Los Angeles, CA – On January 25, protesters joined together at the U.S. Marine recruitment center to demand “No war against Iran!” The event was organized by the 50th Chicano Moratorium Organizing Committee and was part of a day of action across the U.S. against war with Iran.

The largest Chicano Moratorium happened on August 29, 1970 in which 30,000 Chicanos marched through East Los Angeles (ELA) to demand an end of the Vietnam War and against the draft. The protest was met with heavy repression from the sheriffs, and hundreds were arrested and three left dead, including Chicano journalist Ruben Salazar.

Protesters assembled in front of the ELA U.S. Marine recruitment center on First Street. They began chanting, “1, 2, 3, 4, we won’t fight a rich man’s war,” and “Raza si, guerra no!” They waved a banner that read: “No war! Chicanos belong in Aztlán, not in Iran.” Cars driving by honked their horns in support. At one point, a few marines came out of the offices to argue with protesters but quickly went back inside. The U.S. Marine recruiters target the local high schools. The local community was supportive of the protest. The crowd continued chanting and heard from a few speakers.

Committee Co-chair Coqui Rodriguez said, “They’re also waging a war against us here. Just yesterday, Trump announced that they are going to do cutbacks of Medicare and Social Security. Those are the only two safety nets that exist for poor and working and unemployed people in this country. There are two wars: the war externally out of the country and the war against us, the citizens, the working people of this country.”

Joseph Williams of Black Lives Matter also spoke. “Black and brown feeling real united today,” and, “We are out here fighting against war in multiple ways. Yes, there’s a war that they’ve been waging in Afghanistan and Iraq and many other places. There’s a war that they are trying to wage on Iran. There’s a war we’re supporting in the occupation of Palestine by the Israeli state. There’s a war that’s being waged against our people in these streets by the LAPD, by the LA Sheriff's department. We know our black and brown, working-class people are facing attacks on all sides!”

Parent activist with Eastside Padres Contra Privatizacion Eloisa Galindo stated, “They see us as Latinos who are not worth anything, that they can take away our education, that they can take away our children to go defend the bad things they are doing. We are demanding money for schools. We want money for education. Why are you investing money in war when universities are unreachable for our children?”

The still fired-up crowd continued chanting. As they chanted, five sheriff cars rolled up on the demonstration. They got out of their cars and attempted to intimidate the protesters. Not backing down, the protesters began picketing and the sheriffs quickly left.

The committee urged folks to join and invited them to their next public meeting happening February 29 at ELA College. See this website for more information: www.chicano-moratorium.com.

#LosAngelesCA #International #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #ChicanoLatino #DonaldTrump #NoWarWithIran #50thChicanoMoratoriumOrganizingCommittee

Milwaukee, WI – On January 25, around 40 people gathered at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and North Avenue to protest the ongoing U.S. war in Iraq and the threat of war with Iran. The protesters occupied each of the four street corners and took to chanting before running through a short lineup of speakers.

“Organization and numbers are the two greatest weapons at the disposal of the working class. We must use them if we’re gonna win,” said Ryan Hamann, a speaker from Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “Here’s to building a strong, united, firmly anti-imperialist anti-war movement in Milwaukee!”

Demonstrators marched in the crosswalks with massive flags, chanting for peace and calling for passersby to show their support. The anti-war action marked the second called this month in opposition to rising tensions with Iran and in support of the people of Iraq as they seek to send U.S. forces home.

#MilwaukeeWI #International #AntiwarMovement #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganizationFRSO #DonaldTrump #NoWarWithIran

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Hundreds of protests took place across the world on January 25, to demand no new U.S. war in Iran, an end to Trump’s violence and sanctions against Iran, and the removal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In Fort Lauderdale, 35 activists gathered outside of the federal courthouse to join the global day of protest.

The diverse and energized group rallied on the busy intersection of Broward Boulevard, blasting protest music from speakers, holding signs and banners, and chanting loudly. People driving by opened their windows to share peace-signs and fists of solidarity, truck and bus drivers honked loudly in approval.

The activists at the rally held bright signs that read, “We need union jobs, not a war on Iran,” and “We need universal healthcare, not a war on Iran,” along with a super-sized red banner with the words, “Forward without war and capitalism.” The activists took part in an interactive art display by local social-justice artist Huong, who was also in attendance. Huong created double-sided painted canvases with messages of peace and justice, one piece taking five activists to spell out the words, “No war.”

After an hour of chanting, the activists gathered to listen to local grassroots organizers speak about the importance of continuing to oppose U.S. wars. Those in attendance were also encouraged to call and email their senators when they returned home to demand Senators Rubio and Scott vote “Yes” on the war powers resolution that passed the House. The resolution would force the president to get congressional approval before conducting military strikes against Iran. The group also signed onto a letter of apology being circulated by CodePink addressed to the people of Iran, by the people of the United States, apologizing for our government’s decades of intervention in their country.

While the global day of action was endorsed by most national and international anti-war organizations, the local South Florida rally was organized largely by People’s Opposition to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR) and Dream Defenders.

#FortLauderdaleFL #International #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #DreamDefenders #DonaldTrump #PeoplesOppositionToWarImperialismAndRacism #NoWarWithIran

Tampa, FL – Activists and community members came together January 25 to demand “No war with Iran and U.S. out of the Middle East.” The protest took place in downtown Tampa and coincided with hundreds of protests around the United States and the world in an International Day of Action against the Trump administration’s war mongering. The event was hosted by ANSWER Suncoast, Tampa Bay SDS and the Tampa Anti-War Committee.

Gareth, a member of Tampa Bay SDS, explained why they attended the protest: “We need to center the people living under these conditions and having to face these horrible atrocities carried out by U.S. imperialism. If I’m not here, then I’m not standing with them.”

The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), an organization leading the International Day of Action, is hosting a conference this February 21-23 in New York City. The conference which is titled “Rise Against Militarism, Racism and the Climate Crisis – Building Power Together” will feature activists from around the United States coming together to build the movement for the next stage of struggle. Information for the conference can be found here.

#TampaFL #AntiwarMovement #Iran #PeoplesStruggles #NoWarWithIran

The U.S. has claimed that they are backing off from war at this time, but will continue to add sanctions against Iran which will harm the people of Iran. One SDS member noted in his speech, “Sanctions are an act of war; countless citizens died in Iraq after sanctions blocked food and medicine, and we will not stand for this to happen again in Iran.”

The decades-long U.S. military presence across a dozen bases in Iraq has been denounced unanimously by every political party in Iraq. This occupation of Iraq is an attempt by the U.S. to keep a military presence in the Middle East.

Denver SDS will be participating in another peace event on January 25 at the Denver capitol building alongside the Denver Peace Council and others.

#DenverCO #International #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #DonaldTrump #NoWarWithIran #DenverSDS

Minneapolis, MN – 20 people picketed in front of Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office during a blizzard, January 17, for her legitimizing Trump’s targeting of Iran and for her silence on the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

Autumn Lake of the Anti-War Committee spoke to the crowd, “Minnesota’s favorite hometown disappointment, Senator Amy Klobuchar, is somehow still on the campaign trail, seemingly for no other reason than to prove what many of us have known for years; that the Republicans and the Democrats will always unite to serve the interests of the powerful over the interests of the broad masses. She's managed to distinguish herself from more progressive candidates by embodying the status quo and supporting the Trump administration's most heinous acts. Amy Klobuchar’s work in the Senate has facilitated the Trump administration's recent attacks on Iraq and Iran, making the Minnesota senator complicit in the most recent iteration of the U.S.'s terror campaign in the Middle East.”

When asked why she was at the protest, Meredith Aby-Keirstead told Fight Back!, “We protested Klobuchar in a blizzard when she announced her presidential campaign and now we are here protesting her foreign policy about a year later in another blizzard. I’m here because as Minnesota’s senator and as a presidential candidate she has been a hawk, and it would take more than a blizzard to keep me from expressing my outrage. She shouldn’t be demanding congressional authorization for war. We need a voice to say no to war with Iran!”

The Anti-War Committee organized the protest with the support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Minnesota, Women Against Military Madness, and the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition.

#MinneapolisMN #International #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #DonaldTrump #AmyKlobuchar #NoWarWithIran

Protesters also plan on denouncing Klobuchar’s attempts to further legitimize the targeting of Iran. On CNN Tonight with Don Lemon Senator Klobuchar said, “They [Iran] are now announcing that they're going to start developing a nuclear weapon and move toward busting through the cap on uranium enrichment” which CNN has reported as false in its fact-check reporting.

Christine Hauschildt, a spokesperson for the Anti-War Committee, explains, “Minnesotans want Klobuchar to stand against all sanctions on Iran and Iraq. Sanctions can be as dangerous and deadly as war violence and have a lasting impact on the people that suffer under them from lack of income, access to medical supplies and more. Iran is suffering more peacetime sanctions than any other country in history. A naval blockade to the same degree would be an unambiguous act of war. The Trump administration is dragging the United States into a war with Iran that could engulf the whole region and could quickly turn into a global conflict of unpredictable scope and the gravest consequences. We are calling on Senator Klobuchar to demand an end to escalations and sanctions and listen to the concerns of her constituents who will be looking to her to represent their interests now and after the 2020 election.”

The Anti-War Committee is co-sponsoring the event with the The Council on American-Islamic Relations – Minnesota, Women Against Military Madness, and the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition.

#MinneapolisMN #International #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AntiWarCommittee #DonaldTrump #AmyKlobuchar #NoWarWithIran

Tampa, FL – At the University of South Florida, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held their second rally against the President Trump’s and U.S. aggression towards Iran. The protest, attended by around 20 students on campus on January 14, has come in the wake of the assassination of a high-ranking Iranian military figure, Qassem Soleimani.

Along with the threat of more U.S. troops to the region and further hostilities, Iran has been hit by U.S. economic sanctions since 2010. An SDS member told the crowd, “The sanctions have greatly limited the amount of medical resources that Iran can get. This has resulted in the Iranian people not able to get enough medical treatment for common illnesses and have often died from these otherwise treatable diseases and illnesses.”

With chants like “No sanctions, no war! We won’t take it anymore!” and “No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!” the students made it clear that the United States’ aggression in the region would be met with further action and protests on the university campus.

Tampa Bay SDS will also be co-hosting an event on January 25 in Downtown Tampa against the potential war on Iran.

#TampaFL #International #AntiwarMovement #StudentMovement #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #DonaldTrump #TampaBaySDS #UniversityOfSouthFloridaUSF #NoWarWithIran

Salt Lake residents responded fiercely with no less than three anti-war rallies in the last week, as well as a rally in support of unsheltered folks and tenants’ rights.

On January 4, 200 gathered at an event organized by supporters of Bernie Sanders, and on January 8, hundreds more gathered for a rally organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization in downtown Salt Lake City (SLC), plus another event at the University of Utah organized by Students for a Democratic Society.

At all three anti-war rallies, people from various organizations – along with Iranian Americans who are already feeling the effects of the conflict – spoke about how a war with Iran would only be in the interest of the people at the top, especially defense contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman. Speakers correctly pointed out that every bomb dropped in Iran would be paid for by us, with money that should be going to our communities to pay for health care and housing.

Amid the military escalation, Salt Lakers, and specifically unsheltered folks in the city, faced severe police brutality. Early in the morning on January 3, the Take Shelter Coalition set up camp at the Salt Lake City and County Building. They provided heat, shelter, food, first aid and conflict mediation to any and all unsheltered people in the city, and they intended to stay until their demands for more shelter beds and more services for the homeless were met. The camp was an act of mutual aid, but also a protest against the city’s inhumane treatment of homeless and unsheltered folks.

On the night of January 6, hours after the first anti-war rally, police raided the camp, with dozens of officers in riot gear, shotguns, handguns, batons and the threat of tear gas. At least three were shot with rubber bullets or beanbag rounds, and ultimately 16 were arrested. Police trashed the camp, and the unsheltered folks who had been staying there were forced to move yet again.

In response to the display of police force at the camp, the lack of tenants’ rights in Utah, and abusive landlords in SLC, the newly formed Wasatch Tenants United held a rally January 8 demanding that the newly inaugurated mayor, Erin Mendenhall, keep her campaign promise and provide material relief to homeless folks in SLC. They also announced their intention to begin organizing tenants against ruthless and exploitative landlords as rents continue to rise.

What do police brutality, homelessness and abusive landlords have to do with the potential war with Iran? Every dollar spent killing people in Iran is a dollar that could be spent on feeding and housing people who desperately need it here. But more than that, the same capitalist class profiting from war is profiting at the expense of tenants and homeless folks in SLC.

As rents increased over 50% in the last few years, the city refused to build affordable housing – to the benefit of landlords. As developers build expensive new apartments and shopping malls at the location of a now-closed homeless shelter, developers profit. Our politicians are complicit because they too get a cut. In fact, Mendenhall’s husband is a property developer in SLC, giving her absolutely no incentive to address homelessness or rising rents.

Through the threat of war abroad and violence by local cops, Utahns came together to defend Iranians and their neighbors both sheltered and unsheltered. The past week showed clearly the strength of people united against the capitalist class across the United States and in Salt Lake City.

#SaltLakeCityUT #AntiwarMovement #PoorPeoplesMovements #Iraq #Iran #US #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #Homeless #DonaldTrump #NoWarWithIran