January 26, 2008
Antiwar Rally
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Rally MCs from MAWO Janine & Kira and Fariba from Canadians Against War
Protesters braved the snow to participate in the rally
Evan and Ash from Iraq Veterans Against War
Fred Muzin, President of the Hospital Employees Union of BC speaks out against attack on Iran
Paivand Pejvack from the Iranian Community Against War (ICAW)
Don't Attack Iran!
MC Mighty Abyss from the Influents hip hop crew
Mike Larson, organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee Vancouver
Featured Speaker Morteza Gorgzadeh
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January 26 Rally Report
On Saturday, January 26, over 250 people gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery for Vancouver’s first ever rally demanding No War on Iran. Despite the cold and blowing snow, energy was high and chants of “Don’t Attack Iran!” were heard loud and clear on the streets of downtown Vancouver. The rally was part of Vancouver’s No War on Iran Weekend of Action, with a rally on Saturday and a conference on Sunday.The weekend of action was organized by Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) and the Iranian Community Against War (ICAW), and endorsed by Canadians Against War (CAW).
The MCs for the day were Janine Solanki, MAWO Co-chair, Kira Koshelanyk, a MAWO executive committee member, and Fariba, an organizer with CAW. The first speaker was Payvand Pejvack, an organizer with ICAW. She was followed by Fred Muzin, president of the BC Hospital Employees’ Union. Ash and Evan, two members of Iraq Veterans Against the War visiting from the United States gave a powerful speech about their first-hand experience with the destruction that the US occupation of Iraq has caused. Jasmin Ramsey, and organizer with CAW spoke next. Following her, Mike Larson from the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver spoke about the case of 5 Cuban men held prisoner in the US for defending their people against US-backed anti-Cuban terrorism.
Part of the dynamic hip hop crew Influents took the stage next, with MC Mighty Abyss freestyling his anti-war rhymes. Following their energetic performance was speaker Morteza Gorgzadeh, an organizer with Toronto Forum on Cuba and a founding member of Toronto Coalition to Stop the War. John Waller, the coordinator of the US-based Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba spoke about Cuba’s example of anti-imperialist resistance. The final speaker of the day was Arash, from ICAW. The rally’s resolution was read by Kevin Neasloss, an organizer with MAWO and the Indigenous Rights and Action Project. The resolution demanding an end to war and occupation passed to loud cheers from the crowd.
Jan 27 Conference Report
“Iran and the US: History, Realities, Conflicts, and Challenges” was the title of Sunday’s anti-war conference. The event at the Britannia Community Centre brought out over 50 people to discuss and organize against the threats of US attack on Iran and the impact of sanctions on Iran.
The MC for the day was Shohreh, a human rights activist and participant in the 1979 Iranian Revolution who is now an organizer with CAW. The first presentation was by special guest speaker was Morteza Gorgzadeh. Morteza was also a participant in the 1979 Iranian revolution, and is now active as a union organizer in Toronto, ON, as well as a founding member of Toronto Coalition to Stop the War and an organizer with Toronto Forum on Cuba. Morteza explained that the ‘democracy’ that the US wants to bring to Iran is not for a better life for people in Iran, but to bring Iran back under US control, as it was before the 1979 Iranian revolution. “In the time of the ‘civilization’ of the Shah of Iran, when he was going to the United States with red carpets unrolled, the one who was bringing ‘democracy and civilization’ to the people of Iran, there were 100,000 political prisoners [in Iran],” Morteza said.
Following Morteza was a multimedia presentation titled “Don’t Iraq Iran”, made by members of CAW and MAWO. The images of Iran followed by pictures of the last five years of destruction and occupation in Iraq were powerful images against attack on Iran.
The next speaker was Ali Yerevani, a participant in the Iranian revolution and the political editor of the Fire This Time Newspaper. “Since 1891, Iran has been an example of anti-imperialist resistance in the Middle East. The US cannot win control the Middle East for their economic interests without first controlling Iran,” Ali explained.
Presentations were followed by a lively discussion on why the US is increasing its war drive against the people of Iran, and what we as peace-loving people and anti-war activists can do to stop it.
The weekend of action was an important part of the current campaign by MAWO, ICAW and CAW against sanctions and military attack on Iran.
For more information on upcoming actions against war on Iran, please visit the MAWO, ICAW, and CAW websites:
http://icaw.blogspot.com
www.canadiansagainstwar.org
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January 27, 2008
MAWO Antiwar Conference
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Conference MC Shohreh from Canadians Against War
Featured Speaker Morteza Gorgzadeh
A packed house at Britannia on Sunday morning!
Ali Yerevani, conference presenter and organizer with ICAW
Conference presenters discuss with participants.
More Rally Photos from January 26th, 2008!
John Waller, Co-ordinator of the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba
Arash from the Iranian Community Against War
Kevin Neasloss from the Indigenous Rights and Action Project reads the resolution
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