Minneapolis, MN – More than 200 people came together for a rally here, Sept. 11 to speak out against a wave of anti-Muslim bigotry that has spread across the U.S. This included the threatened Qur’an burning in Gainesville Florida. The event also called for an end to U.S. wars and occupations being carried out in the name of ‘fighting terrorism.’

Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-War Committee said, “Today people of good conscience will gather in New York, Gainesville, Minneapolis and other cities to say no to anti-Muslim bigotry, racism and war. We are outraged at the racist attacks and threats against our Muslim brothers and sisters. The burning of the Qur’an and the furor over the building of mosques in New York, Kentucky and Tennessee are bigoted acts against Muslims. These are also conscious acts of racism against Arabs, South Asians and African-Americans.”

Aby also stated, “9/11 was used as an excuse to justify starting what has become a nine-year war on Afghanistan. It was used to create an elaborate web of lies justifying a preemptive attack on Iraq. The U.S. has lost over 5600 soldiers in these wars and over 1 million people have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. These wars are motivated by greed and racism. We demand an end to this senseless bloodshed.”

The rally in Minneapolis coincided with protests, speak-outs and other events in cities around the U.S. that called for an end to attacks on the Muslim community.

The Saturday event was initiated by the Anti-War Committee and endorsed by Al-Aqsa Institute, Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc), Iraq Peace Action Coalition, Iraq Veterans Against the War-MN, Military Families Speak Out-MN, Palestine-Israel Justice Project of the United Methodist Church, RNC 8 Defense Committee, SDS at the U of M, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace Chapter 27, the Welfare Rights Committee and Women Against Military Madness.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AntiRacism #AntiWarCommittee #Koranburning