Salt Lake City, UT – On Sunday, February 22, over a dozen pro-Palestine protesters lined the busy 1300 East overpass in downtown Salt Lake City to bring local attention back to Palestine. With signs and a banner visible to Interstate 80 and surface street commuters, the protest called for an end to all U.S. support of Israel and investment in the needs of the people of Utah.

The demonstration was organized in response the Anti-War Action Network’s national call for a Week of Action for Palestine. Protesters chanted “Listen to the people, listen to the poor! We say no to U.S. wars!” and “Governor Cox, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide!” to countless honks and other signs of support from Sunday afternoon commuters.

Sebastian Miscenich of Utah Anti-War Committee stated, “The United States sends over $20 billion of our money to fund genocide, bombing and apartheid in Israel. This is money taken from your pockets at a time when we face high rents, low wages, and a growing police state here at the U.S.”

Protesters also criticized the complicity of the Utah state government in war profiteering and its participation in 47G, a public-private weapons industry consortium, chanting “Fund the people, fund our needs! Down with 47G!”

The demonstrators displayed their banner reading “End all U.S. aid to Israel!” and signs reading “Honk if you support Palestine!” for over an hour.

The action was organized by the Utah Anti-War Committee and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Organizers urge all those who support people’s needs over war and greed to follow the UAWC on Instagram @utahantiwar to stay in the loop, and to join them on Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m. at the Beans and Brews on 2100 South for a campaign planning meeting.

#SaltLakeCityUT #UT #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #UAWC

Salt Lake City, UT — On Valentine's Day, February 14, about a dozen people gathered at the Riverside Library on the west side of Salt Lake for an educational panel hosted by the Utah Anti-War Committee. The event focused on the anti-war movement and the struggle for immigrant rights.

The discussion centered U.S. intervention abroad and immigration. Speakers criticized the Utah organization 47G, a public-private defense industry consortium, concluding that investment in war profiteering binds communities materially and politically to imperial violence overseas.

Adam Karotz, a longtime local activist and member of the Utah Anti-War Committee, traced the roots of the modern anti-war movement through opposition to the Vietnam War and the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

“The bulk of U.S. troops stayed in Iraq until 2011. Millions of Iraqis have died as a direct result of the U.S. invasion and occupation. Generations will continue to suffer the health effects of depleted Uranium use, just as generations of Vietnamese people have suffered from the use of napalm,” said Karotz.

The panel connected environmental hazards, economic despair, opioid crisis, rising homelessness, labor trafficking and militarized policing in the U.S. to the same powerful groups that drive foreign intervention. Participants characterized the criminalization of addiction and poverty as a continuation of domestic war by other means.

Collin Grannis of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization condemned the kidnapping of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, stating, “The United States does not have the right to pluck sovereign leaders out of their countries, even if they disagree with their policies.” Grannis called out the U.S. attack as a blatant violation of international law and national sovereignty, characteristic of the longstanding history of U.S. intervention in Latin America.

Adrian Romero, a local community organizer and Utah Anti War Committee member, shifted the focus to immigrant rights, stating, “Today, immigration and border policies have become super-militarized and increasingly, dangerously, hostile towards anyone that stands in their way.”

Speakers drew parallels between immigrant detention, the incarceration of homeless and mentally ill people, and labor trafficking and social control under the Trump regime. They urged attendees to see anti-war work not as a single-issue cause, but as part of a broader movement against imperialism, racism and state violence.

Earlier this year, The Utah Anti-War Committee organized a letter-writing campaign in support of President Maduro.

The Utah Anti-War Committee organized the event and will continue to fight against imperialism and war in Salt Lake valley. They invite community members to join their meetings and organizing efforts.

#SaltLakeCityUT #UT #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #UAWC

Salt Lake City, UT— On Saturday, January 24, anti-war protesters gathered at Washington Square in downtown Salt Lake City to demand an end to U.S. intervention in Venezuela. Braving the coldest temperatures in the Salt Lake valley so far this winter, the protest called for an end to U.S. wars and instead using resources to meet the needs of the people of Utah.

The demonstration was organized in response to the Anti-War Action Network’s national call to action demanding “Hands Off Venezuela” and “Free President Maduro.” Protesters chanted “From Venezuela to Iran, no more sanctions! No more bombs” to the approving honks of Salt Lake’s busy downtown.

Nova Morra of Utah Anti-War Committee spoke against Trump’s newest intervention in Venezuela and his deployment of ICE agents domestically and stressed the need to organize, “I am afraid, but I am not alone! Together we can stop it – together we can make things right!”

Morra blasted the government’s drive to war on Venezuela while the people of Salt Lake City face high rents, low wages and the crimes by police and ICE.

Despite the biting cold and wind, the demonstrators displayed their banner reading “Hands off Venezuela!” and signs reading “No more blood for oil!” for an hour.

“Venezuelans abroad and the anti-war movement at home will see where Salt Lake City stands, and it is important that we remain organized and intensify our anti-war activism,” said Sebastian Miscenich of UAWC.

“The same imperialists who oppress the people of the United States are attacking Venezuela. The more we oppose the imperialists, and the more we support Venezuela, the better of a position we will be as workers and oppressed people here,” concluded Miscenich.

Organizers urge all those who support people’s needs over war and greed to follow the UAWC on Instagram @utahantiwar to stay in the loop on a February 8 community educational meeting.

#SaltLakeCityUT #UT #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #AWAN #UAWC