On Thursday, June 29, more than 200 people participated energetically and actively in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, demanding an end to war at home and abroad. The rally, organized by Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), was in response to the recent attack on the 17 Muslims arrested in Toronto on allegations of terrorism, and to the massive new military war drive by Canadian and NATO troops on the people of Afghanistan.

Dalal Assad, an organizer with the Mesopotamian Women’s and Orphan’s Education and Welfare Society condemned the US-led occupation of Iraq and the absolute destruction that the war has wreaked on the lives of millions of Iraqis. Second, Herebierto Salas, an organizer with the People’s Front in Defense of the Land in Atenco, Mexico, discussed the struggle of poor and working people in Mexico for their land and for human rights, and against the recent brutality by police in Mexico against poor and working people in Atenco.

Reflecting on the war at home and attacks on oppressed people in Canada, Julie Jenkins, Kwalikum Secondary School student and organizer with KSS Students for Peace spoke on attacks on students and youth, from cuts to education funding to drives for military recruitment. Jane Ivanonva, an organizer with the Free the Cuban Five Committee – Vancouver spoke of Cuba’s struggle against imperialism.

Highlighting the struggle against the war at home, Ivan Drury, coordinator of the Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice spoke about arrests of the Toronto 17, noting that “the attacks on June 2nd 2006 on 17 Muslim men is setting the conditions to continue these attacks on all working people, all poor people, all oppressed people in Canada.”

Bringing the anti-war message to music, Colombian hip hop crew Sepia performed, garnering enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

Lindsay Clarke, an organizer with MAWO, Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba, and Capilano Student’s Union Social Justice Committee Coordinator tied the program together. Lindsay connected the struggles of people around the world, noting that the expansion of imperialism and the opening of the era of war and occupation has meant increased attacks on people from Iraq to Afghanistan, Six Nations to Palestine.

The program was closed with a resolution read by MAWO organizer and Kitsilano Secondary School student Ashlin Youngworth, which passed with loud cheers and support from the crowd.