Minneapolis, MN - More than 200 people demonstrated June 30 in downtown Minneapolis at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza, demanding that the U.S. government, “End the war in Iraq, end the occupation and bring the troops home now!” The event was sponsored by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, an organization made up of Twin Cities area peace and justice groups.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “On Tuesday, President Bush took to the airwaves to try and win support for the war in Iraq. All Bush could do in his speech is repeat the disproved claims that ‘there is a link between the events of September 11, 2001 and Iraq.’ We know there was no link and that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Bush justification for the war in Iraq continues to be lies and inventions.”

This week will mark the one-year anniversary of the so-called ‘hand-off of sovereignty’ to Iraq. Yet U.S. troops continue their occupation, the war casualties continue to grow, and the Bush administration can offer no end to the violence. “The majority of Americans want the war to end and the troops to be withdrawn. The majority of Iraqis want the foreign troops out of their country,” the statement continues.

Speakers at the rally included Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American who lived in the Twin Cities for many years before returning to Iraq in the fall of 2004. He has returned to the Twin Cities for a visit and to report on conditions in Iraq today.

Also at the protest, plans were announced for a large delegation to go from Minnesota to attend a national anti-war march set for Washington D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 24.

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