Running not your thing?
Join the Chicagoans protest the 11th anniversary of the War in Afghanistan on Sunday, October 7th, 2012, 3:00 p.m., Tribune Tower/Pioneer Court, 435 N. Michigan Ave.
Peace activists will gather at Tribune Towers for a march to the Obama Campaign Headquarters and Boeing corporation offices to raise their demands:
- End the War in Afghanistan!
- No New Wars!
- Stop FBI Repression of Anti-War Activists!
- Money for Jobs, Education and Health Care, NOT FOR WAR!
Speakers to include:
- Buddy Bell, Voices for Creative Non Violence & Gay Liberation Network
- Hatem Abudayyeh, Committee Against Political Repression & U.S. Palestinian Community Network
- Malik Mujahid, Muslim Peace Coalition
- Sarah Chambers, Chicago Teachers Union
- Kait McIntyre, Students for a Democratic Society
The organizations sponsoring the protest include: 8th Day Center for Justice, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslim Alliance Mid-West, American Muslim Task Force on Civil Rights and Elections Illinois, Chicago Area Peace Action, Committee Against Political Repression, Gay Liberation Network, Oak Park Coalition for Truth & Justice, and US Palestinian Community Network.
In explaining why this march is taking place, Pat Hunt of Chicago Area Peace Action stated, “68,000 US Soldiers are still in Afghanistan. We want them home now.”
The cost to US taxpayers of the War in Afghanistan is estimated at more than $550 billion dollars. Sarah Chambers, a leader in the Chicago Teachers Union, will march with the peace movement because, “War dollars are being taken from our communities, bleeding the country economically at a time where there are severe budget cuts, schools are threatened with closing, and vital social services are being shut down.”
Hatem Abudayyeh, a leader in the Palestinian community in Chicago and a target of the FBI and US Attorney’s office in Chicago, explained he will be marching because, “I and 22 other activists have had our lives turned upside down for almost two years by a grand jury investigation aimed at our constitutional right to criticize our government’s actions.”
Buddy Bell of Voices for Creative Non Violence, “The war in Afghanistan has become an afterthought with our current presidential candidates. Meanwhile, two thousand Americans have died, and thousands of innocent Afghans continue to be killed. In addition, thousands of Pakistanis have died from drone strikes and the war continues to rage on.” Bell visited Afghanistan this past year and is preparing for another trip.
The protest will also oppose the threats of new wars, highlighted by recent threats by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to attack Iran, which have received backing from the US; and Turkey’s shelling of Syrian positions this week.
