CLEVELAND — A crowd gathered in Market Square to protest the United States military's actions in the middle east and possible escalations in Iraq and Iran.
Cleveland Peace Action partnered with multiple national organizations (including CODEPINK and Veterans for Peace) to speak out against recent U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and the sending of up to 3,000 more troops to the country. The rally has given these goals: "NO MORE U.S. TROOPS TO IRAQ OR THE MIDDLE EAST! U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW! and NO WAR/NO SANCTIONS ON IRAN!"
The rally is one of multiple planned across the U.S. Saturday, including outside the White House, in Times Square, and outside Trump Tower Chicago. The concerns come following a recent U.S. airstrike that killed powerful Iran Major General Qasem Soleimani, as many fear his death could bring retaliation from Iran that may lead to a potential war.
Said Cleveland Peace Coalition in a statement:
"More than a million Iraqis have died during the past 28 years as a consequence of U.S. occupation, bombings and sanctions. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have either been killed or suffered life-changing wounds. The U.S. government has spent more than $3 trillion dollars in the on-going occupation and bombing of this oil-rich country. Instead of taking the United States out of this endless war, Trump is building up U.S. forces in the region and threatening a war with Iran."
President Donald Trump spoke publicly Friday for the first time since the airstrike, saying the killing of Soleimani was meant "to stop a war" and that Soleimani was responsible for the killings of thousands of innocent people (including Americans) and was planning "imminent and sinister attacks." Friday evening, the U.S. launched another airstrike in Iraq, apparently killing five members of an Iranian-backed militia.
3News streamed the rally live, and you can watch it again in the player below: