The U.S. Congress will be considering the proposal in the next few weeks.

Participants gathered in front of McCollum’s office in Saint Paul, holding signs and banners.

A delegation later went inside the office. Six people who refused to leave the office after McCollum would not meet with the delegation were arrested by Saint Paul police.

Meredith Aby, a member of the Anti-War Committee who was arrested in the protest stated, “We are opposed to any escalation of the war and we want the U.S. to get out of Afghanistan now. We are building a visible and active movement against the war.”

The May 18 peace action is one in a series of activities by a coalition of peace and anti-war groups to oppose the additional funding for the war in Afghanistan. In recent weeks, protests have been held at the offices of U.S. Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar.

The congressional vote on additional funding for the Afghan war is expected to occur by the end of May. The vote is timed to coincide with a major U.S. military offensive against Kandahar, Afghanistan, reported to be planned for June.

A statement issued by organizers, states: “The purpose of our action is to urge Rep. McCollum to vote against the supplemental bill and to call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.”

The statement continues: “It is imperative that we speak out at this time against the war in Afghanistan. Further assaults on Afghan cities and towns can only result in more bloodshed, misery and death for U.S. soldiers and the people of Afghanistan.”

The May 18 action in Saint Paul was one of nearly 100 visits planned at the offices of congressional representatives across the country on May 17 and 18 by peace activists who oppose the additional funding for war in Afghanistan.

The May 18 protest was sponsored by the Anti-War Committee, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace, Twin Cities Peace Campaign and Women Against Military Madness.

#StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #AntiWarCommittee #BettyMcCollum

St. Paul, MN – Anti-war protesters gathered at the office of U.S. Representative Betty McCollum here, Dec. 17, to say to no to the war on Afghanistan and to oppose any new taxes to pay for the war. Rep. McCollum supports President Obama's call to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. In addition, she has proposed a 1% tax increase to pay for this war. The event was organized by the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee.

Opponents of the war met with McCollum's staff. During the meeting, Jess Sundin of the Anti-War Committee and others called for an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Afghanistan and spoke forcefully against the proposed war tax.

A statement from the Anti-War Committee noted, “Too many Afghans and Americans have already died in this conflict. So far this year, Gen. McChrystal's strategy has made 2009 the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, with another soldier dying every 14 hours. At the same time, civilian casualties are at the worst levels since the aerial bombings at the start of the war. Expanding the military operations with 34,000 new troops will send these numbers through the roof.”

After the meeting, protesters held signs and chanted on the streets outside Rep. McCollums's office. Speakers from the Anti-War Committee, the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, the Welfare Rights Committee, University of Minnesota Students for a Democratic Society and Women Against Military Madness addressed the crowd.

#SaintPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #WelfareRightsCommittee #Afghanistan #AntiWarCommittee #WAMM #UniversityOfMinnesotaStudentsForADemocraticSociety #BettyMcCollum