Minneapolis, MN – Several Twin Cities anti-war organizations held an emergency protest on here, March 17, in response to the murder of 16 Afghan civilians by a U.S. soldier. The protest, in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, was organized under the call, “End the U.S. War in Afghanistan now!”

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “The March 11 cold-blooded murder of 16 Afghan civilians, including many children, by a U.S. Army soldier is the latest atrocity in the U.S./NATO occupation of Afghanistan. Outrage grows in Afghanistan, in the U.S. and around the world in response to this senseless massacre. The only way to end war crimes is to end the war.

“While billions are spent on war and occupation, millions of people face homelessness, foreclosure, unemployment and needed social services are cut. People need jobs, education and housing, not war and occupation,” the statement continues.

Speakers at the protest included Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-war Committee, who said, “While President Obama claims that U.S. troops must stay in Afghanistan to protect the Afghan people, in reality the people of Afghanistan are endangered, not protected by the US/NATO occupation. Just like in Abu Ghraib and Haditha, Iraq, occupation forces have shown a rampant disrespect for human life and the people and culture of the Afghan people. These are not isolated incidents of bad soldiers, but rather massacres are the result of occupation. It is critical that we go to Chicago on May 20 to take our voice to the president and to the NATO generals to demand an immediate end to the occupation of Afghanistan.”

Emergency protests, vigils and other activities to call for an end to the war in Afghanistan have been held in cities across the U.S. over the last several days.

Organizations that endorsed the Minneapolis protest included the Anti-War Committee, Military Families Speak Out, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, Occupy Minneapolis Events Committee, Students for a Democratic Society (U of M), Twin Cities Peace Campaign and Women Against Military Madness.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #AntiWarCommittee #USWarsAndOccupations