News and Views from the People's Struggle
Jacksonville, FL – On Sunday, March 15, in response to the U.S. and Israel aggression on Iran and Lebanon, the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) took to the streets, and a coalition of organizations joined them to protest the unjust war.
This mobilization of about 80 people to downtown Jacksonville came hot off the heels of the rally JPSN organized on February 28, the day of the first strike on Iran.
Charleston, SC – Upwards of 50 people gathered at Elbit Systems of America’s facility in Ladson, South Carolina, on Sunday March 15 to join the Anti-War Action Network’s day of action demanding no United States war on Iran.
San Jose, CA – On March 15, over 40 people gathered in downtown San Jose to demand an end to the U.S. war on Iran. They chanted “Hands off Iran,” to supportive honks from people driving past the protest. Community members waved Iranian and Palestinian signs and held signs reading, “No war on Iran” and “San Jose: divest from genocide.” The protest was part of the Anti-War Action Network National Day of Action.
Tucson, AZ – As part of the March 15 No U.S. War on Iran National Day of Action called by the Anti-War Action Network, the Tucson Anti-War Committee (TAWC) and others answered the call. Organizers quickly identified an important location for their action: the Tucson Festival of Books.
New York, NY – on the afternoon of Friday, March 13, hundreds gathered in Times Square to protest the war in Iran and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Indianapolis, IN – On Sunday, March 15, braving forceful winds, around 20 Indiana residents from around the state gathered in downtown Indianapolis to demand that the United States end its criminal war on Iran and the entire Middle East.
Bozeman, MT – On March 13, Montana State University students and community members disrupted the “Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Montana” open house held at the EngineWorks building on Montana State University’s Innovation Campus, to protest the university’s ties to military research and surveillance technologies that assist Israel’s war on Iran and the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
Minneapolis, MN – On Friday March 13, Minnesotans held a candlelight vigil in honor of the 165 to 180 victims, majority children, of the U.S. bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Iran.
Tucson, AZ – As part of the National Week of Action against Howmet Aerospace, March 1 to 8, the Tucson Anti War Committee (TAWC) led a protest on March 7 outside of a Howmet facility that makes fasteners for Lockheed Martin’s F-35.
In an industrial area of Tucson unaccustomed to political protests, passing cars honked enthusiastically against Israel’s genocide of Palestine. Israel purchases a version of the F-35 that it has used to drop “bunker busters” that have murdered Palestinians and leveled homes as part of the Zionist genocide.
Most Tucsonans know Raytheon, RTX, as the local war profiteer, but the outreach by TAWC raised awareness about Howmet as another manufacturer that profits off of U.S. wars and destruction.
Before the protest, TAWC hosted a community teach-in and followed up with months of flyering and canvassing neighborhoods, small businesses, and community events.
Protesters held Palestinian flags and a big banner that read, “Howmet cut ties with genocide” along with signs stating “Tucson stands against genocide” and “Israel kills, Howmet profits.”
Melissa Cordero, a progressive, anti-war veteran and organizer with Common Defense stated, “We must hold corporations like Howmet accountable for their role in perpetuating this cycle of violence and neglect of our veterans. We need a shift in our national priorities where our resources are directed to supporting those who have served.”
This was the first protest TAWC has held outside the Howmet facility in Tucson. A member of TAWC stated, “The majority of Howmet’s products are engines and wheels made for commercial vehicles and planes, and only about 17% of their business comes from making parts for the F-35 fighter jet for Lockheed Martin. The F-35 is a lethal fighter jet capable of carrying tens of thousands of pounds of bombs and moving faster than the speed of sound. They are a critical component in the U.S.-funded Israeli genocide of Palestinians.” He also explained these F-35 fighter jets are being used by the U.S. around the world in Venezuela and Iran.
TAWC took on the campaign with co-sponsors Common Defense, Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance (APSA), PSL, Nuclear Resistors, Veterans for Peace, and the local Tempest Collective branch.
Speakers at the action echoed the campaign’s demands that Howmet permanently stop their production of parts for F-35s and cut all ties with Lockheed Martin. The protest ended with a TAWC member leading chants like, “Howmet, Howmet you will see, Palestine will be free!” and “Howmet can keep Gaza alive, just stop making the F-35!”
Portland, OR – On Saturday, March 7, Portland For Palestine (P4P) organized a rally to oppose the U.S. war on Iran. The protest comes in the wake of continuing aggression against Iran led by a U.S.-Israel coalition. About 75 people joined in, including Iranians, who had come to voice their objection to unilateral strikes against their homeland.
Detroit, MI – On Saturday, March 7, Detroiters took to the streets of downtown to protest the ongoing bombing of Iran, Lebanon and Palestine. Over 200 people came out to protest Trump’s warmongering.
Chicago, IL – On Monday, March 2, students rallied on the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) quad to condemn the attacks on the city of Tehran by the apartheid state of Israel and the United States. Students demanded no war on Iran.
New Orleans, LA – On March 3, New Orleans Stop Helping Israel’s Ports (NOSHIP) hosted a rally and march against the escalatory U.S. sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela as well as the unprovoked attacks against Iran that have killed upwards of 900 people.
Colorado Springs, CO – On March 1, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) organized a protest over 150 people at Colorado Springs City Hall to demand an end to all military action against Iran.
Protesters chanted, “Hands off Iran,” “Donald Trump, CIA, how many kids did you kill today?” and “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air, US out of everywhere!”
Brooklyn, NY – On March 8, close to 80 people marched to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) to commemorate International Women’s Day and demand the kidnapped First Lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores, be released by the Trump Administration. Cilia Flores was kidnapped alongside her husband, Venezuelan President Maduro, in the January 3 U.S. attack on Venezuela.
Denver, CO – Around two dozen activists in Denver gather in front of Colorado Senator Michael Bennet’s office to demand that he oppose Trump’s recent escalations against Cuba and that he support the release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.
San Jose, CA – On the evening of Tuesday, March 3, about 40 people gathered in front of the steps of Dr. MLK Jr. Library in the heart of downtown San Jose to protest U.S. intervention in Venezuela, the intensified blockade on Cuba, and the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
A colorful array of flags for Cuba, Venezuela and Iran flew, along with signs saying, “End the blockade on Cuba,” “Hands off Venezuela” and “No war with Iran.”
Drusie Kazanova, member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “It’s barely March, we’ve already seen Trump escalate his aggression against Cuba, Venezuela and Iran, three of the world’s strongest and most steadfast opponents of U.S. imperialism.”
Kazanova continued, “The decline of U.S. imperialism is accelerating. Trump is trying to preserve the dying U.S. empire, and control of the Middle East and Latin America is a part of that project.”
Nassim Nouri, an Iranian-American and member of the Green Party of Santa Clara County, said, “Every socialist country that has raised its fist, its hope, its humanity and its resources for the people, has been subjected to crushing attacks and sanctions and deprivation by the U.S. empire.”
Akubundu Amazu of the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party spoke to the crowd, “There is a common denominator between all these places that U.S. imperialism goes against and that is oil. They all have resources that this war machine desperately needs. But the people are organizing against this!”
Joan Simon of the San Jose Peace and Justice Center spoke about the difference in peoples’ rights in Cuba and the U.S. saying, “In the Cuban constitution everyone has the right to healthcare and education. Just think about how different our country could be if we prioritized people over profit. That is why Cuba is such a danger to the U.S.”
Dyon Capote, a Cuban-American and member of San Jose Against War said, “We will not be silent at the time when Trump launches wars of aggression, and justifies the kidnapping of Venezuela’s president. Nor will we remain silent when the U.S. intensifies a policy of economic warfare on Cuba!”
Sharat Lin, another member of the San Jose Peace and Justice speaking on their experience observing elections in Cuba and Venezuela and compared it to U.S. elections, saying, “The turnout in Cuba’s constitutional referendum was 90% whereas in the U.S. we’re lucky if we get 60% participation,” highlighting how much more confidence Cubans have in their democracy than their counterparts in the U.S.
Tim Phan of Students for a Democratic Society at San Jose State University stated, “We condemn the U.S. Israeli strikes on not just Iran, but on Palestine and the rest of the world!”
Phan continued, “From Mexico to the Philippines, to Palestine and Iran, we will stop the American war machine and say, ‘Hell no!’”
The rally ended with a call to action by San Jose Against War and their allies to mobilize at the San Jose City Council meeting on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. to demand the city pass an ethical investment policy which would divest and bar any further investment in companies with ties to Israel, ICE and the prison system.
West Lafayette, IN – On Monday, March 2, over 30 protesters gathered in front of the Armory on Purdue University campus to protest the illegal war on Iran by the United States and the apartheid state Israel.
Detroit, MI — Over 80 people came out to a protest called by the Detroit Anti-War Committee, on March 3, to oppose the bombing on the Iran by the U.S. and Israel, as well as the continued attacks on the Venezuela and Cuba.
Los Angeles, CA – On Sunday, March 1, community members gathered at the Metro station on Soto and First Street for a rally to demand no war on Iran. Centro CSO called for the protest after Donald Trump initiated military attacks upon Iran the previous day.