Wyatt Miller
Wyatt Miller is a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack!. [1]
“No Minnesota money for weapons manufacturers”
On October 12 2023, the Minnesota Peace Action Coalition rallied at the site of a new ForwardEdge ASIC LLC office. ForwardEdge is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the world’s largest defense contractor. Amid the horrific Israeli bombing of Gaza, around 150 protesters gathered in a show of solidarity with Palestine and to demand “No Minnesota money for weapons manufacturers.”
At the park, Wyatt Miller of the MN Anti-War Committee (MN AWC) spoke, “And it’s not just federal military spending! This Lockheed Martin facility received about $1.5 million in startup funds from the state of Minnesota. Additionally, the State Board of Investment holds over $55 million in stock in Lockheed – plus millions more in securities. That money comes from retirement pensions that the state of Minnesota manages.”
Next, Natasha Dockter, a rank-and-file union member of the Minnesota Federation of Teachers Local 59 said, “Our educators don't have the resources they need to teach and must resort to crowdfunding to do things as simple as make sure they have the books their students need and are able to teach students on field trips. Meanwhile, we have companies like Lockheed Martin spending billions and receiving massive tax incentives to manufacture more weapons to kill innocent children all over the world and fight for U.S. imperialism.”
Sana Wazwaz of American Muslims for Palestine-Minnesota said that after such a stressful week for Palestinians, especially students, she was uplifted by the number of Palestinian flags and keffiyehs worn by protesters.
Annie Russell-Pribnow of the Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota was incensed over the targeting of students for jobs at the new facility, “I don't know about you, but Lockheed Martin, the largest weapons manufacturer in the world, who has immensely profited off of nothing but death and destruction, being here and using predatory tactics to recruit vulnerable young minds who could actively be making the world a better place, doesn't sit right with me.”
The last speaker, Erika Zurawski, from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, said, “One thing that immigrants understand is that war equals migration. The weapons that are produced to make these wars send millions of people fleeing from their homelands. Weapons equals war equals migration. There is no crisis at the border. There is no crisis of migration. The only thing that is a crisis is imperialism.”
Zurawski continued, “We have to say, down with imperialism. We have to say enough wars against oppressed people. We say that people have a right to remain in their homeland. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. And we say that Palestinians have a right to resist by any means necessary and have a right to return to their homeland by any means necessary.”
Other speakers included CJ McCormick of the Climate Justice Committee, Barry Riesch from Veterans for Peace, and Coleen Rowley of Women Against Military Madness, who spoke about her involvement in a successful five-year effort, that began in 2004, to kick Lockheed Martin out of the southern suburb of Eagan.[2]
SDS rallies in -20 to protest killings by police
On the evening of February 3 2023, over 35 people braved temperatures nearly 20 degrees below zero to make a powerful stand against police terror, as well as to demand justice for all stolen lives.
The action was organized by the Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, in response to the most recent high-profile and brutal police murders of Tyre Nichols, Keenan Anderson, and Manny Teran. The murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis in particular has caused an immense deal of national attention and outrage.
Mira Altobell-Resendez, speaking for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said, “Since it was conceived in this country, the point of policing has been to protect ruling-class wealth at whatever the cost.”
Other speakers at the action included Gracelyn McClure from Students for Climate Justice, Wyatt Miller from the Anti-War Committee, Gina VanArnam from Twin Cities Coalition for Justice 4 Jamar, Sorcha Lona from Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Minnesota, and Charlie Berg from the Climate Justice Committee.[3]
Eyewitness Syria: Resisting US Imperialism
On May 26, 2021 14 million Syrians voted in Presidential elections, overwhelmingly reelecting President Bashar al-Assad. An independent, international delegation of observers called the election "the legitimate, democratic expression of the Syrian people" and noted that "for many Syrians, the election represents the imminent ending of the war, the defeat of foreign plots, and hope for the future." Join 4 participants from the delegation for an eyewitness account of the situation in Syria as the country continues to push back U.S. intervention, reassert its sovereignty, and rebuild after years of imperialist war.
Panelists:
- Johnny Achi, E.E. Co-founder, Arab Americans for Syria
- Kobi Guillory Co-Chair, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
- Wyatt Miller Minnesota Anti-War Committee
- Ted Kelly International Action Center Co-Editor, Tear Down the Walls!
Hosted by Scott Williams. International Action Center, Participant in 2014 Delegation to Syria.
Remembering Sabra and Shatila massacre
According to Austin Dewey and Kent Mori September 23, 2020 Minneapolis, MN - On September 17, over 30 activists in Minneapolis bannered across Interstate 94 during rush hour to remember the Sabra and Shatila massacre and highlight the destructive role the U.S. plays in Lebanon. They waved Palestinian flags and dropped banners across eight lanes of traffic demanding an end to aid in Israel, demanding an end to apartheid, and expressing solidarity against state violence. The response from people passing by was overwhelmingly positive with a constant stream of honks from cars.
Mariam El-Khatib from American Muslims for Palestine told the crowd, “Yes, we’re here to remember the Sabra and Shatila massacre that happened 38 years ago, but it is more than just about the Sabra and Shatila massacre, we’re here to remember that they were more than just the victims of Israeli aggression. They were the victims of the Nakba, the victims of the occupation, the wall and other attacks.” She continued, “This peace deal has been framed as something that benefits the Palestinians, but I’m not sure how they get to decide that when the Palestinians weren’t even at the table.”
Sarah Martin from Women Against Military Madness spoke passionately against the so-called peace deal as well.
Wyatt Miller of the Anti-War Committee connected these events to the role the U.S. plays. He said, “The Anti-War Committee says end U.S. aid to Israel, and hands off Lebanon. This is especially important in 2020. Last month saw the ammonium nitrate explosion which destroyed the Beirut port. Trump has exploited this tragic accident by introducing sanctions against Lebanon. His administration claims the sanctions are ‘targeted’ but we know from Iraq, Iran, Venezuela and too many other countries that even ‘targeted’ U.S. sanctions are used to slowly ramp up suffering and deprivation on an entire population, as a form of brutal, coercive pressure.”[4]
Twin Cities DSA Facebook
Members of the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America public Facebook group, as of October 15, 2017, included Wyatt Miller.[5]