With GMA's desperate moves apparent, Fil-Ams launch US-wide protests for Arroyo's Ouster

Various cause-oriented groups and Filipino organizations under banner of BAYAN-USA held quick reaction protests in four major US cities yesterday to condemn the Arroyo administration's declaration of a so-called "state of national emergency" (Proclamation 1017) in the Philippines less than 24 hours after it was announced in a nationally-televised broadcast from Malacanang.Filipinos and their allies in the US condemned the illegal maneuver as "unwarranted and desperate, pushing Arroyo's strategic agenda of resurrecting a full-blown martial law to quell nationwide dissent towards her regime and retain her stolen presidential seat."Since then police and military raids have entered newspaper offices, such as the Daily Tribune, to prevent the media projection of broad opposition forces gaining considerable momentum from various fronts. Outspoken Anti-Arroyo legislators, such as Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran have been arrested, while others have been forced into hiding."Proclamation 1017 is an illegal act. It is the latest in Arroyo's tone-setting of fictitious national conditions to justify martial rule. We condemn the rise of fascism under Arroyo. The massive street demonstrations that started with the commemoration of People Power 1 will only heighten from this point on. Arroyo's gaining more and more opponents by the moment and it shows through her measures," stated BAYAN-USA chair Kawal Ulanday.In New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, broad multi-national solidarity groups joined BAYAN-USA and its member Filipino organizations Babae, Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Critical Filipino/Filipina Studies Collective and Habi Arts in front of Philippine consulates everywhere.Supporters that also joined the US-wide actions included the International Action Center, ANSWER Coalition, CAAAV:Organizing Asian Communities, Nodutol for Korean Community Development, Al-Awda, and many others."Filipino-Americans and the freedom-loving people of the US will not cease to intensify our actions calling for Gloria's immediate ouster until such time she is removed from Malacanang. We look forward to launching more US-based support for People Power 3. We reiterate our call for a transition council to be established in Arroyo's place to address the people's urgent issues sincerely and move the country in a genuinely positive direction," Ulanday ended.References:Kawal Ulanday, Chair, BAYAN-USA, email: chair@bayanusa.orgBerna Ellorin, Media Officer, BAYAN-USA, email: ny@bayanusa.org