Re: Antiwar movement, WWP, Liberals et al

[David Walters <dwalters@xxxxxxx>]

I'll give my four cents on this issue.

1. In my view, WWP/IAC/International Answer deserves a lot of credit for
mobilizing the tens of thousands on both coasts. For me, this is primary,
the methods to achieve this, vis-à-vis the *type* of coalition (IA) is
secondary, although still important. So my hats off to them, I give credit
where it's due, and in this case it's the cadre of the WWP.

2. When faced with a serious coalition in organization with the same basic
goals and broader in make up, the same WWP/IAC/International Answer often
folds...completely. One thing is obvious, from Mumia to Public Power, the
WWP/IAC/International Answer consistently tries to set up their own...I mean
EXCLUSIVELY their own group, usually, such as in the Bay Area, made up of
only WWP cadre. They tried to do this with the Mumia coalitions and failed.
They even tried to burp out a "People's Coalition for Public Power" instead
of just joining the broad based community ones that were setup before WWP
ever uttered anything about Public Power. This attempt folded too, as an
obvious attempt by them to "corner the market". BTW, in both Mumia and
Public Power, they, the WWP/IAC did not differ substantially from the groups
they attempted to compete with, which is why they fell flat on their faces.

3. When IAC/International Answer (yes, people representation each group)
participate in the Port Workers Solidarity committee based at ILWU Local 10,
they do wonderful work (albeit they hare hung up this boycott Wal-Mart
thing, but  that's another question). They provided GREAT signs for many of
the picketers during the lockout which got on TV, the papers, etc. They were
smart enough NOT to try to setup their own front for this sort of work and
they are commended, at least from me, for this. I hope this is a trend.

4. In the 80's when the WWP organized coalition came up against a much
broader coalition initiated by Socialist Action (relatively much broader,
there were problems here too) around Central America  the SA sponsored
coalition was consistently able to bring in more organizations (especially
unions) and build *bigger* rallies, even on that was two weeks later than
the WWP organized demo (they were, of course, cross-endorsed by each other).

The East Coast events, dominated by WWP, also had huge numbers, but one
wonders had they organized along the same lines as SA did on the West Coast
would they of been even bigger?

The IA group here in SF is considered owned by the WWP/IAC by anti-war
activists both outside of it and *inside* of it. ALL socialist groups that I
know of have problems with this approach, and, early on, tried to organize
the broader "Town Hall" Coalition which at least had open public and mostly
democratic meetings on a one person one vote basis (which, BTW, reflects the
Left's obsession of 'participatory democracy' and has little to do with
building real coalitions, but that's another story, again). To my knowledge,
IA here acts as 'branch' of the national IA and so doesn't have these sorts
of meetings, thus making for a smaller coalition.

Lastly, going back to point one...ONLY the WWP really built this
demonstration as a function of their national perspectives, and again I give
them credit for this, they deserve to recruit on this (but I suspect won't
out here as they had exactly two banners, 3 WWP flags and may be only 12
people handing out their paper, with no follow-up meetings). All the other
groups who claim to have build this march were really intent on bringing out
their own members, all miniscule in membership, and had little or no impact,
despite claims to the contrary. However, what would of happened had IA
actually opened itself up the several hundred cadre and close contacts of
many of these socialist groups? How much bigger could it of been? How many
more unions could of participated (virtually none did at this last rally),
etc.? One has to at  least wonder, because if there is one thing that is for
sure...NONE of the other groups on the left were made to feel particularly
welcome in the organization of the event.

David Walters
San Francisco


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