Anti-War Protesters Declare 4/23 Zero Recruitment Day

Press Conference: Thursday, April 23, 9:30 a.m.
Knollwood Mall, Parking Lot (by the Knollwood sign)
Highway 7 and Texas Avenue, St. Louis Park

On April 23, 2009, anti-war groups will engage in coordinated protests at military recruiting centers across Minnesota. Participating groups are united in an effort to:

• Visibly oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Expose recruiter lies
• Prevent military recruiting that day

Anti-War Committee member Katrina Plotz explains, “President Obama has failed to keep his promise of ending the U.S. war on Iraq. His plan to keep 50,000 troops in Iraq through 2011 will continue an unjustified military occupation for almost three more years. An escalation is planned for Afghanistan, where Obama just deployed 17,000 additional troops. Maintaining these wars and occupations requires military recruiters to entice young people with false promises. Recruiters, who already disproportionately target low-income people, will use the economic crisis to intensify pressure on vulnerable youth. We have to shatter the illusion that the war is ending and that new soldiers won’t have to fight.”

Sarah Martin, Grandmothers Peace Brigade member of articulates her concern, “Recruiters target young people with false promises just to meet their quotas. Contrary to what recruiters say, new recruits are sent to fight, kill and die in real wars. Those who survive, come home physically and psychologically injured, and face greater economic hardship upon their return. The truth about recruiting reveals a system that deceives and exploits young people. To end these unjust wars, we must actively resist military recruitment so there are no more soldiers to fight.”

All participating groups will send a representative to the press conference to address the media. The media is also welcome to cover the actions on location. Groups organizing events at military recruitment centers include: the Anti-War Committee; Northwest Neighbors for Peace; University of Minnesota SDS; Grandmothers Peace Brigade; Alliant Action; and Twin Cities Peace Campaign. In addition to these local groups, similiar actions are planned for Mankato, Milwauke (WI) and Asheville (NC).

click here for PDF of press release

Want to join us?

Updates from various locations will be posted throughout the day at http://twincities.indymedia.org/

Follow the actions on Twitter, which will send update text messages to your phone. To sign up, send the text message FOLLOW ZRD  to  40404.

Some of the groups have posted plans on-line:

Anti-War Committee
8:30am to 6pm at
Lyndale Ave & Lake St S, Minneapolis

U of MN SDS
11am to 1pm at 806 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis

Grandmothers Peace Brigade (members of WAMM)
Knollwood Mall, Hwy 7 and Texas Ave, St. Louis Park