[antiwar-van] Mar. 2nd - MAWO Emergency Picket Action Demands: Canada Out of Afghanistan!

[shannon]

IN RESPONSE TO DEATH OF 10TH CANADIAN SOLDIER IN
AFGHANISTAN MOBILIZATION AGAINST WAR & OCCUPATION
(MAWO) ORGANIZES PICKET, DEMANDS: “CANADA OUT OF 
AFGHANISTAN”

Just 12 hours after news of the death of Canadian Cpl.
Paul James Davis of Bridgewater Nova Scotia reached
Canadian shores, the Lower Mainland’s anti-war
Coalition Mobilization Against War and Occupation
(MAWO) held a press conference and Emergency Picket
Action against Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan. 

Speaking on behalf of MAWO at the picket, MAWO
Acting-Secretary and UBC student-organizer Nita Palmer
said, “The new Canadian war drive is in full swing. As
of February 28th there are 2,300 Canadian troops on
the 
ground in Afghanistan, mostly in the heavy combat area
of Kandahar. 

Already we are seeing that Canada’s ‘top soldier’ Rick
Hillier’s predictions about this combat mission are
coming true – Canadian soldiers are coming home in
body bags.” Her statements from the press conference
and 
picket action were covered and reported on CKNW AM 980
and on CBC TV, as well as on the independent news
website www.anarac.com 

Twenty-five picketers who had gathered together on
only four hours notice of the action cheered Palmer
and MAWO’s call for an Independent Public Inquiry into
Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan and chanted “Bring
all troops home now!” The picketers marched before the
closed doors of the Canadian Forces Recruitment Centre
in downtown Vancouver while commuters in rush hour
traffic honked their approval of the protest’s
demands.

Aaron Mercredi, Redwire Native Youth Media board
member and organizer with MAWO spoke at the end of the
picket to explain that Canada’s occupation of
Afghanistan has roots in Canada’s occupation of
Indigenous nations in Canada. “Since the occupation of
Afghanistan began, life expectancy for Afghan people
has dropped by four and a half years,” Mercredi
explained, “It’s no coincidence that Indigenous people
have the lowest 
life expectancy rate of anyone in Canada. This is what
occupation does to people.”

Thursday’s emergency picket marked MAWO’s 6th picket
action in front of the Canada Forces Recruitment
Centre since July 21 2005, when General Rick Hillier
announced the deployment of 2,000 Canadian troops to
Afghanistan. MAWO plans to return to picket in front
of the Canadian Forces Recruitment Centre at 1070 W.
Georgia St this coming Monday March 6th at 12noon, and
to return every time a Canadian soldier is killed in
Afghanistan. 

*For pictures of the picket action see:
www.mawovancouver.org 

----------------------------
JOIN THE NEXT
PICKET ACTION AGAINST CANADA’S OCCUPATION OF
AFGHANISTAN!

Monday March 6th
12noon-1pm
Canada Forces Recruitment Centre (1070 W. Georgia St)

Canada out of Afghanistan!
Stop the Canadian War Drive!
Independent Public Inquiry into Canada’s Occupation of
Afghanistan!
-------------------------

Mobilization Against War and Occupation – MAWO
www.mawovancouver.org | info at mawovancouver.org |
604-322-1764


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