Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center
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![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_8.jpg) Emergency Picket Action at the Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_3.jpg)
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_2.jpg) Picketers march in a line in front of Recruitment Center
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_7.jpg) Luciano Sanchez, Global Justice & Peace Committee of the BC Hospital Employees Union
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_4.jpg) Nicole Burton, Mobilization Against War & Occupation organizer
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_1.jpg) Thomas Davies, MAWO Organizer speaking on organizing and fighting back against the occupation
![](http://www.mawovancouver.org/photos/070710_5.jpg)
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![](http://mawovancouver.org/thumbs/070710picket.jpg)
REPORT
Vancouver, BC – Protesting the recent death of six more Canadian
soldiers and uncounted scores of Afghan civilians in
Afghanistan, Mobilization Against War and Occupation
(MAWO) set up picket lines in front of the Canadian
Armed Forces Recruitment Center in Vancouver,
protesting the Canada/NATO occupation of Afghanistan.
More than 30 protesters marched, demanding, “Canada
Out of Afghanistan Now!” and called for an Independent
Public Inquiry into the Canadian war drive in
Afghanistan.
The program was opened by Kira Koshelanyk, MAWO
co-chair, reading a statement to the press. “The death
toll for Canada is now at 66 because of the
occupation,” she said. “At the same time, criticism
from people in Canada and around the world is rising
against the deadly NATO air strikes on Afghan villages
and towns as more and more people call on Canada to
bring the troops home,” she concluded amidst cheers
from demonstrators.
Luciano Sanchez, a member of the Global Justice &
Peace Committee of the Hospital Employees Union of BC,
opened with a powerful speech about the expanding war
budget in Canada, and how this has stripped away
desperately needed money from social services in
Canada, like public healthcare.
Nicole Burton, a student activist and organizer with
Mobilization Against War and Occupation, highlighted
the depth of the destruction that has been brought to
the people of Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion.
Lastly, Thomas Davies, a unionist and organizer with
Mobilization Against War and Occupation, spoke about
the importance of taking action. “In every country
that has sent troops to Afghanistan, including Canada,
poll after poll shows that the majority in those
countries do not want their troops in Afghanistan,” he
said. “Our picket, and our calls for an end to the
occupation, reflect the sentiments and the interests
of those millions of people.” He concluded, urging
that “we must continue vocalize and activate them,
until the occupation of Afghanistan ends!”
Between speakers, picketers rallied and marched across
the sidewalk adjacent to the recruiting office,
carrying colorful signs, chanting, “Canada Out of
Afghanistan NOW! Bring the Troops Home!
Independent Public Inquiry into the Canadian War
Drive!,” and waving to honking supporters as they
drove by on the busy Downtown streets. The afternoon
action was closed with cheers of promise that
picketers would return for future protests, as long as
Afghan lives are being destroyed, more Canadian
soldiers are returning home in body bags, and more
funding cuts are being siphoned from working people’s
pockets into the Canadian government’s plans for
criminal war and occupation abroad.
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