Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Minnesota stands in solidarity with people around the globe opposing U.S. imperialism and the illegal airstrikes on Syria the U.S. carried out on April 14th. People around the world are united in opposition to further U.S. bombing of Syria and are thus facing repression and state terror for speaking out. In Greece on April 16th, students and youth demonstrated against U.S. war mongering by marching on the U.S. embassy and attempting to topple its statue of U.S. president Truman; they are now facing government repression. According to a statement and videos by the All Workers Militant Front (PAME), which led the demonstration, Greek riot police used bats, flash grenades, chemical spray, and tear gas to wantonly attack the crowd and break up the protest (See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk_FayiO6ws & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZM8Wzq_lYM ). UMN SDS stands with PAME and the international community in demanding justice for the six students who were injured and the two who are facing trumped up charges in Greece.
While SDS chapters in the U.S. South target and dismantle statues dedicated to slave holders and the Confederate Army, demanding an end to the public memorialization and celebration of national oppression, white supremacy, and racism, we understand the disgusting ramifications and similarities to having a Harry Truman statue still standing in Athens, Greece. Unfortunately, many in the U.S. do not remember that the “Truman Doctrine” meant U.S. supported anti-communist dictatorships and military rule in Greece from the end of World War 2 well into the 1970s, and the continued support of anti-communist military regimes in Asia, Latin America, and Africa as well. These regimes indiscriminately jailed and murdered communists and others for speaking out against U.S. imperialism historically to present. SDS stands with the brave Greek protesters who dare to oppose U.S. imperialism now and demand an end to U.S. intervention in Syria.
Hands off Syria and justice for those standing against imperialist aggression!
Drop the charges against activists and those demanding a better world!
