Rally In West Bank To End War In Afghanistan

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Several Twin Cities organizations will rally Saturday against the war in Afghanistan. The anti-war protest is in response to the murder of 16 Afghan Civilians, allegedly perpetrated by a U.S. soldier earlier this month.

Marie Braun, one of the protest organizers, said they have been protesting this all along.

"We feel now there are more and more people speaking out since the most recent incident," she said. "And we know from our own reading that this is not an isolated incident. This happens many, many times."

Braun said that with all the night raids, a lot of innocent people are killed.

"It's one of their main strategies in Afghanistan. And we just feel like this has got to stop. This is not helping the Afghans, and this is not helping the U.S.," explained Braun.

The protest was planned for 3 p.m. at the corner of 3rd Street and Cedar Avenue South in the West Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis.

Braun said the protest was a last-minute decision and they hope to get as many people as possible to join them.

"We are hoping that this is another way to get the word out," she said.

Emergency protests, vigils and other activities to call for an end to the war in Afghanistan have been held in cities across the U.S. over the last several days.

Braun said she believe it's a shame that Americans don't really know what's going on with the war.

"I think that the majority of Americans are against it. But I don't think a lot of Americans realize the innocent people that are killed and the children that are killed in these wars."

Participants will hold signs and banners and hear speakers from sponsors groups.