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

Veteran anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan spoke to the crowd saying, “It's the 12th anniversary of shocking and awful. The U.S. has been bombing Iraq since 1991.”

Scott Williams with the International Action Center said, “The U.S. empire was built on its oppression of people of color, women, LGBTQ people and workers from every continent. It has long been the greatest threat to humanity.”

Numerous activists from anti-war organizations spoke, criticizing the wars and conflicts under the Obama administration.

“Endless wars and empire connects to Black Lives Matter because Black Lives Matter works to destroy white supremacy and imperialism,” said Sean Blackmon of ANSWER Coalition and DC Ferguson, the last speaker at the event. “While they're sending money overseas to fund empire, it's taking money away from people over here starving and suffering from oppression.”

The crowd marched from the White House, stopping at the headquarters of the Zionist group AIPAC, chanting, “Down, down with occupation! Up, up with liberation!” The crowd then marched to the U.S. Capitol, yelling “No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East”.

“I'm horrified by what the U.S. government is doing, their war on Black people and the militarization of police,” said Alice Sturnstter with New York City Raging Grannies. “Stop the wars and bring the resources back home.”

The protest was called Spring Rising, an anti-war intervention in Washington D.C.

#WashingtonDC #AntiwarMovement #ANSWERCoalition #InternationalActionCenter #CindySheehan

The latest Israeli warplane striking the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, during the nights of May 2-3 and May 4-5 have dangerously escalated foreign intervention in the ongoing war in Syria. The anti-war movement in the United States must be alert to the growing attempt by the U.S., other NATO powers and now the main militarist threat in the region, Israel, to overturn the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria and replace it with an imperialist puppet.

These strikes and Washington's obvious support for all Israeli aggression against Syria appear to be the opening thrust of open imperialist military intervention in the war in Syria. For the past two years, Western imperialism fed weapons through the Qatar and Saudi monarchies through NATO-member Turkey to arm and fund reactionary “rebel” forces inside Syria. This support kept them going and extended the bloodletting of Syrians.

In recent months the support not only from the U.S. but from imperialist Britain and France, the former colonial powers in that region of Western Asia, has increased and grown more and more overt. The Pentagon has placed Special Forces on Jordan's border with Syria. The U.S. and other NATO countries have personnel with anti-missile batteries on Turkey's border with Syria.

The governments and the corporate media machine in the NATO countries have carried out an intensive propaganda campaign against the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria. The stories about use of chemical weapons have no basis in fact. The imperialist gun running has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Syrians, yet all the blame for these deaths is heaped on the Damascus government. For the imperialists, Syria's real sin was to have wrested some independence from U.S. and West European domination and to be an enemy of the Israeli settler state.

Despite the material, diplomatic and political support for the “rebels,” the Syrian government in recent weeks has clearly been defeating the reactionaries militarily. At the same time, the “rebels” are split into dozens of little groups, each with its own leadership. The military initiative of these contra rebels has slid over to those groups closest to al-Qaida in ideology. The U.S. and its allies have contributed by recruiting people closest to this ideology from all around the world and sending them — mercenaries, reactionary fundamentalists of all backgrounds — into Syria as veritable death squads. They are capable only of bringing sectarian slaughter to Syria.

No matter what today's or tomorrow's pretext for more Israeli attacks — and the Israelis and their U.S. backers will tell plenty of lies — Israeli air strikes against Syrian soil put Israel on the side of the reactionary uprising against Damascus. It clearly places bloody U.S. and NATO imperialism and the Israeli local gendarmes on one side and the Syrian people and government and their allies on the other. It means that U.S.-NATO forces are resorting to what is a desperate measure: using the Israeli pit bull against an independent country in that region.

It would not be the first time the Israeli state has played the role of cat's paw of imperialism in the region. The French-British-Israeli seizure of the Suez Canal in 1956, the June 1967 war against the progressive Syrian government, the 1982 invasion and occupation of Lebanon and the more recent blows against the Palestinian and Lebanese liberation movements are other examples. While serving its own interests as an expansionist settler state in the region, Israel also serves the interest of the worldwide dominant U.S. and NATO imperialism. In the current situation with U.S. and other NATO powers controlling all intelligence and monitoring the airspace, it is more than reasonable to assume that any Israeli airstrikes are first signaled to and approved by Washington.

For the anti-war movement in the United States, it is a time to remove any doubts about who is who in the war going on in Syria. The worldwide forces of oppression — U.S., NATO and Israel — are all lined up against the Syrian government. It is time demand U.S., Israeli, NATO hands off Syria!

#Syria #AntiwarMovement #Israel #InternationalActionCenter #USImperialism

After a traditional Iranian dinner buffet at the Warwick New York Hotel, attendees were greeted by the Iranian president and three other Iranian officials. After apologies for the security measures imposed by the U.S. Secret Service, the Iranian delegation invited remarks from their guests. Speakers included Phil Wilayto, Ramsey Clark, Brenda Stokely of the Black is Back Coalition, Saladin Muhammad of Black Workers for Justice, Nihad Awad of Council on American Islamic Relations, Sara Flounders of International Action Center and several religious leaders.

All expressed their solidarity with the Iranian people, and voiced opposition to the U.S. threats of war, sanctions and other interference in Iran’s affairs. Many called for affirmation of the Durban Program of Action Against Racism and several raised the imminent execution of Troy Davis in Georgia.

Jess Sundin, of the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, addressed President Ahmadinejad saying, “Almost one year ago, my home was raided by the FBI, along with 24 anti-war and international solidarity activists. We are being targeted and criminalized for our lifetimes dedicated to struggling for peace and justice and our own fates are uncertain. We have spoken out against threats of war and sanctions on Iran and we will not be silent. Our silence is the only thing they can use against us. I urge everyone here to follow your example and not be silent in the face of U.S. imperialism.”

After 17 guests spoke, the president addressed the gathering. “Do you know of an animal that has killed one million of its own kind? In our time, we know of a being, that in order to line the pockets of the wealthy, invaded Iraq and Afghanistan and killed one million.”

He responded directly to many of the guests’ comments. Referring to the case of Troy Davis, he said, “We have heard today about someone who is not guilty of a single crime, that is being executed, and all of us feel attacked.”

President Ahmadinejad closed with these hopeful words, “The devil may seem scary, but in reality they are weak and vulnerable. 30 years ago, the U.S. government was unbeatable. They could tackle any problem and beat it. What position do they occupy today? They are weak; they cannot resolve even the most basic problems. Who today has hope they can save the economy and the financial system? They used to say Israel would extend from the Nile to the Euphrates, but now the Zionists are surrounding themselves with 20-foot high walls.”

The meeting closed with applause.

#NewYorkNY #AntiwarMovement #Ahmadinejad #Iran #AntiWarCommittee #JessSundin #RamseyClark #InternationalActionCenter #TroyDavis #antiimperialism #InternationalDayOfPeace #DurbanProgramOfActionAgainstRacism #BlackWorkersForJustice #BlackIsBackCoalition #CouncilOnAmericanIslamicRelations #PoliticalRepression

Minneapolis, MN – Cynthia McKinney, former six-term member of the House of Representatives, and Sara Flounders, co-director of the International Action Center, spoke to a packed room of over 60 supporters, July 9, at the Plymouth Congregational Church. Both gave motivating speeches for how the U.S./NATO intervention in Libya is endangering and killing the civilian population and demanded an immediate end to the war on Libya.

President Obama claims U.S. involvement in Libya is not a ‘war,’ but McKinney’s firsthand testimony of the nighttime and daytime bombing of Tripoli, the country’s largest urban center, during her month long stay disputed that claim. She saw missiles fly over her head and heard drones and bombing attacks repeatedly. “The bombing for me, and I was only there for a couple of weeks, takes a psychological toll. If I’m subject to it, imagine the children. That first day of intense bombing took place on the day of national exams for the little kids…The first day of the super intensive bombing they started bombing at 11:30 in the morning and kept on going until 11:30 at night. We counted a total of 89 bombs that day,” McKinney told the audience.

During her stay McKinney had the opportunity to meet with people who were carrying out their everyday lives as an act of resistance to the U.S./NATO bombing campaign. She occupied the plaza in front of Momar Qadafi’s home with thousands of Libyans and Africans who support Qadafi, refuse to leave and are offering themselves as protection from bombing. She met with students who came to the university to take their finals despite the bombing raids because they refused to put their lives on hold because of U.S. imperialism. “They said they were not going to be deterred because of NATO.”

Both McKinney and Flounders addressed the roots of the conflict directly. They argued effectively that the U.S. and NATO are using the civil war as an excuse to carry out regime change in Libya. They articulated that the U.S. and European powers want to install a puppet government so they can control the largest oil reserves in Africa.

Flounders attacked one of President Obama’s main justifications for the war, “He says this war is for humanitarian intervention. This is an excuse. There is not a country in the world that is better off after U.S. warfare. Just ask the people of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan!”

This event was a part of the national speaking tour of the Dignity delegation, which was lead by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. This tour is playing an important role in giving voice to the Libyan people during a time when an increasing number of Americans are strongly questioning the U.S. role in this conflict while state and federal governments are in debt and cutting needed social services. By a margin of 2-to-1, people in the United States oppose the war in Libya.

The Eyewitness Libya event was co-sponsored by the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, the Emergency Committee to Stop U.S./NATO War on Libya, the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, the Twin Cities Peace Campaign and Women Against Military Madness.

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #AntiWarCommittee #SaraFlounders #CynthiaMcKinney #MeredithAby #Libya #InternationalActionCenter #Africa

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following petition demanding an end to the prosecution of veteran Chicano leader Carlos Montes. We urge all of our readers to sign it.

Click here to sign the petition: www.iacenter.org/stopfbi/

Drop the Charges Against Carlos Montes, Stop the FBI Attack on the Chicano and Immigrant Rights Movement, and Stop FBI Repression of Anti-War Activists NOW! Call Off the Expanding Grand Jury Witch-hunt and FBI Repression of Anti-War Activists NOW!

Cancel the Subpoenas! Cancel the Grand Juries!

Condemn the FBI Raids and Harassment of Chicano, Immigrant Rights, Anti-War and International Solidarity Activists!

Tell US Attorney Fitzgerald, President Obama, Attorney General Holder, DOJ Inspector General Fine, the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Congressional Leaders, U.N. Secy Gen Ban, and members of the media to STOP THE FBI CAMPAIGN OF REPRESSION AGAINST CHICANO, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, ANTI-WAR AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY ACTIVISTS NOW!

Click here to sign the petition

http://www.iacenter.org/stopfbi/

Initiated by the Committee to Stop FBI Repression:

stopfbi.net | stopfbi@gmail.com

Petition Text:

I am writing to oppose the continuation and expansion of the FBI campaign of harassment of immigrant rights, anti-war and Palestine and other International Solidarity Activists, including the raid on the home of Carlos Montes and his arrest and the confiscation of his property, the 9 added subpoenas in the Chicago area, and reactivation of 3 of the original 14 subpoenas from the September 24 FBI raids of anti-war and international solidarity activists' homes.

These activists are guilty of no crime but opposition to U.S. foreign policy. On Friday, September 24, 2010 the FBI raided seven houses and an office in Chicago and Minneapolis. The FBI served subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to 13 activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. The FBI also attempted to intimidate activists in California, Wisconsin and North Carolina. This is not the action of a lone prosecutor. The raids were coordinated nationally, spanned several cities, and many other activists have been visited and personally threatened by the FBI.

The FBI confiscated computers, email and mailing lists, cell phones , cameras, videos, books, and passports. This is a dangerous attack on the constitutional rights of free speech of every social justice, antiwar and human rights activist and organization in the U.S. today. The right to speak, meet and write opinions is guaranteed under the constitution.

This suppression of civil rights is aimed at those who dedicate their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. Grand Jury subpoenas investigating material support of terrorism are being used to silence highly respected and well known human rights activists. This is a dangerous national effort to shut down growing opposition to U.S. wars. It cannot be allowed.

The FBI and the Grand Jury are threatening courageous individuals who have written and spoken publicly to broaden understanding of social justice issues of war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Twin Cities Anti-War Committee, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Colombia Action Network, Students for a Democratic Society, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. These activists came together with many others to organize the 2008 anti-war marches on the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

The FBI and the U.S. government must end this campaign of intimidation against anti-war and international solidarity activists. I am outraged at this disrespect of democratic rights. I ask that you intervene immediately to:

• Stop the Grand Jury Witchhunt!
• Stop the expanded repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.
• Immediately return all confiscated materials: computers, cell phones, papers, documents, etc.
• End the grand jury proceedings against anti-war activists.

Sincerely,

(Your signature will be appended here based on the contact information you enter in the form above)

You can also call the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at 202-353-1555 and U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald at 312-353-5300 or write an email to: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov demanding an end to the FBI raids, return of all confiscated materials and an end to the Grand Jury witchhunt. Fitzgerald is in charge of the Northern District of Illinois and responsible for the FBI raids and Grand Jury investigation.

Contact the Committee to Stop FBI Repression at stopfbi@gmail.com

#LosAngelesCA #AntiwarMovement #ChicanoLatino #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #CarlosMontes #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #InternationalActionCenter