“Don’t look away” activists demand as drone warfare continues to kill innocent civilians and destroy families around the globe.
By the Institute for Public Accuracy
At 11 locations near U.S. military bases, in the days following Thanksgiving, Ban Killer Drone campaign activists will display portraits of ten people who were killed three months ago in Kabul, when a U.S. Predator drone fired a Hellfire missile into the family’s courtyard. The victims, seven of them children, were members of the Ahmadi family. The U.S. military mistakenly identified Zemari Ahmadi as a terrorist.
After following him for eight hours, analysts concluded he was driving a car filled with explosives intended for an attack that could harm U.S. military at the Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul. Conclusive investigations showed he was a civilian, working for an NGO dedicated to nutrition, who had loaded canisters of water into the trunk of his car.

When it’s possible to interact with base employees, activists will offer a “memo” posing 12 questions. “In order to be accountable to us, and to your own conscience, we ask you to answer all these questions to yourselves and to the public.” The questions address ethical concerns about drone attacks.
Referring to the drone attack which killed the Ahmadi family, Joy First, who is coordinating an action in Madison, Wis., said, “This is a tragedy that happens all too often. Over 90 percent of the people killed by U.S. drones are not the ones who were targeted. Hundreds of thousands of innocent lives have been lost in these attacks, including so many children.”
The protests are being held in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Activists participating in the “Don’t Look Away” campaign urge U.S. elected representatives to demand more information and accountability regarding the drone attack that killed the Ahmadi family members. They also are calling for the U.S. government to give immediate reparations to the Ahmadis and for the United States to “unfreeze” Afghanistan’s assets to prevent starvation in that country.
The Ban Killer Drones network is also urging a Congressional investigation into the numbers and identities of all those killed by U.S. drones since 2001 and reparations for all their families. Ultimately, the Ban Killer Drones campaign believes an international treaty prohibiting weaponized drones should become part of international law.
Recent Posts
We Can’t Assume That Trump Will Author His Own Undoing
March 14, 2025
Take Action Now There will surely be turf wars and palace intrigue within the administration, but there is little reason to think that its core…
The Arrest Of Mahmoud Khalil, A Zero Hour Conversation With Sonali Kolhatkar
March 13, 2025
Take Action Now Eskow and Kolhatkar argue that if this repression is not challenged, it will escalate, targeting more individuals and further eroding…
Five Years After COVID, The GOP Is The Anti-Vaccine Party
March 12, 2025
Take Action Now Despite the ongoing spread of COVID, measles and bird flu, Trump has handed power to anti-vaxxers and vaccine skeptics.By Sasha…
Mahmoud Khalil’s Wife Speaks Out On His Unconstitutional Arrest
March 12, 2025
Take Action Now The following is a press statement from Mahmoud Khalil’s wife. Khalil was unconstitutionally arrested by ICE agents over the…