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.

The protest comes after the Aug. 8 announcement that the U.S. has launched air strikes against targets in Iraq. These air strikes come after President Obama sent 300 U.S. Special Forces troops to Iraq as ‘advisers’ earlier this summer. The U.S. has also increased drone flights over Iraq in recent weeks.

The Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC) is organizing the Saturday protest.

MPAC issued a statement that says in part, “The Obama administration and the Pentagon have launched a new round of military intervention in Iraq. This will not end well for the people of Iraq or the people of the U.S.”

“It was the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq that destroyed the country and brought about the current crisis. There is nothing the Pentagon can do with more air strikes and destruction to undo that or to bring about peace. The people of Iraq must determine their own future,” the MPAC statement continues.

The Aug. 9 protest has been initiated by Minnesota Peace Action Coalition and supported by a range of peace and anti-war groups in the Twin Cities area including Anti-War Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace and Women Against Military Madness.

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