Protest Bannering: The Wars Are Not Over, Send an Anti-War Message for the Holidays

WHERE: At the Walker Library in Uptown @ at the intersection of Hennepin and Lagoon Avenues, Mpls

• * Bring a shoe to show solidarity with Iraqi journalist Muntather Al-Zaidi, the Iraqi shoe-thrower!
• * Anti-war holiday singers from the Counter-Propaganda Coalition!
• * Dolidarity with Iraqi journalist to be among the themes of Saturday event.

We say:

• The Wars Are not Over
• Send an Anti-War Message for the Holidays
• Out of Iraq Out of Afghanistan Bring the Troops Home Now!
• Funds for Human Needs, Not Wars & Occupations!

The event will also call for solidarity with Iraqi journalist Muntather
Al-Zaidi, who spoke for millions of Iraqis and people across the world
when he threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during his recent
publicity-stunt “victory lap” in Baghdad, Iraq. As he threw his shoes,
Al-Zaidi called out, “This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the
farewell kiss, you dog! This is from the widows, the orphans and those
who were killed in Iraq!”

A statement issued by organizers says in part, “The Iraqi people have
taken to the streets in large numbers to speak in support of Muntather
Al-Zaidi and against the occupation of their country. Over one million
Iraqis have died, been injured or displaced by the war and occupation.

“We call for an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq and join thousands
of Iraqis who have demanded that Muntather Al-Zaidi be set free,” the
statement said.

Recent reports that claim the U.S. is in the process of ending the occupation of Iraq is a myth, say organizers.

Washington and its dependent Iraqi government signed a “Status of
Forces” agreement, supposedly calling for the U.S. military to leave
Iraqi cities by July 1, 2009, and all of Iraq by 2012. But even this
outrageous extension of an illegal occupation is just one more piece of
deception, as was soon made clear by top U.S. and Iraqi officials.

The ink was hardly dry on the agreement when, on December 12, official
Iraq government spokesman Ali al Dabbagh dismissed the idea that U.S.
troops would leave by 2012.

The next day, General Raymond Odierno, commander of “coalition (U.S.)
forces” in Iraq, stated that thousands of U.S. troops could remain
inside Iraqi cities after July 1, 2009, as part of “training and
mentoring teams.”

In addition, the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of additional troops to Afghanistan starting this winter.

“The wars and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan never had anything to
do with fighting terrorism, or defending freedom and supporting
democracy. The wars were launched on a bed of lies and deceptions.
These wars and occupations must end. In this holiday season, we call
for an end to the wars and for U.S. troops to be brought home,”
organizers said.

“With millions of people affected by the economic crisis, suffering the
losses of jobs, foreclosures and evictions, the Pentagon budget eats up
billions that ought to be used for human needs, not war,” said the
statement.