NEW YORK: Airstrikes at a Syrian airbase by the United States (U.S.) sparked protests in many U.S. cities on Friday, ARY News reported.
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s military action against Syria, protests in 20 different cities were held, two alone in New York on Friday evening one in front of Trump Tower while another at Union Square.
An anti-war and anti-racism campaign group ANSWER (Act now to Stop War and End Racism) organized the rally in front of Trump Tower. The organization has been devoted to opposing war, racist, and religious profiling.
The United States on Thursday night fired about 60 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to chemical attacks carried out by Assad’s regime against civilian population resulting in causalities of 70 people earlier this week.
About 60 tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from a number of warships stationed in the Mediterranean Sea.
READ: US LAUNCHES MISSILE STRIKE ON SYRIA AIRBASE AFTER ‘CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK’
David Havrenek, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, apprised foreign media that the president’s actions represented a continuation of what he viewed as the country’s questionable foreign policy.
“It’s not just about the bombings in Syria, but general U.S. policy in the Middle East, driven by greed and corporate benefits,” he said. “I think that not only is it wreaking havoc across the Middle East, but this issue affects us domestically because we are spending a lot of money, sending young Americans overseas to fight — that does not benefit the working class of the U.S. at all.”
Havrenek added: “Not only could it escalate into an Iraq-type conflict, it could escalate into a worse conflict, with multiple nations involved.”
Voi Dipoko, a volunteer with the organization Refuse Fascism, was handing out fliers at the Trump Tower protest. She said she took issue with the fact that Trump acted unilaterally and has tried to deny, with his two executive orders on travel, the entry of Syrian civilians to the U.S.
READ: RUSSIA SLAMS US ‘AGGRESSION’ IN SYRIA, SUSPENDS AIR SAFETY DEAL
“He’s bombing the Syrian people, the same ones the U.S. is turning into refugees, then banning them,” Dipoko said. “It sends out a clear message.”
Dipoko said Trump’s actions highlight his reckless approach to international relations, which could spark wider conflict worldwide. “The planet can’t take a World War III,” she said.
Karen Lee said she attended the protest because she’s against the attack on al-Shayrat Airfield, and because Trump acted without consulting Congress.
crowd gathered in Union Square NYC to protest war in Syria pic.twitter.com/GKjWBssCq6
— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) April 7, 2017
Following the attacks, on Thursday night, Trump remarked that the strike was necessary to maintain national security.
Moreover, more protests were reportedly expected in weekend (on Saturday and Sunday).
