Minneapolis, MN – About 30 people came together here, August 9, to protest the escalating U.S. war on Iraq. Meredith Aby-Keirstead of the Twin Cities-based Anti War Committee told the crowd, “We are here today to say hands off Iraq. The U.S. needs to stop its intervention in Iraq and in the region. Immediately. There is no potential outcome where Iraq will be better off after more U.S.-sponsored death and destruction.”

Aug. 9 rally will demand ‘No new U.S. war in Iraq’

Minneapolis, MN – An anti-war protest will be held on Aug. 9 in Minneapolis to speak out against the new U.S. military intervention in Iraq. The rally is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m., on May Day Plaza, which is located at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and South 3rd Street.

Minneapolis, MN – A Twin Cities protest in solidarity with Gaza, Aug. 6, included a dramatic expression of solidarity with the people of Gaza – a die-in at the front door of the largest newspaper in Minnesota.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Aug. 3 statement from the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees:

Chicago, IL – Anti-war activist Kait McIntyre appeared in Cook County Judicial Circuit court on the morning of Aug. 1. McIntyre was one of five activists arrested in a civil disobedience protest action July 16 to oppose Boeing Company providing weapons to Israel for the siege on Gaza. She proudly pled guilty to trespassing at Boeing headquarters. “Hospitals, homes for the disabled and playgrounds are being bombed and more and more children die. As a citizen of Chicago, which has one of the largest Palestinian communities in the U.S., there comes a time where you cannot ignore your conscience and you know more drastic actions have to be taken.”

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Over 250 people gathered at the Federal Courthouse here, Aug. 2 to protest U.S. support for Israeli terrorism in Gaza. As the bombs continued to drop on the people of Gaza, people of South Florida joined together to stand in solidarity with Palestine and demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel. This was the third major rally for Palestine in South Florida in three weeks.

Tampa, FL – On July 31, two dozen protesters gathered outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Ybor City, demanding President Obama extend protection to incoming refugee children from Central America. The protesters stood in front of the office doors, brandishing signs and chanting, “Liberation! Not deportation!” The ICE office directs the detentions of undocumented immigrants in the Tampa Bay area.

St. Paul, MN – 150 people gathered here for Women Against Military Madness’ weekly Friday Palestine vigil, Aug. 1, at the intersection of Summit and Snelling Avenues. Protesters chanted “Free Palestine” and got honks from drivers. This was the third Friday vigil since the start of the recent upsurge in Palestine.

Tampa, FL – Local anti-war activists met in front of the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse on Aug. 1 to demand, “Drop the charges against Rasmea Odeh!” This was in response to her pre-trial hearing in Detroit the day before, on July 31. Rasmea Odeh’s defense attorney Michael Deutsch had made a motion for Judge Borman to step down due to his political and financial support for Israel. In the Detroit courtroom, Judge Borman responded by refusing to recuse himself from the trial, claiming he could be fair and impartial, and that his donations were purely charitable.

St. Paul, MN – More than 300 people demonstrated in front of Senator Al Franken’s campaign office here, July 30, while 15 people were arrested for civil disobedience inside his office. This protest was the ninth demonstration in solidarity with the people of Palestine in recent weeks in Minnesota.

Chicago, IL – A die-in was held inside Chicago City Hall, July 30, to demand Boeing Company be dropped as a sponsor for the summer Air and Water Show next month. 40 protesters dropped to the floor, holding signs with the names of the dead in Gaza from Israel’s three week long war.

Fox Point, WI ­ 350 people gathered for a counter­demonstration against an ‘Israel Solidarity Gathering’ held at Congregation Shalom in the Milwaukee suburb of Fox Point, July 27. Supporters of Palestine gathered across the street from the pro­-Israel event for two and a half hours, at one point enduring a thunderstorm.

Naples, FL – In the early morning of July 16, one of Florida's biggest workplace raids led to 160 employees being investigated, with at least 16 under arrest.

Minneapolis, MN — On July 26, dozens of Twin Cities activists gathered in South Minneapolis to support the University of Minnesota’s Students for a Democratic Society (UMN SDS) chapter in its push to promote and fundraise for the 2014 SDS National Convention. UMN SDS joined with local anti-war groups in organizing the community party to generate both funds and excitement for Minneapolis’ selection as the hosting site for the SDS National Convention in mid-October.

Salt Lake City, UT – Over 100 people gathered in downtown here, July 25, to protest the Israeli military invasion of Gaza and the oppression of the Palestinian people. This is the second protest in the city since the start of Israel’s ground war on Gaza.

Chicago, IL – A counter demonstration to the July 28 “Chicago Stands With Israel” rally is being organized by Coalition for Justice in Palestine.

Chicago, IL – Chanting, “Gaza, Gaza, Gaza,” a crowd estimated by organizers at 15,000 people marched in Chicago July 26. Sponsored by the Coalition for Justice in Palestine, the march is the sixth mass protest sponsored by the coalition since July 5.

St. Paul, MN – More than 200 people gathered at the busy intersection of Snelling and Summit Avenues here, July 25, to protest the continued war on Gaza and the U.S. support for the Israeli assault. This protest was the eighth demonstration to stand with the people of Gaza in the past three week in the Twin Cities.

Double standard, special treatment for supporters of Israeli violence

Chicago, IL – Chicago’s supporters of Israel must have mistaken West Madison Avenue for the West Bank, say activists opposed to Israel’s assault on Gaza, because they harassed and assaulted counter-protesters with impunity at a pro-bombing rally, July 23.