St. Paul, MN – On August 18, representatives from Twin Cities anti-war groups and the local Afghan community gathered at the Lake Street-Marshall Avenue bridge to hold a press conference on the unfolding situation in Afghanistan. The event was part of a weekly peace vigil organized by Women Against Military Madness.

Days earlier, the U.S.-backed Afghan government and Afghan National Army collapsed in the face of a nationwide offensive by resistance forces led by the Taliban, after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from the country. The Taliban’s quick success effectively brought an end to nearly 20 years of U.S. occupation and returned the group to power for the first time since 2001.

This led to a chaotic situation at Kabul’s international airport, where remnants of U.S. occupation forces violently attacked crowds of Afghan civilians who hoped to flee the country, killing at least five.

Naweed Ahmadzai, a first-generation Afghan American born to parents who were educators during the first Taliban regime, spoke at the Saint Paul press conference. “No one has taken responsibility for the situation Afghanistan is now in, not even the president of the United States. And this was all while there were Afghans literally hanging from the wings of a U.S. plane as it took off, as we all saw. Now this is not on anyone but us. We must hold Joe Biden accountable, Trump accountable, Obama accountable and the ones before accountable,” he said.

Wyatt Miller of the Anti-War Committee criticized the U.S. government’s retaliatory seizure of Afghanistan’s foreign holdings, saying, “None of this will help Afghanistan. If anything the U.S. owes Afghanistan reparations for what it’s done. But at the heart of it all is sovereignty and self-determination, two things the U.S. needs to learn how to respect and value before it will ever be able to engage with the world as anything other than a bully and a predator.”

Amina Baha, an Afghan American living in Minneapolis, also spoke and encouraged people to demand support for Afghan refugees, concluding, “Please pray for Afghanistan, show up for Afghanistan, save Afghanistan.”

The press conference announced that on Saturday, August 28 at 4 p.m., the local Afghan community will hold a demonstration at Loring Park in Minneapolis to demand protection for Afghan refugees and for the U.S. to be held accountable for its destructive occupation.

#StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness #AfghanistanWar #TwinCitiesAntiWarCommittee

Minneapolis, MN – Over 30 people joined a Minneapolis protest on October 5 to mark 17 years of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

The protest, organized under the call of Stop the U.S. War in Afghanistan, was held in front of the offices of Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

The event was initiated by Minnesota Peace Action Coalition.

Jennie Eisert, a member of the Anti-War Committee, spoke at the rally, saying in part, “Afghanistan, along with Iraq, and the other wars that the U.S. government has endlessly inflicted on the world has shaped an entire generation. A child, born on this date in 2001, is now old enough to fight in Afghanistan and has grown up in an environment without privacy rights, in a time that has ‘normalized’ Islamophobia, hate and endless U.S. wars and occupation.”

Eisert went on to say, “What have been the costs of this endless war and occupation in Afghanistan? The U.S. government and other ‘official’ Western sources admit to at least 32,000 Afghan civilians being killed and another 30,000 being wounded directly related to the U.S. invasion. Another source, The Cost of War Project, more credibly claims that the U.S. invasion is responsible for at least ten times that number of deaths, 360,000 people killed in Afghanistan because of the U.S. invasion.”

Organizers announced plans for a Minneapolis protest to be held Sunday, October 21 in solidarity with the Women's March on the Pentagon.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #PeoplesStruggles #AfghanistanWar #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalitionMPAC

New York, NY – Several dozen protesters gathered in Herald Square on October 7 to mark the invasion of Afghanistan and protest the other wars the U.S. waging abroad. The war on Afghanistan has lasted 17 years.

Spirited protesters rallied and listened to speeches about the damage caused by U.S. imperialism throughout the globe. A large group from the Yemeni American Organization attended. Their speakers highlighted the plight of Yemen, which is currently being attacked by the United States, Saudi Arabia and others.

In between chants of “Out of Afghanistan! Out of Iraq! Out of Syria, don’t come back!” and “U.S. imperialist! Number one terrorist!” organizers handed out flyers that detailed the casualties since 2001 and that the U.S. expended $5.6 trillion on war in 17 years.

Jessica Schwartz, an organizer from the Committee to Stop FBI Repression NY, gave a powerful speech about political repression when organizing against war. In her speech she said, “The United States doesn’t fight terror. In fact, the United States perpetuates and funds terror all around the world!”

Bernadette Ellorin, representing the International League of Peoples’ Struggle, spoke about fighting back against imperialism and how it’s vital to stay organized.

The protesters then marched to the Army Recruiting Station in Times Square. The event ended with a few more speeches as onlookers learned about the U.S. brutal war machine.

#NewYorkNY #NewYorkCityNY #International #AntiwarMovement #InJusticeSystem #Afghanistan #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #AfghanistanWar #CommitteeToStopFBIRepressionNYC

The protest is organized under the call of “Stop the U.S. War in Afghanistan – Say NO to Endless War. Stop Endless U.S. Wars.”

The event will start on Friday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in front of the offices of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, 1200 South Washington Avenue in Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis protest is organized by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition.

The U.S. war in Afghanistan is the longest foreign war in U.S. history. A statement issued by organizers points out that “In just a few years’ time, the U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan may well have been born after the war started.”

The statement issued by organizers goes on to say, “After 17 years at war in Afghanistan the U.S. is now escalating the level of U.S. involvement once again, with thousands of additional troops having been sent over the last year and an increase in U.S. air strikes.”

The statement continues, “The U.S. military is at war in Afghanistan today, but it is also in combat using U.S. troops, air strikes and drones in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere.

“U.S. intervention, wars, air strikes and drone attacks, will do nothing to fight terrorism, or to make the word safer. The U.S. war machine does not intervene to protect people or to fight terrorism, but to serve U.S. economic interests,” the statement concludes.

The Minneapolis protest will also call for funds to be redirected from war and intervention around the world to meet human needs, jobs, housing and hurricane relief.

The MPAC coalition brings together representatives of several local organizations to plan anti-war activities.

Plans will also be announced at the protest for a march and rally in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 21 to be held in solidarity with the Women's March on the Pentagon, which will call for an end to endless U.S. wars.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #AfghanistanWar #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition

On Sunday, October 7, at 3 p.m., various anti-war and international solidarity organizations will be gathering to mark of the 17th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan.

The event, titled “From Afghanistan to Yemen, End the Wars: NY Tour,” will be a rally in Herald Square, including chants and speeches relating to Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Korea and other places around the world being threatened by the U.S.

October 7 is an important date because it is when the U.S invaded Afghanistan after 9/11 in 2001. The U.S. remains there to this day. Since then, the U.S. has been at war with or threatened attacks on Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Korea and many others.

The three slogans of the rally are “End the Wars,” “U.S. Troops and Bases Out” and “Money for Jobs, Education, and Healthcare.”

The action is being co-hosted by Committee to Stop FBI Repression, International Action Center, and International League of Peoples’ Struggle, with many more endorsing and attending. For more information, go to the Facebook event here ( https://www.facebook.com/events/539642079814794/?ti=icl).

#NewYorkNY #NewYorkCityNY #International #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #Asia #PeoplesStruggles #AfghanistanWar #InternationalActionCenter #InternationalLeagueOfPeoplesStruggle #CommitteeToStopFBIRepressionNYC

Minneapolis, MN – A group of Twin Cities anti-war and peace activists gathered to listen to the Monday, August 21 speech on Afghanistan given by President Trump. In the speech Trump outlined what amounts to a continuation of the war.

A statement by Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC) said, “The war in Afghanistan is Trump’s war. He has continued the war and now threatens to escalate it.”

The MPAC statement went on to say, “U.S. troops in Afghanistan are an occupying force, the Afghan people will not tolerate a foreign occupation army. As long as the U.S. interferes in affairs of the people of Afghanistan, there will be resistance.”

“The U.S. war in Afghanistan has gone on for almost 16 years. In just a couple of years we will have the spectacle that some of the U.S. soldiers fighting in Afghanistan will have been born after the war started. The people of the U.S. are opposed to the endless series of wars and interventions around the world.”

Stephanie Taylor, a member of the Anti-War Committee said, “This endless war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and refugees. It has cost taxpayers over $1 trillion. What Donald Trump indicated tonight makes it clear that this war and occupation by the U.S. will continue.”

Taylor went on to say, “The focus of U.S. aggression is on the Muslim peoples of the Middle East – and this has become worse with Donald Trump as commander in chief. The litany of countries across the Middle East and in North Africa that the U.S. is attacking is sickening: Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Palestine, Yemen are all in the cross-hairs of the U.S.”

The MPAC coalition has called for a protest on Saturday, October 7 under the call of “Stop Endless U.S. Wars,” which will mark 16 years since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #AfghanistanWar #DonaldTrump

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

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #AfghanistanWar

This agreement will lay the basis for continuing the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan.

Plans are being made to leave 10,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014, when the Obama administration had said all U.S. troops would be out of Afghanistan. There will also be several thousand NATO forces left in Afghanistan along with the U.S. troops. There likely will be thousands of “contractors” as well.

There is growing opposition in Afghanistan to the agreement.

Tasnim news agency reported that there was a protest in Kabul, Nov. 18, against the agreement. Tasnim reported, “During the demonstration on Monday, the protesters once again expressed opposition to the so-called Bilateral Security Agreement. The participants also called for the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. forces from the country.”

Tasnim reported, “Our Kabul correspondent Fayez Khorshid says public anger is boiling up in Afghanistan over the security pact as people continue to come out in protest of the deal.”

In the city of Jalalabad there was a demonstration on Nov. 17 involving many students against the BSA pact.

NBC News reported, “While many Americans have been led to believe the war in Afghanistan will soon be over, a draft of a key U.S.-Afghan security deal obtained by NBC News shows the U.S. is prepared to maintain military outposts in Afghanistan for many years to come and to pay to support hundreds of thousands of Afghan security forces.”

NBC reported, “The document appears to be the start of a new, open-ended military commitment in Afghanistan…”

After 12 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. has been unable to secure its war aims. The massive opposition to the war in the U.S. and the resistance of the Afghan people to more war and occupation is forcing the U.S. to try and maintain its role in Afghanistan in such a way that the opposition can be lessened.

As Time magazine reported in an online article this week, “...there’s always the chance that delaying the departure of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan will simply delay the inevitable.”

The opposition in Afghanistan to the continued presence of foreign forces is so high that the Karzai regime has had negotiations with the U.S. to make an appearance of standing up for Afghan independence.

The Karzai government made a show of insisting that U.S. troops could be prosecuted under Afghan law and saying that U.S. troops could not raid Afghan homes.

A flurry of phone calls between Karzai and U.S. Secretary of State Kerry John Kerry in the last few days has seemingly come up with language that gives everyone political cover.

The Karzai government has also called for the holding of a Loya Jirga, a Grand Assembly, that is a traditional Afghan gathering of social leaders to discuss issues of national impotence. Karzai has said that the Loya Jirga will discuss the BSA agreement and decide whether to enact it.

The Wall Street Journal reported, “The Loya Jirga, most of whose delegates were selected by provincial authorities, and whose membership list was approved” by Karzai, “is highly unlikely to do anything against the wishes of the Afghan president.”

The students demonstrating against the BSA agreement in Jalalabad were clear in statements they gave to a reporter from Agence France-Presse about their view of the Loya Jirga called by Karzai: “The people of Afghanistan should not sign this agreement,” Shafiullah, a student who uses only one name, said as demonstrators chanted “Death to the U.S.” 

Another student, Habib-Ul Rahman Arab, accused the delegates, most of them hand-picked by President Hamid Karzai’s administration, of being government supporters. 

“They are not our representatives. They are not representatives of the Afghan people,” he said.

U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued a statement Nov. 20 on the announcement of the BSA language agreement. Lee said in her statement, “This revelation is outrageous. The possibility of a military presence into 2024 is unacceptable. After 13 years and more than $778 billion invested” in Afghanistan and “the corrupt Karzai government, it is time to bring our troops and tax dollars home.”

Alan Dale, a member of the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, said, “All opposed to the war should speak out against this plan to keep thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. As long as U.S. troops are in Afghanistan the war will continue. The people of Afghanistan must be free to determine their own future.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #AfghanistanWar #USImperialism #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition #BilateralSecurityAgreement

Minneapolis, MN – To mark 12 years since the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, 50 people joined a Minneapolis anti-war protest on Oct. 5.

The protest was called by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC). MPAC organized the protest under the call of “Say no to war! U.S. troops and drones out of Afghanistan now; no U.S. military intervention in Syria; stop government spying and attacks on civil liberties; people need housing and jobs, not war.”

The protest took place along the sidewalks of the very busy Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street intersection. A large number of people driving by honked their car horns and waved in support of the anti-war message. One participant said the majority of the cars passing had people honking, waving or showing some sign of support.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “The U.S. has been at war continuously for 12 years: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, the drone wars in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia. Now the Obama administration is proposing yet another military intervention, this time in Syria. At the same time, plans are being made to leave thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan for years to come. The Oct. 5 protest marks 12 years of war with a call for an end to U.S. wars and interventions.”

Meredith Aby-Keirstead , a member of the Anti-War Committee spoke at the demonstration. She said, “President Obama keeps promising to the American people that the war in Afghanistan is winding down...with Afghanistan making an agreement that would continue a strong U.S. presence but also gives them immunity for their war crimes – including for drone attacks and night raids. Does that sound like an end to the U.S. war in Afghanistan? No.”

The Oct. 5 Minneapolis protest was endorsed by AFSCME Local 3800, Anti-War Committee, Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Libertarian Party, Mayday Books, Military Families Speak Out (MN chapter), Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, Minnesota Cuba Committee, Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition, Pakistan Trade Union Defense Campaign, Peace and Justice Committee of Sacred Heart Catholic Church (St. Paul), Socialist Action, St. Paul Eastside Neighbors for Peace, Students for a Democratic Society, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans For Peace (Chapter 27), Welfare Rights Committee, Women Against Military Madness and the Workers International League.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #PeoplesStruggles #MinneapolisAntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #Anniversary

Minneapolis, MN – Holding signs and banners, around 50 people joined an anti-war protest here, Oct. 11, in front of the office of Senator Klobuchar. The protest, organized by the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, coincided with the week of the 11th anniversary of the war on Afghanistan.

In addition to demanding an end to the occupation of Afghanistan, protesters demanded, “Money for human needs, not war,” and for no wars with Syria or Iran.

Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee told the crowd that, before the protest, a delegation of peace activists met with Senator Klobuchar's representatives and they said the senator supports the sanctions on Iran, is not opposed to more U.S. intervention with Syria, and is against an immediate end to the occupation of Afghanistan. “She is no friend of the anti-war movement,” said Sundin.

Long time peace activist Marie Braun said that the sanctions on Iran are a form of warfare, and stated, “Let us raise our voices together and say no to sanctions, no to war.”

Brad Sigal, of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression talked about the need to build a strong anti-war movement and the need to push back against the FBI and grand jury attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Sarah Martin, one of the anti-war activists who was subpoenaed to a grand jury shortly after Sept. 24, 2010, announced that the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression will hold a protest Oct. 25 at 4:30 pm, in front of the Federal Court House in downtown Minneapolis to demand justice for the Holy Land 5.

The protest at Klobuchar's office was endorsed by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Joe Callahan Defense Committee, Military Families Speak Out, MN Peace Action Coalition, Socialist Action, U of M Students for a Democratic Society, the Welfare Rights Committee, and Women Against Military Madness.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #HolyLandFive #TwinCitiesAntiWarCommittee

Minneapolis, MN – On Oct. 7 over 200 people joined a Minneapolis anti-war protest to mark the anniversary of the start of the war on Afghanistan with a call for an end to war and for the troops to be brought home.

The Minneapolis protest gathered in the busy Uptown area and then marched over a mile to a closing rally.

The protest was initiated by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC). MPAC issued a statement that says in part, “The war in Afghanistan is now 11 years old, the longest war in U.S. history. Along with over 2000 U.S. military personnel, thousands of Afghans have lost their lives, thousands more injured and many more displaced.”

The MPAC statement continues, “Despite claims that the U.S. is winding down the war, tens of thousands of U.S. troops will stay there through 2014. The U.S. has plans to keep thousands of troops, contractors, CIA operatives and air power (including drones), there until 2024.”

“All opposed to the continuation of this war must speak out. Without an independent marching movement, the U.S. government will stay in Afghanistan not only for another two years, but many more years after that,” the MPAC statement continues.

“The people of Afghanistan want the occupation forces out of their country. The people of the U.S. want an end to the war and for the troops to be brought home,” the MPAC statement concludes.

Members of Occupy Minnesota joined the anti-war protest. Occupy Minnesota was holding a gathering to mark one year since the launching of the Occupy movement in Minnesota. Occupy Minnesota participants held their own march to meet up with the anti-war protest.

Mia Overly, a member of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota was among the speakers. Overly explained that her brother is in the U.S. military in Afghanistan.

Overly said, “Brothers and sisters, as you know we are all here today to mark 11 years of the war and occupation in Afghanistan. But I am here today also as a person directly affected by this unjust and inhumane occupation. My brother is one of the young Marines that are currently in Afghanistan. To end this war is personal for me!”

Overly continued, “Young soldiers and marines are dying in Afghanistan every day, 31 every month on average. More than 2000 American troops have died in this 11-year war. These deaths go unrecognized; but they are the lives of our brothers, our sisters, our daughters and sons. Even more unnoticed than the forgotten American deaths are the deaths of our Afghan brothers and sisters. Countless Afghans die every year from the U.S. occupation of their country. The U.S. finds these deaths so inconsequential that there isn’t even a officially released death count. But you can bet these deaths are in the millions.”

Another speaker, Meredith Aby of the Anti War Committee told the crowd, “For 11 years now we have had the War on Terror – a war on the peoples of the world in the name of ‘fighting terrorism.’ A war that has targeted Muslim and Arab people abroad and at home. A war that has eroded our civil liberties at home. A war that has killed thousands of U.S. service members and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans. A war that has deprived school children and the poor of the government tax dollars that they need to read, eat and survive.”

The Minneapolis protest was organized under the call of “End the War in Afghanistan Now!”, as well as opposing in wars in Syria and Iran and calling for funds for jobs, housing and other human needs, not war.

The weekend of October 5-7 saw anti-war protests in many cities around the U.S. to speak out against the war.

A wide range of organizations, including AFSCME Local 3800, the Anti-War Committee, Military Families Speak Out, Students for a Democratic Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace, and Women Against Military Madness endorsed the Minneapolis protest.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition #OccupyMinneapolis

Gainesville, FL – On Oct. 8, about three dozen Gainesville activists held a rally to protest the 11th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Florida (UF), Occupy Gainesville and Gainesville Veterans for Peace gave a round of speeches in Turlington Plaza, demanding the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan and the end of U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and other parts of the Middle East.

The walls surrounding Turlington Plaza rang with the sound of students and Gainesville residents chanting, “Troops out now!” Speakers also addressed the devastating costs of the war and the resulting cuts to public education and social services.

“Every week, Washington spends $2 billion on the occupation of Afghanistan. That's billion with a capital 'B',” said SDS organizer Pamela Maldonado, as protesters chanted, “Up, up with education! Down, down with occupation!”

This action also officially launched Gainesville SDS's campaign to end the expansion of drone manufacturing in Gainesville. The Gainesville-based company Altavian, Inc. revealed in late August that it is officially the first company in U.S. history to receive a federal contract solely for expanding drone production. It is accompanied by Prioria Robotics, also based in Gainesville, which actively hires recently graduated UF students.

This protest occurred a week after a successful student-led discussion of Syria, U.S. intervention, and the human rights atrocities committed by the Syrian rebels. About 40 students filled the room, and before the event was over, a consensus was built around opposing all forms of Western intervention and the U.S.-backed rebels. All students present called for Syrian self-determination instead.

This sentiment reappeared during speeches at Monday's protest of the War in Afghanistan. “Sept. 11 may have been an excuse to go into Afghanistan, but no Afghanis were actually involved in the terrorist attacks,” said Maldonado. “The only reason we invaded was to consolidate the U.S.'s control over the Middle East's resources, and the only people who benefit is the top 1% of this country. Thousands of people are dying, so that a few hundred can live like royalty.”

Speakers also emphasized the importance of staying in the streets and protesting the war from our own country, rather than staying content with the ballot box. The same millionaires who stand to gain from these wars have compromised both the Democrat and Republican parties.

Eric Brown, another SDS organizer, said, “Even though Bush sent in the first troops, the Obama administration has stepped up these unmanned attacks to unprecedented levels and redefined the potential destruction of U.S. imperialism. It is more urgent than ever that Americans protest these wars where they can, locally, here at home.”

#GainesvilleFL #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #Afghanistan #Syria #AfghanistanWar #UniversityOfFlorida #OccupyGainesville #drones #GainesvilleVeteransForPeace

Tampa, FL – At the University of South Florida, Oct. 8, about 30 students gathered outside of Cooper Hall to protest on the 11th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. Six speakers from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) spoke to the crowd about the impact this war has had on the students across the United States, and on the targets of U.S. wars abroad. After the protesters listened to the speeches made by the students and various community members, they marched to the C.W. Bill Young Building, which houses the ROTC program on campus. The building is named after Congressman Bill Young, whose anti-worker and anti-student policies sent many young people from poor communities to fight wars for members of the 1% – such as him.

Walt Byars, a member of SDS, thought that the protest went over well with the students who stopped to take it all in, stating “Our demonstration let students know that there are people on campus dedicated to constant struggle against oppression. It’s up to us to build on these impressions and show the student body what dedicated activists can achieve.”

Many of the activists who gave speeches also used the platform to celebrate the continuing power of the people in Venezuela, after the re-election the night before of Hugo Chavez. There is indeed reason to celebrate. Despite the conditions caused by the war, countries like Venezuela determine their own destinies in the face of open attacks on their democracies and ways of life by the U.S.

Matt Hastings, a senior at USF, pointed out that democratic rights are under attack at home, with the FBI raids and grand jury subpoenas of 23 anti-war and Palestine solidarity activists just two years ago. Hastings stated that the government, “does not want us to organize against war and they do not want us to challenge imperialism, because it challenges the foundation that they have built their power on. We must be on the side of the oppressed or we are only working on the side of the oppressors.”

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #Afghanistan #AfghanistanWar #UniversityOfSouthFlorida

Chicago, IL – Protesters here marched to the headquarters of Boeing Corporation on Oct. 7 to mark the 11th anniversary of the war on Afghanistan. Over 100 people joined the protest to demand that the U.S. end the war now.

Malik Mujahid of the Muslim Peace Coalition spoke of the senseless bloodshed in Afghanistan, and about how the war is spreading across the border into his homeland, Pakistan. “Is the U.S. strategy winning?” he asked, which brought forth a chorus of “No!” from the crowd gathered in the plaza in front of the Tribune Tower, offices of the Chicago Tribune. The coalition chose this location for the start of the protest to criticize the mainstream media for ignoring the Afghan War in this election season.

Hatem Abudayyeh, one of the 23 Midwest activists facing grand jury investigation, reminded the protesters that the Palestinian community and its supporters are being threatened with repression “To justify and build support for a failed U.S. foreign policy and to build support for unlimited U.S. aid to Israel, our government needs to put a local face on the enemy abroad, and today that face is Palestinian and Arab and Muslim. And they're attempting to even criminalize the broader anti-war movement as well.”

Xian Barrett, a member of the bargaining committee of the Chicago Teachers Union, told of their recent strike. “We need money for our schools, not for war,” he explained. The need in the Chicago Public Schools is desperate, so much so that when the teachers were forced to walk the picket lines last month, “The children and their parents said, ‘Thank you for standing up for us.’”

Drone warfare: new U.S. military favorite

Members of Occupy Chicago organized a die-in with mock drones in the square. More than dozen people fell to the ground, portraying the casualties in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The action prepared people for the one and a half mile march to the headquarters of Boeing Corporation. The march raised chants like, “Boeing – shame on you! Children die because of you.”

As Pat Hunt of Chicago Area Peace Action would explain later, “We are here because Boeing is the second largest weapons manufacturer in the country, and while they don’t build the drones that are best known, their spy drones help the killing.” Hunt was referring to the General Atomics Reaper and Predator drones. Boeing’s subsidiary, Insitu, does make drones that deliver bombs, but they are not that popular with the U.S. military.

Obama headquarters, then Boeing

The marchers first stopped at the national headquarters of President Obama’s re-election campaign. In the anti-war movement, there is indignation toward Obama for continuing and intensifying the war in Afghanistan, launching the war on Libya, and threatening and intervening in Syria and Iran. In addition, while George W. Bush used drone strikes only 52 times in eight years, Obama has ordered 294. Some estimates place the total number of drone strikes even higher.

Chants intensified as they approached the Prudential Building where the campaign is housed, “Hey, Obama, We say no. The war in Afghanistan has got to go!” Kait McIntyre of Students for a Democratic Society delivered a statement of the march demands, including an end to the war in Afghanistan; No new wars, whether Syria, Iran, or the undeclared drone wars in Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia; Money for jobs, education and health care, not for war; and an end to FBI repression of anti-war activists.

The spirited march chanted all the way to the Chicago River on the west side of the Loop, Chicago’s downtown. Facing the large Boeing sign, Said Khan of the Pakistan Federation of America, read a message of support to the Pakistani and US marchers in Pakistan who were attempting to march to North Waziristan, the province that has been the target of most of the 300 or more drone strikes in Pakistan.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #HatemAbudayyeh #AfghanistanWar #OccupyChicago #BoeingCorporation #MuslimPeaceCoalition #PeaceAction #drones

Tallahassee, FL – On Oct. 5, about 50 students and community members rallied at Florida State University (FSU) to protest on the 11th anniversary of the war on Afghanistan.

Demonstrators highlighted the imperialist nature of the war in Afghanistan by chanting, “No blood for oil! U.S. off Afghani soil!” They also highlighted the rising rates of suicide and PTSD in U.S. soldiers.

The protesters started their rally on Landis Green in the heart of campus, attracting many supportive onlookers. Black and white signs displayed facts about the horrors of the U.S.’s longest war and demands to end it. Signs called for funding education, not war; pointed out that one in four women service members deal with sexual assault; and called attention to the civilian deaths resulting from predator drones. Drone attacks have caused 1,245 civilian deaths in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2011, according to the United Nations.

Speakers from diverse organizations, such as environmental groups, Palestine solidarity groups, and mental health advocacy groups highlighted an enemy held in common: the military-industrial complex.

“War is not good for women, children, soldiers, the environment, LGBTQ people, or people of color,” said Jessica Schwartz, co-coordinator of an FSU feminist group.

The group then marched to the student union and dropped two large banners reading, “Stand up for vets!” and “No more war! End U.S. imperialism!’'

Another anti-war demonstration is planned for Oct. 7, at the Florida state capitol, where protesters will read the names of the deceased and commemorate the fallen civilians and troops lost in the 11 years of war. This second demonstration is being organized by Vets for Peace and their allies in Tallahassee.

#TallahasseeFL #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #antiimperialism #FloridaStateUniversity

The Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC) issued a statement that says in part, “The sad news today that of the 2000th U.S. military death in Afghanistan highlights the fact that the war in Afghanistan is continuing with an ever-growing number of military and civilian victims.”

The statement also announced plans for an anti-war march and rally to be held in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 7, which will be part of a national weekend of anti-war actions to mark 11 years since the start of the war.

“The majority of people of Afghanistan want all foreign troops out of their country. The explosion of so-called ‘green on blue’ attacks demonstrates that the presence of occupation forces can only lead to more war,” the statement said.

“Despite claims that the U.S. in winding down the war in Afghanistan, 68,000 U.S. troops remain. While the U.S. government talks about withdrawal by the end of 2014, there are plans to leave thousands of U.S. troops in Afghanistan until perhaps 2024.”

The statement continues, “How many U.S. soldiers and Afghans must lose their lives before our government finally admits that the war is wrong and it is time to bring the troops home?”

The MPAC statement concludes, “The war has produced a horrendous human cost of dead and injured, but a huge financial cost as well. Each dollar that is spent on the war is a dollar that is not spent on human needs such as housing, healthcare and the environment.”

The Minnesota Peace Action Coalition Oct. 7 protest will gather at 1:00 p.m. at Hennepin and Lagoon Avenues in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a march to Loring Park for a closing rally.

The weekend of Oct. 5-7 will see protests, vigils and other events in cities across the U.S. to mark 11 years of war with a call for an end to the war.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #USImperialism #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition

Minneapolis, MN – Around 60 people joined a weekly peace vigil in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul on Sept. 19 to mark 4000 days since the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

The vigil participants lined the sidewalks on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River between the two cities, with signs calling for an end to the war and for U.S. troops to be brought home now.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “Today marks 4000 days since the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. We gather today to say, not one more day, not one more death, not one more dollar – end the war now.”

The statement went on to say, “While the U.S. government says the war is ‘winding down’, thousands of U.S. troops are still in Afghanistan, and there are plans to leave thousands of troops in the country, perhaps until 2024. In this election year the politicians don’t want to talk about the war, because the vast majority of people in the U.S. want an end to the war, and the politicians have nothing to offer but more years of war and occupation.”

At the end of the event, representatives of several local peace groups gave brief talks.

Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee said, “Today we mark not only 4000 days of war, but also 4000 days of opposition to this war. From the day the first U.S. bombs fell on Afghanistan, people have spoken out to say no to war, and we will continue to speak out. We will not be intimidated from speaking out against this war, a war fought for greed.” Sundin is among the Midwest anti-war and international solidarity activists whose homes were raided by the FBI two years ago.

The event also built support for a weekend of nationally coordinated anti-war protests, Oct. 5 through 7, that will mark eleven years since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2001. A Minneapolis anti-war march and rally is planned for Sunday, Oct. 7. Participants took copies of the leaflet for the Oct. 7 protest to get out to friends, co-workers and others.

Women Against Military Madness and Twin Cities Peace Campaign are sponsors of the weekly vigil for peace, and were joined by the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition in making a special appeal for people to attend on Sept. 19 to mark the 4000th day of war in Afghanistan.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AntiWarCommittee #WomenAgainstMilitaryMadness #AfghanistanWar #antiimperialism

Minneapolis, MN – More than 500 people marched here, Oct. 15, to mark the tenth year of the U.S. war in Afghanistan with a call for an end to the occupation and for U.S. troops to be brought home now.

The event was organized under the slogan of “Bring the Troops & War Dollars Home Now – Get Out of Afghanistan!” The Minnesota Peace Action Coalition (MPAC) initiated planning for the event.

Activists participating in OccupyMN in downtown Minneapolis issued a leaflet urging occupiers to join the Oct. 15 anti-war protest. The leaflet, headlined, “Hop on the Peace Train,” urged participants to gather and take the light rail train to join the rally and march. Around 100 people from the OccupyMN joined the anti-war protest.

After rallying near the busy intersection of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue, the crowd marched on Lake Street before turning to go to South High School for a closing rally in the auditorium.

A statement issued by MPAC says, in part, “We call for an end to the U.S. war in Afghanistan which has now been going on for ten years; the longest war in U.S. history. The conflict has taken the lives of thousands of Afghan civilians and over 1700 U.S. military personnel and has cost hundreds of billions in U.S. tax dollars. It is estimated that it costs $1 million a year to keep one U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.”

Anti-war actions had been planned in cities across the U.S. this weekend to mark the milestone anniversary and to call for an end to the war. The call for the Oct. 15 local anti-war actions was initiated by the United National Antiwar Committee and other organizations.

The MPAC statement goes on to say, “Polls show that most Afghans want the U.S. to leave – and most Americans agree. Billions of dollars go to the war in Afghanistan while millions of people in the U.S. are unemployed and losing their housing.”

A range of speakers addressed the anti-war protest, including Wayne Wittman, representing the Minnesota State AFL-CIO.

Meredith Aby, of the Anti-War Committee urged crowd to join the massive protests scheduled for the G8/NATO summit, stating “While President Bush started the war in Afghanistan, President Obama has escalated it. He has sent in more troops and has expanded the conflict to Pakistan. Both Bush and Obama have repeatedly used the cover of multi-lateralism and international support as justifications for the war. In reality though, NATO is used as a fig leaf. This is a U.S. led military intervention and occupation.”

Aby continued, “Normally Minnesotans have to drive 24 hours to get to D.C. to say no to the warmakers in person. However, this May we will only have to drive seven. NATO and the G8 are holding a joint summit which highlights that U.S. military policy is an extension of U.S. economic policy. We have the opportunity to go to Chicago to say no to the warmakers in person while they are in the Midwest and I hope you'll come with us to demand an end to the war on Afghanistan!”

Cherrene Horazuk, the chief steward of AFSCME Local 3800, one of the day’s many endorsing organizations, said, “It is always the sons and daughters of working people who are sent off to kill and be killed in wars that do not represent the interests of themselves or their families. These wars are not fought to stop terrorism, or for democracy but in the interests of the large corporations who rely on U.S. military power around the world to maintain their interests.”

Other groups supporting the Oct. 15 action included Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Women Against Military Madness, Anti-War Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and many others.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #MinnesotaPeaceActionCoalition #OccupyMN

About 1500 people marched and rallied here, Oct. 8, to demand an end to U.S. wars and occupations. The protest coincided with the ten year anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. Chanting, “We are the 99%!” and “Occupy Chicago, troops home now!” the protest joined with Occupy Chicago.

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #AfghanistanWar #OccupyChicago #OccupyWallStreet

Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 8, over 100 people rallied and marched against the continuing U.S./NATO occupation of Afghanistan. The event was organized to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which began in October of 2001.

The rally was followed by a large march to City Hall, where community members spoke before the crowd inside. Attendees included Milwaukee Alderman Nik Kovac, union workers and community organizations including the L.U.V. Brigade, Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Peace Action-Wisconsin, Veterans for Peace, U.S. Labor Against the War and others represented by the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

Khalil Coleman of the L.U.V. Brigade said of the day's events, “We have to start looking at poverty at home and poverty in foreign countries in a different light. If we can take money that is being used to fund violence in Libya and to oppress people in Afghanistan and bring it back to the communities here in the U.S., we can help to build a better world.”

Danielle Meyer, an organizer for the upcoming Occupy Milwaukee protests, said, “We're out here today because military spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is wasteful and is going to kill innocent people. We want to see funding come back for human needs here in Milwaukee, as well as the rest of the country.” Milwaukee is often listed as the most segregated city in the United States with the fourth highest level of poverty.

Solidarity was also expressed for those anti-war activists persecuted by the FBI. Jhosellin Perez, speaking for the Milwaukee Activist Defense Network, urged those present to visit www.stopfbi.net and sign the Pledge to Resist there, as well as to keep active in opposing government repression of anti-war activists.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #VeteransForPeace #AfghanistanWar #MilwaukeeActivistDefenseNetwork #MilwaukeeSDS #PeaceActionWisconsin #LUVBrigade #MilwaukeeCoalitionForAJustPeace #USLaborAgainstTheWar #OccupyMilwaukee #NikKovac