July 15 MAWO Picket Action Report

66th Picket Action Demanding Canada/US/NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!

For the 66th time in 5 years Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized a picket action against the Canada/US/NATO war and occupation in Afghanistan. Dozens of people picked up picket signs and protested outside the Canadian Forces Recruitment Centre in Vancouver, Canada calling for: CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!

Before the picket action even started the area was overwhelmed with honking horns and people making peace signs from cars driving by. A large “Honk for Canada Out of Afghanistan” banner was facing traffic and would set the stage for a loud energetic picket.

MAWO Co-Chair, Andrew Barry, MC’d the picket and began the action by reading the MAWO picket statement. This was followed by the first round of picketing of the day.

The first speaker of the picket was MAWO organizer and long time civil rights and social justice activist, David Whittlesey. David connected the US war against Vietnam in the 1960s and 70s to today’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He noted that the Vietnam War became a quagmire for the US just like today’s wars have become quagmires for the US, Canada, and their allies. This led to a second round of picketing that was supported by the loud honking of the passing cars.

The protesters then heard from April Desilets, a poet and an organizer with MAWO. “Under this criminal war and occupation what kind of future can young people in Afghanistan have if there are no schools, but instead there are tanks and bombs?” April pointed out. She focused on how terrible the war and occupation of Afghanistan is for young people and women.

A final round of picketing followed April’s talk while people walking by picked up information on the war in Afghanistan. People gathered back in front of the Recruitment Centre to hear some final words by Andrew Barry. He mentioned how the replacing of the US/NATO Commander in Afghanistan, Stanley McCrystal, with the new General, David Petraeus, will not change day to day life for Afghans but instead will use different tactics to kill civilians and keep life in Afghanistan depressed. He also highlighted the massive opposition and resistance to the war in Afghanistan.

The picket concluded with people pledging to on going to protest the war and occupation in Afghanistan until it comes to an end.

CANADA/US/NATO OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!