Watch CBS News

Protests Take Place Around Massachusetts After Killing Of Iran General Qassem Soleimani

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Critics of President Donald Trump's decision to authorize the killing of Iran's top general are planning protests across Massachusetts on Saturday.

Protesters gathered Saturday at 2 p.m. at Boston's Park Street Station to demand that presidential candidates and members of Congress speak out on the crisis and that Congress take urgent action.

They could be heard chanting phrases such as "occupation is a crime from Iraq to Palestine" and "hey hey, ho ho, imperialism has got to go."

Other protests are planned Saturday in Arlington, Andover, Northampton and Walpole.

"More murder and death is not a way out but a dead end," said protester John Bach. "And when our social fabric becomes bases on assassinations, we all loose here and abroad,"

Protesters say President Trump's decision to authorize the killing of Iran's top general was an illegal action because he didn't consult Congress.

iranprotests
A crowd gathered Saturday at Park Street to protest the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani (WBZ-TV | Paul Burton)

Protester Massodeh Edmond is an Iranian American. "Every morning under the Trump administration I say it can't get worse, but it does get worse," she said. "...I don't want to see American soldiers loose their lives for something stupid."

The protesters say they are deeply worried about retaliation, and that the situation in Iran will lead to more violence and deaths both domestic and abroad.

"My granddaughters were talking about World War 3 last night. Now they're young, but they're scared," one protester said.

Massachusetts Peace Action opposes war with Iran and criticizes the U.S. killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, calling it an illegal action taken without consulting Congress. The group is helping organize the protests around the state.

Cole Harrison, the group's executive director, said war with Iran would fail to achieve any of its aims, launch an entire region into a conflict and bring about civilian suffering.

Members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic congressional delegation have called on Trump to brief lawmakers on his decision to authorize the killing of Soleimani.

Trump said in a tweet Friday that he ordered the killing of Soleimani because he was "plotting to kill" many Americans and that "he should have been taken out many years ago."

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.