Press conference: Anti-war groups to respond: U.S. military commander calls for more U.S. troops for Afghan war
News Conference
Tuesday, September 22, 4:30 pm, Mayday Bookstore, 301 Cedar Avenue South, on the West Bank in Minneapolis
Anti-war groups to respond: U.S. military commander calls for more U.S. troops for Afghan war
News organizations are reporting that the U.S./NATO military commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal has submitted a report to the Obama Administration stating that more U.S. military forces must be sent to Afghanistan.
Twin Cities area anti-war groups will offer a response to this report in a news conference on Tuesday, September 22 at 4:30 pm at Mayday Bookstore, 301 Cedar Ave. South in Minneapolis.
At the news conference, leaders of the Twin Cities anti-war movement will respond to the call for more U.S. troops to be sent to Afghanistan. They will also announce plans for demonstrations this fall against the war in Afghanistan and the continuing occupation of Iraq.
Speakers at the news conference will include Meredith Aby, member of the Anti-War Committee, Tracy Molm, member of Students for a Democratic Society and Wayne Wittman, member, St. Paul Regional Labor Federation.
A statement issued by organizers says in part, “There is growing sentiment against the U.S. war in Afghanistan among the people of the U.S. People want an end to the eight-year long war, not an escalation.”
A CNN poll conducted this month said 39 percent supported the war and 58 percent opposed it.
“During the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the U.S. government is spending billions for wars and occupations, while millions lose their jobs and housing and go without health insurance.
“This fall the growing anti-war sentiment will be visible in the streets across the U.S. as we demand that the troops be brought home from Iraq and Afghanistan. On October 17, local and regional anti-war actions will be held in cities around the country, including here in Minneapolis,” the statement concludes.
The October 17 protest in Minneapolis will be held at 1 pm, gathering at Lagoon and Hennepin Avenues in Uptown and marching to a final rally at Loring Park. The event is one of over 30 planned that day across the United States.
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