'No War With Iran' Rally Planned In Davis

DAVIS, CA — Demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of Davis and several other Northern California cities Thursday evening to rally against the possibility of the U.S. entering into a war with Iran.

The local-level protests — planned as "peaceful" anti-war events — come days after the U.S. airstrike on Iran and killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. In retaliation, Iran attacked two U.S. military bases in Iraq.

"We are protesting against this administration's movement and just hit the streets, because we just cannot sit at home and do nothing," said Kyoko Takayama, a local activist and rally organizer.

Liberal advocacy groups Move On and Indivisible are behind the local anti-war demonstrations. As of Wednesday afternoon, 309 protests had been organized, according to Nowarwithiran.org.

"Trump's reckless action has needlessly endangered countless lives of U.S. troops, Iraqis, Iranians, and countless other civilians," organizers wrote. "The devastation that a war with Iran could bring upon the earth and humanity cannot be overstated — millions of lives hang in the balance."

At 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, community members are scheduled to meet at Central Park in Davis (5th and B streets). As of Wednesday afternoon, 48 demonstrators had RSVP'd to attend the Davis event.

Davis rally organizer Greg B. wrote:

"We are strongly against waging War on Iran. In our district, CD03, our Congressman, John Garamendi, has been silent regarding the assassination of the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, threats of war with Iran, and regarding the detaining of Iranian-American Citizens by CBP on our border simply for their background. He also must speak out, now, about the tripled down threat of war crimes against cultural heritage sites in Iran. This threat of war crimes should be taken seriously and renounced in no uncertain terms by every elected official in America. Further, we would hope that the congressman's great support of our troops, with two Air Force Bases in this district, means he will definitively oppose sending them into an unprovoked and illegal war. And we call on Congressman Garamendi to repeal the 2002/3 AUMF that allows unchecked, unending war by the Executive branch. Join Jewish Action NorCal, Indivisible Yolo, members of several multi-faith houses of worship, and many of our allies as we protest and state: NO WAR WITH IRAN!"

In the North Bay, rallies are planned Thursday in Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Sonoma and Novato.

Rally organizers are using the hashtag #NoWarWithIran.

According to NowarwithIran.org:

"A core principle shared by supporting organizations is a commitment to nonviolent, peaceful actions. All actions that are sponsored or organized on this page are intended to be nonviolent and peaceful. We expect all participants to act lawfully at all times and to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values."

ALSO SEE:

• Iran Missile Strikes: Trump Says U.S. Ready To 'Embrace Peace'
• Iran Attacks U.S. Bases In Iraq, Warns Against Retaliation

—Patch Local Editor Courtney Teague contributed to this report.