Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) was in the middle of their monthly antiwar rally and petition campaign on Friday, April 13 when news broke that the US, UK and France had begun to pound Syria with bombs and missiles. As this criminal military attack unfolded in real time, a television news crew showed up and the picket signs, petition and new “Don’t Attack Syria!” banner took on added urgency.
The US, UK and France had fired more than 130 missiles into Syria, an escalation of the seven-years of imperialist intervention that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and displaced half of the country through attacks by mercenary terrorists and foreign military intervention. This criminal and inhuman attack against the sovereign country of Syria was carried out under the justification that the Syrian government allegedly had used chemical weapons the week before. However, the very next day U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis stated that “the US is looking for evidence,” when asked if there was any proof of the alleged attack.
At the MAWO protest, it was especially important to give voice to antiwar sentiments from within Canada as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was immediately and emphatically in support of the bombing. He told reporters, “We were apprised in advance of the operation. We were very supportive.”
Despite strong winds and rain, MAWO held its presence and distributed every new antiwar newsletter printed, which focused especially on imperialist attacks against Syria. Many people passing by disagreed completely with the Trudeau government’s pro-war posturing.
MAWO’s action in Vancouver, Canada was part of an internationally coordinated period of actions based in the U.S. known as the “Spring Mobilizations to End the Wars at Home and Abroad”, a timely and important antiwar effort as President Trump continues to expand the imperialist legacy of the U.S. Organized by a broad coalition of peace and social justice groups including the Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases, the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), the Black Alliance for Peace, Veterans for Peace, and the ANSWER Coalition, successful and united protests were held in New York City; Oakland; Minneapolis; Atlanta; Dallas, Detroit, Chicago and Washington, DC; and dozens of other cities across the United States. For a report on this day of action visit: www.springaction2018.org
Every month MAWO is out on the streets, rallying and petitioning to demand an end to imperialist wars and occupations. The next rally, on Friday, May 11 will continue to demand “Imperialists Hands Off Syria!” “Stop Bombing Yemen!” and “US/UK and France Out of the Middle East and North Africa!” as well as condemn the government of Canada’s support and involvement in these bloody wars of aggression. On Monday, May 21 at 7 pm, MAWO will also be organizing an open community forum about Syria in the Learning Resources Room at the Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier Street) in East Vancouver.
The U.S./U.K./France bombing of Syria is part of the new era of war and occupation, a period of continuous imperialist attacks that began with the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. In order to defeat the imperialist assault on oppressed people at home and abroad, we must work to build a stronger and more united antiwar movement. To get involved, find out about MAWO’s next actions visit www.mawovancouver.org or follow on Facebook or Twitter @MAWOVan
MAWO also released a statement immediately following the U.S./U.K./France bombing of Syria, read the statement here.
Back to Article Listing
