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No war with Iran / Stop detentions / End discrimination in India
January 21, 2020 @ 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Come urge the Seattle City Council to take a stand against war and discrimination in two important resolutions:
– No war with Iran & Stop the detentions of people of Iranian origin!
– Stand with the protests movements in India & Oppose attacks on Muslims!
*** No War with Iran! ***
Trump’s policies toward Iran, including air strikes and the prominent drone assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq, are risking war. The U.S. wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq have not expanded the freedom, democracy, standards of living, or safety of ordinary people in the Middle East; and have not increased the safety of people in the U.S. Instead they have caused massive loss of human life and ongoing suffering in Afghanistan and Iraq, and among U.S. Soldiers. Ordinary people, especially women, young people, and marginalized communities, always pay the greatest price of imperialist war.
Border Patrol agents in Washington have also begun targeting people of Iranian descent, including U.S. citizens. People have been detained and questioned for hours, including families with young children.
Seattle must join anti-war activists around the country to make it clear that we will do everything in our power to prevent another disastrous war, and to defend our democratic civil rights.
Come to Monday’s Council meeting, sign up for public testimony, and urge the Seattle City Council to vote for my resolution opposing war with Iran, and demanding an end to detentions of people of Iranian origin at the boarder and at SeaTac International Airport.
*** Fight Religious Persecution in India ***
The right-wing, Hindu fundamentalist government in India, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has passed new laws that blatantly discriminate against Muslims, and threaten the citizenship rights of not only the 200 million Muslims of India, but also the poor, oppressed castes, and indigenous people.
India has seen massive strike actions and protests nationwide against these right-wing laws. The Indian government has responded to the protests in brutally authoritarian and violent ways. The global progressive community needs to stand in solidarity with the movements in India, which are calling for a full repeal of these laws. This is especially true here in the United States where in September last year, Donald Trump hosted an odious “Howdy Modi” rally in support of Modi and his right-wing regime.
As the socialist on the Seattle City Council, and as an immigrant from India, my office is proud to stand with those opposing these attacks, both in Seattle and India.
Please come out to stand with Seattle’s South Asian immigrant community in this struggle and call on the City Council to support my resolution condemning the anti-democratic laws, the violence against peaceful protesters, and against religious persecution.