Between leading a 2000-person demonstration against Donald Trump when he visited Milwaukee on January 14 and butting heads with the city while trying to host a press conference to announce a lawsuit for our right to protest, traffic to the Facebook page has increased dramatically, including numerous inquiries about how people can get more involved.

Perhaps the most significant indicator of the coalition’s success is the amount of new endorsements that have come in during the first six weeks of 2020. The list has more than doubled, now including 50 organizations. New endorsements are coming in every day.

Among the highlights of these new endorsements are a number of prominent national anti-war organizations: Veterans for Peace, CODEPINK, and the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). By the end of February, the Coalition to March on the DNC hopes to have secured many more endorsements from organizations participating in the anti-war movement. A delegation from Milwaukee is being sent to New York City for the UNAC conference taking place later this month, from February 22-24.

“The coalition is making strides at uniting important organizations doing fantastic work in all areas,” said Adelana Akindes, a representative of the coalition who will be speaking at the conference. “UNAC’s endorsement is exciting for us, as they are one of the leaders of the anti-war movement. We're looking forward to making even further gains in New York City.”

UNAC is the largest anti-war group in the United States. In addition to the numerous organizations that will be represented there, a handful of particularly influential activists will be in attendance. These giants from the various people’s movements include Frank Chapman, executive director of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; Ajamu Baraka, a national organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace; Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, and many others.

The Coalition to March on the DNC will gather at 10 a.m., Monday, July 13 in downtown Milwaukee for a family-friendly rally, coinciding with the opening day the Democratic National Convention. Led by Milwaukee activists and their friends from across the country, there will be a wide array of groups, unions and communities represented. People will hold signs and march with banners, raise their voices to chant and sing, and they will pass the main entrance of Fiserv Forum where the DNC is being held.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #DemocraticNationalConvention

Philadelphia, PA – On July 25, thousands gathered and protested at the opening day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The first rally and march of the day, called by The Equality Coalition, started at 10 a.m. Activists and their groups began gathering despite warnings of the extreme heat that was going to hit Philadelphia. The banners and signs varied from loyal pro-Sander supporters to militant calls for revolution. However, the one consistent message that day – down with Hillary Clinton.

Speakers consistently brought up Clinton’s long history of corruption, from her warmongering to her recent participation in the scam primary elections.

Members of different left and progressive organizations were handing out literature regarding the elections and their views of Clinton and Sanders. The Freedom Road Socialist Organization handed out two of their statements on elections and the recent police killings.

Dave Schneider, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, summed up the general views of the people protesting that morning, “The people out here protesting the DNC understand that both major parties represent the class of billionaires that rule this country. Frankly, we're not buying what these politicians in both parties are selling anymore.”

The march began at 2 p.m., as over 800 protesters began a four-mile trek to the convention center to make their voices heard. Chants from “Hey, hey! Ho, Ho! Hillary Clinton has got to go,” to “Feel the Bern” kept the marchers up beat and determined in the 99-degree heat.

Once the first march reached the convention center, the second event, March for Our Lives, called by Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, began at 3 p.m. Hundreds gathered once more in front of City Hall to listen to a wide range of speakers, such as Cornell West and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. “Don’t vote for the lesser evil, but for the greater good,” said Stein.

The march started soon after Stein finished speaking, and the protesters joined the others at the convention center.

Schneider, who will be more protests at the DNC, said, “In the coming days, I expect more people to join the protests outside the DNC, including many of the Sanders delegates. The Democratic Party, like the GOP, loyally serves Wall Street.”

#PhiladelphiaPA #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC #Socialism #Elections #BernieSanders #HillaryClinton #JillStein

Minneapolis, MN – Leaders of the Twin Cites Peace and Justice movement blasted city government at a press conference here, Aug. 27, in front of the Minneapolis City Hall.

The agency designated with the authority to issue parade permits in Minneapolis, the Public Works Department, has turned down an application from the Anti-War Committee for a mass march and rally on the opening day of the proposed Democratic National Convention.

Officials responsible for making the decision to turn down the application for the anti-war march have not even bothered to put forward coherent reasons that are consistent with the law. An official told protest organizers that it was too soon to submit an application. City law does not establish any dates that are ‘too early’ – in fact the ordinance says “parade permit applications should be filed as soon as possible in advance of the parade or event.”

City officials say another reason for rejecting the permit application is because they will not approve any parade permits for a date that is not on a weekend or holiday. Leaving aside the fact that this restriction in it of itself is unconstitutional, organizers are demanding the permit for Sept. 3, Labor Day, 2012 – a legal holiday in Minneapolis.

“It’s clear city officials just do not want to see a major anti-war march that coincides with the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. We have a right to protest and if the DNC is held here we will to exactly that on Sept. 3, 2012,” states Meredith Aby, of the Anti-War Committee.

“We want permits to have the largest possible march. That said, we have a right to protest and the city of Minneapolis needs to understand that we will march to the site of the DNC with or without a permit. Under the slogan “Money for human needs, not for war,” we will take thousands of protesters to the Metrodome if the DNC is held here,” said Deb Konechne of the Welfare Rights Committee.

#MinneaoplisMN #MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AntiWarCommittee #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC

Minneapolis, MN – At an Aug. 9 press conference in front of Minneapolis City Hall, leaders of the Twin Cities peace and justice movement announced the route for the massive anti-war march that will take place if the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is held in that city. Activists had the march permits in hand, ready to be presented to city officials.

Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee stated, “We want city government to grant us permits for an anti-war march on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. We are against the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq and we are going to put out that message in a big way at the DNC.”

“I’m here today to say that if the Democrats choose Minneapolis for their 2012 convention, MIRAc will mobilize again to protest. Why? We must protest, because the unjust wars abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq continue. And we must protest because the unjust war against immigrants here at home continues,” said Brad Sigal of the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAc).

Many of the organizations that organized the massive anti-war protests at the Republican National Convention in 2008 are joining this effort, including the Anti-War Committee, Women Against Military Madness, the Welfare Rights Committee and others.

Sarah Martin of Women Against Military Madness said, “The cost for the U.S. is well known. Over 1000 soldiers dead; each troop costs $1 million per year and the total cost to date is over $300 billion. As of today, Minneapolis taxpayers have paid $450 million for this war. Money used to destroy homes in Afghanistan could have kept Minneapolis residents out of foreclosure.”

Protest organizers plan on a march the opening day of the DNC that would start in Loring Park, proceed to the Metrodome – the proposed site of the DNC – and would then proceed to Elliot Park.

“We are not going to put up with the city of Minneapolis dragging its feet on granting us permits for a march at the DNC. We went through that with the 2008 RNC march permits in Saint Paul, and we will not accept something like that a second time. Under the slogan ‘Money for human needs, not for war,’ we will take thousands of protesters to the Metrodome if the DNC is held here,” states Deb Konechne of the Welfare Rights Committee.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #MinneapolisAntiwarMovement #AntiWarCommittee #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC

Josh Sykes, a spokesperson for Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) Asheville, outlined the plans for the march.

“We will bring together thousands of people to oppose the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq,” says Sykes. “We will march to the site of the convention with a clear message: It is time to end the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and to bring the troops home now. We demand money for education, not occupation.”

Plans for a massive demonstration at the DNC are getting backing from around the country. Meredith Aby, a lead organizer of the massive protests that took place at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota, states, “We will charter buses from around the country to travel to Charlotte to protest the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq. We in the peace movement insist that politicians who support these wars are held accountable and we will travel from every point in the country to make that point.”

Demonstrators at the DNC will be raising the slogans, “U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq – now!” “Foreclose the war, not people’s homes,” “Bail out the people, not the banks and corporations!” and “Jobs or income now!”

Jeremy Miller, of Asheville SDS stated, “The wars and occupations need to come to an end. We are getting a great response from student activists around the country who want to come here and protest the war.”

#CharlotteNC #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #ProtestRNC2008 #SDS #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC

Minneapolis, MN – Leaders of the Twin Cities peace and justice movement announced plans for a major anti-war march to coincide with the opening of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) – if the convention is held in Minneapolis. The press conference took place July 22 in front of the Metrodome, a proposed site of the convention.

Many of the organizations that organized the massive anti-war protests at the Republican National Convention in 2008 are joining this effort.

Meredith Aby, of the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee said, “We are prepared to organize a significant protest of thousands of people to demand an end to the wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. For the 2008 RNC we organized an impressive coalition of anti-war, economic rights, student, immigrant rights and labor groups to protest the war on Iraq and these forces are ready to come together again to give a loud and clear message of opposition to the Democrats’ support for the war in Afghanistan.”

Sarah Martin, of Women Against Military Madness, blasted the war in Afghanistan, noting “Afghans have a proud history of throwing out their occupiers. Afghanistan is known as the graveyard of empires.”

Demonstrators will be raising the slogans, “U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq – now!” “Foreclose the war, not people’s homes,” “Bail out the people, not the banks and corporations!” and “Jobs or income now!” at the DNC protest.

“We think every politician, Democrat or Republican, who has tried to shift the burden of the economic crisis on to the backs of the people needs to be held accountable. We demand that cuts to the social safety net come to an end and call for the expansion of programs that serve poor and working people,” said Angel Buchner of the Welfare Rights Committee.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC

Minneapolis, MN – Twenty protesters picketed outside the Twins game on July 18 to protest the proposal for Minneapolis hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC). The DNC site selection committee was rumored to be inside and thousands of Minnesotans saw signs like “We say NO WAR Party” as they went into the stadium. Minneapolis is one of four cities in running to host the convention. The protest was organized by No DNC, a local coalition.

Two years ago St. Paul, Minnesota hosted the Republican National Convention. There were large anti-war protests every day of the convention. The police conduct during the convention was outrageous and the city is still in litigation for mass arrests and police brutality. The Twin Cities activist community will organize massive portests if Minneapolis hosts the DNC.

Dave Bicking explained to the crowd, “There are special reasons why we oppose this convention, because of the very policies that will be celebrated as they celebrate they reselect Obama for president. These are policies of war, of bank failures, I don’t need to go on…They [the Minneapolis city council]will be actively helping the security needed to repress freedom of speech in this city while hosting some of the worst war criminals in this country – people who are responsible for making the plans that are killing people around this world. We need to let the site selection committee know that there will be resistance, that there is resistance which is forming already and there will be continued resistance if they want to come and bring all their war policies to Minneapolis.”

Bicking is an anti-war and environmental activist and father to Monica Bicking, one of the RNC 8. She is still facing felony charges for “conspiracy” from 2008. Bicking is concerned there will be more police repression and trumped up charges if Minneapolis hosts the DNC.

Meredith Aby, an activist with the Anti-War Committee who helped organize protest on days one and four of the RNC in 2008 explained what will happen if Minneapolis hosts the convention, “The Afghanistan war is the Democrat’s war. They chose to escalate it. They chose to put the lives of millions of Afghans and tens of thousands of Americans at risk. They chose to stand by as video after video was released of massacre after massacre of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have blood on their hands and they can’t expect to come to our town, an anti-war town like Minneapolis, and get to party for four days without us telling them that this is criminal and immoral.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #ProtestRNC2008 #RepublicanNationalConvention #RNC8 #DemocraticNationalConvention #DNC #DNC2012 #NoDNC