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The San Francisco Act Now to Stop War and End Racism coalition is working with high school students around the Bay Area for support in their anti-war demonstration on March 18 at 12 p.m. at Justin Herman Plaza.
According to a flier A.N.S.W.E.R. distributed, the march is specifically trying to end the United States colonial occupation in Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, Afghanistan and everywhere else, to shut down Guantanamo Bay Prison and to prevent the United States from interfering with Venezuela, Iran, the Philippines and North Korea. A.N.S.W.E.R. is a nationwide coalition that relies on public support, and the San Francisco division has been reaching out to Bay Area high schools, including Oakland High School and McClymonds High School in Oakland and Oceana High School in San Francisco.
The group is working with a lot of high schools in the Bay Area and are working with many high school students who are organizing other students to participate in the March 18 rally, A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer Christopher Banks said. We give class presentations, hold assemblies, show films, have discussions; different places different things. Sometimes we go to after-school groups.
A.N.S.W.E.R. member and Laney College student Marko Matillano has been working to get fellow students involved in the groups cause.
I talk to students and clubs who are sympathetic, Matillano said. I hand out flyers to students and explain what A.N.S.W.E.R is.
In another attempt to involve more youth, A.N.S.W.E.R. also held an essay contest that ended on Feb. 12. The topics included A Day without War, Confronting Racism and The Fight for Immigrant Rights. The winning essays will be displayed in an exhibition on March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Womens Building on 18th street in the Mission.
Banks said that the groups goal is to make youth a significant presence in the march. We are (trying to) form a youth and student contingent, Banks said.
Revolution Youth member, junior Kia Kolderup-Lane said getting students politically involved can be a challenge.
Students are too centered on college and grades, she said. They need to realize that politics come pretty high on their list. Government will be taking up their lives and even just being aware and spreading knowledge is important. They need to stand up for what they believe in. I will be standing up for something I believe in. |
