St. Paul, MN – Anti-war protesters gathered at the office of U.S. Representative Betty McCollum here, Dec. 17, to say to no to the war on Afghanistan and to oppose any new taxes to pay for the war. Rep. McCollum supports President Obama's call to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. In addition, she has proposed a 1% tax increase to pay for this war. The event was organized by the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee.

Opponents of the war met with McCollum's staff. During the meeting, Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee and others called for an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and spoke forcefully against the proposed war tax.

A statement from the Anti-War Committee noted, “Too many Afghans and Americans have already died in this conflict. So far this year, Gen. McChrystal's strategy has made 2009 the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, with another soldier dying every 14 hours. At the same time, civilian casualties are at the worst levels since the aerial bombings at the start of the war. Expanding the military operations with 34,000 new troops will send these numbers through the roof.”

After the meeting, protesters held signs and chanted on the streets outside Rep. McCollums's office. Speakers from the Anti-War Committee, the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, the Welfare Rights Committee, University of Minnesota Students for a Democratic Society and Women Against Military Madness addressed the crowd.

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