- The Iraq Peace Action Coalition (IPAC) has plans for a public protest of U.S. policy in Iraq. The protest will mark the 9-year anniversary of the imposition of economic sanctions against Iraq.

The event will be a bannering and rally on Saturday August 14 starting at noon at the corner of Lagoon and Hennepin Avenues in the Uptown neighborhood of south Minneapolis.

In addition to IPAC, other organizations that have endorsed the August 14th event include the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, CISPES Anti-War Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Friends for a Non-Violent World, Pax Christi, Progressive Student Organization, St. Joan of Arc WAMM / Peacemakers, Veterans for Peace, Women Against Military Madness, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Women's Political Alliance.

A statement issued by the IPAC says in part, “The people of Iraq have suffered under nine years of sanctions and war. The economic sanctions are responsible for the destruction of the infrastructure and the impoverishment of large sections of the population. UN reports estimate that 5,000 to 6,000 children die each month as a result of the sanctions.”

The statement goes on to say, “U.S. military forces are carrying out a nearly continuous bombing campaign against targets in Iraq to enforce the so-called 'no fly-zones' that the U.S. imposed after the Persian Gulf war. These 'zones' have been created by U.S. government and have no force under international law.”

Anh Pham, one of the protest organizers, noted, “U.S. policy towards Iraq has nothing to do with concern for the Iraqi people and everything to do with the desire of the U.S. to control the oil-rich Persian Gulf region in the interests of the large western oil companies. The people of Iraq are paying a high price in life for the control of profits at the pump.”

The IPAC statement concludes, “We must continue to speak out against the sanctions and low level war against Iraq. The Pentagon and the White House want the situation in Iraq to go on quietly, the anti-war and peace movements must continue to speak out in this country.”

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