[pjw] REPORT BACK: Varied audience: Friday rally #155 since stay-at-home orders

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello again peaceful people

Last night we had ten people at the Friday Rally for Peace and Justice, 
though three peeled off during the march so we ended with seven. In just 
the first five minutes or so, we had various expressions of support 
including three young people who asked about the IRAQ US OUT sign. I said 
there are still 2500 troops there and THEY said, yeah and the Iraqi 
parliament voted to kick them out! Then they talked about Ukraine and how 
it's hard to pick a side because of the actions of the US/NATO. A little 
later someone came over and asked about the Iraq sign-- and another person 
along the march route said "you need to update your sign." Opportunities 
to educate.

Other positive feedback came from a carful of young men liking our "Free 
Palestine" sign and, strangely, the same people doubling back liking the 
"No War on Russia" sign where they referred to Putin as if he were a 
benevolent relative. OK.

Overall there were many honks and waves of support, and at least one 
person helped themselves to literature from the wagon.

What were the headlines we focused on this week?

--Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to normalized relations. Countries 
mentioned in the formal document: China (final broker) and Iraq (initial 
efforts). Not mentioned: the United States (you snooze you lose) and, 
sadly, Yemen. Surely the US is in a tight spot if our main oil supplier 
can support Iran.

  https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2433231#2433231

--The War Powers Resolution on Syria that (highly questionable) Rep. 
Mat Gaetz introduced went down on a 103-321 vote. Interestingly, though 
introduced by a Republican 56 of the 103 votes were from Democrats, 
including all four from Oregon.

  https://news.antiwar.com/2023/03/08/house-votes-down-resolution-to-withdraw-troops-from-syria/

---In a piece of probably-not-coincidental timing, the chair of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff visited US troops in Syria two days before the vote. Hope 
they had to register as a lobbyist!

  https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/05/politics/mark-milley-syria-isis-us-forces/index.html

---The UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria condemned yet another 
airstrike on the Damascus airport conducted by Israel. Though often met 
with silence, this one made waves because they are still trying to get aid 
to the earthquake survivors.

  https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/united-nations-resident-coordinator-and-humanitarian-coordinator-ad-interim-syria-el-mostafa-benlamlih-statement-aleppo-international-airport-strikes

--In Ukraine, they are now actively using some scary standalone "smart 
bombs" supplied by the US of A. This reminds me of the event we did during 
the war on Yugoslavia where we had a bombshell wearing a mortarboard and 
played "Pomp and Circumstance" to show it was so smart.

  https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/winged-jdam-smart-bombs-are-now-operational-in-ukraine

--In a bit of good news for a change, another Guantanamo prisoner was 
released. Now only 33 men remain in the notorious prison. There were 40 
when Trump was in office.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/9/saudi-engineer-released-from-guantanamo-prison-camp-after-21-yrs

--So horrible but kind of makes you laugh: The Pentagon blocked the US 
government from sending Russia to the International Criminal Court for war 
crimes. They fear (and with good reason given US history) it would set a 
precedent that would lead to war crimes charges against Americans.

  https://archive.is/syfYo
  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/08/us/politics/pentagon-war-crimes-hague.html

--An American family whose son was killed in Iraqi Kurdistan is suing the 
Iranian government... which may or may not have taken responsibility for 
the airstrike. Remember Turkey keeps bombing Northern Iraq too.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-citizen-family-sues-iran-bombing-kurdish-groups-iraq

---Speaking of Iraq, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited this week 
saying that the US is there to stay. Take that, doubters of our "US OUT" 
signs.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/7/pentagon-chief-surprise-trip-says-us-troops-stay-iraq

--Yemeni families are suing American defense contractors for supporting 
the Saudi war and aiding in war crimes.

  https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemenis-sue-top-us-defence-contractors-aiding-war-crimes

In local news, no this is NOT a repeat of last week's story, another 
protestor stands to be awarded $60,000 due to police violence during the 
2020 protests. Portland Copwatch tallies show this brings the total to 
over $1.2 million for protest lawsuits settled in the last 3 years.

  https://www.portland.gov/council/documents/ordinance/settlement-jorge-bellos-bodily-injury-lawsuit
  https://dockets.justia.com/docket/oregon/ordce/3:2022cv00411/165908

Along the march route, I talked about some Israeli soldiers who stood by 
while settlers attacked Palestinians, and later danced on the same street 
with residents.

  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/7/israeli-attack-wounds-palestinians-as-settlers-and-soldiers-dance

Also, Thomas Friedman wrote an op-ed in the NY Times talking about how 
Americans who support Israel have to confront the reality that it's not 
always "Israel right or wrong" (my paraphrase). He noted the 250,000 
person march against reforming the judiciary is the equivalent of 8 
million Americans protesting.

  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/opinion/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-protests.html

As we headed back to the Square, we talked about Biden's proposed new 
budget, which _increases_ military spending to $886 billion. Why not 
prioritize human needs instead?

  https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/white-house-requests-842-billion-to-fund-pentagon-in-2024/

This week the Ann Huntwork Peace Memorial Sign went out again somewhere in 
front of the Gucci store, I wasn't watching carefully. But, pretty much 
the usual.

One of our regulars who was out for a few weeks was back, so enthusiastic 
they held three picket signs. As noted last week, PJW will discuss our 
masking policies in light of the Oregon Health Authority change coming up 
in early April; we may choose to keep masking requirements in place for a 
little while longer than that, but I'll keep you all posted.

Once again I reminded everyone that next Friday starts at the normal time 
(5 PM) and place (SW Yamhill and Broadway) but will be mostly focused on 
the 20 year anniversary of the Iraq war.

   https://pjw.info/iraq20yl.html

peace
--dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group