Will The Real Peace Candidate Please Stand Up?

Direct Action to Stop the War plans creative protests on Tuesday, February 5, the day of the California primary, to demand the Democratic presidential candidates take stronger anti-war positions.

Activists, who plan much larger protests on March 19, the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, will use humor and strong visuals to call into question the supposed anti-war credentials of both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

“Hillary Clinton still refuses to acknowledge that her vote to authorize war with Iraq in 2002 was wrong,” said Kate Raphael. “She has said that the troop surge is working, and gave it a standing ovation during the State of the Union Address. She voted for a resolution threatening military action against Iran.”

“Barack Obama wants to end the war in Iraq only to escalate it in Afghanistan and attack Pakistan,” said Vern Nuanez. “He recently wrote a letter justifying Israel’s refusal to allow fuel, food and medicine into Gaza, where people are literally starving and freezing to death.”

Activists plan protests on both sides of the Bay on primary day, gathering at U.N. Plaza in San Francisco and Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. With the theme “Will the Real Peace Candidate Please Stand Up?,” activists hope to send a strong message to the candidates that they should not take for granted support from the antiwar camp.

The women’s peace group Code Pink, which plans actions throughout the day in San Francisco, expects to meet up with the DASW activists at U.N. Plaza for a brief march.