“Hands Off the Middle East,” protesters denounce U.S. strike on Iran
CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) — With tensions abroad and growing concerns at home after a U.S. led strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Southern Illinois peace advocates are speaking out.
Despite the sweltering Sunday afternoon heat, activists gathered in downtown Carbondale with a message for Washington — reject war with Iran. Reject war in Palestine. And, reject what they call the “misuse of presidential power.”
The Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois organized the event, with concerns that the latest U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites could escalate into another devastating conflict.
One demonstrator, who asked to remain anonymous, said the attacks on Iran are another win for Netanyahu — calling Israel’s prime minister a war criminal.
“This is just Israel’s claim to justify what they’re doing to achieve their goal,” he said, “which is a Great Israel, and occupying more lands and more territories and to be in control of the whole middle east.”
President Donald Trump took credit for the bombings — calling them “successful.” But, demonstrators called that a dangerous contradiction — saying there’s no peace in preemptive strikes.
Demonstrator Jackie Dalman is concerned about what this means for U.S. Citizens and others, going forward.
“I feel like they’ve opened us up by striking with no real evidence or proof,” she said. “They’ve opened up the whole world to strike anybody they want, preemptively. Like, ‘Well, maybe they have bombs, so let’s go ahead and bomb them.'”
Trump supporters also exercised freedom of speech — driving through in pick-up trucks with large flags of their own.
Meanwhile, Navy veteran David Ambler said he strongly opposes Trump’s actions — his view on war shaped by the time he served in Vietnam.
“So many lives were lost — friends of mine — for no reason at all,” he said. “It was for nothing. And I just don’t want to see any more young people die for nothing.”
