counter-recruitment

On April 23, hundreds of people participated in protests at 5 military recruitment centers across the Twin Cities. An anti-war demonstration was also held in front of the ROTC office at Mankato State University. The following day, students from Macalester College took direct action at a recruiting center near the University of MN campus. The 7 total actions were part of the Anti-War Committee-initiated Zero Recruitment Day. Objectives were to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, expose recruiter lies, and disrupt the business of recruitment using a diversity of tactics. The series of actions featured several arrests, intense confrontation, funny tricks, and quick getaways. The following are reports and photos from all groups that took action on April 23.

Related: Live TCIMC Updates from April 23

Article and photos from Friday lockdown from Chris Steller/MNIndy

Mid-afternoon: The lockdown has still been going on with no police or recruiters on the scene; the Army and Navy stations have been shut down by Macalester SDS all day!

9:50am: U of M recruiting station still locked down.  Police were there but are no longer on the scene.  Support still needed.

9:00am, Friday April 24: And it goes on! Lockdown at Oak-Washington recruiting station by UMN campus.

Zero Recruitment Day saw at least five significant actions at military recruiting stations throughout the Twin Cities in addition to an action at the campus ROTC in Mankato.  In Brooklyn Center, four activists locked themselves to a station, disrupting business for over half the day.  Three Grandmothers for Peace were arrested after trying to enlist in St. Louis Park; afterwards, supporters continued to disrupt business.  At Lake and Lyndale in Minneapolis, a full day of action culminated in a redecoration of the recruiting station there, leading to a bizarre spectacle of fire trucks.  Actions also happened in West St. Paul and the University of Minnesota, where a lengthy rally closed the recruiting station there, while College Republican counter-protesters held signs--many racists and advocating torture--nearby.  TCIMC's dispatch is now off-line; read below for a play-by-play and check back for video reports in the next few days!

On Saturday, March 21, hundreds gathered in St. Paul to mark the 6^th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. The demonstration was initiated by the Iraq Peace Action Coalition, an organization made up of dozens of Twin Cities activist groups. An opening rally began under sunny spring skies in front of the Martin Luther King Community Center. Signs and banners displayed anti-war messages including “Bring the Troops Home Now” and “Money for Schools, Not for War.” Those gathered were determined to speak out against the war despite recent rhetoric from President Obama about a drawdown of U.S. troops.

See also: Nationwide 6th anniversary coverage at Indymedia.us