A large group of demonstrators gathered near the Federal Building in Westwood to protest the U.S. bombing of Iran, saying they do not want to see America involved in another foreign war.
The protesters rallied Sunday afternoon at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue and remained peaceful. Video from AIR7 showed U.S. soldiers blocking the entrance to the federal building property. It was not immediately clear if they were members of the National Guard or Marines.
“I’m Palestinian. I know that any acts of war, acts of aggression, it brings nothing but grief and destruction to our communities,” said Noor Abdel-Haq.
Abdel-Haq is with the grassroots movement “Party for Socialism and Liberation.” It’s one of several groups demonstrating outside the Wilshire Federal Building. The site has been a touchpoint for protesters in recent weeks amid the Trump Administration’s ongoing immigration raids in Southern California. Today, it was a rallying cry for peace in the Middle East — not war.
“It’s contradictory to say that bombing a nation is peaceful. This is going to start, potentially start a much larger war that’s not only putting others at risk and other nations,” said Marissa Ruiz.
The Trump administration said Sunday that it is not at war with Iran; rather, it took decisive action to destroy the country’s nuclear program, when B-2 stealth bombers were used to attack several nuclear facilities.
Protesters said they would organize more demonstrations in the coming days.
Sunday’s protest was part of a larger, nationwide movement. Anti-war demonstrators rallied in other major cities.
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In New York, dozens of people gathered in Times Square to voice their opposition to the U.S. military action. And in Washington, a group of veterans joined a large crowd in front of the White House gates. Protesters held signs reading “Remember Iraq — No more wars based on lies”.
