In Minneapolis, hundreds protest possible US attack on Syria

Syria protest in Minneapolis
About 300 people gathered Saturday at the intersection of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis to protest a possible U.S. attack on Syria.
MPR Photo/Rupa Shenoy

About 300 people rallied here Saturday to speak out against a possible U.S.-led attack on Syria.

The demonstrators held the rally in advance of a congressional vote on President Barack Obama's war resolution.

Organizers said they want to create a visible anti-war presence along a busy intersection -- Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue.

"I do not think the United States has the moral high ground to go in and tell other countries what kind of warfare they should and should not use," said Meredith Aby of the Minneapolis-based Anti War Committee. "The United States does not need to get involved in this internal conflict."

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In a statement released before the protest, organizers said U.S. military intervention in Syria will be like ``throwing gasoline on a fire'' and will not bring peace or justice, or make Syrians safer.

Anti-war actions were also planned Saturday in New York, Washington, San Francisco, and other cities.

More than a dozen Syrian-Americans who support a U.S. attack on Syria gathered outside U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar's office in Minneapolis on Friday afternoon.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.