Chicago, IL – Over 300 people rallied and marched here, Aug. 29, to say, “Hands off Syria!” in response to the U.S. threat of a military attack. Half of the people present were Syrians of all backgrounds – Christians and Muslims, Assyrians and Arabs.

Milwaukee, WI – Palestine solidarity activists rallied against Israeli settlement construction in response to an awards banquet held by the Jewish National Fund Aug. 28. The annual awards banquet celebrated local bankrollers of the Israeli occupation for “their support in reclaiming the land to help secure the State of Israel.”

Minneapolis, MN – About 70 peace activists in the Twin Cities protested against the growing danger of a new U.S. military intervention in Syria, Aug. 28, at the Marshall Avenue-Lake Street bridge peace vigil.

Anti-war action on anniversary of the historic Chicano Moratorium

Los Angeles, CA – “We must protest publicly the threatened U.S. military attacks against the people of Syria and denounce the government and media lies used to justify a missile attack. We must also continue to expose the U.S. military targeting the poor – especially Blacks and Chicanos – for recruitment,” states veteran Chicano and anti war activist Carlos Montes.

Minneapolis, MN – The British newspaper The Guardian reported, Aug. 27, that U.S. and British war planners are finalizing their plans for an attack on Syria.

Minneapolis, MN – NBC news is reporting today, Aug. 27, that they have learned from government insiders that a attack on Syria could start “as early as Thursday.”

Washington, DC – Secretary of State John Kerry gave a speech on Aug. 26 that gives strong indications that the U.S. is preparing military attacks on Syria. Kerry stated that the government of Syria should be held responsible for the alleged use of chemical weapons near Damascus last week. The government of Syria is working with UN inspectors to determine what happened in the outskirts of Damascus.

Protest planned for Aug. 28

Minneapolis, MN – Peace activists in the Twin Cities are speaking out in opposition to military strikes against Syria.

Chicago anti-war leader says U.S. government lies to justify wars

Chicago, IL – Iran’s Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri issued a blunt warning to Washington, Aug. 25, in response to U.S. moves to escalate its war on Syria.

Washington DC – More than 300,000 people are gathered on the mall today for the March on Washington, with at least 150,000 on each side of the reflecting pool. The massive crowd is largely African-American, mobilized by the 50-year anniversary of Martin Luther King’s speech and by the pressing demand for justice for Trayvon Martin. African-American groups range from Florida’s Dream Defenders, to New Jersey’s People’s Organization for Progress, to the national NAACP. There is also a big union mobilization, with the United Auto Workers turning out thousands of members in t-shirts. Many other unions and their associated groups like Working America are also out in force.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – 20 supporters of whistleblower Private First Class Bradley Manning gathered on the evening of Aug. 21 at the Federal Building in downtown here for an emergency protest. They demanded a presidential pardon for the 25-year old whistleblower.

According to a report from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), “An official spokesman at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said that the cooperation agreement between Syria and the international committee for investigating the use of weapons of mass destruction in some areas in Syria didn't please the terrorists and the countries supporting them, which is why they came up with new false allegations that the Armed Forces used toxic gas in the Damascus Countryside.”

Grand Rapids, MI – Tom Burke, a spokesperson for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression,condemned the 35-year sentence that was handed down against whistleblower Bradley Manning.

Minneapolis, MN – About 50 supporters of WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning joined an emergency rally at the Federal Building here, Aug. 21, in response to Military Judge Denise Lind’s sentencing him to 35 years in prison. The protest was called by Free Bradley Manning-Minneapolis and was one of the many held across the U.S. sponsored or coordinated by the Bradley Manning Support Network.

Los Angeles, CA – Local community activists and the Committee for Community Control of Police held a rally press conference here, August 18, to demand that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder file charges against George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin. The rally also raised the slogan of self-determination for the Black nation in the South and marked the 50-year anniversary of the historic civil rights march on Washington D.C. Speakers denounced the continued oppression of Blacks and Chicanos as evidenced of the ongoing killings and beatings by the police and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Minneapolis, MN – Community members marched through downtown here, Aug. 19, demanding JPMorgan Chase Bank negotiate with the Ceballos and Kelly families, both of whom face imminent eviction after foreclosure.

Plans for regional anti-drone protest in Chicago

Minneapolis, MN – Meredith Aby of the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee condemned the escalating wave of U.S. drone strikes in Yemen, stating, “There have been eight drone attacks in the past two weeks in Yemen which have killed more than 30 people. The U.S. is waging an undeclared war in Yemen and increasing the anger at the U.S. for its use of drones on civilians. It is particularly insulting to our sisters and brothers in the Muslim world that this escalation of drone strikes has corresponded with the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid. The president claims these drone strikes make us safer, when in fact they do the opposite. The people of Yemen see these attacks for what they are – acts of imperialism.”

Louisville, KY – Negotiations between UPS and Teamster Local 89 set to begin here on Aug. 13, opening three days of talks. The Louisville local represents 8800 workers at the UPS Worldport Central Air Hub, a major center for UPS. Of these workers, only 800 are full-time.

According to an African Union Mission in Somalia statement, an Ethiopian Air Force plane crash-landed at the Mogadishu International Airport in Somalia, killing four crew members and injuring two others, Aug. 9.

Hayward, WI – A group of protesters are facing arrest in northern Wisconsin. Members of Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Ojibwe and others have been hosting a traditional harvest camp for nearly two months near a proposed mine site in Iron and Ashland counties. The mine, sought after by Gogebic Taconite, or GTAC, is a proposed open pit iron mine. Plans for the mine are moving ahead because of a mining law deregulation measure that was signed by Governor Scott Walker this past spring. The proposed open pit iron mine would be the largest in the nation.