WWB: killing of nonviolent protesters

WHAT WAR BRINGS: the killing of nonviolent protesters

Pictures of non-violent protest in Iraq.

And there are many, many more pictures of protests in Iraq – peaceful, nonviolent protests. They started right after the invasion and they have continued to this day. They often involve burning the US flag, but I have not seen any burning of cars or buildings. In April 2004, there was a massive protest in Baghdad where they burned Blair, Bush and Saddam in effigy.

In this blog post, I am going to present only one example of nonviolent protesters being killed or injured by US troops. I suspect that there are MANY MORE, but do not have the evidence to refute US claims that the protests were violent instead of nonviolent.

But in Fallujah in April 2003, it is pretty well documented by various news agencies that there were nonviolent protests against the US troops who were occupying a local school against the wishes of the local people. This happened during a time when foreign reporters were still able to cover the events in Iraq, because the violence was still at a low level then.

Here’s a report from Reuters:

U.S. soldiers killed at least 13 Iraqi civilians who marched on a school west of Baghdad to demand the troops leave the building and get out of Iraq, doctors and witnesses said on Tuesday.

Medics said 75 were also wounded in the march by more than 200 protesters on the school after Muslim prayers on Monday evening in Falluja, 30 miles from the Iraqi capital. Some witnesses put the death toll as high as 17.

Residents said the marchers were unarmed. U.S. forces said the troops opened fire only after they were shot at by a group of gunmen armed with AK-47 assault rifles.

Some of the dead were not taking part in the protest. The journalists on the scene could not find any evidence to back up the US claims that they were being fired on. Above is a photo of one of the injured.

Photo: An Iraqi man lies injured in his hospital bed surrounded by his parents in Falluja hospital, 50 kms (30 miles) west of Baghdad, April 29, 2003. U.S. troops shot dead at least 13 Iraqis during an anti-American protest in the town overnight, witnesses said on Tuesday, in a clash likely to inflame anger at the U.S. presence in Iraq. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich

If you support the continued occupation of Iraq or Afghanistan, or the bombing of Pakistan, then you support WHAT WAR BRINGS: the killing of nonviolent protesters.

Quote: Strike against war, for without you no battles can be fought! Strike against manufacturing shrapnel and gas bombs and all other tools of murder! Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings! Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction! Be heroes in an army of construction!: Helen Keller. - Source: Told to an audience at Carnegie Hall one year before the United States entered World War I.