On Feb. 19, two dozen community members rallied in San Diego’s Teralta Park and dropped a banner over the I-15 freeway. Members of Direct Action Drumline, ANSWER Coalition, Peace and Freedom Party, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation attended the action.
The demands included that the United States abstain from conflict with Russia and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to be disbanded immediately. This comes as tensions heat up between Ukraine and Russia, in large part due to deliberate U.S. escalation. Similar actions have taken place around the country throughout February.
Matthieu Kirkland, an activist with the ANSWER Coalition, told the crowd that, “Despite what many will say, NATO has never been a defensive force!”
Juliana Musheyev, a Russian-American antiwar activist and member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation explained why U.S.-NATO aggression towards Russia is so dangerous for working-class people all over the world.
Musheyev stated: “We are facing an endless drive for expansion by NATO and its member states that could ultimately lead to nuclear war. The media is unified in saying that ‘Russia is the aggressor,’ saying that ‘Russia is going to invade Ukraine.’ Well we know that isn’t true!”
Musheyev went on to point out that: “This is a manufactured crisis. Like with Iraq and Afghanistan, like Libya, those wars were justified by lies. That same tactic is being used today to stir up pro-war sentiment against Russia.”
Those in attendance were determined to provide an alternative perspective to capitalist media’s dominant narrative by promoting peace and cooperation among nations and within our communities in order to build a better world.
Following the banner drop portion, participants stuck around and discussed the prospects of a war with fellow community members. As polling indicates, as well as the community response to the demonstration, the drive for war with Russia over Ukraine is a widely unpopular move.
On Feb. 25, PSL and ANSWER San Diego are hosting a community forum at 7 p.m. at the San Diego Justice Center to discuss next steps in the vital struggle to end imperialist wars and abolish NATO.
Follow @pslsandiego on social media for more information about the forum on Feb. 25.
Featured image: Juliana Musheyev leads chants in front of a PSL banner reading, “No war with Russia!”
