MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – For the second consecutive week, people in Madison gathered Saturday to voice their perspectives on the U.S. and Israel’s military action against Iran, one week after the attacks began.
A group of Iranian-Americans organized a rally on UW-Madison’s Library Mall in support of the U.S. military action. Organizers said they are not advocating for war but want to see change for family members still living in Iran.
A group of Iranian-Americans organized a rally on UW-Madison’s Library Mall in support of the U.S. military action.(WMTV)
One organizer, Hamed Mozafari said those in Iran are anxious but hopeful.
“People are now in their homes and they’re kind of furious, worried a little bit,” Mozafari said. “But at the same time, they have the only hope that after these operations, when they come out, this regime is done. And it’s toppled. So we are here to echo the voice of the people in Iran, and we do that every week here in this place.”
Pouria Behnoudfar, who also attended the rally, echoed the sentiment.
“We are happy because, for example, the death of the supreme leader, it was like a very bright day because it was one of the, probably the most brutal dictators in the history. At the same time, we worry about like the future,” Behnoudfar said. “We are very hopeful, optimistic, because now we have some alternative, a real alternative, a powerful one, to arrive to secular democracy.”
The Party for Socialism and Liberation held a separate protest at the Wisconsin State Capitol Saturday evening.
Organizers said it was the group’s third action since President Trump ordered military operations in Iran.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation held a separate protest at the Wisconsin State Capitol Saturday evening.(WMTV)
Eric Secviar, who attended the protest, said he opposes further military involvement and does not want federal funds directed toward the conflict.
“We are out here the second weekend in a row, and this will be our third action after President Trump decided to start a war in Iran, a war that no one asked for, a war that was not authorized by Congress, which is part of the rules of our Constitution,” Secviar said. “We are in complete opposition to this war.”
Secviar said he would like to see money go towards efforts in the U.S.
“It could go towards better education,” he said. “It could go towards care programs, all of affordable housing, all of these different things that a trillion dollars could go towards better than the war effort in Iran.”
Both groups said they plan to continue organizing events as the conflict continues.
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