St. Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) gathered outside Governor Mark Dayton’s mansion here, Sept. 4, to demand the governor, along with the Minnesota state government, provide public assistance to everyone who needs it and that they increase the welfare grants.

A statement from the WRC points out, “Governor Mark Dayton is running for re-election. We have seen four years of giveaways to the rich (like to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf). The governor knows the MFIP grants have not been increased since 1986 – but his administration has fought against a grant increase, even though 70,000 kids in extreme poverty. There are hundreds of thousands of others suffering homelessness and poverty who can get no help at all.”

Protest organizers also said that Congress’ failure to pass extended unemployment compensation (EUC) for the long-term jobless means that more people need help. The WRC’s current slogan is, “Give aid to all in need!”

#StPaulsMinnesota #StPaulsMN #PeoplesStruggles #Minnesota #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #MN #EUC

St. Paul, MN – The Wednesday peace vigil on Aug. 13 had 50 people on the Lake Street/Marshall Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River between Minneapolis and Saint Paul protesting new U.S. military intervention in Iraq.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “The U.S. government has launched a new military intervention in Iraq. It was the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq that destroyed the country and brought about the current crisis.”

“The Pentagon has nothing to offer the people of Iraq but more death and destruction. The U.S. does not conduct wars for humanitarian reasons, U.S. wars are only to protect U.S. economic and political interests, humanitarian sounding justifications are only used to confuse the real issues at stake,” continued the statement.

Hundreds saw the demonstration during rush hour traffic. Protesters carried signs saying “No new war on Iraq” and “Humanitarian war is a Lle”. One young mother out walking with her daughter decided to join and many students from nearby St. Catherine’s University came to show their support.

The weekly peace vigil is sponsored by End War Committee of Women Against Military Madness and Twin Cities Peace Campaign. The call for the Aug. 13 vigil against a new U.S. war in Iraq was endorsed by Anti-War Committee, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition and Veterans for Peace.

#StPaulsMinnesota #StPaulsMN #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Minnesota #MN #MiddleEast

St. Paul, MN – More than 500 people gathered on the Marshall Avenue/Lake Street Bridge that spans the Mississippi River, July 23, for the weekly peace bridge vigil that this week focused on Palestine. This is the fourth Twin Cities protest in two weeks against the Israeli attack on Palestine. The death toll in Gaza has increased to over 600 people since the ground invasion began. Over 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes.

Over half of Gaza’s population is under 18, so children have the highest likelihood of being killed or injured in the Israeli ground assault and aerial bombing campaign. UNICEF estimates that one third of civilian casualties are children, with over 900 children injured so far by Israel’s attacks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 107,000 children need specialized psychosocial support for trauma involving death, injury or the loss of their home.

Minnesotans are outraged at the bombing of civilian targets. Meredith Aby-Keirstead, of the Anti-War Committee, explains, “On Tuesday, Israel shelled a UN girls’ school where refugees were seeking shelter. Today we have heard reports that Israel bombed Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility. Meanwhile Obama and Congress keep making statements in support of Israel’s ‘right to self-defense’ and defend U.S. military aid to Israel. Our tax dollars are paying for this massacre and more and more people are taking to the streets to say ‘no.’ On Friday we had about 2000 people protesting. Last weekend there were 10,000 people on the streets in Chicago to express solidarity with the people of Gaza. Momentum is growing against U.S. support for the attack on Palestine and today’s vigil was another opportunity for Minnesotans to express their outrage at Israel’s aggression.”

The vigil was co-sponsored by Women Against Military Madness’ End War Committee, the Twin Cities Peace Campaign, and the Anti-War Committee.

Another protest against the Israeli attack on Palestine will take place on July 25, at 4:30 pm, at corner of Snelling and Summit Avenues in Saint Paul.

#StPaulsMinnesota #StPaulsMN #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #Israel #USBoatToGaza #Minnesota #TwinCities #Bridge #MiddleEast

St. Paul, MN – More than 500 people gathered on the Marshall Avenue/Lake Street Bridge that spans the Mississippi River, July 23, for the weekly peace bridge vigil that this week focused on Palestine. This is the fourth Twin Cities protest in two weeks against the Israeli attack on Palestine. The death toll in Gaza has increased to over 600 people since the ground invasion began. Over 100,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes.

Over half of Gaza’s population is under 18, so children have the highest likelihood of being killed or injured in the Israeli ground assault and aerial bombing campaign. UNICEF estimates that one third of civilian casualties are children, with over 900 children injured so far by Israel’s attacks. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that at least 107,000 children need specialized psychosocial support for trauma involving death, injury or the loss of their home.

Minnesotans are outraged at the bombing of civilian targets. Meredith Aby-Keirstead, of the Anti-War Committee, explains, “On Tuesday, Israel shelled a UN girls’ school where refugees were seeking shelter. Today we have heard reports that Israel bombed Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility. Meanwhile Obama and Congress keep making statements in support of Israel’s ‘right to self-defense’ and defend U.S. military aid to Israel. Our tax dollars are paying for this massacre and more and more people are taking to the streets to say ‘no.’ On Friday we had about 2000 people protesting. Last weekend there were 10,000 people on the streets in Chicago to express solidarity with the people of Gaza. Momentum is growing against U.S. support for the attack on Palestine and today’s vigil was another opportunity for Minnesotans to express their outrage at Israel’s aggression.”

The vigil was co-sponsored by Women Against Military Madness’ End War Committee, the Twin Cities Peace Campaign, and the Anti-War Committee.

Another protest against the Israeli attack on Palestine will take place on July 25, at 4:30 pm, at corner of Snelling and Summit Avenues in Saint Paul.

#StPaulsMinnesota #StPaulsMN #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #Israel #USBoatToGaza #Minnesota #TwinCities #Bridge #MiddleEast