On Saturday, March 21, Cindy Sheehan’s Soap Box People’s Network rallied with Answer Coalition and over 50 groups in Washington, D.C. outside the White House to demand the U.S. end its campaign of “endless wars” in the Middle East and Africa.
Sheehan joined a dozen speakers decrying U.S. involvement in Middle East conflicts, on the 12th anniversary of the Iraq conflict which ousted ousted Saddam Hussein, and 24 years after the Gulf War began.
Following the rally, groups marched through Washington, D.C., carrying banners and symbolic flag-draped coffins representing over a million killed in U.S. led Middle East Wars over the past two decades. They stopped at several buildings, including drone technology manufacture Honeywell Corporation, and headquarters, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), leaving the coffins at the lobby doors. They arrived at the U.S. Capitol where rows of police blocked them from entering U.S. Capitol grounds. They left more flag-draped coffins at the foot of the Senate Russel building doors.
Debra Sweet, director of The World Can’t Wait, called for an end to drone “signature strikes” ongoing in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan and Syria, which have killed thousands. “The U.S. does not actually know who they are killing in these signature strikes,” she said.
An analysis showed drone strikes were 28 times more likely to kill a civilian than its intended target.
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, spoke out against the Iraq war. “Twelve years of war in Iraq has only brought more war-Iraq has been devastated by the U.S. invasion,” she said.
Benjamin said the anti-war movement was gaining more credibility with the American public.
“We’re here as the national voice, representing the majority of the American people who say enough of the wars,” she said.
Dormer CIA Analyst Ray McGovern expressed concern with potential for another Cold War with Russia over its occupation of Crimea. “I haven’t thought about this for a quarter of a century but it is necessary to think about it now,” said McGovern. The Senate is considering sending arms to Ukraine to counter the Russian incursion.
Tighe Berry of Code Pink said of the Middle East conflicts, “We have been right for the last 13 years and it’s time to start listening to those people who have gotten it right.” He also voiced concern with potential conflict in Iran, another country which is the focus of potential conflict. “Now they’re talking about going into another war with Iran-lets stop the next war wherever it may be,” he said.
Complete photo set by Ted Majdosz.
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