Dozens of Pittsburghers took to the City-County Building steps in Downtown Pittsburgh Monday evening to protest military actions by the U.S. and Israel in Iran.
Signs held in the crowd included “Money for People’s Needs, Not War w/Iran” and “Love the Foreigner.” The chants included “not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes.”
June Querques of the Pittsburgh branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation was one of the organizers. Querques see the conflict escalating and spreading to other countries.
“We’re going to continue to be in the streets until (President Donald) Trump stops his aggression,” he said. “We expect our numbers to only continue to grow as Americans realize the cost this war’s having on them and the people of the world.”
The Associated Press reported that the death toll grew on all sides since Saturday.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 555 people. In Israel, where several locations were hit by Iranian missiles in response, 11 people were killed. Israel’s retaliatory strikes against Hezbollah killed dozens of people in Lebanon.
The U.S. military announced that six American service members have died, in strikes from Iran against U.S. bases in the region, including United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Taylor Goel, Pittsburgh coordinator of the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, said “they are waging another illegitimate genocidal war, plain and simple. It’s being done in our name. With our tax dollars. With our hard-earned money. the majority of Americans do not want this war.”
Monday’s protest was also organized by The People’s Forum, National Iranian-American Council, Democratic Socialists of America, Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee and the International Solidarity Committee of Pittsburgh.
Kate Daher of the Pittsburgh Palestine Solidarity Committee was among the speakers.
“I think it’s important for all Americans to come out and speak against this war,” said Daher of Wilkinsburg. She cited polls that show most Americans do not want war.
A Washington Post poll conducted on March 1 found 52% of Americans opposed Trump ordering airstrikes against Iran, with another 39% in support and 9% unsure.
Daher said politicians will always find a reason to go to war, and does not believe the Trump administration has made a good case for its actions.
“I think it’s up to the people of Iran if they want to change their government,” she said. “That’s up to them. It’s not up to Israel or up to the U.S. to interfere in their internal discussion or anything else that they’re doing to find freedom.”
Videos of Iranians dancing in the streets, celebrating the military action against leaders of the Islamic regime, have been circulating online.
“There are 90 million people in Iran, which means there’s a very wide variety of opinions,” Querques said.
The Rev. Adam Stump of Central Highland Community United Methodist Church in Elizabeth Township brought his sons Tristan, 15, and Judah, 7, with him to the protest.
“I think it’s a privilege and an honor because this is part of our First Amendment rights,” Stump said. “I’m training my boys to do it right, peacefully. I do believe in peaceful protest. I think they need to see that. Every protest that I have attended here in the Pittsburgh area has been peaceful and well organized. I think that it’s a stirring example of how to be good citizens and how to really use your rights as an American citizen.”
Stump said the family was united in protesting unilateral action against anther country.
“We have a Constitution in America, and I think that we should follow the Constitution especially as far as warring is concerned,” Stump said. “I know we’re not officially at war with Iran, but we’ve already lost American soldiers. I think we need to stand up and speak out against the Trump regime and his attempt at authoritarianism.”
Tristan said he was proud to be at the event with his family.
“It’s a good thing to be out here because I think this is a good way to enact our rights and stand up for what is right,” he said. “I’m glad all the people made it out here today.”