Minneapolis, MN - The Bush administration pretends that the U.S. efforts to occupy Iraq are going smoothly. Bush acts like his 'peace plan' for the Middle East is popular. Meanwhile, activists here are continuing to organize against the U.S. efforts to occupy the Middle East.

St Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee construct “Venturaville” out of cardboard boxes and tarps, in front of Governor Jesse Ventura's office, inside Minnesota State Capitol building. Low-income people slammed the Ventura's anti-poor budget proposal.

St. Paul, MN – In a nationally unprecedented move, a bill to repeal the time limit on welfare was introduced at the Minnesota State Capitol. Senator Hottinger of Mankato and Representative Neva Walker of Minneapolis are carrying the repeal bill in the Senate and House.

Millions of people in cities around the world hit the streets March 20 to protest the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. Massive demonstrations took place in London, Brussels, Seoul, Tokyo and thousands of other cities and towns in 45 countries. Demonstrations took place in more that 250 cities across the United States. Many of these demonstrations also demanded an end to the U.S./Israeli occupation of Palestine and an end to the occupation of Afghanistan.

Minneapolis, MN – Two hundred people gathered here Nov. 8 to protest the U.S. attack on the Iraqi resistance in Fallujah. Chanting, “The people of Fallujah are under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” the enthusiastic crowd cheered as cars honking in support drove by. Demonstrations are taking place all over the word in response to these latest moves by the U.S. military.

Minneapolis, MN – About 100 people demonstrated here Jan. 29 to oppose the occupation and fake elections in Iraq. Similar protests took place around the country.

Chicago, IL - A noisy crowd of protesters, with banners demanding, “No to war and occupation,” marched here, Mar. 19. Over 3000 gathered in Federal Plaza at 2:00 p.m. to hear speeches by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and a marine that refused orders to go to Iraq, among others. They were marking the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

El grupo de trabajadores de la companía Fredrick Cooper Lamp elegieron, de 62 a 30, a Tony Caldera para ser el nuevo representante de la Unión. Esto es una victoria muy significativa para el movimiento de la reforma dentro del grupo de líderes en local 743.

Minneapolis, MN - On Saturday, Mar. 19 over 1500 people participated in a Minneapolis anti-war demonstration, under the call, “ U.S. troops…out now!”

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.

Chicago, IL – A noisy crowd of protesters, with banners demanding, “No to war and occupation,” marched here, Mar. 19.

Minneapolis, MN - At the annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Pride festival here, there was a unique marriage of causes: The struggle against war in Iraq tied the knot with the struggle for civil rights for the GLBT community at home. In a creative act of solidarity, the Anti-War Committee marched under the banner, “I do say no to war!” and offered same-sex couples the chance to ‘Commit to Peace’ and each other, in a ceremony led by an ordained minister.

Washington, DC - 300,000 rallied and marched here, Sept. 24, to oppose the continuing U.S. war and occupation in Iraq, a turnout stunning even the organizers. In the largest anti-war protest in Washington D.C. since the Vietnam era, marchers at the White House chanted, “No blood for oil! U.S. out of Iraq!” Many took pictures of friends or family holding anti-war signs in front of the empty White House.

St. Paul, MN – “House Republicans! We're at your door! Stop stealing from the poor!” chanted more than 150 low-income people, outside the doors to the chambers of the MN House of Representatives, May 3. In front of the chamber doors sat 8 determined people. The 8 were arrested, and jailed overnight with bails of $12,000 each.

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Welfare Rights Coalition held an historic Emergency Summit here, Dec. 8, to stop the time limits on public assistance. Thousands will be condemned to hunger and homeless if the time limits are allowed to stand. Participants from across the state demanded state lawmakers put a moratorium on the 5-year lifetime limit on welfare.

St. Paul, MN – The Welfare Rights Committee and community supporters went to Governor Ventura's office, Nov. 21, to picket and demand that the he stop the scheduled “Holiday Welfare Cut-offs.”

Minneapolis, MN - More than 125 community and student activists attended A Conference for Iraq, Information to Resist Another Quagmire. The keynote address was given by Sami Rasouli, a long-time peace activist who has returned home to Iraq, to try to rebuild peace, in the face of U.S. occupation.

Asheville, NC - The chant, “U.S. out of Iraq! Let them have their country back!” echoed off the buildings of downtown Asheville as a spirited group of over 100 students, young people, workers and veterans marched through the city to say no to Bush’s war. The protesters chose to mark the three-year anniversary of the invasion by joining millions of others around the world to demand the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Saint Paul, MN – “Tell the monsters to come out. They want to tell those monsters how angry they are,” said Ya Vang, Hmong interpreter for the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC). “They won't come out, they're afraid of us. They know we're out here,” responded Birgid Maschenik of WRC. The “monsters” that the Welfare Rights Committee members were talking about were the Republican members of the MN House of Representatives.

To mark the third anniversary of the war, and now occupation, of Iraq, people around the globe marched, calling for U.S. troops to leave immediately. In Chicago, 10,000 protesters faced off against 1500 police in full riot gear during their evening march on Michigan Avenue on March 18. This was the first time in three years that organizers were able to get a permit to march on Michigan Avenue.