On Monday, November 29, 2021, we gathered at the Earle Cabell Federal Building in Dallas for a remembrance of the Ahmadi family and a demonstration to remind the public of the brutality of the US drone program that killed them.
We held our event during noontime to take advantage of the busy foot traffic with employees and visitors going in and out for lunch. We had three banners: one a large black & white banner that said, “BAN KILLER DRONES; FREE DANIEL HALE”…
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
…one with the 9 photos of those killed in the drone strike and the messages “DON’T LOOK AWAY; Stop killing innocents; Ban Killer Drones”…and one with our demands:
--END PENTAGON COVER-UP IN THE AHMADI FAMILY DRONE KILLING,
--PROVIDE REPARATIONS TO THE AHMADI FAMILY,
--UNFREEZE AFGHAN MONEY TO PREVENT STARVATION IN AFGHANISTAN,
--HOLD WAR INDUSTRY PROFITEERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING REMOTE-CONTROL KILLING POSSIBLE.
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
We were surprised at how many pedestrians stopped to talk. All the conversations were amicable – pretty rare in Dallas! One member of our group positioned himself right in front of the revolving doors of the federal building, holding a heart-shaped sign saying, “ARMS ARE FOR HUGGING,” passing out flyers, and striking up one-on-one conversations for the entire duration of the event.
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
Others stood on the corner of the building at a busy intersection, displaying the banners and waving fluorescent signs that said, “DON’T LOOK AWAY” and the old standard, “HONK FOR PEACE”…and, yes, there were tons of honks, as well as people saying "thank you" or nodding in approval. We passed out lots of flyers, and surprisingly, only a few of the people we approached were totally disinterested in reading or talking about what we were doing. I think the “Don’t Look Away” message and the photos of the family really drew people in.
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
After bannering-flyering-conversing, we had a die-in, chalking bodies and writing the names and ages of the murdered Ahmadi family members as well as messages to leave behind after we were gone.
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Patricia Murphy)
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
There was no battling the weather. I almost felt guilty about the beautiful 70-degree, sunny, windless day we had. Props to those who braved the wind & cold!
A couple more pics:
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
Ban Killer Drones "Don't Look Away Campaign," Dallas demo, Nov 29, 2021. (photo by Leslie Harris )
