by Chanaye J. Thomas
CODEPINK protest during Obama’s vist to SF. (photo by Chanaye J. Thomas)
The UK Guardian, and countless other news sources recently reported that President Barack Obama is quietly deploying an extra 13,000 troops to Afghanistan, an unannounced move that is separate from a request by a U.S. commander for even more reinforcements.
In San Francisco a group of protesters, including the organization CODEPINK, held a demonstration against Obama’s escalating of the war at Union Square, across from where the President was to speak at an Organizing for America fundraiser.
“Right now we have a CODEPINKer who is inside and she will be presenting Obama with a stack of petitions to have a responsible withdraw plan and an exit strategy to get out of Iraq, as well as reports of her recent trip to Afghanistan,” said Rae Abileah of CODEPINK.
“It’s an appeal to the humanity of these leaders to say what for? Why are we attacking innocent civilians?”
Around 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 15, CODEPINK climbed to the roof of the Cheesecake Factory, directly above the Macy’s building in Union Square San Francisco to reveal a 50ft banner across from where the event was being held and where Obama was scheduled to appear.
While still on the roof and as the banner which read “Obama end Afghan War” had been almost completely revealed, the loyal security guards showed up to bring it down before the police intervened. The police took the names of two of CODEPINK members and told them “not to worry about it,” said Marina, a CODEPINK member.
According to news reports, they 13,000 extra troop acre composed of mainly engineers, medical staff, intelligence officers and military police. About 3,000 of them are specialists in explosives, who are being sent to try to fght the growing fatality rate from roadside bombs. “Last week Obama decided to send 13,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
That’s not a noble peace qualifier, that’s not what we think a real peace president would do, so we want to help support the president do what he was elected to do” said Rae.
When El Reportero asked Rae if she had any last comments she said, ”We are all out here because President Obama made a lot of promises and now we need to remind him to fulfi ll them, hopefully he’ll take our messages to heart, but I’ll believe it when I see it.”
CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement. They direct their energy on working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stopping new wars, and redirecting U.S. resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.
