Anti-War Committee
Encyclopedia
The Anti-War Committee is an organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. The AWC organizes many protests, educational events and other related activities. They played a leading role in the movement to protest against the Iraq war at the 2008 Republican National Convention
in St. Paul, Minnesota.
to protest the bombing of Iraq
. The Anti-War Committee grew out of the Twin Cities chapter of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
(CISPES), which had been active since the early 1980s. The Anti-War Committee has organized and been involved with most of the large anti-war protests in the Twin Cities since its founding in 1998.
for oppressed peoples and countries, and peace through justice.
The AWC works on many issues, with a focus on US foreign policy. Its members believe that the U.S. government has no right to intervene, militarily, economically or politically, in the affairs of independent nations. As of 2006, the organization's main focus is opposing the war in Iraq
.
The Anti-War Committee calls for immediate withdrawal of all coalition troops from Iraq, and has collaborated with other groups to organize many protests and other activities toward that goal. They are also opposed to U.S. military aid to Israel and to Colombia.
The Anti-War Committee was the first organization to apply for permits and announce plans to protest at the 2008 Republican National Convention
, which will be held in St. Paul
, Minnesota
. http://www.startribune.com/587/story/814415.html
(IPAC), the Coalition for Palestinian Rights (CPR) the Colombia Action Network (CAN), and is affiliated with the University of Minnesota Anti-War Organizing League (AWOL). The AWC also concerns itself with other issues, such as with the Welfare Rights Committee; supporting striking unions, such as during the Northwest Airlines
Mechanics strike in 2005-2006; and participating in the Day Without Immigrants protest in 2006.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The AWC organizes many protests, educational events and other related activities. They played a leading role in the movement to protest against the Iraq war at the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Organizational History
The Anti-War Committee began in December 1998, with 13 people who committed civil disobedienceCivil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
to protest the bombing of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The Anti-War Committee grew out of the Twin Cities chapter of the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, based in Washington, D.C., is a national activist organization with chapters in various cities in the United States. CISPES supports the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front and the progressive social movement in El Salvador.CISPES...
(CISPES), which had been active since the early 1980s. The Anti-War Committee has organized and been involved with most of the large anti-war protests in the Twin Cities since its founding in 1998.
Mission and Focus
The mission of the Anti-War Committee is to organize a broad-based peace and social justice movement which stands in solidarity with those communities, here and abroad, who are adversely affected by U.S. foreign policies. The organization's values are manifest in its core principles of self-determinationSelf-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for oppressed peoples and countries, and peace through justice.
The AWC works on many issues, with a focus on US foreign policy. Its members believe that the U.S. government has no right to intervene, militarily, economically or politically, in the affairs of independent nations. As of 2006, the organization's main focus is opposing the war in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
The Anti-War Committee calls for immediate withdrawal of all coalition troops from Iraq, and has collaborated with other groups to organize many protests and other activities toward that goal. They are also opposed to U.S. military aid to Israel and to Colombia.
The Anti-War Committee was the first organization to apply for permits and announce plans to protest at the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
, which will be held in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. http://www.startribune.com/587/story/814415.html
Coalitions and Other Issues
The Anti-War Committee participates in the Iraq Peace Action CoalitionIraq Peace Action Coalition
The Iraq Peace Action Coalition is an antiwar organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The coalition was created in order to coordinate activities by local activists in opposition to the U.S. war against Iraq. IPAC also sponsors protests against escalations of the war in Afghanistan...
(IPAC), the Coalition for Palestinian Rights (CPR) the Colombia Action Network (CAN), and is affiliated with the University of Minnesota Anti-War Organizing League (AWOL). The AWC also concerns itself with other issues, such as with the Welfare Rights Committee; supporting striking unions, such as during the Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
Mechanics strike in 2005-2006; and participating in the Day Without Immigrants protest in 2006.
Media coverage
- Anti-war march challenges McCain on last day of RNC: Crowd repeatedly tear gassed, 396 arrested as police pull out all stops to prevent anti-war march from reaching Xcel Center Fight Back! News (retrieved September 16, 2008)
- Anti-war protesters already planning for GOP convention KARE11.com (retrieved November 28, 2006)
- One year later, peace activists not giving up Minnesota Public Radio, dated March 19, 2004 (retrieved November 28, 2006)
- 25 protesters plead not guilty Minnesota Daily, dated April 4, 2003 (retrieved November 28, 2006)
- Anti-war protesters ramp up opposition Minnesota Public Radio, dated March 20, 2003 (retrieved November 28, 2006)
- Antiwar groups blast Bush and outline protests starting today (Star Tribune, March 19, 2003 - retrieved November 28, 2006)