SANCTIONS: A Wrecking Ball in a Global Economy
This webinar took place on December 10th
Click the image below to view the video of the webinar
Speakers include: Ajamu Baraka - Black Alliance for Peace, Erica Jung - Nodutdol Korean Community Development, Carlos Martinez - International Manifesto Group, Lee Siu Hin - China-US Solidarity Network, Judy Bello - Syria Support Movement & UNAC, Ann Garrison - Pacifica reporter & Black Agenda Report, Rick Sterling - Task Force on the Americas, Sara Flounders - International Action Center
Order the book: https://iacenter.org/sanctions-book
Alex Saab tells his own story
He is concerned he will be murdered in a US prison
My name is Alex Nain Saab Moran, with Venezuelan diplomatic passport number 045778720. I am a special envoy with diplomatic immunity [officially granted by] the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran since April 2018 and Venezuelan alternate ambassador to the African Union [since December 2020].
I was hijacked by Cape Verde on June 12, 2020, when my flight stopped to refuel on a special humanitarian mission to continue to the Islamic Republic of Iran by order of my President Nicolás Maduro Moros. [read more]
Miami rally to free Alex Saab
Please click here for more information
Click here to sign a petition for Alex Saab
No to U.S. War Threats Against China
UNAC Statement on China
The Biden administration is intensifying its aggression against China. The Pentagon’s new Pacific Deterrence Initiative includes increasing the U.S. military’s encirclement of China and deploying nuclear missiles that had previously been banned by the U.S.-signed Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
Recently, President Biden met with leaders of Japan, India and Australia – what has become known as the “Quad,” a military and economic alliance against China. The Pentagon is calling for its annual Pacific budget to be doubled over last year’s $multi billion allocation. Read More
Sanction Kill
UNAC is a founding member of the Sanctions Kill Coalition. Unilateral economic sanctions is the perfered way that the US has sought regime change recently in countries that will not follow the dictates of Washington and Wall Street. Crippling sanctions have been imposed on 39 countries and have been even increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, please go to the Sanctions Kill web site at: https://sanctionskill.org/
Support the Black Alliance for Peace
UNAC Supports the work of the Black Alliance for Peace. Click here to read their statements: https://blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/
BAP web site is here: https://blackallianceforpeace.com/
US Peace and Solidarity Delegation goes to Venezuela
A 13-member peace and solidarity delegation from the United States landed in Caracas, Venezuela on the weekend of March 9 and 10 despite American Airlines, the main US airline that flies to Venezuela, cancelling some flights. The delegation including leaders of antiwar groups from the US and Canada including: Bahman Azad the organizational secretary of the US Peace Council, who was the sponsoring organization for the trip, Gerry Condon, pres. of Veterans for Peace, Sara Flanders, co-coordinator of the International Action Center, Ajamu Baraka, national coordinator of the Black Alliance for Peace, progressive journalist, Eva Bartlett, Joe Lombardo, co-coordinator of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), Sarah Martin from Women Against Military Madness, Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers of Popular Resistance, Darien De Lu, President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom - US, Miguel Figueroa, president of the Canadian Peace Congress and Daniel Shea, board of directors, Veterans for peace. [read more]
Sat. March 18 -- National March on Washington
On the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq
Thousands marched in Washington, DC and in 15 other cities around the United States
No War in Ukraine! No to NATO! No Weapons, No Money for the Ukraine War
Peace in Ukraine - No weapons, no money for the Ukraine War
Abolish NATO – End U.S. militarism & sanctions!
Fund people’s needs, not the war machine!
No war with China!
End U.S. aid to racist apartheid Israel!
Fight racism & bigotry at home, not other peoples!
U.S. hands off Haiti!
End AFRICOM!
End the Sanctions on Syria!
More than 2,500 people participated in the rally, march and teach-in on March 18 on the 20th anniversary of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. The Washington, DC demonstration called for an end to the US/NATO proxy war in Ukraine, which is the center of world politics today, and is ushering in a new era where the United States, the main imperialist power in the world, is seeing its economic, political and military hegemony being eroded as other alliances are taking shape to challenge the US. This, however, is creating a dangerous situation where major nuclear powers are facing off against each other as the US and its NATO allies continually pump more weapons, money and mercenaries into Ukraine.
Click here for more pictures and videos of the March 18 demonstration.
The main rally was held near the White House where a number of people spoke before the demonstrators took to the streets. We marched past the Washington Post, where we spoke about propaganda that the corporate media is spreading to help build the case for more weapons, money and war in Ukraine. On this 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, we all recall the lies about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction that fueled that war and we see the same kind of lies and propaganda from the corporate media today.
From the Washington Post, we marched to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church where a teach-in was held. At the rally and the teach-in, a number of UNAC members spoke along with others including Ann Wright from Code Pink and Veterans For Peace, Medea Benjamin from Code Pink, and John Shipton, the brother of Julian Assange. Noam Chomsky also addressed us by video link.
In addition to the march and rally in Washington, DC, about 15 other local actions took place in areas that were too far away for people to travel to Washington. One of the biggest took place in San Francisco where 300 people rallied, other important actions took place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Chicago, Maine and in other areas.
What next? It is important that we keep up the momentum following this successful demonstration in Washington, DC. UNAC will be discussing with others who organized March 18 doing local and regional action in the spring. Lets get ready.
The corporate media has not told us, but twice as many Ukrainians fleeing the fighting have gone to Russia than to any other country. In Russia some Ukrainians have formed an organization called the Union of Political Emigrants and Political Prisoners of Ukraine. This organization sent a message of support to the March 18 protest in Washington, DC. Part of that message was read at the demonstration. The entire text can be found here.
The Wars Come Home
UNAC Statement on the Black Lives Matter Uprising
Defend Black Lives!
NO Police State! NO Military Dictatorship!
Release all arrestees! NO more attacks on anti-racist protesters!
The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) stands in solidarity with communities across the country who are rising up in protest against racist police violence. As Donald Trump calls for the deployment of the U.S military in response to these national protests, UNAC condemns the use of any police and military forces being deployed to violently suppress these protests. We call on all anti-war activists to help organize or join in these actions demanding justice and an end to the state-terror being inflicted upon black and brown communities within this country.
The ongoing protests began in Minnesota on Monday May 25, 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd, a 46-year old black man, by four police officers in the city of Minneapolis. The horrific killing was caught on multiple videos which revealed two cops pinning an already handcuffed Floyd facedown to the ground, one cop standing over him, and a fourth one pressing his knee into the victim’s neck for nearly nine minutes even as he cried, “I can’t breathe,” and soon became unresponsive. Floyd died moments later. [read more]
UNAC in Odessa to Support Memorial of those killed by Right-wing on May 2, 2014
Gathering for memorial of those massacred Fascist try to disrupt
UNAC members and friends traveled to Odessa to support the memorial of those killed by fascist forces on May 2, 2014 while they were protesting the US supported coup at Maidan Square. Once again the fascist forces tried to disrupt and held their own rally to "celebrate" what they consider a victor.
Please read the report by UNAC co-coordinator Joe Lombardo here
A second report of Maidan Square in Kiev can be seenhere
In Ukraine pro-fascist organizations have been supported by the police and the government. Many from ultra-rightest organizations are in the government. The anti-Maidan organizations also functions but face arrest and assassination and are driven underground. This is the government that the US supports.
UNAC members participated in anti-NATO protests in Madrid, Spain during the weekend before the June 28 - 30 NATO Summit
During the weekend before the NATO meeting in Madrid, Spain, on June 28 – 30, thousands rallied in the streets and meeting halls of the city in opposition to the NATO summit. Protesters include people from the United States including Joe Lombardo, coordinator of UNAC and other UNAC members along with Ann Wright, Paki Weiland of Code Pink and others. People also came from many other countries around the world. Two meetings were held in Madrid to counter the NATO summit, one called the Peace Summit and the other the Counter Summit. Both recognized the aggressive character of the US led NATO alliance. The Peace Summit’s final resolution can be found here, and rough translation of the Counter Summit’s final resolution can be found here. [read more]
STOP U.S. Wars: MLK Week of Actions - Jan 13 – 22
90 actions took place around the country
“The greatest purveyor of violence in the world : My own Government, I can not be Silent.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. April 4, 1967
Click here for a list of actions during the MLK week of actions.
The week of actions was an important step forward for the antiwar movement in the US
The week of actions was an important step forward for the antiwar movement in the US. At a time when more people are seeing through the US propaganda about the war in Ukraine our movement took to the streets and was even able to break into some local corporate media and some more of the left media.
UNAC was able to bring together forces to protest the war in a way that has helped unify our movement, and has brought other, new forces into the streets.
The actions also linked ALL the continuing US wars and sanctions. This is crucial if we are to break through the propaganda and censorship that saturates each and every war.
Join us for the national march on Washington on March 18 and another round of local actions in April.
Stop US/NATO Wars and Sanctions!
Stop Washington’s war moves toward Russia and China!
Stop endless wars: Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Palestine, Yemen.... everywhere!
No to NATO!
Money for human needs, not war!
No Weapons, No Money for the war in Ukraine!
US Hands off Cuba
This is a picture of a pro-government protest in Cuba that the corporate media said was anti-government
Cuba, a small island with a population of only 11 million people and few resources has been the target of US imperialism since its revolution in 1959. It has been subject to invasions such as that at the Bay of Pigs, many assassination attempts of Fidel Castro, and the US has imposed a crippling blockade for years. However, under the Trump and Biden administrations these attacks have been stepped up. Trump greatly increased the sanctions against Cuba and labeled it as a terrorist country. This further hindered its ability to trade with other countries as banks and markets were closed to Cuba causing severe shortages and hardships for the Cuban people. The Biden administration maintained these increased sanctions and the terrorist label and is trying to organize demonstrations against the Cuban government based on dissatisfaction with the shortages. This is especially criminal during the COVID-19 crisis, during which the US sanctions have not allow medicine or medical equipment into the country. [read more]
Members of the Sanctions Kill coalition from the New York area, including members of the UNAC Administrative Committee had the opportunity to meet with a Venezuelan delegation that was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting during the week of September 20 – 24. We presented them with a copy of the new report just released by the coalition called, “The Impact and Consequences of US Sanctions.” Please click the link to read or download a copy of the report
Meeting of Sanctions Kill members with Venezuelan representatives
At the meeting we were able to discuss with the Venezuelans the work we are doing to oppose sanctions against all 39 countries that are illegally sanctioned by the US. They were able to tell us of the important meetings they were holding with other sanctioned countries to demand the US abide by the UN charter and not imposed these illegal unilateral sanctions.
The new report by the Sanctions Kill coalition that was presented to the Venezuelans was announced and released at a webinar sponsored by the coalition called, “North American Solidarity Activists Speak Out. US SANCTIONS AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA.”
Click here to view the webinar.
Add Your name to UNAC's email list
Around 300 people registered for the national conference of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC), which was held at the People’s forum in New York City over the weekend of February 21 – 23. This was the fifth national conference that was held by UNAC, which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2020. The conference, which was titled “Rise Against Militarism, Racism and the Climate Crisis – Building Power Together,” brought together a range of experienced antiwar leaders and younger activists who are stepping into leadership of our movement.
Participants at the conference came from 27 states and 4 other countries. The conference was livestreamed. The livestreams were viewed by more than 5,000 people. The links to the videos are below [read more]
US/Saudi Arabia, Stop Your War on Yemen
In recent weeks we have seen a huge escalation of the war against Yemen being waged by a coalition of forces that includes the United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the UK and France. These forces have waged a relentless war against Yemen, the poorest Arab country. There has been continuous bombing of the country by Saudi Arabia, including hospitals, schools, food supplies, neighborhoods, infrastructure and other civilian targets. More than 14,600 civilians have been killed and injured and over three million people have been internally displaced. The devastation has been so bad that the country is now entirely dependent on outside aid as eight million Yemenis face famine. The worst cholera epidemic ever has caused over 1 million cases and resulted in more than 2,200 deaths.
Peace and Justice Organizations call for Freedom for Julian Assange
Click here to add your name to this important statement
Imprisoned Wikileaks founder, journalist and free speech champion Julian Assange today faces life imprisonment for telling the truth about U.S. war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and at the U.S. torture base in
Guantanamo Bay. [read more]
(now more than ever)
The two Sanctions Kill webinars, hosted by UNAC were important steps in the fight against US imposed Sanctions
Thousands attended through Zoom, Facebook and YouTube
View the first webinar here.
View the second webinar here.
The speakers at the webinars included:
Venezuela – Vice Minister for North America, Carlos J. Ron Martinez
Syria – Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Bashar Ja’afari
Nicaragua – Nicaragua Ambassador to the US, Francisco O Campbell
Cuba – Ana Silvia Rodriguez Abascal, Charge des Affaires, Permanent
Cuban Mission to UN,
Zimbabwe - Represented by Omawale Clay
Iran - Majid Takkt-Ravanchi, Ambassador to the United Nations
and Sayed Hosein Mousavian, Retired Iranian Ambassador
Palestine - Dr. Medhat Abbas, Director of Primary Care, speaking from Gaza
Yemen - Dr. Yahyia Mohammed Saleh Murshed, Union of Arab Academics,
speaking from Sana’a University, Yemen
Korea DPRK - Dr Kee Park, Harvard Medical School neurosurgery doctor,
who volunteers in DPRK
The US has imposed economic sanctions against 39 countries. In many cases, this denies them access to medicine and medical equipment as well as access to world markets for food and other necessities. During the coronavirus crisis the US, with the highest death count in the world, has upped the sanctions against countries like Iran and Venezuela, and has tried to weaponize COVID-19 to bring down governments that will not follow the dictates of Washington and Wall Street. The UN has asked that sanctions be loosened during this crisis but the US has done the opposite. Many US allies have broken with them and sent medical aid to some of these countries. Now is an important time for the people in the US to come out strongly against these sanctions, which are simply war by other means.
For more information on the Sanctions Kill campaign please go to the website at: http://sanctionskill.org. Also look at the important resource section on the website.
Sign the Open Letter to the Government of the US and the UN to end sanctions now
We are the Camp of Peace and Anti-Imperialism
By the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
Gilbert Achcar’s article in The Nation entitled, “How to Avoid the ‘Anti-Imperialism’ of Fools,” argues that the anti-imperialism of the peace movement has changed over time. During the time of the Vietnam War, he contends, we all opposed U.S. imperialism’s involvement, but today is different. The peace movement today is wrong to oppose U.S. imperialist interventions in Syria, Libya and other countries, in Achcar’s opinion. In his attack piece, he specifically condemns three organizations, the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) and the U.S. Peace Council, both based in the United States, and the Stop the Wars Coalition from Britain. All three include leaders who have been active in the peace movement from the Vietnam War era to the present. All three have remained consistent in condemning U.S. imperialism’s wars around the world, including its drone wars, sanction wars, CIA Special Operation wars, privatized mercenary army wars and embargo/blockade wars.
It is not the trajectory of the anti-imperialists that has been inconsistent and needs to be examined but the journey of Achcar himself, from his opposition to the Vietnam War to his support to U.S. and British imperialism, which even includes training British military personnel. (1)(2) [read more]
Rally in Yemen against US/Saudi War
Even before the war began, this impoverished country imported 90% of its food. The port of Hodeidah has been the primary entry point for food and other aid and is now the target of a new offensive by the US/Saudi/UAE coalition threatening mass starvation to get the Yemeni people to submit to their will. The recent attack on Hodeidah has included massive Saudi bombing of the port and a ground force that includes officers from the UAE leading anti-Ansar Allah Yemenis along with mercenaries, many from Sudan. This attempt to close the port of Hodeidah should be seen as a war crime. [read more]
UNAC Blog
Visit the UNAC Blog for articles on important issues written by UNAC members and friends
Hands off Haiti
UNAC statement on the situation in Haiti
10/17/22
The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) rejects any and all calls for new occupations of Haiti. United States and Canadian military are already on the ground in the capital of Port au Prince under the guise of providing security from gangs when they are in fact repeating the same old playbook, asserting control of Haiti against the will of its citizens.
The people of Haiti have protested for eight weeks straight against IMF austerity measures and against the United States and United Nations imposed puppet government. Yet the show of popular opposition has been relegated by the corporate media, American politicians, and many world leaders to the sphere of criminal activity. [read more]
A new book on Sanctions has been release on US imposed sanctions. This webinar includes the authors of several of the chapters.
Intensifying US sanctions, imposed on a third of humanity, are sending shock waves through the world economy. Now this brutal form of economic warfare on civilian populations is being contested. US dollar dominance is being challenged as the currency of global trade. Sanctions have boomeranged back on the US and EU countries with inflation, supply chain shortages, and a looming recession causing hardship at home. But by far the greatest burden is borne by 40+ sanctioned countries. The US response is doubling down on harsher sanctions. What are the implications?
The War in Ukraine – 1 year on
This webinar took place on 2/21/23
Click here or the image to view
Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector in Iraq
Margaret Kimberley of the Black Alliance for Peace, Black Agenda Report and UNAC
UNAC Supports Odessa Solidarity Movement.
The web site is here: www.odessasolidaritycampaign.org. Please go to the web site and support the campaign.
Video, fascism in Ukraine:
https://youtu.be/APR5E4d3GKQ.
Read documentation of the growth of fascism in Ukraine:
http://nepajac.org/ukraine%20evidence.pdf (please wait a few seconds for documentation to load)
Read the report of UNAC member's trip to Odessa to support the families of those murdered at the house of trade unions -Report 1 – Kiev. Report 2 - Odessa
Youth Against Empire
For information of the UNAC initiated youth antiwar group, Youth Against Empire, click here.
UNAC statement on Palestine
January 2023
The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) stands in unconditional solidarity with the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people against the ongoing Nakba: the occupation and ethnic cleansing of historic Palestine by the Israeli regime. We firmly uphold Palestinians’ Right of Return to their national homeland – from the river to the sea – and reaffirm our commitment to ending US aid to Israel, which totals nearly $4 billion per year.
Recent months have seen major escalations by Israel. Heavily armed raids on the West Bank have become a daily occurrence, with at least three Palestinian children killed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in the opening few days of 2023. Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power has unleashed a Zionist agenda that dispenses with even the usual platitudes of some eventual negotiated peace or “two-state solution.” Instead Netanyahu brazenly declared that all of historic Palestine is part of Israel, and has committed to expanding Zionist settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu also appointed the openly racist Itamar Ben-Gvir to be national security minister, who then led settlers to storm the sacred Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and days later banned flying the Palestinian flag. [Read more]
Report on the UNAC 2020 Conference
Please Donate to UNAC
UNAC‘s answer to an attack on our anti-imperialism that was printed in the Nation.
Recently, there have been increased attacks on the peace movement from “progressives” for our consistent opposition to U.S. intervention in other countries. A recent sign-on letter was produced with hundreds of signatures attacking our opposition to outside intervention in Syria. UNAC answered that letter with our own sign-on letter explaining our position on Syria. Our letter got over 1300 individual and organizational co-signers from 50 different countries. That letter can be seen here.
Now, the Nation has published an attack piece by Professor Gilbert Achcar, who considers himself a socialist. Achcar's article singles out 3 organizations, the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) and the US Peace Council from the United States and the Stop the War Coalition from Britain. Below is a statement from UNAC answering this attack.
These attacks do not happen in a vacuum. Since the Biden election, there has been increased activity on the part of the US administration in Syria, increased propaganda aimed at China and Russia and a continuation of Trump’s policies against Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and other countries as well as support for Israel and its horrific attacks on the Palestinian people. The article in the Nation and other outlets give left cover to the imperialists. These attacks serve the interest of the new Democratic administration to silence the peace movement. But, we have no intention of being silent.
United National Antiwar Coalition
United National Antiwar Coalition Statement on Ukraine
The United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) remains steadfast in its opposition to the United States/NATO imperialist project. The people of Ukraine are now suffering in a war zone because of the actions of the United States, beginning with the 2014 coup which violently ousted an elected president. The goal then as now was to use Ukraine as a weapon to target Russia militarily. We point out that the current conflict is not the first for Ukraine. More than 14,000 people living in the eastern Donbas region have died in an eight-year long war because they refused to accept the coup government imposed by the U.S. [read more]
For a more comprehensive background statement from UNAC, please click here
