Demanding Peace: Groups Rally in Rhode Island Against War with Iran

“Don’t let anyone question your patriotism,” said Navy veteran Steve Gilroy with Iraq Veterans Against the War. “It’s not theirs to take. It doesn’t belong to them. That pride doesn’t belong to the war-mongers and chickenhawks. It doesn’t belong to any politician or government official or political pundit. It doesn’t belong to weapon manufacturers… Real patriotism is seeing something wrong with your country and seeking to make things right…“

On Saturday peace, justice, anti-war and anti-militarism groups in Rhode Island held a State House rally on Saturday demanding that the United States not go to war with Iran. The groups maintain that while the most immediate threat of war has cooled, a re-escalation of tensions could easily occur.

Those in attendance called upon Rhode Island’s congressional delegation to take pro-active measures to rein in President Donald Trump’s ability to threaten Iran and destabilize the Middle East further.

Below is all the video from the event.

“We are still very concerned that we are leaning into a war with Iran,” said Jonathan Daly-LaBelle from No Endless War or Excessive Militarism (NEWEM). “There may be a feeling of complacency because the most heightened risk feels like it may have passed, but when the Iranian General was assassinated, by out military, by command of President Trump, that really happened out of nowhere, so we never really know when the next action’s going to take place…”

Nancy Hood from East Bay Citizens for Peace read a letter from CodePink, one of the national organizers of this event and over 2000similar events happening across the country and around the world.

“Working class, poor and exploited people around the world don’t want war,” said Satya Mohapatra from Answer (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, one of the other national organizers of this International Day of Peace. “But big banks, oil companies, weapon manufacturers do.”

Chant by Nancy Hood, song by Barry Brown of East Bay Citizens for Peace.

“War is a climate issue,” said Michael Kearney, an organizer with Sunrise Providence. “The US military is the single biggest institutional user of petroleum in the entire world…”

“The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas demand No War with Iran,” said Sister Ann Welch, who then read the groups official statement.

“Don’t let anyone question your patriotism,” said Navy veteran Steve Gilroy with Iraq Veterans Against the War. “It’s not theirs to take. It doesn’t belong to them. That pride doesn’t belong to the war-mongers and chickenhawks. It doesn’t belong to any politician or government official or political pundit. It doesn’t belong to weapon manufacturers… Real patriotism is seeing something wrong with your country and seeking to make things right…”

“War is complicated. War hurts us more than it protects us,” said Terri Wright of DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality). “Where is America’s value? In trade? In guns? Imperialism?”

Reverend Jim Keller put the idea of war and imperialism in terms of the growing wealth disparity in our country and out of control corporate power.

Monica Huertas from NO LNG in PVD told a very personal and heartbreaking story about her brother, who returned from war with PTSD, and she. with a young family of her own, became his primary caregiver, with little to no help from the government.

Chant by Vietnam veteran Leroy Dirona of DARE, song by Barry Brown.

Pat Fontes from the Rhode Island AntiWar Committee and Pax Christi:

“I’m really worried because a war would not let us take any action on the climate crisis,” said Evan Travis an organizer with Sunrise South County. “And would end up killing not just the poor citizens of Iran who can’t do anything about their situation, but also millions and millions of people globally …” because of America’s lack of action on the climate crisis.