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View Winners → Local vigils strongly oppose strikes on Syria
Arcadia Weekly Sep 11, 2013
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[wowslider id=”7″]By Terry Miller
Congress could vote to authorize the use of military force in Syria in response to reports of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government as early as next week. However, there appears to be a possible breakthrough which may avert imminent military strikes.
Monday night, September 9, MoveOn members and allies like Credo Action and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee organized vigils nationwide. Two such vigils were held locally. One in Sierra Madre, another in Pasadena Monday evening.
The progressive organization in conjunction with concerned area citizens held signs which read “Another War/ Syriasly” in Pasadena and some held a message for Rep. Judy Chu saying “ Rep Chu NO on Syria” in Sierra Madre’s Kersting Court.
In Pasadena over 150 people chanted peacefully for no military intervention outside Paseo Colorado. A lone protestor countered the majority and called for immediate military strikes.
During the Sierra Madre vigil, organized by Jeff Rudisill, approximately 12 people stood silently on the corner of Baldwin and Sierra Madre to get their message across. The vigil lasted for approximately two hours.
The Pasadena protest coordinated by Patrick Briggs said ““Our message is very simple. We are demanding that congressional representatives, Judy Chu and Adam Schiff, vote ‘No’ on any potential congressional legislation that would authorize military strikes on Syria,” said Patrick Briggs, one of the organizers and a member of “democracy in action” group Move On. “We cannot repeat the many mistakes this country has already made in militarily intervening in the Middle East.”
Congresswoman Judy Chu wanted to hear voices of her constituents on the proposed U.S. military intervention last week through a twitter feed.
Meanwhile, Pasadena Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a senior Member of the Intelligence Committee, released a statement on September 2 stating that Syria President Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable, but Schiff is clearly undecided on a military response.
