In advance of tomorrow's protest against the Iraq War, Media Mouse interviewed Cole Dorsey of the Grand Rapids Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). This year the Grand Rapids IWW has organized a march and rally as part of protests surrounding the third anniversary of the Iraq War. As has been the case in previous years (2004 and 2005), the West Michigan Justice and Peace Coalition has also been involved in the effort and is organizing a teach-in after the rally. This year's march has been endorsed by more than 75 organizations and is likely to be the largest antiwar protest in Grand Rapids since Bush spoke in Grand Rapids in January of 2003.

Media Mouse: Give us an idea of what people attending the march and rally will see on Saturday. How many people are expected? What topics are going to be addressed?

Cole Dorsey: Everyone there on Saturday will see people coming together, in solidarity, to 'Demand a Better Future.' We like to refer to the march and rally as that because it is not only against the war, but also against a system that is not serving the interests of the majority. A system that lets its own citizens wade through shit and dead bodies after a natural disaster. While at the same time sends innocent people to kill and die for corporate interests.

We expect a thousand people tommorrow. This may prove to be the largest event of its kind in Grand Rapid's history.

There will be people coming from Detroit, Flint, Benton Harbor, Lansing, Bay City, Muskegon, and even Chicago.

Marian Kramer (National Welfare Rights Union) will be addressing the 40,000 people in Detroit who've had their water shut off.

Reverend Edward Pinkney (Black Autonomy Network of Community Organizers) will be addressing the current racial, political, and economic situation in Benton Harbor. He is currently being subjected to erroneous charges in court for successfully leading the recall of a city commissioner who was the Whirlpool Corporation's lapdog (who incidentally has a vested interest in Benton Harbor). http://bhbanco.blogspot.com/

Robert S. (host of Grand Rapids "Pulse of the City) will be addressing the racism within the Kent County "justice" system.

Jeff Smith (Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy) will be addressing the cost of the war to Grand Rapids.

Andres Abreu (editor of El Vocero Hispano) will address the new fascist anti-immigration bill, and how the war relates to the hispanic community.

There will also be a representative from Delphi to tell how their fight relates to current the situation with this country domestically and internationally.

Also, Paul Mayhue (Grand Rapids Commissioner), Laura Garcia (from Chicago "Tribuno del Pueblo"), John Williams (League of Revolutionaries for a New America), Maureen Taylor (Michigan Welfare Rights Organization), Islam Jihad (Hip Hop Coalition), a member of the West Michigan Justice and Peace Coaliton. I'm sure I'm missing a couple, but that is most of the speakers.

I will be speaking on behalf of the Grand Rapids IWW, and I will tell everyone how we can harness our economic power, end this war, and build a 'better future.'

What do you think is the driving issue behind people's resentment to the war and motivation for acting against it?

Cole Dorsey: The resentment comes from the fact that Saddam Hussein is not Osama Bin Laden for the majority of americans who were originally down for war after 9/11. Those on the left were pissed because we couldn't stop it. Now the line is blurred between these two groups because of things like Abu Ghraib, Downing Street, and the UN condemnation of Guatanamo Bay which have since happened.

People are acting against it, because it is not the will of the people. This 'democracy' is supposed to be run by us, the people, and this war proves that it is really run by the ruling class who's interests are not in accord with us. Ceo's are using pensions as piggy banks, Halliburton gets no bid contracts, people can't get health care, but the ruling class finds fit to spend billions on "defense." That is the motivation for people to get in the streets and "stop the war."

Did you or the Grand Rapids Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) participate in previous anniversary protests in Grand Rapids, and if so, how do you expect this one to differ? (you can also answer this based on discussions you had about previous years' protests with folks from the WMJPC)

Cole Dorsey: I have not personally been to a previous anniversary protest, but i've heard of them. We (Sabos- the literature committee of the GR IWW branch) were just forced to move our infoshop out of the Mosaic building and we felt that organizing the March 18th march and rally would continue that all inclusive, politically charged solidarity of people atmosphere that we had at the Mosaic. Also, we wanted to smash the myth of Grand Rapids being the 'conservative apathetic' town.

This year's event will be bigger in size, and scope.

Media Mouse: In terms of endorsements, outreach, and speakers, there has been a quite remarkable effort this year to expand beyond the traditional confines of the established "antiwar movement" in Grand Rapids. How has the response been from these different communities and why was this decision made?

Cole Dorsey: Everyone has been very receptive. There are many issues that are being addressed by different communities and we will all come together under the call to 'stop the war.' This year we are trying to bring people who may have never gotten out to a protest, as well as the seasoned veterans (for social change) to come out and network, build broader coalitions, and realize that its all one fight - the human fight.

Media Mouse: By all indications public sentiment is solidly against the war yet we have not seen a comparable increase in activity. In working with the West Michigan Justice and peace Coalition and other groups in the community, do you have any insight as to why antiwar organizing has failed to "take off" as an issue with sustained activity?

Cole Dorsey: The lack of competent media coverage as well as current domestic issues is the reason--people are worried about having a job tommorrow, if they can pay the heat, and taking care of their families. Most know how terrible this war is, but have been unable to connect it to the domestic turmoil. It is one and the same. This system is flawed and as long as the ruling class rules there will never be peace, and there always will be a working poor. The anti-war movement will 'take off' when our domestic issues are connected with our foreign policy, and we begin demanding something better.

Media Mouse: One of the problems with past anniversary protests has been that there is nothing that follows them up--no campaigns for people to work on and no actions for them to take. Has anything been organized as part of the march and rally this year to address that problem or do you know of other activities in the Grand Rapids area that people can do to oppose the war?

Cole Dorsey: The March 18th committee will continue after March 18th. The committee will be a connection between the communities and groups that have gotten involved. It will be made clear that the committee is all inclusive designed to build solidarity and eventually to offer concrete ways of supporting each other outside of governmental control. This, of course, will be more clearly defined post 3/18 when meetings take place and it can be discussed.

Media Mouse: Regarding overall strategy of the antiwar movement on the national level, an argument can be made that large rallies and marches are not having any affect on the Bush administration, an argument that can perhaps best be supported by President George W. Bush's statement in response to the massive February 15, 2003 antiwar protests when he said that he doesn't "...decide policy based on a focus group." How do you see large marches and rallies in response to the above comments and should the antiwar movement start considering other tactics and approaches?

Cole Dorsey: I personally don't get in the streets for the 'powers that be' to heed my request. Rather i'm in the streets for everyone else, and the importance of these events is for our class to see that we are not just sitting by and taking whats given to us. Through these events we build a grassroots movement which doesn't just ask for an end to the war, but begins building coalitions based on cooperation and mutual aid. We offer an alternative to this destructive system and build relationships around that. The endorsements nationally and what endorsements we've managed to get here locally the last couple of months (over 75 so far) shows the potential for real solidarity that can come out of these events, and hopefully aid us as we begin building something better. I say "screw what Bush thinks, what does your neighbor think."

The march will begin at 11:00am at Veterans Park (map) in downtown Grand Rapids and will go to Calder Plaza where there will be a rally. Following the rally, a teach-in will take place at Grand Rapids Community College in the Applied Technology Center.