At the sixteenth Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) demonstration there was a renewed urgency in the calls against imperialist war and occupation. As the US, EU and Israel stepped up threats against oppressed nations in the Middle East, the people of Vancouver stepped up resistance and solidarity.

The rally began with an impassioned speech by Bijan, an Iranian social justice activist and participant in the Iranian revolution. He denounced the expansion of war and occupation and was met with ardent cheers from the crowd.

Speakers followed Bijan, including Will Offley, BC Nurses Union steward and independent “Left Turn” candidate in the BC provincial election and Andrew Stromotich, founder of Dropframe productions and Vancouver based antiwar filmmaker.

Momentum and energy grew as the program continued. Ian Beeching and Albert Teng, two core organizers with UBC’s Coalition Against War on the People of Iraq and Internationally (CAWOPII) took the stage together. They spoke as student organizers and condemned the US war drive and called for immediate sovereignty for Iraq. Ian ended with a poem, bringing the fusion of art and politics – showing the diversity and scope of the resistance movement.

The march was kicked off by Nicole Burton, member of Langara Students United Against War and Occupation and secretary of MAWO. Nicole brought the on the ground reality of war and occupation in Iraq. She spoke of the suffering of the Iraqi people, the theft of dignity by the occupation forces and the two years of mass destruction and killing. Nicole also spoke of the resistance of the Iraqi people and their unfaltering resilience in the face of attacks by the most powerful military machine in history.

With chants and cheers Nicole led the march from the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery into the streets of Vancouver, voices echoing the demands of Iraqi people.

As the march wound through Vancouver’s downtown core, it paused at the US consulate. Alison Bodine, president of Coalition Against War on the People of Iraq & Internationally and coordinator of the MAWO War Resisters Campaign rallied the crowd. Alison spoke against the expansion of the US war drive and led the rally in cries of “US OUT!” and “STOP THE US WAR MACHINE!”

Upon arrival back to the Vancouver Art Gallery, the rally reached its finale as Nasim Sedaghat took the stage. Nasim, a former political prisoner, a participant in the Iranian revolution, and a social justice fighter for decades, stood strong and powerful against the era of war and occupation. Through her words and passion the unity of the rally extended beyond Vancouver, beyond BC, beyond Canada and became a truly internationalist unity.

With a resolution to declare solidarity with anti-war and anti-occupation fighters everywhere the demonstration was brought to conclusion. The resolution demanded self-determination for Iraq, for Palestine, for Afghanistan, for Haiti and for Indigenous Nations in Canada.

After sixteen protest rallies over 1 ½ years, MAWO has led the anti-war movement of Vancouver in action, in organizing and in the fight to unite with the global movement and decisively put an end to imperialist attacks, war and occupation everywhere!