On Friday, March 6, the University of Massachusetts Democrats organized a “U.S. Out of Iran” peace walk to protest the United States’ recent attacks in Iran.
Around 2 p.m., 30 students gathered outside of the Isenberg School of Management’s front doors with handmade signs before marching to the Amherst Common bus stop, where they spread out along the sidewalk to protest.
Clark Thakuria, the president of UMass Democrats and a senior political science and communications major, explained that the organization held the rally to give students an opportunity to speak out against U.S. military action in Iran.
“When at the end of the day, we have problems here, we shouldn’t be sending our soldiers to go risk their lives there…spending billions of tax dollars,” Thakuria said. “That’s why I really wanted to hold this rally, because I think it’s a great way to unite just about anybody with common sense.”
Thakuria added that it was hypocritical of the U.S. to wage war on another country while condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“America is really descending into what other countries that we hate are,” Thakuria said.
Protestors chanted “Not for war, not for occupation!” and “U.S. out of everywhere!” to the sound of occasional honks of approval from passing cars.
Community members also showed up in support, including Mike Potishnak, a member of the Belchertown Democratic Party and the organization Indivisible.
When asked why he came to the protest, Potishnak held up a sign that read “Trumpism = Fascism.”
Potishnak, who grew up hearing war stories from his father and uncles who fought in World War II, has been coming to protests since 1968.
“There’s always a reason,” Potishnak said. “People are dying….they’re dying in the Vietnam War or they’re dying in Central America…They’re dying today in Iran. That’s why I’m here. My sacrifice is relatively small.”
When the group arrived at the intersection, several people gave speeches, including Rachel Toepfer, a representative of Senator Ed Markey’s re-election campaign.
Toepfer took time to recognize the American soldiers who have died in the conflict, adding that Sen. Markey shares the protesters’ desire for the U.S. to leave Iran.
“[Markey] is calling for de-escalation and he is working to regain Congress’s authority to stop another endless war in the Middle East,” Toepfer said. “And your [voices] here today in Amherst, you’re showing Washington…[that] the American people have a voice, and we will use that voice until those in Washington listen.”
Noa Sigel, a current Student Government Association (SGA) senator and student trustee candidate, led chants and emphasized the importance of building a mass movement to denounce the war in Iran.
“It is our duty, as conscious Americans, to fight back against this system, to fight back against endless wars, to fight for peace, to struggle for a just future,” Sigel said.
Another speaker was Brayden Moore, co-chair of the Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter at UMass and a junior political science and communications major.
“I felt that it’s my duty as an American citizen, as a global citizen, to be out here protesting and just doing whatever I can to try to send a message to the Trump administration that we do not want war in Iran,” Moore said.
In his speech, Moore told demonstrators that the constant stream of negative news was by design and to discourage people from speaking out against the Trump administration. By fighting back against oppressive institutions, Moore said, Americans could build a better society.
“There is nothing other than chance and circumstance that separates me from another 20-year-old living in Iran, fearful that at any moment, a B-2 bomber wearing the stars and stripes of freedom could take [their life] away,” Moore said.
Moore ended his speech with a call to action, saying “For basic human empathy, we speak out, for the consciousness of our nation, we speak out, for us, we speak out, and we say no war in Iran!”
Grace Chai can be reached at [email protected].
