Media Alert
December 1, 2009
The World Can’t Wait worldcantwait.net
Contact: Elaine Brower 917.520.0767 / 866.973.4463
Anticipating President Obama’s announcement December 1, 2009, of a plan to “win” Bush’s war in Afghanistan, and to “finish the job,” anti-war groups are organizing protests around the US against a plan to send more troops, and naming this “Obama’s war.”
Protesters from the tri-state area will march to the main gate at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where the President will speak at 8:00 pm Tuesday. A rally starts at 5:30 pm at the intersection of Main Street (Route 218) and West Point Highway, just south of the Academy’s Thayer Gate. Protesters will also gather at the White House beginning at 5:00 pm Tuesday, staying into the evening.
On Wednesday, December 2, at federal buildings and major intersections more than 60 cities, organized by a coalition of organizations representing veterans, military families, religious groups and anti-war activists, organizers expect an outpouring based on recent polls showing more than 50% opposition to further escalation in Afghanistan.
World Can’t Wait Director Debra Sweet said today,”The richest country with the most powerful highly militarized empire is destroying, not helping, one of the world’s poorest countries. The only resolution in the interests of the people of Afghanistan and the world, including the people living in the United States, is for the United States to remove its combat and support troops, and its contractors from Afghanistan and to end the occupation of Iraq.”
Protests are scheduled at 40 cities including Allentown, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Columbus OH, Detroit, Eugene OR, Greensboro, Harrisburg, Hartford, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Madison, WI; Miami, New Haven, New Paltz, New York City, Newark, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Richmond, San Francisco, Seattle, Teaneck, NJ. Complete list.
“Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan is with a Code Pink delegation protesting at Creech Air Force Base which controls the un-manned drones targeted on Pakistan & Afghanistan. According to human rights groups, hundreds of civilians have been killed by the drones since Barack Obama took office, in more than 40 strikes.
National organizers include Veterans for Peace; Iraq Veterans Against the War; Military Families Speak Out; Code Pink; International ANSWER, World Can’t Wait, and many local groups who have opposed the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan for years.
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