Hundreds protest military action in Syria
BY BECKY SCHLIKERMAN Staff Reporter September 7, 2013 5:20PM
As President Barack Obama has asked Congress to support airstrikes against Syria, roughly 300 protesters rallied in Federal Plaza, at 50 W. Adams St., in Chicago on Sept. 7 to urge their elected officials to vote against U.S. intervention. | Ashlee Rezin/for Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 8, 2013 2:38AM
The protest started with the chant: “No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East.”
With that, the hodgepodge group of protesters gathered Saturday and decried a military attack against Syria.
They protested at Federal Plaza in the Loop and marched peacefully to the Tribune Tower as tourists looked on.
In the crowd of about 300 were peace activists, protesters that show up for a myriad of causes and people from Syria waving their country’s flag.
All of the protesters wanted to send a clear message to President Barack Obama and Congress: Don’t bomb Syria.
One of the people from Syria was Kousay Ahmad Afif, of Lincolnwood.
He said he recently traveled to his home country and said military action isn’t what his fellow countrymen need or want.
“America is about peace and love, not war,” the 47-year-old said.
Protesters said most people don’t want any military action in Syria.
“We’re here to tell Congress to listen to the people it’s supposed to represent,” said Kait McIntyre, 24, and a member of the Anti-War Committee Chicago.
Amer Abboud, a Syrian doctor who lives in Bronzeville, said officials need to remember that it’s easier to start a war than it is to end it.
“We need a political, not military solution to the Syrian crisis,” the 42-year-old said.
