United Actions in Washington, DC Stand Against War

Washington, DC, March 30, 2019

No to NATO! Close All U.S. Bases Abroad! Hands Off Venezuela! These were the peoples' slogans that rang loud and clear on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of NATO's founding. The NATO Summit in Washington, DC was met by demonstrations and other actions by the people demanding NO to NATO and the closing of all U.S./NATO bases worldwide. A main rally and march took place on March 30, followed by conferences, concerts and an additional action on April 4 near the State Department. The firm stand taken opposed NATO as a harmful, aggressive military and political bloc that stands against the interests of the peoples. Commanded by the U.S., NATO has played a major role in the wars against Afghanistan, Libya and Syria and was largely responsible for the destruction and dismemberment of Yugoslavia twenty years ago. Politically NATO acts to impose what are called liberal democratic institutions and it organizes "training sessions" for elections and "institute building." This is despite the fact that the democratic systems in the U.S., Canada, Britain and other countries are crisis-ridden, dysfunctional, corrupt and reverting to increasingly totalitarian methods of rule.

The actions and conferences targeted the U.S. as the main force pushing war and militarization worldwide, including demands that all NATO countries utilize U.S. weaponry. They also denounced U.S. efforts to impose regime change on Venezuela and vigorously opposed military intervention against that country, which is standing up to pursue its own path and rejecting U.S. dictate. The slogans Hands Off Venezuela! No Sanctions, No Military Intervention! were chanted throughout the actions.

The importance of standing together as one, opposing all U.S. aggression and all aggressive wars and NATO's participation in them, stood out at the various activities. So too did the demand to close all U.S. bases abroad, including bringing an end to AFRICOM, the U.S. command in Africa where operations by special forces and other military actions by the U.S. are taking place.

Delegations from Vancouver and Belgium were among those participating in the
Washington, DC march, March 30, 2019.

Delegations from Belgium, Canada, Germany and Russia joined those from many cities across the U.S. While NATO was being promoted as the source of peace and security, the demonstrators made clear that it is the united stand of the peoples for rights that provide security. None were going to be drawn into the conflicts about whether the U.S. should withdraw, or whether more war funding should take place. On the contrary, the demand was No to NATO, No to U.S. Wars and Regime Change, stop militarization, oppose war funding and demand funding for the rights of the people. The importance of united actions in the U.S. and with the anti-war forces internationally was repeatedly addressed.

A spirited meeting celebrating the second anniversary of the Black Alliance for Peace concluded the events, with a strong stand for rights at home, ending AFRICOM, closing all U.S. bases abroad and no compromise with the warmongers, whether white or black. African Americans in their majority have long stood against war and the Alliance is working to strengthen and organize that resistance. Participants resolved to step up the fight for rights at home and abroad and to organize more united actions.

Washington, DC, March 30, 2019

Washington, DC April 4, 2019

New York City, March 30, 2019

Minneapolis, MN, March 30, 2019

(Voice of Revolution)

Other Actions on the Occasion of NATO's Founding

Canada

Halifax

Montreal, QC

Ottawa

Toronto

Regina

Calgary

Vancouver

Europe

Belfast, Ireland

London, England

Edinburgh, Scotland

Copenhagen, Denmark

(Photos: TML, M. Kimberley, Rehumanize Int., N. Freeman, MPAC, Canadian Peace Congress, N. Pagliccia, Hands Off Venezuela, London Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, J. Fenton, Green SCND)

This article was published in

Volume 49 Number 12 - April 6, 2019