Protester's Message is Clear: "No War On Iran"

Tensions are rising between Israel and Iran and the prospect of war is not far off. Considering the strong ties between the United States and Israel, many Americans are wondering if our affairs in the Middle East are coming to an end or just beginning. Add in the results of the Iraq War and barely noticeable recovery of the economy, Americans are left apprehensive and reluctant to dive into another war in the Middle East. In mid-December a mass coalition of people and organizations responded and began to make their strike of opposition setting the date of Feb. 4 for a nation-wide protest against a war on Iran.  Instantly, websites, Facebook pages and blogs were spread across the internet to draw awareness to the fact that Feb. 4 would be the date that Americans came together nationally to protest war, sanctions, assassinations and intervention against Iran.  In a mere two weeks, locations and times had been set in over 70 cities across America with many other countries around the world setting up locations to support the cause of the American protesters.

If you happened to be by 50 West Adams Street on Saturday around lunchtime, it was impossible not to hear the PA system echoing down the streets of Chicago from Federal Plaza. More than 150 people crowded Federal Plaza to support the message of "No War on Iran."  The protest commenced with a host of speeches presented by representatives from Midwest Anti-War Mobilization, ANSWER, World Can't Wait and, from our own backyard, Albany Park Neighborhood for Peace. All carrying the message of no war-like intervention in Iranian affairs with a looming message of a drowning economy imbedded in each. An Iranian-American also got on the microphone to express his fears of a war that would affect his family members still living in Iran and expressed a powerful message that sanctions have little affect on the government, while making the lives of Iranians terribly worse. He let the American people know that the Iranian people do not want a war any more than the Americans do.

They then mobilized to lead the protesters up South Dearborn Street across West Madison Street and finally heading north on South State Street. Many onlookers cheered as the protesters passed and some even dropped their plans for the day to march on with the mass of people flowing through Chicago's streets. There was an air of compassion, as the protesters stopped on State Street to tip their hats and give a cheer to a group of employees protesting their worker-benefits across the street, letting the employees know they were not alone. The protest concluded where it started, but the protesters left one message for the city of Chicago: This is not the end, we will be back and more will be coming.