Minneapolis, MN – Around 60 people joined a weekly peace vigil in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul on Sept. 19 to mark 4000 days since the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

The vigil participants lined the sidewalks on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River between the two cities, with signs calling for an end to the war and for U.S. troops to be brought home now.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “Today marks 4000 days since the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. We gather today to say, not one more day, not one more death, not one more dollar – end the war now.”

The statement went on to say, “While the U.S. government says the war is ‘winding down’, thousands of U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan, and there are plans to leave thousands of troops in the country, perhaps until 2024. In this election year the politicians don’t want to talk about the war, because the vast majority of people in the U.S. want an end to the war, and the politicians have nothing to offer but more years of war and occupation.”

At the end of the event, representatives of several local peace groups gave brief talks.

Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee said, “Today we mark not only 4000 days of war, but also 4000 days of opposition to this war. From the day the first U.S. bombs fell on Afghanistan, people have spoken out to say no to war, and we will continue to speak out. We will not be intimidated from speaking out against this war, a war fought for greed.” Sundin is among the Midwest anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI two years ago.

The event also built support for a weekend of nationally coordinated anti-war protests, Oct. 5 through 7, that will mark eleven years since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2001. A Minneapolis anti-war march and rally is planned for Sunday, Oct. 7. Participants took copies of the leaflet for the Oct. 7 protest to get out to friends, co-workers and others.

Women Against Military Madness and Twin Cities Peace Campaign are sponsors of the weekly vigil for peace, and were joined by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition in making a special appeal for people to attend on Sept. 19 to mark the 4000th day of war in Afghanistan.

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