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After Donald Trump ordered the illegal and unprovoked bombing of Iran on June 20, Indiana Governor Mike Braun had nothing but praise for the act that violated both the United Nations Charter and the U.S. Constitution. In an official statement consisting of three sentences (the first of which is incomplete), Braun fully backed the illegal attacks against the sovereign country:
“I applaud the decisive leadership of President Donald J. Trump as he ordered destruction [sic] of Iran’s nuclear facilities. We are thankful our brave troops who executed this mission are back to safety. Now I will pray for the safety of our troops in the region and for peace to prevail.”
While the B-2 bombers armed with 30,000 lb bombs took off from a Midwest airbase, Trump was relaxing at his personal golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. When Braun and other Indiana politicians like Todd Young, Jim Banks, and others applauded the campaign, they did so from the comfort of their mansions and office buildings via social media.
A June 22 poll quickly showed how incredibly out of touch Indiana’s politicians are with the people. The poll, conducted by YouGov, found that only four—yes, four—percent of adults in the Midwest want a war with Iran. On the other hand, 86 percent of adults in the Midwest do not want war with Iran.
Fortunately, there are organizations that truly represent the interests of the masses. ANSWER Indiana, which formed in 2017 and has been at the forefront of a wide array of struggles since then, is one such grouping. Ten days before Trump ordered the bombing of Iranian civilian infrastructure, the group held a webinar to launch a statewide coordinated anti-racist and anti-war movement.
ANSWER, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, was formed days after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. During a time when peace and progressive organizations were cancelling protests and even flying U.S. flags outside their offices or on their websites, the groups that formed ANSWER took to the streets to begin organizing against a new era of wars and the racism that accompanies them.
“To be a member of ANSWER Indiana means one thing,” according to lead organizer Lindsey Holtgrave, “that you or your organization understand that we need to act together now to put an end to the racist U.S. war machine.” The Indianapolis-based organizer said that actions could include “joining a statewide flyering campaign, attending political training webinars, organizing a timely protest, and so much more.”
Fortunately, Trump and the war-hawks on both sides of the aisle were unable to push forward with another war for regime change. Not only did Trump campaign as a “peace candidate” and not only are the vast majority opposed to yet another war, but Iran and the Iranian people did not waver in the face of the latest wave of U.S. and Israeli military attacks. The danger is far from over, however, as both ruling-class parties agree that the 1979 Iranian revolution must be overthrown. Whatever one thinks about Iran’s government, those who are for peace in the U.S. must defend Iran’s right to sovereignty, self-determination, and peace.
Along with their allied groups, ANSWER Indiana is at the forefront of the local struggle for Palestine. For Holtgrave, creating a centralized network throughout the state is the next step in moving from outrage to effective action: “These feelings are the fuel for change and it will take an organized effort to harness it, because our collective action is the only path to true and lasting peace.”
For those who are interested in learning more, contact organizer@answerindiana.org or fill out the form below.
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Featured photo: Protesters march at a June 22 ANSWER Indiana protest against war with Iran. Credit: Indianapolis Liberation Center.