New Spirit' of Dissent...
Nude Women Protest War Again; Men Also Demonstrate.......

And that is just a sampling.

Labor (And Labour) Against War

The labor movement is mobilizing against the war. In the United States, labor unions have formed U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), bringing together 76 labor organizations that represent over 2 million members. Their founding document is excerpted below: "Whereas, we have no quarrel with the ordinary working class men, women and children of Iraq, or any other country; and Whereas, the billions of dollars spent to stage and execute this war are being taken away from our schools, hospitals, housing and Social Security; and Whereas, Bush's drive for war serves as a cover and distraction for the sinking economy, corporate corruption and layoffs; and Whereas, labor has had an historic role in fighting for justice; therefore ... We resolve that U.S. Labor Against the War stands firmly against Bush's war drive." For more information email: nyclaw01@excite.com And in the UK, two railroad operators have refused to drive a train loaded with ammunition destined for British forces being deployed in the Persian Gulf. The drivers, who seem to be the only ones at that location trained to move the freight along that route, have gummed up the whole works and their anti-war union, Aslef, is 100% behind them.


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