August 26 MAWO Picket Action Report

67th Picket Action Demanding Canada/US/NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!

On Thursday August 26th, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized its 67th picket action against the Canada/US/NATO war and occupation of Afghanistan. For over five years now, MAWO has been protesting against the war in Afghanistan every month in front of the Canadian Forces Recruitment Centre.

The picket began with MAWO Co-chair Andrew Barry reading the MAWO picket statement which highlighted the growing quagmire for Canada and their allies in Afghanistan. The statement addressed the recently released Wikileaks website scandal that detailed 75,000 secret US military documents exposing numerous crimes caused as a result of this brutal occupation.

Throughout the picket protesters participated in energetic rounds of picketing while chanting “Canada/US/NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!” and “Money for Jobs and Education, Not for War and Occupation!” A “Honk for Canada Out of Afghanistan!” sign was popular for people driving by who loudly honked their horns in support.

Andrew welcomed up the first speaker, Max Tennant, an organizer with MAWO, who connected the attacks against youth living in Canada with the attacks against youth in Afghanistan. He noted how the government of Canada targets young people from Canada to join the military because of a lack of economic alternatives. He continued that the role of the government of Canada in Afghanistan has not improved education for young people, with no schools or educational institutions to improve their situation.

A loud second round of picketing followed Max’s talk. Paul Demetrick, a former member of the Canadian military, and a member of the South Okanagan Peace Association, spoke next. Paul explained that the recent Wikileaks website scandal shows why he made the right decision to leave the military. He noted that the military lies to young people and new recruits and that when they get to Afghanistan the situation is very different.

Before the final speaker of the picket came a third round of picketing and chanting. Then, Janine Solanki, MAWO’s Outreach Coordinator, denounced the “lies we are told every day about the war. The Wikileaks scandal gave us no new information about the war, but it did show the world that the occupation forces are aware of their crimes and massacres and have done nothing to stop their cover-ups and lies. Janine revealed that the occupiers have not changed course at all since the Wikileaks scandal, and described several more instances of NATO massacres of Afghan civilians since the scandal became public.

After nearly 9 years of war and occupation in Afghanistan the NATO civilian massacres and bombings are increasing, as well as the killings of occupying troops. The occupiers are losing the war, and every day they are there they are creating a new line of resistance fighters throughout Afghanistan. MAWO will join the people of Afghanistan protesting the Canada/US/NATO occupation, and picket every month until the war comes to an end.