21st Century American Militarism: Occupation Abroad and Resistance at Home

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After more than ten years of occupations, drone strikes, torture campaigns and ecological devastation, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) continues to organize and fight against US militarism.  For this plenary panel and fundraising event during IVAW’s National Convention IVAW is proud to have guest speakers, writer & professor Christian Parenti, Iraqi-American artist & professor Michael Rakowitz, Afghans United for Justice member & organizer Suraia Sahar, historian & writer Nick Turse, along with other great speakers for an evening of commentary, discussion and analysis of the state and future of U.S. Militarism. Please come out and support IVAW for this special evening.  SPEAKERS: Nick Turse is an award-winning journalist, historian, essayist, the managing editor of TomDispatch.com, the co-founder of Dispatch Books, and a fellow at the Nation Institute. He is the author of 'Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam' (2013) and several other books including 'The Changing Face of Empire: Special Ops, Drones, Spies, Proxy Fighters, Secret Bases, and Cyber Warfare' (2012) and 'The Complex: How the Military Invades Our Everyday Lives' (2008).  Christian Parenti, is a professor of sustainable development at the School for International Training, Graduate Institute. He a Nation contributing editor and the author of Lockdown America The Soft Cage, The Freedom: Shadows and Hallucinations in Occupied Iraq and most recently Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence (Nation Books, July 2011). He has a Ph.D. in geogrphy and sociology from the London School of Economics.  Michael Rakowitz is an Iraqi-Amaerican artist and Northwestern University professor whose work addresses complex political and social issues through personal and intimate means. His works, such as paraSite, Return, The invisible enemy should not exist, Enemy Kitchen, and others have grappled with issues of poverty, political conflict, the Iraq War, popular culture, and personal narrative.

Suraia Sahar was born in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Soviet Occupation and left as a refugee in the late 1980’s. She briefly lived in India before moving to Toronto, Canada where she was raised. She comes from a military family which has been an influence during her upbringing. She was a cofounder of Afghans for Peace (AFP), and is a current cofounder of Afghans United for Justice.  Suraia has spoken out against the war since the US-led invasion and is actively involved in mobilizing the Afghan community both in Toronto and abroad against the NATO-led occupation and war. She has spoken at anti-war events across North America.

PLENARY DETAILS: WHAT: 21st Century American Militarism: Occupation Abroad and Resistance at Home - Plenary Panel of IVAW National Convention with Guest Speakers Christain Parenti, Michael Rakowitz, Suraia Sahar, Nick Turse, & More!  WHEN: Friday, August 2nd, 7pm DONATION: $10 Suggested Donation ( No one turned away) LINKS: www.ivaw.org www.christianparenti.com www.michaelrakowitz.com www.afghansunitedforjustice.org www.nickturse.com ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS: Afghans United for Justice, American Friends Service Committee, Anti-War Committee- Chicago, Catalyst Project, Center for Constitutional Rights, Chicago Area Peace Action, Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights, Chicago Cuba Committee, Chicago Grey Panthers, Civilian-Soldier Alliance, Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, Four Star Anarchist Organization, Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice, Gay Liberation Network, Haymarket Press, Illinois Coalition Against Torture, Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project, Labor Beat/Labor Express, Mental Health Movement, Military Law Task Force, National Nurses United, National Writers Union, Near West Citizens for Peace and Justice, Peace Action - National, PM Press, Radical Public Health, Third Unitarian Church Social Action Committee, Unity Temple Congregation Action Network, UE- Western Region, U.S. Labor Against the War, Veterans for Peace- Chicago, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Voices for Creative Non-Violence, War Resisters League - Chicago, Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ