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CNN Live Saturday
Anti-War Demonstrations Held in Several Countries Today
Aired March 08, 2003 - 14:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The threat of war with Iraq is stirring the voices of dissent this weekend. Anti-war demonstrators are marching today in Japan, Germany, Italy and the United States, and other countries. This demonstration in Tokyo attracted tens of thousands of protesters.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Activists are observing International Women's Day with anti-war demonstrations in Washington. The organizers say instead of an attack on Iraq, the U.S. should use its war chest to improve conditions in this country. CNN's Maria Hinojosa is covering this event. She joins us now with more -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Renay. Well, even though the road to war seems to be inexorable, the activists here said that they will continue to push their perspective that there shouldn't be any war. So earlier this week, it was the students who walked out on Wednesday. Today it was the women for International Women's Day. The demonstration here called Code Pink for Peace. And they are kind of playing off of the code terror alerts of code orange or code red or code yellow. They're saying that they believe that the world right now should be enveloping itself in love and peace and that's what the signals are that they want to send to the women in Iraq and around the world.
So they gathered not only here in Washington, D.C. but across the country in several different cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Laramie, Wyoming as well. They say that they will continue to take to the streets, because it's part of their patriotic duty to speak out.
Now, joining me now is Michelle Shocked, who is a well known singer/songwriter. Michelle, you got your name because of your first protest in 1984. Tell me quickly how that happened.
MICHELLE SHOCKED, SINGER: In 1984, we were making a connection between the corporations that have contributed money to the Democrats and the Republicans, kind of a precursor to the global justice movement that came around in the '90s, you know, with the battle in Seattle and so for the. We were making the early connections to that process.
HINOJOSA: And now you are out here. You got your name because you were arrested and someone said, what's your name?
SHOCKED: Yes, the cop, when they are arresting you, what are they going to do? You give them the name Michelle Shocked to make the point that there's a connection between the militarization of our democracy and these corporations giving money to the Democrats and the Republicans. You've got a political name? What are they going to do, arrest you for it? Michelle Shocked.
HINOJOSA: OK, so, Michelle, now, what makes you tie in so specifically to the issue of this possible war with Iraq as a woman, as a performer?
SHOCKED: As an artist and as a woman, as a performer, it's no different than the president of the United States. You come from your conscience, and you have to follow your heart and trust what you feel in your instincts that this war is wrong, that this war is murder. And most problematically, Maria, we just don't feel like that representation is being made by our representatives.
HINOJOSA: So when people say to you, you're being something of anti-patriotic when you've got so many troops there that are about to perhaps sacrifice their lives, you say what?
SHOCKED: Well, you know, it's the same thing where they say that the war is inevitable. We don't believe that. We believe that every day of peace is a gift. And that it is patriotic. As Americans, it's our duty to speak out, and respectfully respect each other's opinions. And obviously we have one.
HINOJOSA: OK, well, thanks very much for joining us, Michelle Shocked.
Now, the protesters have left this area. We are in Malcolm X Park. They have moved to the White House, where the plan, Renay, is to circle the White House in pink. So they brought lots of pink scarves and lots of pink yarn. Whether or not they're going to be able to do that, well, we'll have to see in an hour or so.
SAN MIGUEL: All right. Well, at least it will be a colorful demonstration.
HINOJOSA: Absolutely.
SAN MIGUEL: And Maria Hinojosa, live from Washington, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 8, 2003 - 14:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The threat of war with Iraq is stirring the voices of dissent this weekend. Anti-war demonstrators are marching today in Japan, Germany, Italy and the United States, and other countries. This demonstration in Tokyo attracted tens of thousands of protesters.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Activists are observing International Women's Day with anti-war demonstrations in Washington. The organizers say instead of an attack on Iraq, the U.S. should use its war chest to improve conditions in this country. CNN's Maria Hinojosa is covering this event. She joins us now with more -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Renay. Well, even though the road to war seems to be inexorable, the activists here said that they will continue to push their perspective that there shouldn't be any war. So earlier this week, it was the students who walked out on Wednesday. Today it was the women for International Women's Day. The demonstration here called Code Pink for Peace. And they are kind of playing off of the code terror alerts of code orange or code red or code yellow. They're saying that they believe that the world right now should be enveloping itself in love and peace and that's what the signals are that they want to send to the women in Iraq and around the world.
So they gathered not only here in Washington, D.C. but across the country in several different cities, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Laramie, Wyoming as well. They say that they will continue to take to the streets, because it's part of their patriotic duty to speak out.
Now, joining me now is Michelle Shocked, who is a well known singer/songwriter. Michelle, you got your name because of your first protest in 1984. Tell me quickly how that happened.
MICHELLE SHOCKED, SINGER: In 1984, we were making a connection between the corporations that have contributed money to the Democrats and the Republicans, kind of a precursor to the global justice movement that came around in the '90s, you know, with the battle in Seattle and so for the. We were making the early connections to that process.
HINOJOSA: And now you are out here. You got your name because you were arrested and someone said, what's your name?
SHOCKED: Yes, the cop, when they are arresting you, what are they going to do? You give them the name Michelle Shocked to make the point that there's a connection between the militarization of our democracy and these corporations giving money to the Democrats and the Republicans. You've got a political name? What are they going to do, arrest you for it? Michelle Shocked.
HINOJOSA: OK, so, Michelle, now, what makes you tie in so specifically to the issue of this possible war with Iraq as a woman, as a performer?
SHOCKED: As an artist and as a woman, as a performer, it's no different than the president of the United States. You come from your conscience, and you have to follow your heart and trust what you feel in your instincts that this war is wrong, that this war is murder. And most problematically, Maria, we just don't feel like that representation is being made by our representatives.
HINOJOSA: So when people say to you, you're being something of anti-patriotic when you've got so many troops there that are about to perhaps sacrifice their lives, you say what?
SHOCKED: Well, you know, it's the same thing where they say that the war is inevitable. We don't believe that. We believe that every day of peace is a gift. And that it is patriotic. As Americans, it's our duty to speak out, and respectfully respect each other's opinions. And obviously we have one.
HINOJOSA: OK, well, thanks very much for joining us, Michelle Shocked.
Now, the protesters have left this area. We are in Malcolm X Park. They have moved to the White House, where the plan, Renay, is to circle the White House in pink. So they brought lots of pink scarves and lots of pink yarn. Whether or not they're going to be able to do that, well, we'll have to see in an hour or so.
SAN MIGUEL: All right. Well, at least it will be a colorful demonstration.
HINOJOSA: Absolutely.
SAN MIGUEL: And Maria Hinojosa, live from Washington, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
