Anti-War Vigil, Rally To Be Held On Waltham Common

WALTHAM, MA — Dozens of people from Waltham and beyond are set to hold a vigil and rally on Waltham Common Thursday night in solidarity with hundreds of other groups across the country. It's an effort to call on the White House to avoid war with Iran.

The rally comes in response to the news that the president approved a drone strike to kill Iranian Top General Qassem Soleimani, and in return Iran bombed an American airbase in Iraq.

"The Soleimani assassination is a reckless and dangerous escalation of the tensions Trump had already ratcheted up with Iran. It was conducted unlawfully, without congressional approval, and unilaterally, without allies on board," said Jennifer Rose of Waltham Concerned Citizens a group of activists founded in 1981 to "work for peace and justice."

The group's members say the issue isn't whether the general was a bad person, but that the general's death makes wider-scale violence more likely and puts more people at risk.

"Congress must reassert its constitutional authority and put the brakes on Trump’s war on Iran," said an invite to the vigil. "The question is whether Donald Trump should have recklessly, unlawfully, and unilaterally assassinated a top official of another country — a rash escalation that has jeopardized the safety of many and made all-out war more likely. And the question is what happens next."

Around 5 p.m. people will gather with signs for a vigil on Waltham Common at the corner of Main and Moody Street, calling for no war with Iran. This is part of a nationwide call via MoveOn for demonstrations at that same time.

"Let's be a visible presence for peace and diplomacy, not yet another war and more human suffering," said Rose.

Previously:

• White House Directs Strikes On Iranian Interests In Syria, Iraq ...
• Iran Attacks US Bases In Iraq, Warns Against Retaliation - Patch
• Iranian Cyberattacks Feared After Killing Of Top General - Patch
• Waltham Residents Rally, Demand Release Of Mueller Report ...
• Protests Planned Across MA After U.S. Strike On Iran General ...

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).