Almost 1,000 people gathered at Congress and Michigan Oct. 16 to call on President Obama to end overseas military action in Asia and the Mideast. They also voiced their support for those anti-war activists targeted by the FBI in raids Sept. 24.
Bruce Dixon, the keynote speaker, called for an end to war. He also spoke about the need to reorganize American society, noting that more than 4 percent of the population is in jail, a higher percentage than is seen in other western countries. He stated that funds spent on defense should be instead go to education.
When asked why the United States should withdraw its forces, Said Khan of the Pakistan Federation of America ( who was a replacement for Ifti Nasim ) explained that many innocent people were being killed in Afghanistan and the money was needed here. He also said that al-Qaeda numbers no more than a hundred people and "you don't need an army to respond to such a small group." Finally he discounted the strength of the Taliban: "Even if they regained control of the Afghan government after a U.S. pullout, within two or three years they will be forced out by the progressive people in the country."
Stephanie Weiner, Joe Iosbaker and Mick Kelly decried the FBI's violation of their right to dissent spoke by raiding their homes and seizing their files. They also insisted they will not cooperate with the grand jury investigation which will begin on Ocotber 19 in Chicago.
Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network was one of the event organizers but downplayed his role, stating, "I'm just the stage manager." Also representing the LGBT community was Lauren Fleezer, an activist with the International Socialist Organization.
After the speeches the crowd marched north to the Water Tower before dispersing.