Tampa, FL – On January 4, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) held a protest against U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. The event was in response to recent aggression from the Trump administration against Iran following the assassination of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani. “Shortly after we heard the news, we decided that it was important for us to organize a demonstration against a new war as quickly as possible,” said Matthew Wheat of Tampa Bay SDS.

Students and community members held signs and chanted on the corner of a busy intersection in Temple Terrace, home to the University of South Florida, which has many contracts with the U.S. military and is complicit in funneling students into the war machine. Temple Terrace is also home to a large Middle Eastern community, many of whom immigrated to the area as a result of the destruction of their homes due to previous U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. The protesters received an overwhelming show of solidarity from passersby, including honking, thumbs up and shouts of support.

During the protest, speeches highlighted the United States’ pattern of military intervention across the globe, which has resulted in countless civilian casualties throughout the years. Additionally, speeches emphasized that the American people have nothing to gain from wars abroad, echoing the chant: “1, 2, 3, 4! We won’t fight a rich man’s war!”

The event was successful in forwarding the anti-war movement in Tampa Bay and pushing back against pro-war rhetoric in the media. According to Matthew Wheat, Tampa Bay SDS, “hopes to continue to raise public consciousness about the inevitable catastrophes that would result from a war with Iran.”

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