Philadelphia
Protesters in Philadelphia gathered Feb. 10 in front of the Federal Building to denounce U.S. aggression and threats against Iran. The rally and speak-out drew attention to the escalating hostility shown towards the country by the United States and its junior partner Israel, including assassinations, sanctions and other measures aimed at inflicting massive suffering on the Iranian people.
Speakers pointed out the blatant hypocrisy of U.S. imperialism and its allies, who possess thousands of nuclear weapons but base their aggression on the flimsy pretext that Iran’s nuclear program might be used for military purposes.
The demonstration was joined by a number of allied organizations, including Occupy Philadelphia as well as several Palestine solidarity groups that had organized a national “boycott, divestment and sanctions” conference the previous weekend. In addition to defending Iran, several speakers highlighted the plight of Khader Adnan, a Palestinian political prisoner who is in critical condition after being on a hunger strike for over 50 days and counting.
The protest provided a starting point for a growing effort against war on Iran based on principled support for the right to self-determination.
Pittsburgh
On Feb 11, despite extreme weather, anti-war activists joined the weekly anti-war vigil held by the peace activist group Black Voices for Peace in Pittsburgh. The vigil, which has been held for the last seven years to say no to U.S. wars in the Middle East, had an additional message this week: “No War on Iran!”
Members of the ANSWER coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), Students for Justice in Palestine and Thomas Merton Center were present to protest the economic sanctions and U.S./Israeli-led war on Iran. Taking four corners of a busy intersection, activists held signs that said: “No Intervention in Iran,” “U.S. Out of the Middle East,” “No War on Iran,” and “Schools not Bombs.” Passing cars, trucks and public buses honked and waved in agreement.
The vigil lasted about an hour and was followed by a speech by ANSWER Coalition member Taylor Goel, who stated, “The real threat to the peace in the region is the U.S. and Israel.”
He added, “This is an artificial crisis created by the U.S. and its imperialist allies, a shameless effort to destabilize and destroy Iran’s economy so that the U.S. can carry out a regime change in Iran as it has already done once in the past.” The demonstrators ended the event by chanting, “No war on Iran! No sanctions in Iran!” and “U.S. out of the Middle East!”
Walter Smolarek and Taylor Goel contributed to this report.
