‘We’re out here saying no war’: Greenfield protesters push back against airstrikes in Iran

GREENFIELD — After hearing the news that the United States and Israel launched airstrikes in Iran on Saturday, crowds took to the Greenfield Common on Sunday to declare their opposition to the president’s decision, which came without approval from Congress.

In their attack, the United States and Israel targeted and destroyed the downtown Tehran compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed. On social media, President Donald Trump said the strikes were necessary to disable Iran’s nuclear capabilities and that new leadership in the nation is needed.

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the U.S.-Israeli operation has killed at least 555 people. The Associated Press reports that Trump said operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

Protesters at the Greenfield Common on Sunday declared the attacks to be unconstitutional, as the president did not get congressional approval. Attendees also feel the move was unnecessary as the U.S. and Iran were in the midst of negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

“This is just another perilous war. He just does what he feels like doing. There was no reason,” said Colrain resident David Greenberg. “They were in the middle of negotiations, and he just decided and started bombing. That’s what he does. It’s totally horrendous.”

During his State of the Union address, Trump accused Iran of restarting “sinister ambitions” related to nuclear weaponry and appeared to indicate that the U.S. would consider taking military action if Tehran did not change course. He claimed Iran was working to “build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.” However, Iran rejected those claims, accusing Trump of pushing “big lies” over its nuclear program.

After hearing about Saturday’s airstrike, Greenberg and other activists with Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, a local grassroots organization committed to progressive causes, sent out a message to members, inviting them to participate in a standout against military action in Iran.

“We’re out here saying no war. No war in Iran, no war with Venezuela. I mean, all the countries that he doesn’t like he just wants to start a war. It’s awful,” Greenberg said. “People are really upset about this administration. This is just one of many horrendous things he’s doing.”

Heath resident Gale Hubley said the strike represents a “continued failure to respect democracy” and a “failure of the Republican Congress to do anything about it.”

Andrew Quient of Shelburne Falls said that unless significant changes are made in the November elections, Congress is going to remain unwilling to push back against Trump.

“Every time we think it can’t get worse, it gets worse. We have a tyrant who is running amok,” Quient said. “Until we have an election, Congress is not going to do anything. Mike Johnson, speaker of the house, is Trump’s lapdog.”

On Facebook on Saturday, Congressman Jim McGovern called the war illegal and said Johnson needs to call back Congress immediately to vote on the matter.

“Congress should immediately be called back to Washington to vote on these illegal strikes— that is what the Constitution and the laws of this country demand. Instead, Speaker Johnson has called off votes for Monday and Tuesday,” McGovern wrote. “I pray for all our brave servicemen and women — as well as all the innocent civilians — whose lives Donald Trump has recklessly put in harm’s way with his illegal, unconstitutional war.”

Greenfield resident Mary Siano said there was not an urgent need for the airstrike to be ordered when it was, and the president should have gone through the process of getting it approved by Congress beforehand.

“I am just so appalled we have gone into Iran without any discussion with Congress, without really making a case for it,” Siano said.

“I’m just totally appalled and overwhelmed by how our Constitution is not being upheld,” added Liz Kidder, who lives in Leyden.

Protesters said people need to keep showing up and standing up for their beliefs, and to bring their beliefs to the polls in November.

“It helps to protest,” said Duston Spear of Montague. “It feels like it’s nothing against the machine, but I think it does help to show up.”

“It just reinforces how much we all have to work to get out and get people registered to vote,” added Greenfield resident Gael Humphrey. “I think that might be our only hope, if the numbers are so high against Trump.”