A small group of anti-war protesters gathered in Schenley Plaza on Wednesday night, voicing opposition to potential U.S. involvement in Iran.Organizers said the demonstration came after a social media post from President Donald Trump threatening to destroy Iran, followed by a ceasefire. “Trump has lied consistently. He bombed Iran twice during negotiations, and so I don’t have faith in him in upholding his end of the bargain,” said organizer June Querques. “And so we want to be pressuring him so that he knows that the American people is against this war.”Some protesters said they hope their message influences political leaders.“This is not something that is universally popular among the American people,” said Glenna, a Duquesne University student. “For our politicians, for our local politicians to see that, for the RNC to see that, if anybody in the Republican Party is on the fence about this war, to see that it’s not popular among people in Pittsburgh.”Not everyone who encountered the protest agreed with that perspective. Aidan Birkenfeld from Shadyside said he came across the demonstration while in the area and supports a tougher stance on Iran.“I do not support President Trump in a lot of things, but you got to credit where it’s due,” Birkenfeld said. “I think that nukes in Iran is a massive problem for us and our friends and our allies and the Western world and the values that we fight for. So in that case, yes, I would love to see the Islamic Republic removed and a Western-friendly Persian Iran.”Birkenfeld also disagreed with protesters who describe much of the conflict in the Middle East as a genocide.“These people talk about genocide being a rhetoric and an intent-based thing where they don’t apply a double standard to those Islamic groups who every day exclaim in their daily prayers … words about Israel and about America,” he said.
PITTSBURGH —
A small group of anti-war protesters gathered in Schenley Plaza on Wednesday night, voicing opposition to potential U.S. involvement in Iran.
Organizers said the demonstration came after a social media post from President Donald Trump threatening to destroy Iran, followed by a ceasefire.
“Trump has lied consistently. He bombed Iran twice during negotiations, and so I don’t have faith in him in upholding his end of the bargain,” said organizer June Querques. “And so we want to be pressuring him so that he knows that the American people is against this war.”
Some protesters said they hope their message influences political leaders.
“This is not something that is universally popular among the American people,” said Glenna, a Duquesne University student. “For our politicians, for our local politicians to see that, for the RNC to see that, if anybody in the Republican Party is on the fence about this war, to see that it’s not popular among people in Pittsburgh.”
Not everyone who encountered the protest agreed with that perspective. Aidan Birkenfeld from Shadyside said he came across the demonstration while in the area and supports a tougher stance on Iran.
“I do not support President Trump in a lot of things, but you got to credit where it’s due,” Birkenfeld said. “I think that nukes in Iran is a massive problem for us and our friends and our allies and the Western world and the values that we fight for. So in that case, yes, I would love to see the Islamic Republic removed and a Western-friendly Persian Iran.”
Birkenfeld also disagreed with protesters who describe much of the conflict in the Middle East as a genocide.
“These people talk about genocide being a rhetoric and an intent-based thing where they don’t apply a double standard to those Islamic groups who every day exclaim in their daily prayers … words about Israel and about America,” he said.