March 27 MAWO Antiwar Rally Report

On March 27, 2010 Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized their monthly antiwar rally in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The year 2010 is becoming the deadliest year for Canada, US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. With the recent military offensive Operation Moshtarak in Southern Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans have been murdered and killed, many women and children among them.

Kerri Goodwin, MC and MAWO executive member introduced Gerry Condon, President of the Seattle Chapter of Veterans for Peace. Gerry emphasized the importance of the role war resisters need to play in the antiwar movement. That as many war resisters come back with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), become homeless and have many psychological problems as a result of the intensive crimes of the war and fighting under tremendous stress.

Sarah Alwell, coordinator of the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver passionately spoke of the hypocrisy of the so-called US ‘war on terror’. While, the US creates misery and destruction for the people living in the Middle East under the guise of the ‘war on terror’, the US allows terrorist organizations and individuals in Miami who have committed crimes against Cuba to walk freely. Five Cuban men who were investigating these terrorist organizations and gave the information to US government and the Cuban Government have been unjustly arrested and imprisoned for almost 12 years. Sarah urged all peace-loving people and activists to demand the immediate freedom of these Five Cuban Men. For more information on the case of the Cuban 5, please check out:
http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/freethefivevan.html.

MAWO Co-chair Alison Bodine, gave a report from her current home in New York City, where she works with IFCO/Pastors for Peace. Alison gave a report on the recent demonstration of thousands people who marched in Washington, DC on March 20th on the 7th anniversary of the Iraq war. She articulated clearly the necessity of those who live in the US and Canada and are opposed to war and occupation to work together to build an effective antiwar movement to stop the war mongers and their killing machine.

MAWO executive committee member Janine Solanki connected the new era of war and occupation to the attacks happening against people living within Canada. Kerri ended the rally with a passionate resolution demanding an end to the wars and occupations and for the right of all oppressed people to self-determination.

Throughout the rally MAWO organizers gathered petition signatures demanding an end to the government of Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan, adding to the almost 15,000 signatures already demanding an end to the occupation. Rally participants resolved to continue to demonstrate in the streets until there is an end to these wars and occupations.