Tampa, FL – Over a dozen students from Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held signs and chanted on March 22 to mark the 13th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. In 2003, the U.S. launched an illegal invasion of Iraq in order to destabilize the region and secure its own interests. Meanwhile, the people of Iraq continue to suffer from U.S. intervention. Since 1991, the U.S. has been responsible for the death of an estimated 1 million Iraqis due to sanctions and invasions.

Students stood at the corner of a busy intersection at the University of South Florida (USF) holding signs and chanting “Out of Palestine! Out of Iraq! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

Police tried to stop SDS from chanting but the students stood firmly and continued, “No, no, blood for oil. U.S. off Arab soil!”

“It's important that we remember this anniversary in light of recent revelations of the U.S. military presence in Iraq. U.S. imperialism is always on the move and if we want to stop it we should stay constantly vigilant,” said Gage Lacharite.

In addition, SDS is currently working on a campaign to #ChangeTheName of the CW Bill Young building on campus. Young served on the Johns Committee in the 1960s that persecuted LGBTQIA+ teachers, faculty, students and staff throughout the Florida public university system.

Lacharite stated, “Just as Young’s legacy generates a climate of hate on campus, the U.S. military has a history of cultivating sexism, racism and homophobia among its ranks. Young was an avid supporter of the U.S. military. The USF administration has used this as reasoning for continuing to honor the hateful legacy of Bill Young.”

SDS ended the rally by dedicating themselves to end the presence of Bill Young’s homophobic and militaristic legacy on campus.

#TampaFl #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #Iraq #UniversityOfSouthFlorida #USF