Approx 3000-5000 on the march, in really goddamned cold weather. While this is small compared to Minn or other comparable cities, for Detroit it was great. There were other rallies in Lansing and Ann Arbor, too.
Had indoor rally at the main convention center downtown, room was set for 1,700 and it was completely full. I understand the overflow who couldn't get in rallied in the conv ctr lobby. Also going on at Cobo Center on Sat: Michigan Democratic Party state convention and a boat show! Quite a few DP delegates joined the rally.
Most significant event: Elizabeth Bunn, international sec/trea of the UAW, Richard Shoemaker and Bob King, UAW international vps appeared at the rally, and Bunn spoke strongly against the war. In Detroit, labor doesn't do anything without the UAW International's blessing, so this could be a green light for more anti-war activity from labor. The head of the Michigan AFL-CIO is committed to speak at a Labor Against the War event on the 22nd.
Other good thing: official representation from the Chaldean (Iraqi Christian, quite large population in the metro area) and Yemani communities at the rally.
Biggest disappointment: very limited African-American attendance at the march or rally (good representation on the speakers podium, though). This tells me that the issue of the impending war has not made it into the Black churches here yet. Not much in the way of Palestinian representation, considering the size of that community in the metro area.
For more info see www.michiganimc.org
Alan Jacobson