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Tampa, FL – As President Obama seeks approval from Congress to attack Syria, protests have been spurring up all over the country. Over 150 protesters gathered in Tampa to demand “U.S. hands off Syria.” Protesters gathered at an intersection, Sept. 7, chanting and waving signs while motorists honked in support. This protest had grown in size from last week, with many more Syrian Americans attending.

Different organizations came out, including the Friends of the Syrian American Forum, St. Pete for Peace, Students for a Democratic Society, Veterans for Peace and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

For several hours the protesters chanted in both English and in Arabic, while waving signs and Syrian flags. Towards the end of the protest, a protester called the office of Florida Senator Bill Nelson, a pro-war Democrat. The entire protest was put on speaker-phone and then recorded a message to the Senator – “Hands off Syria!”

At the end of the rally Matt Hastings of Students for a Democratic Society said, “We hear the U.S. government tell lies about WMDs, but we know that it is, in fact, the U.S. government that has and uses weapons of mass destruction. It was the U.S. who dropped nuclear bombs on civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, dropped depleted uranium bombs in Yugoslavia and used napalm to terrorize in Vietnam. Under Obama’s presidency, the U.S. has used drone strikes to terrorize and cause mass destruction in numerous countries. This must come to an end.”

Currently President Obama wants congressional approval to attack Syria. Students for a Democratic Society in Tampa are planning to protest Florida Senator Bill Nelson. Since day one, Nelson has been one of the biggest war hawks, urging the Democratic Party to back military action against Syria. Protesters plan to come back to the intersection with more people to hold a presence.

New York City, NY – Over 1000 people demonstrated against the threatened attacks on Syria here, Sept. 7, marching from Times Square to Union Square along Broadway, past tens of thousands of people. The main slogan was “U.S. hands off Syria.”

Sara Flounders, of the International Action Center, invited demonstrators to come to Washington D.C. on Sept. 9, to protest when the U.S. Congress reconvenes. Many other organizations supported the march. This was one of at least 40 demonstrations held across the U.S. today.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 300 people joined a spirited protest here, Sept. 7, to demand that Congress votes against a war on Syria.

The Obama administration will be seeking a resolution in support of a military attack on Syria in the upcoming week.

Carrying signs and banners, protesters chanted “1,2,3,4, we don’t want another war, 5,6,7,8, vote no, it’s not too late,” receiving the support of many of those passing by.

Meredith Aby, of the Twin Cites based Anti-War Committee, told the crowd, “Secretary of State Kerry had the balls to say that after WWI the civilized members of the international community decided to never use chemical weapons again. Well, the civilized ones might have agreed but that clearly didn’t include the U.S. The U.S used chemical weapons to inflict illness and painful death on large amounts of innocent people by using napalm in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and later in Iraq by using white phosphorus. If Obama really is appalled by the use of chemical weapons, he should at least have the same concern about what his own country does. All of us here should demand that the U.S. never use chemical weapons again.”

Speaking on the goals of a U.S. attack Aby said, “Obama has publicly stated he wants a regime change. At the point at which the president is deciding who gets to rule Syria, we are talking about the U.S. installing a puppet government. It’s clearly about clearing the way for a U.S. or Israeli attack on Iran. The U.S. geopolitical plans for the region are the real motivations for attacking Syria. Stopping this war is critical because we are not just fighting to stop an attack on Syria, we are working to stop an attack on Iran and to stop the continuation of U.S. imperialism in the Middle East.”

The protest was initiated by Minnesota Peace Action Coalition and endorsed by Anti-War Committee, Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for Peace, Women Against Military Madness and others.

Gainesville, FL – Demanding Congress vote no on U.S. military intervention in Syria, 70 protesters gathered in Turlington Plaza at the University of Florida, Sept. 6.

University of Florida Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the protest demanding “Hands off Syria!” Gainesville Vets for Peace, Occupy Gainesville, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and members of University of Florida faculty and other students and community members joined SDS at the protest.

The action comes on the heels of local call-in day telling Gainesville House of Representative members Corrine Brown (D) and Ted Yoho (R) to oppose military intervention in Syria and to “Vote no.” Congress is debating President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry’s calls for war, while U.S. ships sail to the region and prepare for attacks to start the war.

In his speech, Conor Munro, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, said, “This war has nothing to do with chemical weapons or democracy. This is an imperialist war. This is a war of exploitation and control of the region’s oil. This is a war of domination.”

University of Florida SDS and its allies will continue to speak out and organize against the Obama administration’s hypocrisy in another U.S. military foray into the Middle East. SDS and its allies will continue to push their message, “Hands off Syria!”

Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people met with Congressperson Keith Ellison at the Masjid An-Nur mosque in North Minneapolis, Sept 6. This was meant to be a low profile, private ‘listening session’ with 20 invited people – the vast majority in favor of bombing Syria. Although discouraged by Ellison’s office and told there would be no opportunity to speak, 30 anti-war activists mobilized on very short notice and succeeded in speaking.

Representative Ellison opened the meeting by explaining his decision to vote for bombing Syria. His reasons follow the administration’s line. He said, “Every country has an obligation to defend its citizens from mass atrocities and when they don’t the U.S. has the responsibility to do it by force if necessary.”

Ed Felien cited the reports which dispute the claims the Syrian government used sarin gas and asked, “How’d you get your evidence?” Ellison replied that he got it from the Syrian American community.

John Kolstad called on Ellison to call for the release of the documents which the administration claim shows the Syria government is guilty of using chemical weapons. He recalled Representative Alan Grayson’s (Democrat from Florida) Sept. 5 questioning of Secretary of State John Kerry, at the House hearing on releasing the communication report of the Syrian generals, which some sources say contradicts the administration version.

One activist asked, “Are we going to drop DU [depleted uranium], white phosphorous and cluster bombs – all weapons of mass destruction – to deal with weapons of mass destruction?”

Steve McKeown of Vets for Peace questioned why Ellison is so ready to bomb Syria because of their alleged use of sarin gas when he won’t see vets outside his district who suffer from Agent Orange.

Bruce Nestor from the National Lawyers Guild of Minnesota noted that it’s against international law to go to war without authorization from the UN. He said, “Would it have been OK if Russia or China had shot missiles at U.S. troops to stop the slaughter of 100,000 Iraqis by the U.S. and NATO?”

Margaret Sarfehjooy of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) said, “Hagel has said this will not be a pin prick. Will it be like shock and awe? You will have blood on your hands.”

Sarah Martin of WAMM said, “You are on the wrong side of history. The U.S. public, the world and many governments including the UN oppose this rush to war.”

A protest opposing the war will be held at Hiawatha Avenue and Lake Street on Saturday Sept. 7 from 12:30 to 1:30 In Minneapolis. This will be the fourth demonstration against war on Syria this week.