Protesters condemned the Iran war in Arizona and Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
Democratic Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego participated in a news conference on Capitol Hill with other lawmakers and veterans calling on Congress to stop hostilities in Iran.
Gallego called the war dumb and illegal and said it’s already costing Americans.
“It’s the families in South Phoenix that are joining the Marines, the Navy, the Army that are going to end up potentially sacrificing their kids. And now they’re going to end up sacrificing their wealth,” Gallego said.
He accused the Trump administration of making America look like an idiot on the world stage, accusing Republicans of prioritizing the president’s ballroom project over the price of gasoline.
A group of Arizona veterans also gathered at the Arizona Capitol on Thursday to condemn the war and honor fallen soldiers. Veteran Derek Duba said it’s foolish to think the war will be an easy operation.
“The idea that there would be a 4-6 easy in and out decisive victory is a fantasy that does not get one foot past the podium in the president’s briefing room,” Duba said.
The Arizona veterans also objected to President Donald Trump carrying out military operations without Congress legally declaring a war.
Ricardo Reyes, director of veteran advocacy group Vets Forward, said he wants to remind people about the true costs of war.
“There are real people out there risking their lives and not just that — actually sacrificing themselves for this country,” he said.
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