Police cars marked “Homeland Security” responded to some anti-war protesters who picketed outside the Federal Building here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, when some of them peacefully entered Senator Carl Levin’s office and refused to leave.
Earlier this week I was wondering if the anti-war movement was just a mere partisan anti-Bush movement. The answer, thankfully, seems to be a rip-roaring no. The anti-war movement is sincere.
From a statement posted up at Infoshop News, and also at the Industrial Workers of the World website:

Today, we occupied Senator Carl Levin’s office in Grand Rapids as a protest against the current administration’s decision to escalate the US war in Afghanistan. We do this not simply because we are against war, but because this decision by the Obama administration is unjust.
The US is not in Afghanistan to bring Democracy – Since 1979, the US has supported anti-democratic forces such as the Mujahadeen, the Northern Alliance, the Taliban and a variety of individual warlords. The US has also supported the current regime of Karzai, knowing full well that his administration has been corrupt from the beginning.
The US is not in Afghanistan to protect the rights of Women – The groups of armed men that the US has supported for decades, like the Mujahadeen, are some of the most misogynist groups in that country. Even under the current government of Karzai, a law was passed that essentially legalized the rape of women. Afghan Women’s groups like RAWA and the Afghan Women’s Mission have made it very clear that if those of us in the US want to support women in Afghanistan then we should work for an end to the US military occupation of their country.
The US is not in Afghanistan to Prevent Terrorism – Many credible members of the US intelligence community have stated in recent years that there is no link between the Taliban and Al Qaida. The Taliban did not attack the US on September 11, 2001. The Taliban are a nationalist group that wants the US out of their country. In fact, we would say that the US occupation of Afghanistan only gives rise to potential acts of terror and feeds a growing anti-American sentiment.
What the US is doing in Afghanistan has more to do with long-term strategic interests. We believe that the US recognizes that Afghanistan is a bridge between the Middle East and Central Asia, that it borders Iran, Pakistan, China and other important countries. We believe that the US sees Afghanistan as playing an important role in the control of future resources in that region, both because it will likely be a major trans-shipment point to move oil and gas in the region, but also because it can act as a US outpost to prevent China, India and Russia from gaining access to the region’s resources.
The US is currently expanding military bases it has had there since 2001, as well as constructing new bases in strategic locations throughout Afghanistan, which implies that the US, like in Iraq, has no plans to leave that country for a long time to come. The US recently built a 1,100 person prison facility at Bagram Air Base, which is another indication that the US has no timely withdraw plans.
We are occupying Senator Levin’s office today because this war is now primarily at the feet of the Democratic Party. The Democrats control the White House and the Congress and is therefore the major force behind this escalating war in Afghanistan. Senator Levin may have tactical disagreements with how the war is being prosecuted (he has supported more training for an Afghan Army), but he supports the fundamental premise of the White House that the US occupation of Afghanistan is in the National Security interest of the US.
We know that our occupation of Senator Levin’s office will not stop the escalating US war in Afghanistan, but we cannot be silent. Senator Levin needs to know that he cannot support President Obama’s prosecution of this brutal war in our name.
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We ask people to talk about this war, to educate themselves and to take action – write letters, sign petitions, yes, but more importantly engage in direct action! Take to the streets, prevent young men and women from entering the US military, confront the corporations that are profiting from this war, don’t pay your taxes, don’t vote for people who support war, organize a march, organize a sit in, shut down a military recruiting center . . . do something!
End the US Occupation of Afghanistan Now!
Bring the Troops Home!
Pay Reparations to Afghanistan for the Damage We Have Done to Their Country!
(You can read the full statement at Infoshop News)

For more information about the war protesters specific points about Afghanistan, read the recent article posted at GRIID.org.
This is from an article posted at WZZM13 News, with the video of the broadcast below:

Instead of sending more troops, some protesters in Grand Rapids think President Obama should bring U.S. forces home from Afghanistan.
“Sending more troops is immoral, illegal and it’s not going to result in anything but more deaths,” says anti-war activist Jeff Smith.
Tuesday evening, protesters held a demonstration outside the Gerald R. Ford Federal Building. Inside the building, a pair of anti-war activists occupied the office of U.S. Senator Carl Levin and refused to leave when the office closed at 5:30 p.m.
“An officer came in and asked us if we would leave and we refused,” says demonstrator Tom Henry. “At which point he told us to stand up and they put handcuffs of us and escorted us out.”
Including the two men police had to remove from the senator’s office, there were about a dozen anti-war activists at the demonstration.
“I think this is how movements get started; by one person or two people taking actions that get people thinking,” says Smith.
“Hopefully what comes of this is a little bit of consciousness-raising about what is going on in Afghanistan,” says Henry.
The demonstrators say they represent the majority of Americans who do not support the war in Afghanistan.