'No War With Iran' Rallies Planned In North Bay

NORTH BAY, CA — Demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of at least five North Bay communities Thursday evening to rally against the possibility of the U.S. entering into a war with Iran. Anti-war rallies are scheduled to begin around 5 p.m. in Sonoma, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Novato.

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 anti-war demonstrations. As of Wednesday afternoon, 309 local 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."

In the North Bay, demonstrators are planning to meet Thursday, Jan. 9, at:

— 4:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa;

— 5 p.m. at Sonoma Plaza in Sonoma;

— 5 p.m. at Healdsburg Plaza in Healdsburg;

— 5 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of Solano County Government Center in Fairfield; and at

— 5 p.m. at Novato City Hall.

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.