June 29, 2006
Antiwar Protest Rally:
CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!
US/UK OUT OF IRAQ!
Report >>
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.
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![Colombian Hip Hop Duo 'Sepia' Pump Up the Crowd on June 29](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-6.jpg) Colombian Hip Hop Duo 'Sepia' Pump Up the Crowd on June 29
![Hundreds more signed on to join the over 10,000 people in Canada on the petition to end Canada's occupation of Afghanistan Now!](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-16.jpg) Hundreds more signed on to join the over 10,000 people in Canada on the petition to end Canada's occupation of Afghanistan Now!
![Rally Leaders Nita Palmer & Janine Solanki Promote the 2nd Annual Hip Hop Festival Against War & Occupation](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-10.jpg) Rally Leaders Nita Palmer & Janine Solanki Promote the 2nd Annual Hip Hop Festival Against War & Occupation
![Iraqi Activist Dalal Noor addresses the rally](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-14.jpg) Iraqi Activist Dalal Noor addresses the rally
![Heriberto, guest speaker from the San Salvador Atenco, Mexico peoples movement brought solidarity greetings](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-13.jpg)
Heriberto, guest speaker from the San Salvador Atenco, Mexico Peoples Front in Defense of the Land brought solidarity greetings
![Julie Jenkins, a High School organizer from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, talks about the importance of organizing with young people](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-12.jpg) Julie Jenkins, a High School organizer from Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, talks about the importance of organizing with young people
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-11.jpg) A rally participant on June 29
![Jane Ivanova, Organizer with the Vancouver Free the Cuban 5 Committee](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-9.jpg) Jane Ivanova, Organizer with the Vancouver Free the Cuban 5 Committee
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-15.jpg) More people sign on to the 'Canada Out of Afghanistan!' Petition
![Stop the Canadian War Drive!](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-8.jpg) Stop the Canadian War Drive!
![Ivan Drury, Coordinator of Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice speaks about defending the Toronto 17](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-7.jpg) Ivan Drury, Coordinator of Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice speaks about defending the Toronto 17
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-5.jpg) Sepia Warms up the Crowd!
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-3.jpg) Rally Participants on June 29!
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-2.jpg) Lindsay Clarke, Social Justice Co-ordinator for the Capilano Students Union speaks about Canada's Occupation of Afghanistan
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/060629rally/060629-1.jpg) MAWO Organizer Ashlin reads the final resolution at the rally!
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