List of civilian casualties of the
War in Afghanistan (2001-present)


Middle East Children's Alliance - working for the rights of children in the Middle East

Upcoming events and specially scheduled activities will be posted on this page.



Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park, Saturday, September 9, 2023

Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) will host a table at Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park will be held at Gregory Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gregory Park is located at 511 North Fifth Street, Brainerd. Brainerd Lakes Pride, a Brainerd area LGBTQ rights organization, is hosting Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park. Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park is a free event open to the public.

Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park is part of Brainerd Pride weekend lasting from Thursday, September 7 through Sunday, September 10, 2023. More details about Brainerd Pride weekend can be found on Brainerd Lakes Pride's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/brainerdlakespride.

BACP hosting a table at Brainerd Lakes Pride in the Park will give us the opportunity to share our message of peace, show our support for LGBTQ rights, and work with a progressive Brainerd area organization.

Peace Vigil outside of Camp Ripley on Sunday, September 17, 2023

Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) and Brainerd Lakes Area Democratic Socialists of America (BLA DSA) will hold a peace vigil outside of Camp Ripley on Sunday, September 17, 2023. The vigil is scheduled to last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the time Camp Ripley hosts Open House Day. Vigil participants can join all or part of the peace vigil. Signs, banners, and flags are available for vigil participants or vigil participants can bring signs to the vigil.

Camp Ripley is located at 15000 Highway 115, north of Little Falls MN. Vigil participants may park along the right-of-way.

The vigil seeks to increase public awareness of the devastation drone warfare causes by protesting against Camp Ripley's drone pilot training program. (Camp Ripley does not fly drones overseas, but the training it provides enables pilots to use killer drones.) The vigil will demand the termination of drone warfare, the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from the Middle East, and a complete end to U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's brutal war on Yemen. The vigil supports a ceasefire and a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine to end the Ukraine War. The vigil opposes the U.S. arming, funding, and training the Ukrainian military as these actions prolong the Ukraine War and risk a catastrophic war between the U.S. and Russia. The vigil calls on the U.S. to support every diplomatic effort to end the Ukraine War. The vigil opposes the U.S. sanctions regime and regime change operations. The vigil supports the U.S. peacefully resolving disputes with other nations through diplomacy based on international law, the right to self-determination, and respect for national sovereignty. The vigil supports major reductions in the U.S. military budget and using the funds for human needs and environmental protection.

The vigil will be in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The vigil supports the Black Lives Matter movement's demand to demilitarize the police force. (Camp Ripley is a major trainer of state and local police forces.) The vigil's pro-peace message will counter the pro-war propaganda Camp Ripley spreads at Open House Day, the biannual event when Camp Ripley invites the public to visit the base. The Camp Ripley peace vigil is supported by Veterans for Peace (VFP), Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), Northfield People for Peace and Goodwill, the Minnesota BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) Community, and the Democratic Socialist Caucus.

Everyone is welcome to join the Camp Ripley peace vigil. Please join us.

Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) Statement on the Ukraine War:

BACP supports an armistice halting the fighting in Ukraine. BACP supports a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine ending the war.

BACP opposes the U.S. arming Ukraine, training Ukrainian soldiers, imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine, or sending U.S. troops to Ukraine. These actions prolong the Ukraine War and risk a war between the United States and Russia. Instead of taking measures which prolong the war or risk a war between the United States and Russia, the U.S. should support every diplomatic effort to end the war.

BACP supports providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced Ukrainians. Ending the war will allow people to return home and rebuild.

BACP opposes the U.S. sanctions regime being imposed on Russia. The sanctions are hurting people who have no control over their government's policy. Sanctions which hurt civilians are a form of war. The imposition of a harsh sanctions regime will only make it more difficult for the U.S. and Russia to reconcile.

The increase in prejudice and discrimination against Russians living in the United States is appalling. There is absolutely no justification for such bigotry. Minnesota has a thriving Russian-American community. Instead of cutting off cultural ties with Russia, the United States should strengthen such ties to increase understanding between Americans and Russians and improve relations between the U.S. and Russia.

BACP deplores the U.S. mainstream media's exclusion of opinions calling for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine War. The U.S. mainstream media is amplifying demands to escalate the Ukraine War by providing more weapons to Ukraine, imposing a no-fly zone, and possibly deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine.

BACP supports the right to self-determination for people living in the Donbas region of Ukraine. Donbas residents have suffered tremendously since the U.S. and EU-backed coup which overthrew Ukraine's democratically-elected President in 2014. The coup regime consisted of extreme Ukrainian nationalists and Nazi groups such as Right Sector, Svoboda, and the Azov Battalion. Donbas residents, who identify heavily with Russia, revolted against the coup regime. The Ukrainian government used brutal force to try to crush the rebellion. The ensuing civil war in the Donbas region killed 14,000 people. Donbas residents should be able to decide if they want to remain in Ukraine as an autonomous region or become an independent nation. An internationally supervised referendum could be held after the war ends.

BACP supports disbanding NATO. NATO has grown steadily since 1999, incorporating 14 new member nations, all in Eastern Europe. This expansion violates a pledge in 1990 not to expand one inch east of the newly reunified Germany. NATO steadily expanding eastward deeply antagonized Russia. According to a 2008 diplomatic cable written by then-U.S. ambassador to Russia William Burns (now CIA director), virtually all Russians, regardless of political beliefs, oppose NATO expansion. Contrary to a 1997 agreement between NATO and Russia, the U.S. and other NATO nations deployed troops and missiles to the new NATO member nations, built bases in these nations, and conducted military exercises near Russia's borders. Russia considers all of these activities threatening. NATO does not promote peace. Instead, NATO has waged numerous aggressive wars since 1995. These include wars in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and Iraq. BACP supporting the disbandment of NATO is in keeping with BACP's longstanding opposition to U.S. military alliances, U.S. military aid, and the stationing of U.S. troops overseas.

BACP supports the U.S. Senate ratifying the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This treaty, which abolishes nuclear weapons, became international law in 2021 when the 50th nation ratified the treaty. The Ukraine War demonstrates the urgent need to abolish nuclear weapons as a misunderstanding between Russia and NATO nations could escalate the current war into a nuclear war.

BACP joins our allies in Grandmothers for Peace, Veterans for Peace, and Women Against Military Madness in calling for peace in Ukraine and opposing a U.S. war against Russia.



Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) holds our monthly meeting on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at:

(During the winter months of 2022-2023, BACP monthly meetings will held via Zoom.)

UCC CHURCH
415 Juniper, Brainerd
(SW corner of Gregory Park)
or at Gregory Park in mild weather
JOIN US!


Stop Line 3 Vigils

As of October 12, 2021, the monthly Stop Line 3 vigils are discontinued. Shut Down Line 3 vigils may be held on an occasional basis.




Lending Library: We have available for lending a number of resources: books, DVDs, CDs, documentaries.



Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) holds our monthly meeting on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at:

(During the winter months of 2022-2023, BACP monthly meetings will held via Zoom.)

UCC CHURCH
415 Juniper, Brainerd
(SW corner of Gregory Park)
or at Gregory Park in mild weather
JOIN US!

Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can't Kick Militarism takes on the most active, powerful and destructive military in the world. It tells the history of U.S. foreign wars - from the Indian Wars to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hard-hitting, carefully documented with 161 reference notes, and heavily illustrated, this 77-page book reveals why the U.S. has been involved in more wars in recent years than any other country. Read Addicted to War to find out who benefits from these military adventures, who pays and who dies.



“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Albert Einstein.






The next highway cleanup will be scheduled for Fall, 2023.


Adopt-a-Highway Project

The Spring, 2023, Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace (BACP) Adopt-a-Highway cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, May 6.

Cleanup volunteers will meet at the former Knottys on 371 restaurant parking lot, located off Highway 76 north of Little Falls, at 11 a.m. A short assembly will be held to plan the cleanup.

Volunteers are encouraged to read the Adopt-a-Highway information posted here. Included in the Adopt-a-Highway information is how to report potentially hazardous materials encountered during the cleanup, tips to avoid poison ivy and other plants which cause itching, and Lyme Disease prevention advice.

In the event bad weather forces cancellation of the cleanup, the Spring BACP Adopt-a-Highway cleanup will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 20.

Everyone is welcome to join the Spring BACP Adopt-a-Highway cleanup. The project will be a great way to help the environment and share our message of peace. Please join us.



For comments, inquiries, or suggestions or to make donations, send to:

Brainerd Area Coalition for Peace
P.O. Box 113
Brainerd, MN 56401-0113

Or email: letters@brainerdpeace.org
Or use the form to email:
Email Form

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