News and Views from the People's Struggle
Austin, TX – On Thursday, July 3, students and community activists gathered at the Texas Capitol to call for an end to continued U.S. aggression against Iran. The action was organized by Austin Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
New York, NY – On the afternoon of June 28, dozens of organizers and activists gathered in the heart of Times Square, in the same plaza as the U.S. Army’s Times Square Recruiting Station, to oppose the attacks on Iran.
Internationally, the day of action was called by Global Resistance for Peace and Justice. In New York, the action was organized by the Bronx Anti War Committee.
By Zhenya Aleksandrovna and Caryn Hart
Chicago, IL – Several hundred people mobilized in downtown Chicago, June 28 to demand the end of all U.S aid to Israel and divestment of Illinois bonds from companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine.
This weekly demonstration was organized by the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP). CJP has organized mass demonstrations almost every week for nearly two years since the current Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza began in October 2023.
Denver, CO – On Sunday, June 29, the Colorado Palestine Coalition organized a protest in response to United States and Israeli escalations in Iran. They also called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Over 60 people came out to march and as the crowd picked up steam after a few speeches they took the streets.
Tallahassee, FL – On June 24, community members rallied at the Florida State Capitol to denounce the latest wave of U.S. and Israeli aggression in the Middle East. Called by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization the morning after the U.S. military launched an unprovoked attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, the protest brought together students and workers from across the city to condemn the U.S. attack and complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, June 25, 100 people gathered in Milwaukee for an emergency “Hands Off Iran” action, the second led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) this month, and the third held in the city that same week.
The event came a few days after the Trump administration bombed three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, June 21. Up to this point, the U.S. government had been funding and supporting Israel as it bombed Iran, but had not itself launched an attack. Saturday’s news caused concern among people in the U.S. that it would spark a wider war in the region.
Minneapolis, MN – On June 28, the Free Palestine Coalition and Minnesota Peace Action Coalition held a rally and march of over 200 people to oppose U.S. intervention in Iran and U.S. aid to Israel. The protest started in Powderhorn Park in south Minneapolis after the Minneapolis People’s Pride festival ended.
San Jose, CA – On Sunday, June 22, the day after the U.S. bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, about 150 people gathered at the Dr. MLK, Jr Library in downtown San Jose in protest.
Iranian flags, Palestinian flags and signs reading, “No war with Iran!” were held by protesters as they chanted, “Stop bombing Iran!” “U.S. out of the Middle East” and “U.S. out of Iran!” accompanied by many supportive car honks.
Chicago, IL – “Hands off Iran!” echoed loud in downtown Chicago on June 23, after U.S. bombing of Iran nuclear sites. Over 500 people rallied at Federal Plaza and marched to demand “U.S. out of Iran and the Middle East” and an end to the genocide and all U.S aid to Israel.
The demonstration was called by the Anti-War Committee Chicago (AWC) and the United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN).
Hands off Iran!
”No war on Iran! Let us be clear, this is not about nuclear weapons. We’ve seen this before. What we are witnessing is not an attempt of global security, but a ruthless punishment of Iran for its refusal to bow down to U.S. imperialism and its unwavering opposition to Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation. This campaign of aggression must end now!” said Luna Ebrahim of USPCN.
Caeli Kean of AWC reinforced solidarity with Iran and other Arab resistance against U.S. aggression, saying, “They want to blame Iran for its internationally recognized right to defend itself from U.S. and Israeli aggression. They want to blame Palestine for its international right to resist oppression and occupation. They want to blame Yemen for its international right to intervene and prevent genocide. They want to blame everyone stopping this violence. It is crystal clear that U.S. imperialism is the source of all of this violence!”
Early during the demonstration, Husam Marajda of USPCN had announced to the crowd the ceasefire announced by Donald Trump agreed upon by Iran, Israel and the U.S. Marajda stated, “That’s a good thing. We don’t want war. And we want an end to U.S. and Israeli aggression in the region immediately.”
Marajda emphasized the power of the people in the United States in pushing the government to keep its hands off Iran, he stated, “Let’s be clear, the reason why this war did not escalate was because the people here in the United States rejected it. They opposed it and mobilized against it, here in Chicago and all over the country.”
Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupations!
After the rally at Federal Plaza, protesters flooded into the streets of downtown Chicago, taking Michigan Avenue and ending at Trump Tower. Chants demanded an end to the U.S. military in the Middle East and the Philippines, and an end to oppressive walls and surveillance, from Palestine to Mexico.
The attention of bystanders was captured by Husam Marajda, who stated, “They are sending and spending billions of dollars on weapons to bomb other countries and we say, that ain’t right! “
“Marajda continued, We want money to go to disenfranchised communities. We wanna fund our schools, our infrastructure, our healthcare. We wanna get money to communities long impacted by colonialism and by racism. We wanna invest in the people, not in the destruction of other countries.”
#ChicagoIL #IL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #Palestine #USPCN #AWCChicago
Grand Rapids, MI – While the Grand Rapids Pride committee was pausing festivities for the afternoon due to nearly triple-digit temperatures on Sunday, June 22, over 100 community members marched with cold compresses and face misting water bottles through the Festival to nearby Rosa Parks Circle, demanding “No war with Iran.”
Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, June 15, more than 50 community members gathered at Red Arrow Park for an emergency “Hands Off Iran” rally, led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC).
The event began with a community member proudly playing her violin before transitioning to speeches from several organizations, including the U.S. Palestinian Community Network – Milwaukee Chapter, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (MAARPR), Milwaukee 4 Yemen, and Peace Action.
New York, NY – On Sunday, June 22, hundreds of people gathered in the heart of Times Square to protest the U.S. attacking three Iranian nuclear sites the previous evening. The energy at the demonstration was electric despite the unbearable heat of an incoming heatwave.
Chicago, IL – Only a few hours before the public learned of the U.S. military’s attack on Iran’s three nuclear sites, hundreds took to the streets in Chicago, June 21, with the Coalition for Justice in Palestine (CJP) to demand hands off Iran. The protest was one of the Coalition’s recurring downtown protests, demanding an end to the ongoing U.S.– backed Israeli genocide of Palestine.
Los recientes ataques con misiles de Israel contra Irán han matado a más de 200 iraníes en una semana. Irán se ha defendido legítimamente, como lo haría cualquier nación soberana, y ha contraatacado con precisión, lanzando misiles a través del “colador de hierro” de Israel.
San Jose, CA – On Tuesday, June 17, around 200 people gathered at the steps of Dr. MLK, Jr Library to protest Israel’s “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran.
Israel’s recent missile strikes on Iran have killed over 200 Iranians in one week. Iran has rightfully defended itself, as any sovereign nation would, and has struck back with precision, raining missiles through Israel’s ‘Iron Colander’.
Chicago IL – On April 17, over 70 students rallied and marched at the University of Illinois at Chicago to oppose U.S. war moves against Iran. The action was part of a National Day of Action called by Students for a Democratic Society.
Tampa, FL- Over 20 students at the University of South Florida marched April 18 to demand no U.S. attacks on Iran and an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Tampa Bay SDS organized this protest and march as part of a National Day of Action called by National SDS in response to the April 1 Israeli bombing of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus, Syria. Students marched from the library to the student center to show their support for Palestine and for the solidarity that Iran has shown towards Palestine.
Tacoma, WA – On April 14, in Tollefson Plaza, approximately 30 protesters gathered in Tacoma to demand “U.S hands off Iran” at a rally called for by several Students for a Democratic Society chapters (SDS).
Minneapolis, MN – On Wednesday, April 17, dozens of students and community members gathered on the University of Minnesota campus to rally against war with Iran. On Saturday, April 13, Iran launched a series of attacks on Israel in retaliation for the recent Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.