Speech given at National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance rally
As the U.S. led war in Afghanistan begins its ninth year this week, 61 were arrested bringing a strong message to the White House that war, torture and drone bombing are outrageous, unacceptable and must end immediately. National anti-war groups and people from around the country joined together to say No to War in Afghanistan. No to Torture and Vengeance.
Bush administration's torture policies.
Hundreds of people gathered in McPherson Square for song, poetry and rousing speeches to kick off a day of action. This is the reflection that Liz McAlister gave to those gathered, who would soon be processing to the White House led by the Mourn the dead, heal the wounded, end the wars banner. those gathered then marched to the White House in a solemn procession, carrying large photographs of war victims, signs and banners.
The group assembled on the sidewalk in front of the White House and Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey Sheehan was killed in Iraq in 2004 while serving in the U.S. Army, read a statement and welcome the group, which by this time had grown to more than 500 people.
As the March of the Dead wound through the crowd wearing white masks and carrying the names of dead U.S. service people and Iraqi and Afghan war victims, more than 20 people dressed at Guantanamo prisoners assembled near the White House fence. Members of Witness Against Torture, a group committed to the shuttering of Guantanamo and the quickly enlarging Bagram air base in Afghanistan, many chained themselves to the fence. On their backs, they wore the names of Guantanamo detainees cleared for release who remain detained under the Obama administration despite the White House's heralded decision to shutter the prison.
The group read the names of those killed in war and newspaper accounts of U.S. bombings and their devastating consequences in Afghanistan and Iraq. Code Pink, World Can't Wait and many others also participated in the day of action. Veterans for Peace carried large American and peace flags and processed with three coffins representing those killed in war. Each coffin was draped with a flag—America, Iraq and Afghanistan all represented. Members of the War Resisters League held a large banner than said End the War in Afghanistan and wore white shrouds emblazoned with the pictures of Afghan civilians.
All those who remained on the White House sidewalk were eventually arrested. In total, 61people were taken into police custody as the readings of the names of the dead—a tragic litany of war—continued.
Meanwhile, the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, the group that convened the day of action, and members of PeaceAction left the area to deliver a letter to the Obama Administration. Rebuffed at the press gate, the group held a die-in and read statements. The U.S. Park Police were preparing to arrest these twenty four activists. However, the Secret Service without warning forcefully pushed and pulled them from the area near the press gate. A number of people were bruised and all were shaken by the Secret Service's aggressiveness.
The protests today send a strong message that Americans are sick of war, gravely concerned that the Afghan conflict is spinning out of control and hopeful that the President will listen to the American public and end the occupation. Continuing—and surging—Bush era policies means more American deaths, more civilian casualties, an intensified insurgency and the further waste of precious resources that are so badly needed at home.
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Peace, love, - no war. As a World War I poet/veteran said: "war, it's all the work of the devil". "Thou shall not kill" and "vengence is mine sayeth the Lord" . And of course; "blessed are the peace makers".
brokkenstar 10 months ago
Thank you Liz for showing us that the gospel can be lived
asherah46 2 years ago
Thank you Jonah House, Thank you Liz for the words, although I am in a rural area far away on the other coast in Spirit I am with you all.
chet4peace 2 years ago