VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – In the wake of America’s strike on Venezuela, 18 local citizens quickly gathered on Valley City’s Main Street in “emergency protest” on Saturday, January 3rd. VCHS Senior Carter Hass initiated the event “in the name of solidarity and patriotism to protest America’s unnecessary involvement in the foreign conflict”
Despite a cold North Dakotan temperature hovering around 13 degrees, the group lined the sidewalk with signs in one hand and flags in the other. Chants of “No wars! No more!” and a rousing rendition of “America the Beautiful” rang out.
“Patriotism was not just present; it was overflowing,” Hass said. With four students comprising 22 percent of the demonstrators, Gen Z youth were uniquely well-represented, he added. One citizen who had participated in the anti-war demonstrations against America’s actions in Vietnam arrived with his American flag and noted that once again he stands for peace in America.
According to Hass, the intent of the protest was “to send a clear message to North Dakota’s Congressional Delegation that North Dakotans are ready and willing to organize a protest within a span of four hours and demonstrate in the middle of a North Dakota winter night to underscore our desire for peace, not war. We condemn Maduro’s dictatorial regime but unequivocally oppose U.S. involvement in a foreign conflict for the sole reason of gaining a larger oil supply. The last thing my generation needs is a repeat of the war in the Middle East.”
While the demonstration was originally initiated by independent citizens, it was eventually registered under the ANSWER Coalition, which strives to end wars and end racism.
Feature photo; L-R VCHS Senior Carter Hass, VCHS Sophomore Quin Kruger, VCHS Junior Cole Haugen, Winona State Junior Casey Kruger.
