Chicago, IL – On Friday March 13, about 500 people gathered in front of the Israeli consulate in a protest led by People United Against Oppression (PUAO), US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Anti War Committee – Chicago (AWC) and many other organizations. This day is known as Al-Quds day within the Shia Muslim community and coincides with the last Friday of Ramadan.

“Trump wants war, Trump wants oil, hands off Iranian soil!” Joe Iosbaker of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) Chicago led the crowd to chant before they marched through downtown to Daley Plaza.

Al Quds day was declared by Iran shortly after it overthrew its U.S.-backed monarch, Reza Pahlavi in 1979. Around the same time, Iran nationalized its oil. Declared by founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini, it was meant to be a day in public solidarity with the struggle of the people of Palestine and its capital Jerusalem, or Al-Quds in Arabic, and symbolizes Iranian national liberation as well. Al Quds is commonly observed throughout the world through public demonstrations and marches.

Iosbaker said in his speech, “The fool in the White House has made not only the biggest mistake of his life, but this could be the greatest military debacle faced by the United States since Vietnam!”

The United States military has been taking defeats throughout the war, from the massive equipment and property damages to the economic losses of key U.S. allies, including Israel. While this has happened, thousands across the U.S. have mobilized in opposition to the war, with it being the most unpopular war ever in its history, even more so than the infamous war on Vietnam.

Sami Elmuti of USPCN stated, “This illegal and illegitimate war has been launched to punish Iran and its people, just for the sole stance of being against the U.S. empire.” Iran for years has built up what it calls the axis of resistance in the Middle East fighting for its and the Palestinians liberation in the face of the U.S. empire and its puppet, Israel.

Elmuti continued, “The same atrocities we saw over the past couple of years in Gaza are now spreading throughout the world funded by this government at the expense of its own people.” Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran to “liberate” the women there, using an old talking point that Israel also uses against Gaza and Palestine. He had infamously started this war with bombing an all-girls school, calling his claims for liberation into question.

Yusuf Masood of AWC highlighted the impact of local politicians' decisions on funding the war on Iran, stating, “Michael Frerichs is investing our taxes into Israel bonds, and the board he sits on, the Illinois State Board of Investment or ISBI, continues to invest in weapons manufacturers.”

Despite thousands of signatures, emails and calls, Michael Frerichs and the ISBI board have committed to investing in companies that profit from ice raids, war in Iran, and around the world.

Masood continued, “The politicians are afraid of us because they know the power we have when we stand together against them. And we have a chance to show that power Friday morning where we will stand and protest in front of ISBI’s office protesting their funding of the war in Iran, Palestine, and against our communities.”

For more updates on actions against the war with Iran, follow @antiwarchicago, @uspcn, and @puao.313 on social media. Additionally, updates surrounding Illinois investments in Israel and weapons manufacturers can be seen at @antiwarchicago, @uspcn, and @bdschicago.

#ChicagoIL #IL #AntiWarMovement #Iran #AlQuds #USPCN

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.

The protest was called for by the Al-Quds Committee to mark Al-Quds day. Several organizations participated including, Workers World Party, December 12th Movement, CUNY4Palestine, Pal-Awda and Brooklyn Against War.

Chants of “Free free Palestine!” and “We will honor all our martyrs” could be heard through Times Square.

Sara Flounders from the Workers World Party told the crowd, “It is Iran's right to defend itself and it is Palestine's right to defend itself. That resistance deserves the support and solidarity of people worldwide.”

Jacob Muldoon from Brooklyn Against War said, “Trump’s attacks on Iran have a grave consequence – hundreds of Iranians killed and billions of dollars spent on the war machine. Money spent on war and bloodshed and not on the actual needs of working people. We stand with the people of Iran and Palestine in their fight against U.S. and Israeli aggression.”

#NewYorkNY #NY #AntiWarMovement #Iran #Palestine #AlQuds

Participants chanted “Occupation is a crime, free Palestine!” and “U.S. generosity, Israel’s atrocities!” Several activists gave speeches in defense of Palestine. Reverend Ronnie Lister, a local community organizer, said that the “Palestinian people will triumph over their oppression.” Ian Cox, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke against the “unjust oppression and occupation of Palestine” and the need for a “single and liberated Palestine.”

After the protest came to an end a small group of the activists went to a dinner being held to honor Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh. At the dinner Odeh’s life as an activist for Palestinian rights along with details of her upcoming appeals trial were discussed.

#HoustonTX #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #Protest #AlQuds

Chicago, IL – 200 people rallied in solidarity with Palestine on Al Quds Day. Al Quds is Jerusalem in Arabic. Joe Iosbaker of the Anti-War Committee-Chicago, spoke at the rally, making the following remarks:

“One year ago, Israel launched a 51-day bombing campaign against Gaza. 2300 deaths, including over 500 children, were the result.

We are gathering today as part of the International Day of Al Quds.

Today, I am here to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel. Israeli officials are war mongers. In their propaganda, they claim that they minimize the deaths of civilians by the pinpoint accuracy of their bombs and missiles. Yet over 500 children died last summer, and a majority of the 2300 deaths are civilians.

Is there any truth to what the Israelis say? Yes, I believe that their weapons are pinpoint accurate. I believe it because they are made by companies like Boeing, headquartered in Chicago. Many of the bombs dropped in the past three wars on Gaza were equipped with GPS systems made by Boeing. Boeing promises that their smart bombs will hit within 30 feet of their targets.

The Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance system also has a camera on it which sends the pilot that launches them a photo just before impact, so the pilot can make last second adjustments for greater accuracy. Like the drone operators, the Israeli pilots can see the kids, the women and the elderly that they are hitting just before impact.

The civilian deaths then aren’t accidental. They are calculated to cause the greatest suffering to the Palestinian people, to break their will to resist.

We who live in the U.S. have a special responsibility – to oppose the U.S. backing of the Israeli murderers; the $3 billion annually in military aid; and the American corporations that invest in Israel to keep their apartheid system going.

I want to speak about the movement in solidarity with Palestine here in the U.S. This past week has seen more victories for the BDS campaign, with the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly voting to cut their ties with companies that are invested in Israel.

The week before, there was the news that direct foreign investment in Israel had fallen by 50% over the previous year.

Israel is facing the same reality as South Africa did when it was under white minority rule. Only the U.S. government, the worst oppressors in the world, will continue to back Israel.

But they can’t hold back the tide. Israel is living on stolen land and borrowed time.

Of course, they can make a lot of people suffer. Even here in Chicago, we have an example of this in the case of Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea is a Palestinian, who was a victim of Israeli occupation 45 years ago. She was tortured by Israeli occupation prison guards until she confessed to a bombing. After she was released from Israeli prison in a prisoner exchange, she immigrated to the U.S. with her dad, a U.S. citizen. She became a citizen and a leader in her community here in Chicago. Then, the U.S. Department of Justice came after her as part of their attack on the Palestine support movement. Now she faces being imprisoned and deported because she didn’t say on her application for citizenship that she had been tortured by the Israelis.

In September, we will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio to be in court when Rasmea appeals her conviction. Please plan to go there with us, so the judges can see the breadth of her community support.”

#ChicagoIL #AntiwarMovement #Palestine #PeoplesStruggles #JoeIsobaker #AlQuds #MiddleEast