March 26 MAWO Picket Action Report


On Thursday March 26th, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized the 52nd picket action in front of the Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center demanding an end to Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan. This picket came on the heels of the deaths of four more Canadian soldiers who were killed on Friday March 20th, 2009.

Since the beginning of the occupation over seven years ago, tens of thousands of Afghans have been massacred along with 116 Canadian soldiers, 8 of whom died this month due to this war.

After picketers put the sign “HONK FOR CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN” facing the street many energetic honkers helped bring more strength to the picket.

Janine Solanki, MAWO Co-chair and MC of the picket highlighted how the war has only brought misery and destruction to the people of Afghanistan and that is why after 7 years Afghan people continue to resist this brutal occupation.

After the first round of loud picketing, Janine Solanki introduced Kerri Goodwin, an Oji-Cree activist and executive member of MAWO. She passionately spoke of the lies of the Canadian Government’s so-called liberation of Afghan people, while the Canadian Government continues their attacks and war against Indigenous people living in Canada.

After another loud and energetic round of picketing, Janine introduced Max Tennant, a BCIT student and organizer with Mobilization Against War & Occupation. He denounced the Canadian Government’s policy of recruiting poor youth and students into the Canadian Military to kill their young sisters and brothers in Afghanistan. Finally, Nita Palmer, executive committee member and secretary of MAWO, compared the Canadian Governments war at home with their war abroad. She questioned how the Canadian Government can bring homes and women’s rights to the people of Afghanistan when the Canadian Government is cutting social and women programs in Canada, meanwhile spending billions of dollars on the military. Nita reassured everyone that MAWO would continue to have monthly picket actions in front of the Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment until there was an end to this brutal occupation of Afghanistan.

CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!
END THE OCCUPATION NOW!
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY NOW!