Minneapolis Area Peace Groups To Respond To Obama Iraq Speech

Twin Cities peace and anti-war groups to speak out against new chapter of U.S. war in Iraq to respond to Obama speech on new Iraq war. Two events will be held by opponents of new U.S. military intervention in the Middle East on Wednesday, September 10, the day President Obama will make an evening speech outline the new round of U.S. intervention.

Twin Cities-area anti-war and peace activists will gather to listen to the Obama speech, set for 8:00 pm local time. After the talk, representatives of several groups will make brief response comments.

Earlier in the day people will gather at a weekly peace vigil to make an anti-war statement: Wednesday, September 10 5:00 – 6:00 pm

Peace vigil – No New War in Iraq
Lake Street/Marshall Ave. Bridge over the Mississippi River between

Minneapolis & St. Paul.
During the vigil, representatives of several peace and anti-war groups will be available to give comments.

President Obama will speak Wednesday evening about U.S. military intervention in Iraq.

The U.S. has opened a new chapter of military intervention in Iraq, in the name of fighting the Islamic State (IS). There is open discussion of an escalation of U.S. intervention to include Syria.

A statement issued by a coalition of Twin Cities-area peace and anti-war groups says in part, “U.S. intervention is not the answer to the crisis in Iraq. The U.S. war destroyed Iraq and laid the basis for the current crisis. More U.S. bombs, troops and contractors will not make things better.

“Since June of this year, the U.S. has spent $500 million on operations in Iraq. People in both countries need jobs, housing and education, and a peace economy, not more wars and interventions,” the statement continues. “The U.S. is racing down a slippery slope to a new quagmire in the Middle East. No new quagmires!”

The statement continues, “The U.S. has been at war for 13 years. Enough is enough. If we have learned anything, it should be that U.S. intervention, in the form of troops or bombs, does not help establish peace and justice, but lays the basis for new wars and interventions.”

Groups participating in the Wednesday events include Anti-War Committee, Minnesota Peace Action Coalition, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Women Against Military Madness and others.

For more information:

Meredith Aby 612 965-8639

Marie Braun 612 275-2720

Sarah Martin 612 437-0222

Alan Dale 612 378-3825