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The following report was provided by a participant:

Initial Report on Oct 5 events in Detroit Metro Area
John Conyers speaks at Detroit WCW Rally John Conyers, Jr. spoke at WCW Rally in Detroit [photo: Wyoman Mitchell]
Detroit March Oct 5 Detroit march starts from WSU Oct 5 [photo: Matthew A Nahan]

Through the whole day numbers were 400-500. We started the day with 2 (known) banner drops on major freeways during rush hour. One was at a major crosswalk over a busy freeway at Wayne State University. From there we rallied and then marched from Wayne State. People did the Guantanamo skit, made signs, called on other students to join us. Some people read the World Can’t Wait call followed by an open mic.

Many students and others stepped up and spoke of their anger at the crimes of the Bush regime. Some high school students related the obstacles they encountered for not only going against their parents by opposing Bush, but also leaving school to protest. A large crowd of students gathered, many joining us, many curious, some wanting to debate.

We had 8 orange and black clad Guantanamo detainees who made a big impact throughout the march and whole day. The City never granted us a permit, but as we started marching the cops (including Homeland Security) showed up. There were no arrests, really, no problems with the police.

We set off on a 2 mile march to downtown Detroit. On the way we passed by a predominately African- American high school where we had built for Oct. 5th in previous weeks. We snaked around, criss- crossing the streets to the school, but as we marched by it was pretty empty like they were kept from being dismissed, so we walked up a block, came back and stood across from the school calling on students to join us. After over 5 minutes we marched back and a bunch of youth ran out of the school, yelling, dancing and screaming “F**k Bush,” with about 100 joining in the march. Some marched a few blocks, some stayed for the rest of the martch and the rally.

People noted how extremly supportive passing cars were with honking, especially at the rally; it was deafening at times, almost drowning out some of the speakers.

The crowd was very diverse and determined and definitely a large showing of youth. There were Arabs, Latinos, as well as veterans, professors, auto and construction workers and many others. A few even made the trip up from Ohio. One Iranian woman told us that we can’t understand how much this means to her to do this. The speakers covered a variety of topics from Katrina to Bush's attacks on women’s rights and the consequences of his "abstinence only" programs worldwide, theocracy and the responsibility of “Americans." A group of young women for a suburban high school spoke from their hearts about why they came out today.

Leading up to the 5th, we did not reach all the groups we had planned to, but two showed up despite this. Congressman John Conyers came in the morning to Wayne State asking if he should speak. He agreed to speak later at the rally. Also, a leader of the Triangle Foundation (a gay rights group that relates to groups nationally) joined in the rally, so we also asked him to speak right then.

The overnight encampment did not happen as it was “too friggin’ cold”, but after the rally 20 or so gathered at an activists house to do some summation and watch “Sir No Sir”. All agreed that the day was a success, but that it also represents “a start”. Many new activists came forward as we agreed to redouble our efforts to go out and organize the tens and hundreds of thousands needed to drive out this most hated regime.

Media coverage consisted of the Wayne State University newspaper, the SouthEnd; and radio station, WWJ, interviewed an organizer and John Conyers.
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