Youth groups marched to the US embassy in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City yesterday, July 31, to condemn war criminals US State Secretary Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in their visit to Philippines. Police guarding the embassy off-guard and were unable to prevent the lightning rally.

Led by the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and Filipino Youth for Palestine, the rallyists held a short program where they condemned the “2+2” meeting between Austin and Blinken, and the lapdog Marcos’ government officials Gibo Teodoro, secretary of the Department of National Defense, and Enrico Manalo, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, on July 30.

“This 2+2 meeting has no purpose other than to further tighten US control over the Philippines by pushing for lopsided agreements such as the General Security of Military Information Agreement, and the Philippines-Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, which themselves also cause the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea,” according to LFS.

They also denounced US imperialism’s support in the genocidal campaign of Zionist Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza. Today is the 300th day of Zionist Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, since October 7, 2023. Israel has killed at least 39,445 people, injured 91,073 and displaced 2.3 million Palestinians.

US imperialism is also involved in Israel’s attacks and bombings in other parts of the Middle East such as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and its occupied territories in Palestine. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Israel has carried out a total of 17,081 attacks since October 7, 2023 in these countries.

The youth burned the US flag in front of the embassy to show their contempt for the imperialist US. Ysabelle Briones, spokeswoman for Youth for Justice and Peace who also participated in the protest, said this is a demonstration of resistance to the continuing violation of human rights by US policies and programs.

After the rally, the LFS hung a big protest streamer on the Filipino-American “friendship” footbridge, displaying the condemnation against Blinken and Austin who visited the Philippines. “There is no place for number-one terrorists, masterminds, and those who incite war in our country,” LFS said.