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Reprinted by: https://fighting-words.net/2020/09/13/stop-meddling-in-the-internal-affairs-of-belarus/

By U.S. Peace Council

The U.S. Peace Council (USPC) expresses its solidarity with the people of Belarus whose country is undergoing a campaign of destabilization and interference in their internal affairs by outside forces. USPC calls on all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country.

Belarus, a former constituent republic of the USSR, first declared its sovereignty in 1990 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Under its new President Alexander Lukashenko, first elected in 1994, Belarus rejected the Western-imposed “economic shock therapy” that looted the public wealth of many of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus retained state-run industry and agriculture, the social safety net, and the relative equality of the socialist period.

In 2000, Belarus and Russia established the Union State, a supranational confederation for economic integration and common defense. Russia’s missile defense system in Belarus is a critical deterrent against a NATO nuclear first strike.

In 2004, the US passed the Belarus Democracy Act overtly funding anti-government NGOs in Belarus and prohibiting loans. In that year, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined NATO; now post-coup Ukraine is likely on the way. The addition of Belarus to NATO would complete the US foreign policy goal of military occupation of Russia’s entire western border. The National Endowment for Democracy, the quasi-governmental US agency which does legally what the CIA does extra-legally, currently lists projects to bring “democracy” to Belarus.

The presidential election on August 9, 2020 has been seized as an opportunity by leading imperialist powers allied with a cultivated domestic opposition in Belarus to foment a “color revolution.” A coalition of opposition parties, supported by the USAID, calls for a total reorientation of the Belarusian state and society from east to west and the establishment of a neoliberal political economy. Western capitals, including Washington and Brussels, have refused to recognize the results of the election.

Lukashenko officially won with approximately 80% of the vote, amid accusations by the opposition of vote tampering and suppression of opposition candidates, along with authoritarian practices, mismanagement, and corruption. Sergei Lebedev, the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States election observation mission, reports that the “legitimate … election was conducted in compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Code of Belarus.”

The leading opposition candidate, Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, received around 10% of the official vote. She claims she had won the election and is ready to lead Belarus. After the election, Tsikhanouskaya left Belarus for Lithuania, where she met with U.S. First Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun.

The Western media have reported massive demonstrations against the government, but have ignored pro-government demonstrations. While predominantly peaceful, incidences of violence by demonstrators and security forces have been documented. Unlike the Maidan color revolution in Ukraine, heavily armed pro-fascist elements have not been present in Belarus, although the opposition has adopted the red and white flag used during the Nazi occupation of Belarus. The opposition draws heavily from the professional class, while industrial workers have been less involved.

The situation in Belarus remains tense, but due to the government rallying support in the streets, the opposition has changed its demands from calling for regime change to now asking President Macron of France to mediate a process leading to the resignation of President Lukashenko. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov remarked: “They are trying to redraw Belarus according to their own design and offer their mediation.…” It is clear that foreign forces are trying to sow division and violence in Belarus and hope for the ouster of President Lukashenko.

The U.S. Peace Council calls on the government of the United States and other foreign powers to cease from meddling in Belarus and to follow the principle of international law of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. We express our solidarity with the people of Belarus in this trying time and are confident that they can resolve their differences peacefully free from foreign interference.

Voces de la Frontera Action is thrilled to announce Dolores Huerta, President and Founder of Dolores Huerta Foundation will be the keynote speaker at our Virtual Gala, happening in just two weeks, on Friday, September 25, from 6-7:15pm!

Dolores Huerta is a living legend in the immigrant rights movement- this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss! Secure your tickets and become a sponsor at www.vdlfa.org/gala2020.

Black Lives Are Sacred MKE

Join us for our tenth public witness in support of racial justice and the dignity of the human person. We are grateful to be partnering with St. Ben’s Pax Christi group for this witness.- We will gather in front of St. Ben’s church on State Street.
– We will begin with a welcome and prayer.
– We will then stand along State Street with our signs, sharing our message with all passing by.
– If you’re not able to stand for an hour, feel free to bring a chair!
– At 6:00, we will kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence, in remembrance of George Floyd and all who have lost their lives. We encourage everyone to take this time to silently pray for justice and healing.
– Please wear a mask and practice social distancing.
– Chalk will be available to decorate the sidewalks if you would like.
– This is a peaceful, family-friendly event. We encourage you to bring your kids!
– Signs with faith-based messages are especially encouraged. Extra signs will be available for you to borrow if you don’t have one of your own.This event is organized by an informal group of Catholic lay people, and we warmly welcome all who want to stand up for the sacredness of Black lives.This is an ongoing event every Thursday at 5:30, with different locations each week, so stay tuned for future opportunities to stand with us!If you would like to stay in the loop about future events, please sign up for our email list here: http://eepurl.com/hchFfT and like our public FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/blacklivesaresacredmke.

This Is It

418 E Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI – 5-8 P.M.

Join us at This Is It on Sunday, September 27th for to help us raise money for Jacob Blake.
Baylee Imani June Diamond & Iconika Strange will be hosting our raffle for the day, as well as the drag show following our raffle prize winner announcements!All donations will be donated directly to the families GoFundMe page, organized by Jacob’s mother, Julia Jackson.

On August 23rd Jacob Blake was shot multiple times in the back by a Kenosha Police Department officer, after he broke up an altercation by an unrelated party. The shooting has now left him critically injured as he fights for his life. The extent of his injuries is unknown, but he continues to undergo multiple rounds of operations to save his life. This fund is established to cover medical expenses, mental and grief counseling for the family, and to assist the family in the days to come, as we all continue to seek justice for Jacob. A portion of these proceeds from the GoFundMe will also be used to benefit Jacob’s six children, some of whom witnessed this horrific act of violence. The raffle will start at 5pm so make sure to bring cash to buy your tickets.The raffle will be followed by a drag show put on by some of our incredible local artists!

***MASKS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES UNLESS ACTIVELY DRINKING***

#StrikeForSafeCampus

More info and how to help: https://www.facebook.com/geo3550/

SEIU Local 73

We are ready to fight! On Monday, UIC workers will be walking off the job and joining the Illinois Nurses Association in a fight for economic and health justice. Stand with us as at Noon at 1717 W. Taylor St, as we aim to dismantle the culture of disrespect from UIC. Why are we going on strike? Because UIC has failed to:Protect us: Provide adequate PPE for the duration of the pandemic and a guarantee that workers will never be left without proper protection again. Agree to enforce the protocols set up to keep everyone safe consistently. If we’re not safe on the job, neither are the people we care for or the students we serve.

We are also anxious to keep our own families safe from the virus.Respect us: Give workers doing the same job whether down state or in Chicago a chance to thrive. We should have a say in how we best deliver care and services — and we say we need more staff to properly care for everyone walking through UIC’s doors.Pay us: We are essential workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and others dealing with its impact. We need more than a pat on the back. We need essential pay. We demand a living wage of at least $15/hr.

Lakeshore’s United Visionaries – LUV

Join us for our first Unity Walk, hosted by Lakeshore’s United Visionaries and PFLAG Manitowoc County.On Sunday, September 27th at 2pm come together with us as we celebrate Unity in our Community with our first Unity Walk!

We hope to uplift and celebrate people from all walks of life as we walk together in solidarity!At 2pm, we will gather at the Briess Parking Lot (Farmer’s Market Lot) and begin our Unity Walk toward Washington Park.

After we arrive and have a breather (about 2:45) we are excited to present a variety of local speakers from across many different backgrounds to share their experiences and why we strive for unity. We cannot wait for you to hear all the wisdom they will share.Please bring a mask, and join us on Sunday, September 27th to spread love and unity on our Lakeshore!