(SAN FRANCISCO, CA.) – San Francisco held an emergency protest at the SF Federal Building in light of the U.S. and Israeli intervention in Iran on Saturday, Feb. 28.
In the early hours of Saturday, Feb. 28, following the Israeli and American military strikes on Iran, the Bay Area Chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement wrote on their Instagram page, “Israel and the United States have struck Iran. In the last hour, large clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from areas in central Tehran.”
The post continued, “The United States and its proxy military base of Israel are openly and brazenly attacking a sovereign nation’s capital. They are doing so in an attempt to ignite a regional war that would multiply the suffering of the Iranian People and the people of the wider region.”
Photo Credit: Instagram
The post informed the public that the Bay Area Palestine Youth Movement (@bayareapym), joined by Bay Resistance (@bayresistance), US Palestinian Community Ntwrk (@uspcn), International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (@jewishantizionistnetwork), Nodutdol (@nodutdol), and Party for Socialism and Liberation Bay Area (@pslbayarea), will be holding a Bay Area Emergency Action Protest that same day at 3 p.m.
The post urged San Francisco residents to join the protest by stating, “The only way to curb US imperialism worldwide is through a people’s arms embargo. From the belly of the beast, we say: Hands off Iran, hands off our region! Arms embargo now!”
Despite being organized on short notice as an emergency action, the 'No War on Iran' protest still drew hundreds of Bay Area residents.
Residents came prepared to the “No War in Iran” protest in various ways. Several demonstrators brought posters, others wore a keffiyeh, while some donned attire with anti-war messages.
Photo Credit: Instagram @bayareapym
Photo Credit: Instagram @bayareapym
Photo Credit: Instagram @bayareapym
As demonstrators denounced U.S. imperialism, each carried their own nuanced message, ranging from historical grievances to current events, with critiques leveled at both political parties.
One protester held a sign that read, “Remember Hiroshima. Remember Vietnam. Democratic Party We Know What Side You’re On,” while another demonstrator wearing a Donald Trump mask held a sign with an Orwellian message, “War is Peace Prize,” satirizing the president’s pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize.
Photo Credit: Instagram
Photo Credit: Instagram
Many protesters carried signs condemning ICE’s recent actions, an urgent theme sweeping American cities, a trend documented by OpGov.news.
Other forms of protest included colorful chalk displays, the waving of Palestinian flags, and large banners, including one stating, “Money For People’s Needs, Not the War Machine!”
Photo Credit: Instagram
Photo Credit: Instagram
Activists spoke and led chants throughout the protest to denounce the U.S.-Israeli intervention in Iran, while also challenging U.S. imperialism and the erosion of democracy more generally.
One speaker from the Palestinian Youth Movement led the crowd in a succession of chants ranging from urgent demands like “Hands off Iran now!” to “No boots on the ground, no bombs in the air.”
In between the chanting, the organizer passionately stated, “We know from over two years of genocide in Gaza what Israel and the US’s true goal are: fascism and imperialism. Shame!”
Photo Credit: Instagram
After the crowd echoed the cry, they continued, “Israel is seeking to completely eliminate Iran’s sovereignty.”
“True democracy cannot exist without an organized and conscious base of people willing to do the work. From Palestine to Iran, from Turtle Island to Yemen. We will never be intimidated to submit to the demands of empire. And we will not stop until we achieve total liberation for us all!”
Photo Credit: Instagram
The organizer’s speech ended with an eruption of drumbeats, clapping, and shouts of solidarity.
During the protest, several activists circled with their clipboards, asking protesters to sign the arms embargo, which would end the shipment of US military equipment to Israel. The online petition can be found here.
After the speeches and chants concluded, the march around the city began.
Another Bay Area activist said, “We here in the Bay Area demand an arms embargo now, no more military cargo out of our ports. We demand an end to Zionism, and an end to the war in Iran by the United States and Israel,” as he marched along with the crowd.
Photo Credit: Instagram
The crowd marched throughout San Francisco as they chanted various slogans, including,
“Together united we’ll never be defeated,” calling for San Francisco residents to come together in solidarity.
If you would like to add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at mollyscheid7@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
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