November 28 MAWO Antiwar Rally Report

On a rainy day on November 28th, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized an antiwar rally in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. This rally came on the heels of the recent announcement by Canada’s former second in command at the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan detailing how the Canadian forces handed over detainees to be tortured in Afghanistan. People of various ages came to protest and demand “CANADA/US/NATO OUT OF AFGHANISTAN” and “END THE OCCUPATIONS NOW.”

Janine Solanki, MAWO co-chair and MC opened the rally by introducing consciousness Hip Hop artist Speeches Beyond. His words and lyrics vibrated throughout the downtown core.

After Speeches Beyond, Alison Bodine, co-chair of MAWO and project coordinator for IFCO/Pastors for Peace spoke from the US. She was banned from Canada for 2 years after being politically targeted by the Canadian Border Services Agency. She opened by energizing the crowd and leading everyone in a few chants. She highlighted the importance of increasing actions in both Canada and the US to demand an end to this brutal occupation. Especially since the US government and Western powers are increasing troop deployment in Afghanistan which will only cause more death and destruction to the people of Afghanistan.

Thomas Davies from the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver spoke. He highlighted the importance as peace-loving people it is a necessity to demand the freedom of the Cuban 5, five men who have been unjustly imprisoned in US jails for over 11 years for defending their country against attacks by terrorist groups operating freely in Miami. The hypocrisy of their case clearly exposes the fact that the US is not really waging a “war on terror.”

Nita Palmer, executive member of MAWO and member of the Fire This Time editorial board explained the new era of war and occupation which has gone from the recent coup d’etat in Honduras which was supported by the US to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. She connected these wars abroad to the cuts in social programs faced by people living in Canada meanwhile the Canadian government is spending billions in the war in Afghanistan.

Max Tennant, organizer with MAWO and BCIT student read the rally resolution against the new era of war and occupation. The resolution was passed by thunderous cheers by the crowd.