Peace promoters and veterans rallied in alliance in downtown Chico today to protest U.S. involvement in the ongoing war against Iran. The crowd sported colorful handmade signs, prompting passing cars to honk in support.
A press conference and protest was spearheaded by the Chico Peace Alliance and the Veteran Action Group and held just outside Children’s Park.
Abe Bailey, representing the Veteran Action Group, opened with a joint statement from the two groups condemning the war on Iran by Israel and the United States, stating that U.S. involvement is “unconstitutional, ill-advised, immoral and unprovoked.”
Bailey criticized the administration’s lack of “necessary planning,” and said the Department of War is demonstrating “a frightening level of incompetence.”
“Now, the people of the United States are subject to disturbing threats of revenge, and our troops have suffered over 200 injuries and the painful loss of 13 of our soldiers,” he said.
Laurel Yorks, spokesperson for Chico Peace Alliance, continued the joint statement by commenting on how this country is spending “almost a billion dollars a day” of taxpayer money on the war.
“That same money, our taxpayer money, could have provided food to over 2.2 million families for a full year and could have provided mental health services to 2.3 million veterans for a full year,” she said.
Yorks concluded the conference with a call to action, encouraging the community to band together to oppose and condemn illegal wars.
“Yes, it seems that Congress, the Supreme Court and even much of our mainstream media has acquiesced to a corrupt, cruel and unconstitutional government, and that Epstein billionaires are key to funding this attack on democracy, but we still do have the numbers,” she said, eliciting a cheer from the crowd.
Protesters and members dispersed, standing together along the Esplanade with signs commenting on the Epstein files, opposing the war in Iran and supporting efforts to rescue democracy. Some held flags facing upside down.
Lexi Lynn is a student journalist and a contributor to ChicoSol.
3 Comments
Thank you Chico Sol and journalist Lexi. It is so important for media to cover these important protests and speakers. Thank you Chico Peace Alliance and Veteran Action Group for being our leaders today to fight against this ridiculous “war”.
The loons at the Veteran Action Group are cowards. They won’t debate in public. The whine about things they know are real American..These ppl may not even be veterans. Why won’t they setup a booth at the Standdown?
A comment that starts with a derogatory judgement does not move a discussion toward better understanding. This “war” was started without the Constitutionally required Congressional process. Thank you to the Veteran Action Group and Chico Peace Alliance for making this an issue.