Minneapolis, MN – A Twin Cities area coalition has called a protest for Saturday, Oct. 8 to mark 15 years since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. The protest will call for an end to U.S. military interventions.

The protest is being organized by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC). MPAC brings together several peace and anti-war groups to organize public actions against U.S. military intervention.

The Minneapolis protest is being organized under the call of: “Stop endless U.S. wars! Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia: End U.S. wars, interventions and drone strikes. Funds for human needs, not war. Say NO to racism and Islamophobia.”

The Oct. 8 protest will gather at 1:00 pm at Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis (look for signs and banners along the sidewalk west of the light rail station). At 1:45 pm, there will be a march of about one mile to Walker Community United Methodist Church, 3104 16th Avenue S in Minneapolis, where a closing program will be held starting at 2:15 p.m.

A statement issued by organizers says, in part, “October will mark 15 years since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Today, the U.S. is still at war in Afghanistan as well as carrying out ongoing military interventions in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. News reports say that the U.S. military is building a new drone base to expand drone strike operations across Africa.”

The statement goes on to say, “In recent days the Pentagon has announced that 600 more U.S. troops are being sent to Iraq. The endless series of wars just keeps going. The people of the U.S. and the people of the world are no safer after years of war. The U.S. wars must stop. People need jobs, housing and education, not more U.S. war.”

Among the organizations that are helping to building the Saturday protest is Women Against Military Madness.

Marie Braun, a member of WAMM said, “We are urging all opposed to the endless wars to join the Oct. 8 protest. We will mark the 15th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan with a call for an end to these wars.”

The MPAC statement says: “On October 8, with signs, banners and our voices we will say no to endless wars on the anniversary of the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.”

Organizers report that hundreds of leaflets have been distributed in recent weeks for the protest. Many people welcomed the flyers when distributed at a community festival last Saturday in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis, a neighborhood with many Somali families.

A range of organizations have endorsed the call for the Oct. 8 protest, including Anti-War Committee, Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Mayday Books, Military Families Speak Out (MN Chapter), Minnesotans Against Islamophobia, St Joan of Arc Peacemakers, St. Paul Eastside Neighbors for Peace, Socialist Action, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace, Walker Community UMC Peace with Justice Committee, Women Against Military Madness, Workers International League and others.

For more information call 612-275-2720 or 612-827-5364

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