Protesters urge lawmakers, citizens to think about aggression toward Iran
– By Gabriel Pietrorazio
The Geneva Women’s Assembly hosted a rally out in front of the Geneva Armory amid the ever-changing weather of rain and snowfall on Saturday.
The rally was organized by the GWA and sponsored in tandem with the New York State Poor People’s Campaign and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
In conjunction with a national day of protest with the ANSWER Coalition and other partner organizations including the United for Peace and Justice, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, Food Not War, Pastors for Peace and Code Pink.
This action was one demonstration that was coordinated across the nation in an effort to remind the United States about its aggressive stance toward Iran following the assassination of Major General Qassem Soleimani and its aftermath, which has caused ripples of tension between the two states.
Jodi Dean, the GWA communications coordinator and a professor of political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges spoke with FingerLakes1.com about their aims by coordinating this rally action.
When it comes to the unaccommodating weather, Dean shared that the residents are accustomed to these routine conditions.
“Finger Lakers are intrepid people,” Dean said.
Dean explained that the action’s choice of location at the Geneva Armory was a symbolic choice which “clearly represents U.S. military power.”
As for their the rally, their inspiration was two-fold: first, to recognize the struggle of “endless war” and the vital efforts to “rebuild the peace movement.”
Dean also relayed that these acts can no longer be tolerated by elected officials, as she stated, “no more, not on our watch.”
Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) visited constituents in the towns of Tyre and Seneca Falls as well as the City of Geneva on Saturday.
As a top-ranking member of the Republican Party who has been seen with President Trump on multiple occasions, he garners influence among his conservative base in Congress at the federal level.
When asked about whether the GWA sought to invite Rep. Reed to inform him about their position regarding this international issue, Dean informed FL1 News that inviting him to the rally “wouldn’t be one of our goals.”
Despite not inviting Rep. Reed, Dean sought to inform that the decisions made by elected officials like President Donald J. Trump ultimately impact vulnerable and disadvantaged low-income persons most.
“People should realize that continued militarism hurts low-income people cause those ones are the most likely to enlist, most likely to be deployed overseas and so in fact we end up sacrificing our low-income people for oil,” Dean concluded.
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Gabe covered health and indigenous affairs in the Finger Lakes between 2019 and 2022. His award winning coverage was cited by the federal government and provided residents with an invaluable service during the coronavirus pandemic.