US-Israeli Strike Protest in Downtown Indy
INDIANAPOLIS — Protesters and counter-protesters gathered in downtown Indianapolis over the weekend following Saturday’s joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran.
Activists and city-county leadership gathered at Military Park and the intersection of West and New York streets to denounce the operation, which the White House has titled “Operation Epic Fury.”
Demonstrators held signs demanding an end to the conflict and expressed outrage over reports from people in Iran that the strikes hit a primary school, which killed at least 115 people. The Iranian Red Crescent Society says over 200 people were killed and almost 750 were hurt in the strikes. President Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died in the attacks.
The anti-war group was met by individuals supporting the military action. Military veterans who were there argued the strikes were a necessary response to state-sponsored terrorism, citing the loss of fellow service members to Iranian forces. While supporters viewed the attack as a step toward freedom for both Americans and Iranians, protesters argued the intervention was an illegal act of aggression and a violation of another country’s sovereignty.
State Capitol Police and additional units were called in to monitor the crowd and de-escalate verbal arguments that lasted for about an hour.
