On Friday, the 10th-year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, Michigan Peaceworks — an Ann Arbor-based organization dedicated to peace, social justice, human rights and civil liberties — gathered in Ypsilanti to protest the war in Afghanistan.
Equipped with signs reading “War is not the answer” and “Ten years of this war is enough,” Michigan Peaceworks members stood outside the office of U.S. Representative John Dingell, D-Dearborn. He is from the 15th congressional district, which covers most of Detroit’s western suburbs.
“[The Michigan Peaceworks] is hoping more people will realize how long the U.S. has been at war with Afghanistan,” said Jennifer Chapin-Smith, director of Michigan Peaceworks. “At 10 years, it is our longest and most expensive war. We really want to bring our coalition troops home so they’ll be safe.”
Dingell’s office is located on 301 West Michigan Avenue – a busy street during rush hour. Some passers-by demonstrated their appreciation for the cause by blaring car horns and giving the demonstrators a thumbs-up as they passed.
“I feel strongly that we are wasting resources with an unwinnable war,” said Tom Weiskopf, president of the board at Michigan Peaceworks. “And we really need to apply those resources to fix other things in this country that have been short of support and neglected for a long time. And what is unfortunate is that neither political party is offering a choice when it comes to militaristic
policy.
“We thought, when President Obama was elected, that he would offer an alternative vision, but we seem to be continuing war policies from previous administrations.”
Chapin-Smith said, “[The Michigan Peaceworks] is always opposed to violence. War results in death and destruction when there is no need. We need peace.”
A story in the Detroit Free Press last week by the Associated Press reported as of Oct. 4, there have been 1,682 troop deaths in the war, which was intended to fight terrorists.
The AP also said: The war has cost hundreds of billions of dollars, about 13,700 U.S troops have been wounded on the ground as of Sept. 6 and one in three veterans thinks the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not worth fighting.
Throughout this month, various events regarding the war in Afghanistan will take place.
On Oct. 12th, University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole will present “Ten years of war in Afghanistan: Where are we now?” The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Michigan’s Law School Hutchins Hall auditorium. U of M’s residential college and International Law Society are co-sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public.
In addition, Michigan Peaceworks is partnering with Veterans for Peace and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice to have Mike Ferner of Voices for Creative Non-Violence come to the area to speak about participating in peace delegations to Afghanistan.
Ferner will present twice Oct. 27th, beginning at the Canterbury House on Huron Street at 3 p.m., and then at Eastern Michigan University’s Pray-Harrold Hall 7 p.m. EMU’s Muslim Student Association is co-sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public.
