Tucson, AZ – On Tax Day, April 15, more than a dozen organizations in Tucson united against Trump’s war on Iran. Organized by the Tucson Anti-War Committee (TAWC), the rally outside the Federal Building downtown drew a crowd of around 80 people and lots of honks in support.

TAWC is part of the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN), which called for a national day of action on Tax Day. Cities participating so far include New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis, Tucson, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Seattle, Dallas/Fort Worth, Tulsa, New Orleans, Jacksonville and Grand Rapids.

Protesters held signs that read “Stop Trump’s war on Iran!” “Money for human needs, not for war!” and “U.S. out of Iran.” A TAWC organizer led the chants, “No more money for working moms, you spent it all on building bombs!” and “Israel bombs, USA pays, how many kids did you kill today?”

The group first heard from Dr. Mario Acosta, a member of Common Defense, a progressive veteran’s organization, who stated, “People are dying as a result of what is going on. I am a psychologist and I spoke to a patient today who lost his Affordable Care coverage. He has a heart condition, and now he can’t afford his medication. You know what will happen to him? He will probably die because of the cuts to healthcare coverage that are now going to this war. We need to stop this war!”

Arlee Garcia, an organizer with TAWC stated, “At the same time that the government is spending such unfathomable amounts of money on war crimes, we can’t fund our schools. People are living on the streets. Parents skip meals to feed their kids. When we are sick, we have to seriously think about whether we can afford a hospital visit or afford an ambulance in an emergency. So today, while the government demands we pay our taxes while they are spending an average of $2 billion every single day on the war on Iran, it is up to us to seize this moment and work together to build a broad and united anti-war movement.”

Cosponsors of the action were Common Defense, Deflock Tucson, and the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance with endorsing support from Veterans for Peace Local 13, Nuclear Resister, Fluxx, Desert Rising, FRSO Tucson, Tucson Safety Team, RCA Tucson, CPUSA Tucson, and AZ ACTS.

#TusconAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #TaxDay #Iran #AntiWarActionNetwork #TAWC

Tucson was a part of mobilizations across the U.S., Venezuela and the world in solidarity with the democratically-elected President Maduro and Bolivarian Revolution leader Cilia Flores, who is also an elected deputy in the Venezuelan National Assembly.

Maduro was a bus driver and trade union leader and Flores was the lawyer who built the case for Hugo Chavez to be freed from prison in the 1990s. Since the illegal bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of these leaders on January 3, Venezuelans have constantly taken the streets demanding the return of their leaders.

#TucsonAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #TAWC

Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Anti-War Committee (TAWC) led an anti-war contingent in a march of around 3000 people in downtown Tucson on January 20. The action was called by a coalition of organizations in Tucson to protest the first anniversary of Trump’s second term. The call brought out hundreds of high school students who walked out of school around the city in the early afternoon. 

The crowd disrupted downtown Tucson banging on pots, pans and drums and blowing whistles. They started with a rally outside the Federal Building, but the crowd quickly filled the sidewalks for many blocks until they began marching and shut down streets for hours. 

Anti-war activists joined protesters as they took the streets with signs in their hands that read, “Hands off Venezuela” and “Free President Maduro!” People chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” as they made their way throughout downtown with people on the sidewalks and in restaurants cheering on. 

Once the march returned to the Federal Building, a speaking program began. TAWC organizer Maria Sohn Hasman spoke to the crowd, “It has never been more clear that Trump and the United States are grasping for straws as they fail to maintain power on a global stage. We see this in the attacks and threats against Palestine and Venezuela and now Iran and Greenland.”

Sohn Hasman continued, “We also see it here at home in Minneapolis, Phoenix and Portland as the same forces send out ICE agents to kill us and threaten the Insurrection Act!” 

The event ended with a performance of The Internationale by James Jordan of the Alliance for Global Justice as the crowd sang along.

#TucsonAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #TAWC

Tucson, AZ – The members of the Tucson Anti War Committee (TAWC) joined in the national campaign against Howmet Aerospace. Howmet is a manufacturer of parts for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet. F-35s purchased by Israel are used in the genocidal war against Gaza and recently missile strikes in the West Bank.

In the fall, BDS Pittsburgh initiated outreach to the anti-war groups affiliated with the Anti-War Action Network that have Howmet facilities in their cities. So far, Cleveland United Against War, the Minnesota Anti-War Committee and TAWC, have joined other cities in the campaign against Howmet.

TAWC hosted a community teach-in at Revolutionary Grounds bookstore and coffee shop on December 6. The presentation gave information on the connections between the state of Arizona and Zionist Israel. People heard about the dozens of companies that contract with Israel and Israeli companies, state-held bonds of $15 million, multiple AIPAC-funded state representatives like Alma Hernandez, and about Howmet Aerospace’s contract with Lockheed Martin.

17% of Howmet Aerospace’s business is making parts for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet.

TAWC organizer Maria Sohn Hasman stated, “We have and should continue to hold protests and marches to denounce Israel’s continued genocide of Gaza and attacks on the West Bank and elsewhere in occupied Palestine. But this campaign presents an opportunity to stop production of the F-35 and deal a material blow to the Zionist regime and U.S. imperialism.”

Next steps for the campaign are outreach and flyering to raise awareness and build a mass movement locally and nationally to get Howmet to cut ties with genocide.

#TucsonAZ #AntiWarMovement #TAWC #Palestine

Tucson, AZ – On November 22, The Tucson Anti War Committee (TAWC) and a host of organizations wanted to let the thousands of bicyclists in the annual El Tour de Tucson know that, as they passed the Air Force base, people with a conscience demand “Hands off Venezuela!”

“With a race of nearly 10,000 and 40% registered from out of state, we saw this as a great opportunity to let as many people know this beautiful landscape is also the HQ for Trump’s war crimes in the Caribbean. People need to know that we can stand up to Trump and stand with Venezuela,” said TAWC organizer Maria Sohn Hasman, addressing the race onlookers.

Riders signaled their support for the signs reading “No war on Venezuela” and “no blood for oil!” A handful of riders even yelled “Viva Venezuela!”

Tucson participated in the international week of action which saw commitments for actions in over 50 U.S. cities and dozens more internationally.

The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is the brain center for Trump’s war crimes in the Caribbean. It is here generals and officers plan the coordination of all U.S. SOUTHCOM air forces in its “area of responsibility” of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Trump ordered SOUTHCOM to carry out missile strikes on 21 different boats with a death toll at 83. Trump is the judge, Rubio the jury, and AFSOUTH at Davis-Monthan is the executioner. These extrajudicial killings of people from five different nations constitute war crimes. The primary target is Venezuela, as Trump has brought 15,000 troops and an excessive amount of force to their door.

#TucsonAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #TAWC #AWAN

Tucson, AZ – The Tucson Anti War Committee (TAWC) organized a rally on September 24 as part of the Anti-War Action Network National Week of Action. The call was to mobilize while war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu attended the United Nations General Assembly.

A small but spirited multi-generational crowd took a street corner just north of downtown and received countless honks and waves in solidarity with Palestine.

An organizer with TAWC, Maria Sohn Hasman, kicked off the event, stating, “So while Netanyahu speaks at the UN spouting his lies about what is happening in Palestine, we in Tucson know that a two-state solution determined by the UN is not enough. TAWC says free Palestine! End U.S. aid to Israel!”

The crowd also heard from Mohyeddin Abdualaziz, founder of the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance, who spoke about the increased level of solidarity and the growing size of the Palestine Solidarity movement in the U.S.

The AWAN has nearly two dozen affiliated cities participating in this week of action and is planning actions for the anniversary of October 7.

#TucsonAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #TAWC #AWAN

Gaza City is the last major population center in the Gaza Strip with any form of infrastructure. A ground invasion into Gaza City means the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands who are already reeling from the genocidal forced starvation that Israel has imposed by its siege. The bombs landing on Gaza City to pave the way for Israel’s ground invasion are U.S.-made and U.S.-paid.

The Zionist regime has called up 60,000 reservists for its September plans to invade the neighborhoods of Gaza City.

The Tucson Anti War Committee will have its next meeting on September 15.

#TucsonAZ #AZ #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #TAWC #AWAN

Tucson, AZ – On Monday April 1, 15 Palestine solidarity activists braved the cold spring rain in response to Israel’s latest deadly airstrikes into Syria and Lebanon. The Tucson Anti War Committee (TAWC) organized the protest at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base to condemn the U.S. escalation of its war in the Middle East and the recent decision to send 2500 more bombs and 25 more fighter jets to Israel.

Just this past week, Israel conducted several airstrikes, killing over 40 people in Syria and several more in Lebanon.

With presence at all four traffic corners, protesters held signs that read: “Hands off Syria! U.S. out of the Middle East” and “End U.S. aid to Israel.” As the rain intensified, one protester suggested a timely chant, “Rain or shine, we stand with Palestine!”

Organizers noted the positive shift from previous TAWC actions at Davis Monthan AFB, as many more vehicles honked in favor of a free Palestine.

As the Zionist genocide enters its sixth month, Israel and the U.S. are escalating the regional war as the united resistance continues its support for a liberated Palestine. This week, airstrikes targeted leaders in the resistance movements, including an Iranian adviser located in Syria. With Israel’s inability to destroy the Palestinian resistance, it seeks to threaten its regional allies with cowardly airstrikes that violate national sovereignty.

#TucsonAZ #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Syria #Lebanon #Palestine #TAWC

Tucson, AZ – In the second rally in three days, organizations and community members gathered outside the Federal Building in downtown Tucson on Monday, October 9 to show their support for the Palestinian struggle for liberation. Around 75 people gathered with signs reading, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

After a stretch of spirited chants of “Palestine is our demand, there is no peace on occupied land!” and “No more annexation, no more occupation, fight for liberation and bring the whole thing down!,” the group circled up for a round of speakers.

First, the diverse group of trade unionists, students, youth, elders and community activists heard from Mohyeddin Abdulaziz, an organizer with Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance. He mentioned the historical record of Israel brutalizing Palestinians across his lifetime. Abdulaziz is as old as the occupation itself – 75 years. He continued describing the complicity of the U.S. government and other actors who align themselves with the Zionist project.

Later, Maria Sohn Hasman of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke to the group about the coordinated Palestine resistance that achieved historic results in operation Al-Aqsa Flood. Calling Israel a paper tiger and the U.S. an empire in decline, the fiery speech called for continued, escalated actions to not only demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel, but to “make damn sure none of it is delivered and contributes to ongoing bombing and oppression of Palestinians.”

The Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance, Tucson Anti War Committee, Students for Justice in Palestine, and others co-sponsored the event.

One of the student organizers from Students for Justice in Palestine informed the group there will be another action on campus at the University of Arizona on Thursday, October 12 at 12:30 p.m.

#TucsonAZ #Palestine #NationalLiberation #AntiWar #SJP #TAWC