# Who coordinated the anti-war protests yesterday? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441 "2003-02-16T14:11:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/1 "2003-02-16T14:11:08Z")
Who decided all those anti-war protests worldwide were to take place on February 15? I guess that simply some group or organization scheduled its particular rally to happen at that date, and then others all over the globe joined and decided to do it the same day, to attract more attention, and more and more did so. Which one was the first? Is there any specific meaning in the date, or did they just pick the next suitable Saturday? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/2 "2003-02-16T18:45:41Z")
I think one of the main organizing groups (maybe THE main organizing group) was [A.N.S.W.E.R](http://www.internationalanswer.org/), a rather nasty collection of Stalinists and anti-semites. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/3 "2003-02-16T19:36:30Z")
Why, the Bogey-Man _du jour_, of course. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/4 "2003-02-16T19:43:15Z")
**Sam** , do you happen to have a citation for A.N.S.W.E.R. having a _principle_ role? Are they supposed to have been the organizers in New York and/or Los Angeles? Or all the U.S.? Or all the world? (Would that include the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem protestors?) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/5 "2003-02-16T19:48:51Z")
Or the principal role if you feel they are unprincipled. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/6 "2003-02-16T19:58:31Z")
According to NY1, “The rally in New York was one of hundreds around the nation and the world organized by the umbrella group [United for Peace and Justice](http://www.unitedforpeace.org/).” You can see a list of the various groups involved with the organization [here](http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?list=type&type=16). The International Legion of Nasty Antisemites and Stalinists is not listed. ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/7 "2003-02-16T20:04:32Z")
From [this site](http://www.boortz.com/nealznuz.htm) I pulled this: “Take a look at the people who are organizing these so-called “anti-war” demonstrations. Several weeks ago we had on in Washington D.C. Few members of the American media reported that the principal organizers were leftist Marxist organizations. Ditto for London and Rome today. Leftists. Socialists. People who have an abiding hatred for the United States and it’s capitalistic system of economic freedom. Now let’s be clear here. I’m not saying that the demonstrators are all anti-American. A good number of them are in those marches today because it’s and event, a happening. Some are there out of true pacifist leanings. Some are there because they truly don’t understand what’s going on and the consequences of inaction. The fact is that they are being drawn to rallies organized and promoted by people who most definitely ARE anti-American and who want to see the United States weakened. Many of the organizers actually back Saddam in his efforts.” ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/8 "2003-02-16T20:16:14Z")
Just to put Bob55’s site in perspective, here is another pearl of wisdom from it: > [@](#): > > We have too many people eligible to vote anyway, especially those predator-producing welfare brood mares. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/9 "2003-02-16T21:02:54Z")
I would have been surprised if there was not a significant socialist/left-leaning component to many of the organizers. (Just as I would be surprised if the various pro-war demonstrations that have now begun to pop up did not include members of the Right.) I was curious as to specific references to specific groups. Since **Sam** has mentioned A.N.S.W.E.R. in more than one thread and I, like **Alphagene** have not seen a reference to them elsewhere, I am just curious to see a connection–and how widespread it extends. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/10 "2003-02-16T21:15:47Z")
You guys are not being fair to Sam. What he said was > [@](#): > > I think one of the main organizing groups (maybe THE main organizing group) was A.N.S.W.E.R It is a statement about what he thinks, not a statement about what is really happening. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/11 "2003-02-16T21:59:16Z")
Here’s the [A.N.S.W.E.R.](http://www.internationalanswer.org/) web site. Here’s the web site for [Worker’s World](http://www.workers.org/), the parent organization. I suspect ANSWER is oriented more to the U.S. In Europe, I think think the biggest organizing force was the [Stop the War Coalition](http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.asp). Its members are listed on the web site as: **Trade Organizations** UNISON CWU NUJ FBU RMT ASLEF TSSA PCS NATFHE NAPO NUM GLATUC (Greater London Association of Trades Councils) Torfaen Trades Council ACTS 1/372 Branch Islington UNISON London Fire Authority UNISON London Labour Left Fire Brigades Union Liverpool Dockers Shop Stewards Committee New York City Labour Against the War Dundee Local Authority Shop Stewards Liaison Committee Labour Against the War Labour Left Briefing **Arab/Muslim Organizations** Al-Furook Al-Khoei Foundation Arab Organisation of Human Rights Bangla 2000 Campaign for Palestinian Rights Daymer Federation of Kurdish Community Organisations Federation of Student Islamic Societies in UK and EIRE (FOSIS) Iraqi Network for Human Rights Islamic Centre England Islamic Human Rights Commission London Council of Mosques Muslim Association of Britain Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre Muslim Parliament Muslims for JustPeace Muslims for Justice Muslim Student Society Mayfair Islamic Centre North England Medical Arab Society Palestinian Community Palestinian Return Centre Palestinian Forum Palestine Solidarity Campaign UKIM (UK Islamic Mission) World Ahlu Albayt Islamic League (WABIL) World Assembly of Muslim Youth Young Muslim Organization UK **Socialists/Communists** Communist Party of Britain Green Party Network of Socialist Campaign Groups Sefton and West Lancashire Green Party Socialist Alliance, Socialist Campaign of Labour MP’s Socialist Labour Party Socialist Party Socialist Workers Party Socialist Resistance Red Pepper Morning Star Plaid Cymru **Organizations of People at the Wrong Protests, and/or The Severely Confused** Black Racial Attack Independent Network (BRAIN) Campaign Against Criminalising Communities Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Colombia Solidarity Campaign National Civil Rights Movement Partizans (People against Rio Tinto) CARF (Campaign Against Racism and Fascism) Globalise Resistance Newham Monitoring Project **Assorted Peace Groups** Artists Against the War Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation British Humanist Association Housman’s Peace Bookshop Lawyers Against the War Liberation Media Workers Against the War Peace People (Northern Ireland) **Women’s Groups** Eve’s Back (Manchester’s women’s magazine) Women’s Coalition for Peace and Development (New Delhi) Women’s Interntational League for Peace and Freedom (UK Section) **Students** Student Campaign Forum Tribune University of North London Students Union Suffice to say that this is not exactly a good cross-section of society. And what’s with some of these groups? The campaign for nuclear disarmament is protesting a war that in part has as its goal the prevention of nuclear proliferation? The Campaign against Racism and Fascism is opposing a war to get rid of a racist, fascist dictator? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/12 "2003-02-16T22:04:33Z")
Oh, and on ANSWER’s site, [they list the coalition members organizing protests](http://internationalanswer.org/endorsers.html). ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/13 "2003-02-16T22:11:02Z")
OK. In [this article](http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0211-06.htm) discussing an idiotic action by A.N.S.W.E.R., they indicate that A.N.S.W.E.R. was involved (with three other groups) in organizing the San Francisco rally, but was not involved with the New York rally (and the article is silent on any other rally). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/14 "2003-02-16T22:19:17Z")
See? I told you I didn’t dream it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/15 "2003-02-16T22:24:20Z")
Oh, and Sailor: It would seem that the disconnect between what I think and what is really happening isn’t as large as you suggested, huh? ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/16 "2003-02-16T22:43:18Z")
Here are a few more to add to _Sam’s_ randomly selected list. Jewish Voice for Peace NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby New York Coalition for Peace & Justice Pax Christi USA The Shalom Center Veterans For Peace ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/17 "2003-02-16T22:59:46Z")
What do you mean, “Randomly Selected”? I went to the web site for the Stop the War Coalition, and cut and pasted their list of affiliate organizations. I didn’t leave a single one off. Do I think this represents ALL of the organizations involved in the peace marches? Of course not. I imagine the Podunk rally was partly organized by Podunkians for Peace, or some such group. There are plenty of other organizations that were involved. ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/18 "2003-02-16T23:10:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*Just to put Bob55’s site in perspective, here is another pearl of wisdom from it: \*\* Well actually, should someone who just takes from society while giving nothing back be eligible to vote? Don’t they just vote for people who put more money in their pockets? ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/19 "2003-02-16T23:37:51Z")
Does anyone know what these group leaders salaries are? Surely they can’t be doing all of this work for free. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441/20 "2003-02-16T23:46:47Z")
Look, people. The OP asked for a factual answer. Eventually, one was given. “I think…” and “I suspect…” have limited value here. If you want to give speculation loaded with personal political commentary, list organizations that you wish to desribe as “confused” or quote websites that blame female horse populations for giving birth to carnivores, do it somewhere else, OK? GQ. GD. Pit. Which one is right for you? Ask your moderator or pharmacist. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-coordinated-the-anti-war-protests-yesterday/155441.md?page=2)