Hundreds Rally in Herald Square to Protest Trump's Syrian Bombings
A coalition of antiwar groups rallied on Sunday to protest the Trump administration's most recent bombing of Syria, and to object to what it termed the increasing belligerence of American foreign policy.
The Defense Department said American-led airstrikes early Saturday crippled President Bashar al-Assad's ability to manufacture chemical weapons, which he has reportedly used on civilians. Aaron Jaffe, a professor of liberal arts at the Juilliard School, said he came to protest two things: "any domestic terrorism that Assad is visiting on his people," and the idea the military action was the way to lessen the suffering in Syria.
"I know of no instance in which U.S. bombing actually was a humanitarian help," he said. "I think that if there was a serious interest in the plight of the Syrian people, we'd open up our borders and allow in Syrian refugees." Other protestors echoed Jaffe's dismay that the Trump administration has allowed only eleven Syrian refugees into the United States this year.
Speakers also decried heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, and the recent appointments of "war hawks" Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State and John Bolton as National Security advisor.
Others had different reasons for objecting to the recent bombing. Teacher Nairouz Alkhativ, born near Damascus and now living in Allentown, Pennsylvania, described herself as a firm supporter of the Syrian government and its military. She contended that President Assad was "very, very humble. He likes his people. He likes to help." And she denounced Syrian rebels fighting the Assad regime as terrorists.
Her political opposite could be found a few feet away in the form of Jim MacDonald of Flushing, who came to support the American-led bombing and the president who ordered it. Standing by himself and holding a sign that said, "Thank God for Trump," McDonald said he believed reports that Assad had used chemical weapons on his fellow Syrians, and that something needed to be done about it. "The United States could not stand there twiddling its thumbs with pictures of dead, gassed children on the screen," he said.
The rally concluded with a march to Trump Tower. Organizers said similar protests were held in cities around the country.
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