Twin Cities peace activists to watch and respond to Obama Iraq speech Tuesday evening

News Advisory
For release: Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Representatives from several Twin Cities-area organizations involved in the anti-war movement plan to watch and respond to a Tuesday evening nationally televised speech by President Obama on the U.S. war in Iraq.

Representatives from Military Families Speak Out, Women Against Military Madness, Anti-War Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign and others will meet:

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 7:00 PM
Mayday Bookstore, 301 Cedar Ave. South, Minneapolis
(Enter on the side of the building, off the plaza at 3rd Street and Cedar Ave.)

A statement issued by organizers says, in part, “President Obama will tout withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq on Tuesday evening in a nationally televised speech. Yet the occupation of Iraq will continue, with 50,000 U.S. troops remaining in the country and thousands of ‘military contractors’ in place or soon going to that country.”

The statement goes on to say, “The occupation of Iraq is being rebranded, but the people of Iraq want an end to foreign interference in their country and the

people of the U.S. want an end to the occupation.

“The Obama administration is escalating the war in Afghanistan, spending billions of dollars that are needed for jobs, housing, education and other human needs.”

Anti-war groups are planning several protests in the weeks and months ahead. National peace and anti-war groups have been invited to join a mass rally for Jobs and Justice called by the NAACP and many labor unions on Saturday, October 2 in Washington DC. Plans are also being made for national protests on April 9, 2011. Information will be available at the Tuesday event on several local anti-war events being planned for September and October.

The statement by organizers concludes, “The anti-war movement will be in the streets demanding all U.S. troops be taken out of Iraq and for an end to the war in Afghanistan.”

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