By Brian Terrell
On Tuesday, April 13, a dozen people representing Iowa Peace
Network, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Catholic Peace
Ministry and Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm attempted to visit the offices
of public relations and marketing firm LS2group in Des Moines, with a banner
that read, “LS2group- DON’T LOBBY for War Crimes and Murder, drop SAUDI
ARABIA.”
LS2group has had several million dollar contracts with the Saudi kingdom in recent years and has been hired again to repair the kingdom’s image that has been further tarnished by recent events, as reported in a March 6 USA Today article, “After Khashoggi murder, Saudi Arabia shifts lobbying firepower to 'middle America' with women's rights message.” Patti McKee, director of Des Moines based Catholic Peace Ministry responded to the report, “We can't stand by and let LS2group continue to tout Saudi Arabia's ‘improved’ women's rights while they continue to oppress them in many ways. Saudi Arabia also continues their deadly war against Yemen causing starvation of thousands of children and the destruction of the country. LS2group must drop their Saudi account now if they want to be seen as a credible company.”
Terrell/ Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm
On Monday, an email was sent to LS2group announcing the
visit: “Just a heads up and to assure you that while our outrage over your
firm's collusion with the Saudi regime is real, our presence outside your
office, noon to one tomorrow, will be peaceful and respectful. We will be
delivering a letter expressing our hope that LS2group will drop its contracts
with the Saudi regime. We would welcome
a chance to speak with a representative of LS2group, if this is possible.” On
Tuesday during usual business hours, LS2group offices at 510 East Locust Street
were locked and dark and its parking lot empty. After waiting an hour on the
sidewalk with their banner, the activists signed a letter composed by CODEPINK
Women for Peace and slipped it into a crack between the office building’s
doors.
“No public relations campaign on behalf of the Saudi kingdom
can soften the image of that brutal regime,” says Maloy, Iowa, based activist
Brian Terrell. “Taking money from a government ruled by an unelected despot who
ordered the gruesome murder and dismemberment of a journalist, one whose
military conducts a war and blockade of Yemen that has killed many thousands of
civilians and threatens millions with starvation, one who imprisons and
tortures women’s rights advocates should only hurt the image of LS2group.”
The activists will meet again outside LS2group offices next
Wednesday at noon and will continue to push LS2group to drop its Saudi
contracts. Concerned people outside Iowa can join more than 2,000 who have
signed CODEPINK’s letter, https://www.codepink.org/ls2group,
and email LS2group at info@ls2group.com
Brian Terrell is a former Des Moines resident, and took lead with organizing this demonstration. brian1956terrell@gmail.com
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