About 30 people gathered on the front steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol on Saturday to protest the threat of war with Iran.
“I’m almost 30 years old and I’ve been fighting a war for as long as I can remember,” said Chris Thomas, a 28-year-old Middletown resident.
Thomas is also a member of the Harrisburg chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which organized the protest.
The demonstration was a response to the January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassim Soleimani by a US drone in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
Soleimani was the leader Iranian military organization that arms allied militia groups across the Middle East and has been linked to the deaths of Americans.
President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani, affirmatively that Suleimani “planned imminent and sinister attacks on US diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him” to justify the attack.
House
Soleimani’s death was also preceded by a December attack that killed an American contractor and a siege of the American embassy in Iraq led by pro-Iranian groups.
Iran threatens to retaliate for deaths as 3,500 US troops prepare to deploy to Middle East in response, according to Washington Post.
But the media reports To have questioned threats facing American personnel, while many protest participants were quick to cite the controversial wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as a reason for their distrust.
One such skeptic was Jesse Gantt, a candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 104th District, which includes northern Dauphin County.
“I’m running for the House of Representatives because I won’t be lied to again if I don’t speak up in opposition,” Gantt said.
Some signs called for an “end to eternal wars”, while speakers made references to recently published ones “Afghanistan Documents” by Post.
The Post presented years of documents showing that U.S. leadership under both Democrats and Republicans misled the American people about a 19-year conflict that has cost more than 100,000 lives and nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer money.
Pointing to America’s involvement in the Middle East, Thomas asked, “What has all this gotten us?”
Many protesters also held signs for Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has gained support for his strict anti-war message.
I was right about Vietnam.
I was right about Iraq.
I will do everything in my power to prevent a war with Iran.
I apologize to no one. pic.twitter.com/Lna3oBZMKB
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 3, 2020
His progressive message was adopted in chants among demonstrators.
"How do we kick Donald's ass? Unify the working class!" goes a chant. "How do we stop the deficit? Stop the war, tax the rich!" goes another.
— Stephen Scare-uso (@StephenJ_Caruso) January 4, 2020
Rallies were held in other parts of the Commonwealth, including: State University, PittsburghAND Philadelphia.
A bunch of Nazis just tried to invade anti-war rally and got a classic yinzer anti-fa boot.
Wild scene. pic.twitter.com/y1HOVTFCeQ
— Mike Elk (@MikeElk) January 4, 2020
As the Harrisburg rally ended, some protesters waved from the steps to passing cars. Passersby honked continuously at the immense “no war with Iran” banner that hung throughout much of the hour-long event.
While some responded by beeping their horns in a warm manner, one driver raised his hand to block his view of the protesters and drove away.
“I think they want war,” one protester joked.
