Protesters in Loop condemn U.S. attack on Iran: 'War is not the solution'
Dozens of antiwar activists descended onto Federal Plaza in Chicago’s Loop Saturday evening to denounce the United States and Israel attack on Iran earlier in the day.
“Not another missile, not another rocket. All these wars are just for profit,” protesters shouted as others pounded drums to the chants.
Some carried signs, including a large, red banner that read, “No boots on the ground. No bombs in the air. U.S. out of everywhere.”
The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran early Saturday, and President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died following a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.
As reports trickled out about the death, eyewitnesses in Tehran told The Associated Press that some residents were rejoicing, blowing whistles and letting out ululations.
Earlier in the day, around 100 demonstrators in Chicago who supported the strikes rallied in Daley Plaza, flying American flags and the pre-revolution Iranian flag.
At least 200 people were killed on the first day of fighting, including 115 reported dead when a girls’ school was struck. More than 700 were injured in the attacks, according to Iranian state media, citing the Red Crescent. The U.S. military reported no U.S. casualties and minimal damage at U.S. bases.
At Saturday evening's antiwar protest, Ali Tarokh, an Iranian American and refugee rights advocate, said, “The message is simple: Stop this war.”
"As an Iranian American who arrived here 13 years ago, I’m telling you, stop this war. This is not Iranian war. We don’t want this war,” Tarokh said.
He and other protesters laid the attacks at the feet of President Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it “Netanyahu’s playbook.”
“War is not the solution,” Tarokh said. “We have problems, we have challenges inside Iran, but it’s our problem, our challenges. We are able, we are mighty, we are strong. … Bombing and striking, war do not bring democracy into our country.”
Protesters viewed the strikes as a violation of international and U.S. law, and as a punishment for Iran’s support of Gaza in its war with Israel. They repeatedly called for U.S. divestment from Israel and military attacks, arguing that funding should be diverted to health care and education.
“The people of this country do not want another forever war,” said Yusuf Masood, a member of the Anti-War Committee of Chicago.
“While millions here can barely afford to get by on a daily basis, forced to work long and arduous hours with little government support, the very same government sends billions of dollars abroad to support war on Iran and Israel’s crimes against Palestine,” Masood said. “We must stand resolutely in solidarity with the people of Iran, who only want to live free from becoming another vassal state of the U.S. empire.”
Illinois' Democratic leaders also criticized the attacks, claiming Trump carried them out without congressional approval. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration had briefed several Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress in advance of the attack.
“No justification, no authorization from Congress, and no clear objective. But none of that matters to Donald Trump — and apparently neither do the safety and lives of American service members," Gov. JB Pritzker said in a social media post.
Organizers from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Anti-War Committee and two dozen more organizations arranged Saturday’s demonstration, which lasted nearly two hours after protesters marched from Federal Plaza to Trump Tower.
The organizations planned another protest for 5:30 p.m. Monday at Ida B. Wells Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Contributing: Associated Press