Statement from the UNC Coalition Against the War

Dear friends and allies at UNC,

This March will mark a grim milestone: the U.S. occupation of Iraq will enter its fifth year. After five years of war and occupation, over 1.2 million Iraqis and 4,000 U.S. troops have lost their lives, and more that $500 billion has been poured into the failing occupation, money that should have been spent making education more accessible to millions of young people in this country who cannot afford it, to provide healthcare, housing and jobs to all Americans, and to rebuild the Gulf Coast, which is still suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina more than two and a half years later.

Here at home, the anti-war movement, and particularly the youth and student movement, has struggled against the war since before it began, continuing to hold a number of national and local actions to demonstrate the massive opposition in this country to the war and show solidarity with the people of Iraq. That work is continuing today, here at UNC. On this day we are taking action along with youth and students at over 80 schools across the United States. Together we are sending a resounding message: we want the U.S. out of Iraq now!

Last year 500 students turned out to protest the war, which was mainly organized by one group. This year there are twelve UNC organizations standing together to make a change. We are: Students for a Democratic Society, Black Student Movement (Political Action Committee), Feminist Students United, Young Democrats, Arab Student Organization, Student Action with Workers, Solidarity with Palestine through Education and Action at Carolina, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender/Straight Alliance, Criminal Justice Action and Awareness, Muslim Organizations Actively Integrating Carolina, Advocates for Human Rights and Prochoice USA.

Together we are the UNC Coalition Against the War and we’re going to work together stop this war and build the antiwar movement on our campus! Our points of unity are:

1. We end to the occupation - Support the Troops, bring them home.
2. We support Iraqi sovereignty and right to self-determination.
3. We demand money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation.

When this day of action is over, we will not end our work. We think that every student organization on this campus needs to get involved in the struggle to end the occupation of Iraq. The people of Iraq cannot wait for the empty promises of the politicians to end this war. It is the people of Iraq and the people of the United States who must act together to end the occupation. Every day, young Iraqis are being killed. It is time for us to stand with them, to interrupt our own lives and make our own sacrifices, doing whatever it takes to bring this occupation to an end as soon as possible.

In struggle until victory!
Solidarity with Iraq – end the occupation now!