Peace rally in Duluth, Minnesota, brings out National Guardman who says occupation must end

Over 250 people in Duluth, Minn. participated in a rally to bring troop home from Iraq on Sun., Nov. 12. It was the twelfth protest held by the Northland Anti-War Coalition since it’s inception in December of 2002. Many of the of the organizers and attendees event live in the Hillside, including Sharla Gardner and Joel Sipress The event was planned long before the Nov. 7 elections and would have been held no matter what the outcome. After the election the theme was “Demanding that the newly elected government honor the will of the people.”

A massive scroll of newsprint two feet wide by 20 feet long was signed by the protesters and will be mailed to Congress.

Speakers at the rally included: Daniel Fanning [a recently returned Iraq war vet], Fletcher Hines [a Vietnam vet, and leader of Veterans and Military Families for Progress], Joan Najbar [of Military Families Speak Out, and mother of a MN National Guardsman deployed in Iraq], Sharla Gardner [of AFSCME Local 66, who read a statement from State Senator and Gold Star Mother Becky Lourey who was unable to attend the event] and Ellie Schoenfeld [local poet extraordinaire].

The talking points of the speakers were:

Daniel Fanning: A military member who said the occupation is doing more harm than good. No more people should die in a mistaken war.

Fletcher Hines: A Vietnam vet who listed numerous similarities between the Iraqi War and the Vietnam War. He said to bring peace the United States needs to bring earnest and effective engagement with the neighbors of Iraq.

Joan Najbar: the mother of a National Guard member who said for every ten soldiers that are killed, seven are wounded, many of them with head and brain injuries. Federal funds to help wounded vets have been cut.

Sharla Gardner read a statement from Minnesota State Senator Becky Lourey who lost a son in the first Gulf War.

Joel Sipress of the Green Party emceed, Dave Hopkins of the local Musicians union sang a Bob Dylan song entiled Master of War, and Carl Sack of Youth for Socialist Action led the concluding chants.