Anti-War Protesters Flood U.S. Streets to Condemn Strikes on Iran

(MENAFN) Anti-war demonstrators flooded the streets of major American cities Saturday, massing outside the White House and filling New York's Times Square, as outrage mounted over Washington's military campaign against Iran — one that claimed the life of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli airstrikes.

A broad coalition of left-wing organizations — among them the ANSWER Coalition, the National Iranian American Council, 50501, American Muslims for Palestine, the People's Forum, the Palestinian Youth Movement, CodePink, the Black Alliance for Peace, and the Democratic Socialists of America — coordinated mass demonstrations Saturday across Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and beyond.

The mobilization shows no signs of slowing. Additional protests are scheduled for Sunday in smaller cities including Albany, Ellensburg, Chattanooga, Decorah, Gainesville, and Springfield, according to media.

Organizers released a statement denouncing "Trump's unprovoked, illegal attack on Iran" as an act of war that could cause immense "death and destruction," and urged people across the US to reject further military escalation and take to the streets to make their voices heard.

The American Civil Liberties Union, joined by a chorus of Democratic lawmakers, pressed Congress to intervene and halt what they described as President Trump's unconstitutional military conduct — arguing that any deployment of force constitutionally demands explicit congressional authorization.

Since the early hours of Saturday, Israel and the US have launched coordinated strikes on multiple Iranian cities, eliminating Khamenei along with numerous senior security officials. Israel framed the operation as a necessary measure to neutralize what it called an "existential threat," while President Donald Trump formally announced "major combat operations" against the Iranian "regime."

Tehran responded swiftly and forcefully, unleashing waves of drone and missile attacks against Israeli targets and US assets throughout the region — a retaliatory barrage that prompted several Gulf states to immediately shutter their airspace.

Iranian authorities vowed revenge following official confirmation of Khamenei's death, declaring a 40-day national mourning period. An interim governing council has since been installed to manage state affairs while a successor is formally selected.

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