St. Paul MN – More than 600 people marched and rallied here, March 19, calling for an end to the U.S. war in Afghanistan and an end to the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq. The Twin Cities protest was one of many that took place across the U.S. to mark the eighth anniversary of the start of the war and occupation of Iraq.

The march, organized by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, started with a rally at the Martin Luther King Center in Saint Paul and finished with another rally at the Minnesota State Capitol building.

Meredith Aby, of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression told the crowd, “It is outrageous that the U.S. is using ‘protecting the right to dissent’ as an excuse to justify war against Libya, while anti-war activists are targeted right here in the U.S. for daring to criticize the U.S. government and protest against the very wars they are justifying! I join with you today to say, ‘Hands off Libya!’ and ‘End the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan!’”

Aby is one of the Twin Cities anti-war activists whose home was raided Sept. 24, 2010. She also received a subpoena to testify in front of the Chicago grand jury that is carrying out a witch hunt against international solidarity activists.

Jennie Eisert, of the Twin Cities-based Anti-War Committee, talked about an incident where FBI agents showed up at her job: “Back in the beginning of October they came to my work and harassed me, telling me that people I have worked closely with and who have been leaders in the anti-war movement for years – Jess Sundin, Meredith Aby and Mick Kelly – were manipulating me. They had the complete audacity to come to where I work, interrupt my day, have my manager bring me to them, then they whip out their badges… The attacks on our friends, on the Anti-War Committee, on us – the people fighting for justice is not going to end. It will not end with the 23 subpoenaed; it will not end until people start standing up, fighting back – with our words, with our feet, with our fists in the air – bringing it back to the street.”

#StPaulMN #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #Iraq #AntiWarCommittee #IraqPeaceActionCoalition #IraqWar #CommitteeToStopFBIRepression #AfghanistanWar #Libya #LibyaWar

Minneapolis, MN – Over 600 people joined a Minneapolis anti-war march and rally on Saturday, March 20, to mark the seventh anniversary of the start of the U.S. war in Iraq with a call for an end to the wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Minneapolis protest was part of a nationwide day of peace actions, which saw protests in cities around the U.S. Hundreds gathered at Cedar Avenue and 3rd Street in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis.

The march received much support from people on the streets, with people coming out shops and cafes to wave in support and a nearly constant sounding of car horns in solidarity.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “Anti-war protests are being held in cities across the U.S. to mark the seventh anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq with a call for an end to the wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and for funds to be used for housing, education and human needs.”

The statement continues, “The U.S. is escalating the war in Afghanistan, as seen by the dispatch of over 30,000 additional troops and the recent attack on the city of Marjah. News reports indicate that the U.S. is planning further assaults on Afghan cities and towns in the months ahead. There is also open discussion of keeping thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq indefinitely.”

“These wars and occupations cost billions upon billions of dollars while millions of people go without healthcare, schools and colleges face budget cuts and millions are losing their homes to foreclosure and evictions,” the statement concludes.

The March 20 protest in Minneapolis was endorsed by a range of organizations, including the Anti-War Committee, Burnsville & Eagan Peace Vigils, Iraq Peace Action Coalition, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Sacred Heart Peace & Justice Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace, Women Against Military Madness, Youth Against War & Racism and others.

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Minneapolis, MN – Under the call of “Foreclose the war, not people's homes,” more than 100 people joined a protest here to mark the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Demonstrators gathered at the home of Leslie Parks, an African American woman who is fighting back against the attempt to foreclose on her home. Later, participants gathered at Saint Joan of Arc Church. The events were organized by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition and the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout.

Speakers at the events included Mel Reeves, a prominent community activist; Jennie Eisert, a leader of the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout, Leslie Parks and other activists.

Speaking in front of her home, Leslie Parks stated “This war has been going on for far too long. It's time to bring our troops home to their families. All of the money that has been used on this war could have been used to pay off every home owner's mortgage in America. It is now time to foreclose on the war, not on families homes.”

Jennie Eisert told the crowd assembled at the church, “We are sick and tired of the government helping the banks and Wall Street when they are the reason we got into this mess.” She also spoke about a bill that will be introduced when the state legislature opens to put a two-year moratorium on home foreclosures and evictions from foreclosed prosperities.

A statement by Iraq Peace Action Coalition says in part, “The U.S. government spends billions for the wars and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq, even as working and low income people are facing the worst economic crisis in decades. Millions of people are facing foreclosure, unemployment and budget cuts. On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend we call for and end to the U.S. wars and occupations and for the war budget to instead be used for education, housing, health care and other human needs.”

The Iraq Peace Action Coalition statement also calls on people to join anti-war protests on Saturday, March 20. “March 20 will mark seven years of the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq. On March 20 there will be protests and demonstrations in Washington D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles. In Minneapolis a protest will also be held that day as part of building a movement to end the wars and occupations.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #MinnesotaCoalitionForAPeoplesBailout #HousingStruggles #IraqPeaceActionCoalition #LeslieParks

The event will be a bannering and rally on Saturday August 14 starting at noon at the corner of Lagoon and Hennepin Avenues in the Uptown neighborhood of south Minneapolis.

In addition to IPAC, other organizations that have endorsed the August 14th event include the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, CISPES Anti-War Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Friends for a Non-Violent World, Pax Christi, Progressive Student Organization, St. Joan of Arc WAMM / Peacemakers, Veterans for Peace, Women Against Military Madness, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Women's Political Alliance.

A statement issued by the IPAC says in part, “The people of Iraq have suffered under nine years of sanctions and war. The economic sanctions are responsible for the destruction of the infrastructure and the impoverishment of large sections of the population. UN reports estimate that 5,000 to 6,000 children die each month as a result of the sanctions.”

The statement goes on to say, “U.S. military forces are carrying out a nearly continuous bombing campaign against targets in Iraq to enforce the so-called 'no fly-zones' that the U.S. imposed after the Persian Gulf war. These 'zones' have been created by U.S. government and have no force under international law.”

Anh Pham, one of the protest organizers, noted, “U.S. policy towards Iraq has nothing to do with concern for the Iraqi people and everything to do with the desire of the U.S. to control the oil-rich Persian Gulf region in the interests of the large western oil companies. The people of Iraq are paying a high price in life for the control of profits at the pump.”

The IPAC statement concludes, “We must continue to speak out against the sanctions and low level war against Iraq. The Pentagon and the White House want the situation in Iraq to go on quietly, the anti-war and peace movements must continue to speak out in this country.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #Iraq #Statement #IraqPeaceActionCoalition #IraqSanctions #airWar #MiddleEast

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “On Tuesday, President Bush took to the airwaves to try and win support for the war in Iraq. All Bush could do in his speech is repeat the disproved claims that ‘there is a link between the events of September 11, 2001 and Iraq.’ We know there was no link and that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Bush justification for the war in Iraq continues to be lies and inventions.”

This week will mark the one-year anniversary of the so-called ‘hand-off of sovereignty’ to Iraq. Yet U.S. troops continue their occupation, the war casualties continue to grow, and the Bush administration can offer no end to the violence. “The majority of Americans want the war to end and the troops to be withdrawn. The majority of Iraqis want the foreign troops out of their country,” the statement continues.

Speakers at the rally included Sami Rasouli, an Iraqi-American who lived in the Twin Cities for many years before returning to Iraq in the fall of 2004. He has returned to the Twin Cities for a visit and to report on conditions in Iraq today.

Also at the protest, plans were announced for a large delegation to go from Minnesota to attend a national anti-war march set for Washington D.C. on Saturday, Sept. 24.

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Protesters said the attack was unjustified. “The US has no right to attack a sovereign nation. Especially one that's devastated by years of sanctions, that's in no position to defend itself,” said Progressive Student Organization member, Frannie Christensen. She added that there is no proof that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.

Minneapolis anti-war groups worked with the Iraq Peace Action Coalition (IPAC) to organize protests, meetings, and press conferences during each day of the conflict. The emergency response protest, held Thursday, December 17th, at the downtown Federal Building, turned out 500 people to oppose the US war on Iraq.

On Friday, CISPES (the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) and PSO organized a die-in at the Minneapolis Federal Building, and successfully blocked the public doors for two hours. A sit-in, also on Friday, won a meeting with Senator Paul Wellstone. Saturday, before the last round of bombing, 250 people marched through the Uptown shopping district with banners and chants calling for an end to the war.

For Alan Dale, from the Emergency Committee Against US Intervention in the Persian Gulf, these actions were important, “because this is how you stand up and speak out against these attacks, it strengthens the opposition.” He said, “The anti-war movement made its presence felt, not only in the Twin Cities, but all over the country.”

Christensen, who was one of the 13 protesters arrested at the Federal Building, praised civil disobedience, “We sent a strong message to government officials that we didn't agree with what the government was doing and we weren't going to sit back and let it happen without our protest being heard.” She added, “We were willing to go to jail for it because going to jail for a few hours can't compare to being bombed. And, you have to stand up for what you believe in.”

Protesters frequently criticized the US reasons for launching this attack. Layla Asamurai, from the Minnesota Alliance for Iraqi Children, pointed out that Butler's report cited no new weapons violations by Iraq. In attacking Iraq on flimsy grounds, she says, “The US gave up its rights to ever inspect for weapons. It destroyed the country, and Iraq knew it had nothing to hide. The US lost its credibility.”

According to Alan Dale, “This is all a fight about control of oil profits.” He said, “The US doesn't intervene in the interest of most people, including most people in the US. The US government intervenes in the interest of large multinational corporations.”

Long-time anti-war activists, students, the Arab community, and many concerned community members, workers and activists joined in the protests.

“We see first hand how this government doesn't care about real people,” said Linden Gawboy from the Welfare Rights Committee. “It doesn't take more than two seconds to see what they're doing to the people of Iraq is like the war they're waging on us here. It makes us sick how they kill people and think they can get away with it.”

Stefanie Yorek, who works at the Fairview-University Hospital, said she was there to protest the war because, “They're killing people just like us, for oil profits.”

Students from colleges and high schools all over the Twin Cities played a huge role: Southwest and Hopkins High Schools, the University of Minnesota, Macalester, and many others. “It's really important for students to be aware because it shapes how we'll respond to future world events,” said PSO's Christensen. “We're younger, we're still forming our ideas, and if the youth of today doesn't take action, who will!?”

Protesters believe these mobilizations made a huge impact in the Twin Cities, and will strengthen the movement as events continue to unfold between the US and Iraq.

There appears to be no end to this conflict in sight. President Clinton insists that the sanctions and weapons inspections must continue. Since the December aggression, Iraq has not allowed weapons inspections and has fired on British and American planes attempting to enforce no-fly zones over Iraqi territory.

Organizers say Iraq is correct to defend its rights as a sovereign nation. Alan Dale says, “The no-fly zones are an invention of the US and British governments, and have no basis in any UN resolutions whatsoever.” Frannie Christensen adds, “The US and Britain have no right to impose the no-fly zone on Iraq, and they can't expect their planes not to be shot at, after bombing the country.” They expect the conflict will escalate to another US military assault.

Organizers say the anti-war movement in Minneapolis is still growing stronger, and according to Asamurai, “has a lot of work ahead of it.” IPAC will continue to educate the community, with speakers who've traveled Iraq and public forums with more in-depth information.

In case of another US military attack, Frannie Christensen says, “We're not going to let any time be wasted before responding. We showed there are hundreds ready to act.”

#MinneapolisMN #AntiwarMovement #News #Iraq #Imperialism #CISPES #IraqPeaceActionCoalition #Bombing

Minneapolis, MN – Over 200 people joined a anti-war protest here Oct. 11. The protest was organized under the slogans of “Bring the troops home now,” “Out of Iraq, out of Afghanistan, no war on Iran,” and “Funds for housing and human needs – not war!”

Similar event took place in at least other 20 U.S. cities calling for an end to the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The actions where coordinated to mark is the sixth anniversary of the passage by Congress of the war authorization on October 11, 2002 that allowed the Bush administration to launch the war in Iraq.

The event in Minneapolis, organized by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, was a bannering at the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street, one of the busiest intersections in the city. Participants lined both sidewalks and the traffic island with signs and banners.

On Oct. 11, 2002, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed a Joint Resolution authorizing the Bush administration to launch the Iraq war. Since then, Congress has continued to provide billions of dollars for war and occupation.

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “In this election year, some politicians talk about ‘winning the war’ and staying in Iraq for 100 years, while other politicians are talking about ‘withdrawal timetables,’ or moving troops out of Iraq only to send them to Afghanistan instead.” The statement continues, “The people of Iraq want the occupation troops out of their country. The war and occupation must end now!”

Speakers included representatives from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition, Students for a Democratic Society, Youth Against War and Racism, Military Families Speak Out, the Welfare Rights Committee, the Anti-War Committee and a legal defense coalition working with people arrested at the Republican National Convention (RNC) protests.

Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee called on demonstrators to build the movement against the occupation of Iraq and to demand that all charges be dropped against those arrested at the RNC protests.

Cities that saw anti-war actions on Oct. 11 included New York, Boston, Cleveland, Dayton, Seattle and San Francisco.

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