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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
NYC's Anti-War Vote
Aired March 12, 2003 - 12:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Just a few blocks from where the worst terror attack in U.S. history happened, a bitterly divided New York City Council is planning to debate whether we become about one of 125 U.S. cities to pass an anti-war resolution.
CNN's Maria Hinojosa is joining us live from New York city to tell us what we can expect later today -- Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, just a little background first. The Cities for Peace campaign is hoping they can add New York to the list of 140 cities that have passed antiwar resolutions. Now, already organizers say they have the largest and important cities passing these anti-war resolutions, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, and smaller cities like Birmingham, Alabama, South Bend, Indiana and Iowa City.
But so far, Wolf, only one city in Texas, Austin.
Now, here in New York, there's been a lot of heated debate in the city council about this resolution. And in fact the video you're going to be seeing comes from one of those earlier debates. This city is considered a liberal one, but there were several city council members who felt since New York was a victim of terrorism in the September 11 attacks, that to rule out war point blank would not be the way to go. And the first resolution that they debated would have been against any war with Iraq period.
Now, the new resolution today says that war should be the choice of last resort, which seems to mean they're leaving open the possibility of supporting a possible war if the international conditions merit it. For example, if the United Nations supports it.
Now the Cities for Peace campaign is expanding. They're working on cities around the world, passing similar anti-war resolutions. Already London, Berlin and 25 cities in Japan have signed on. Interestingly, they took their cue on organizing city councils from the anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s, when the cities took a lead in divesting from South Africa. They're hoping that these anti-war resolutions raise the issue to President Bush about money being used for war that could be used for urgent city needs, and they're hoping that the president will look at these resolutions, because they come from people unlikely to speak out against war, mainstream city politicians, even Kalamazoo, Michigan, which has a majority of Republicans on the city council, has passed the resolution -- Wolf.
BLITZER: What time do we expect this vote today later in New York City -- Maria. HINOJOSA: They will start debating at 1:30, as you said, Wolf, just a few blocks north of where the World Trade Center used to stand. The vote is scheduled to take place at 2:30 this afternoon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Maria Hinojosa will be covering that for us. Thanks very much, Maria.
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