Latest news with #ANSWERCoalition
Roya News
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Roya News
Macklemore backs Palestine solidarity protest in New York City
American rapper Macklemore is set to join a Palestine solidarity protest in New York City this Saturday, August 16, organizers announced. The demonstration will take place at 2 PM (GMT-4) on the steps of the New York Public Library in Bryant Park. The rapper shared the announcement in an Instagram story, amplifying the call for public participation. The protest is being organized by the ANSWER Coalition, which described the gathering as a response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The coalition's statement condemns what it calls the 'US-Israeli blockade of Gaza,' alleging it has triggered a severe hunger crisis responsible for the deaths of Palestinians through starvation and malnutrition. It further criticizes US President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of enabling Israel's 'starvation regime' and of supporting entities that 'weaponize hunger' rather than addressing it. The post also claims that Washington is collaborating with 'Israel' to condition aid on plans for the 'full occupation' of Gaza. Organizers urged people 'from all walks of life' to join the protest, framing it as a crucial step to oppose what they call genocide and the 'US-funded, Israeli famine.'
Roya News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Roya News
‘How I Met Your Mother' star Cristin Milioti urges fans to join protest against 'Israeli' war crimes
American actress Cristin Milioti, best known for her role as Tracy McConnell in the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother, took to her Instagram story to share a call-to-action for an emergency mass march in New York City, demanding an end to 'Israel's' war crimes and the US's role in enabling them. The post, originally shared by organizers from the ANSWER Coalition, announces the protest will be held on Saturday, August 16, at 2 PM (GMT-4) on the steps of the New York Public Library in Bryant Park. The callout condemns what it describes as the 'US-Israeli blockade of Gaza' for creating a 'devastating hunger crisis' that is killing Palestinians through starvation and malnutrition. It also accuses US President Donald Trump of greenlighting what it calls Israel's 'starvation regime' and denounces US-backed entities for 'weaponizing hunger' rather than ending it. The statement further alleges that Washington is now working with 'Israel' to condition aid on its plans for 'full occupation' of Gaza. 'Now is the time to take to the streets,' the post urges, calling for a united front from 'people from all walks of life' to stand against genocide and stop the 'US-funded, Israeli famine'. Milioti's public endorsement adds her name to a growing list of actors, musicians, and public figures who have used their platforms to express solidarity with Gaza and call out Israeli policies.
The Hill
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Radical pro‑Tehran groups orchestrated the ‘No War on Iran' protests
In late June, when the U.S. executed its Operation Midnight Hammer strikes to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the widespread outcry in support of Tehran wasn't organic. It was stoked by three radical organizations deeply connected to foreign regimes: the National Iranian-American Council or NIAC, the ANSWER Coalition, and — in the case of the protest in Washington, D.C. — the Manassas Mosque. These groups provided logistical, financial, and messaging support for protests that echoed the ideological lines of Iran's regime. Sadly, this is part of a broader trend where our adversaries use our processes and freedoms against us to recruit advocates and make their governments' propaganda seem like organic and homegrown outrage among Americans. NIAC bills itself as a bridge between Iranian Americans and U.S. policymakers. But its record tells a different story. The Hoover Institution has labeled it 'the Iranian regime's (de facto) lobby in the West,' noting that NIAC was allegedly created with input from Iran's then-Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, with an agenda of normalizing U.S.-Iran ties under the guise of business and diplomacy, while ignoring human rights abuses. In 2020, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) demanded a Department of Justice probe into NIAC and its affiliate NIAC Action for potential Foreign Agents Registration Act violations, citing its consistent echoing of Tehran's propaganda. NIAC has long evaded serious scrutiny, but during Operation Midnight Hammer, its priorities became evident. On June 28 it helped promote the 'National March on Washington' by partnering with the ANSWER Coalition and others in a nationwide call for protests to 'Stop the War on Iran.' These weren't spontaneous expressions of American public opinion — they followed a script drafted in Tehran. NIAC's half-century of coordinated messaging with regime interests suggests these protests were orchestrated, not organic. The ANSWER Coalition has also proven itself a stunning vector for foreign interference in U.S. protest culture. Although it once focused on anti-war messaging going back as far as 9/11, ANSWER has since become a conduit for authoritarian propaganda, pushing pro-China, anti-Israel, and pro-Iran narratives. The group is funded by tech millionaire Neville Singham, a self-described Maoist. According to recently declassified House Oversight findings and the New York Times, Singham channeled at least $1.8 million into media outlets and activism aligned with Chinese Communist Party talking points. ANSWER has also worked on large anti-Israel demonstrations in sync with American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine, organizations that Congress has connected to Hamas and Iran. When Operation Midnight Hammer kicked off, ANSWER activists spread signs, hired transport, and amplified calls to end U.S. actions 'against Iran,' all in perfect alignment with Tehran's strategic narrative. This is not civil dissent; it is foreign-backed ideological warfare being waged on American soil. Meanwhile, in Northern Virginia, the Manassas Mosque, under Imam Abolfazl Bahram Nahidian, has operated as a domestic hub for extremist ideology. The mosque has Iranian financing, having received almost $200,000 from the Alavi Foundation, a known regime front, in the early 2000s. The inside of the mosque itself is adorned with the 'martyrs' of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, life‑sized cutouts of Ayatollah Khomeini, and flags of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Daoud Salahuddin, who assassinated an anti-regime former Iranian diplomat in 1980, lived with and worked for Imam Nahidian, had been recruited by Nahidian into pro-Khomeini activism, and had spent time at an Iranian student center run by Nahidian, which was used as a staging ground for pro-Khomeini demonstrations. In the run-up to Operation Midnight Hammer, the mosque collaborated on flyers for 'Hands Off Iran' protests in the Washington, D.C. area, including events outside the White House. These weren't fringe events; they were extensions of the Iranian regime's ideological apparatus, staged under the banner of religious assembly and disguised as grassroots activism. The pro-Iran crowd may wear the language of civil outrage, but foreign connections tell the real story. It's time for Congress, watchdog agencies, and civil society to reclassify such demonstrations as orchestrated foreign interference operations and respond accordingly. National security isn't just about missile sites and uranium centrifuges; it's also about protecting our democratic process from the enemies who would hijack it. The American people, who are influenced by media figures such as Tucker Carlson (who recently gave a friendly interview to Iran's president), deserve to know how much foreign money is being spread around to change Americans' minds. When groups like NIAC, ANSWER, and the Manassas Mosque claim the mantle of pro-democracy advocacy, it's a betrayal not only of truth but of national security. The American people deserve honest discourse, not manufactured consent. In this moment, when Iran looms as a genocidal menace vowing to 'wipe Israel off the map,' we must call out these campaigns for what they are: foreign-controlled influence efforts seeping into our policymaking and streets. Dr. Sheila Nazarian, an Iranian refugee, is an Emmy-nominated, board certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protest held in Albuquerque following US military strike on Iranian nuclear sites
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Protests have erupted across the country following the Trump administration's recent attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, including here in Albuquerque. However, reactions within the state have been mixed, with some leaders asserting that the attack was necessary. Emotions ran high as dozens of protesters gathered outside the nuclear museum in Albuquerque on Sunday, calling for change and denouncing the president's actions from Saturday as uncalled for and detrimental to peace. Ramona Malczynski, a representative from the ANSWER Coalition, expressed frustration, saying, 'We, especially here in New Mexico, have no money to pay our rent, no money to get healthcare, and we have no money for food. We don't have jobs. So why are we spending trillions of dollars bombing people and killing innocent civilians in Iran when Iran has not attacked us or done anything to harm us?' 11 days in June: Trump's path to 'yes' on bombing Iran Saturday, the U.S. conducted military strikes against three nuclear facilities in Iran. This protest is one of many occurring nationwide, including in New York, San Antonio, and Chicago, among other cities. Protesters implored the U.S. government to pursue a diplomatic solution before tensions escalate further in an already unstable Middle East. 'Strength in international affairs looks like something else. It looks like being willing to talk. It looks like not deceiving people when you're negotiating and then bombing them the next day. Strength means standing up for your principles,' said Greg Mello, director of the Los Alamos Nuclear Project. The Trump administration has faced criticism from lawmakers recently regarding U.S. involvement in the Middle East. Earlier this week, New Mexico's congressional delegation, including Representative Melanie Stansbury, Representative Gabe Vasquez, and Senator Martin Heinrich, emphasized that only Congress has the power to declare war on another country, not the president. Protesters take to downtown Albuquerque against Trump immigration efforts Meanwhile, some members of the New Mexico GOP have expressed support on social media, claiming that the strikes were necessary. State Senator Craig Brandt stated, 'I feel like keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and degrading their ability to fire missiles makes us safer today than we were yesterday….Our military follows the orders they are given, so please support our military and commend them for a job well done.' Sunday's protest organizers announced that more demonstrations are planned for the coming days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘This is an outright war crime': Protests erupt in US and other countries after Trump's strikes on Iran
Anti-war protests broke out in multiple US cities, including San Francisco, New York, and Washington, DC, over the weekend following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Demonstrators criticised what they called an 'unconstitutional' escalation and warned of a wider Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and administration officials defended the attacks and warned of further action if Iran retaliates. Hundreds of demonstrators marched through San Francisco's Market Street, demanding an end to US military intervention in Iran. 'Trump has bombed Iran three times. This is an outright war crime,' said one protest speaker, according to ABC News. Similar protests unfolded in Washington, DC, New York, and Boston, with demonstrators holding placards and chanting slogans. Many rallies were organised by the ANSWER Coalition and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It also posted on X: 'The people of the United States don't want another forever war. The people of the United States want money for people's needs!' 'We need to show face and come out in mass and show our administration we're not going to be fooled,' said Ramsey Robinson of the Party for Socialism and Liberation in San Francisco. 'We are anti-war. We support the Iranian people. We want to prevent more death, more destruction.' Activist Deliliah Shenk from Colma said she joined the protest after learning that the US used 'bunker buster' bombs in the attack. 'This is absolutely insane. It's totally unconstitutional. This guy needs to be given the boot. In a big way,' she told ABC News. Some groups also used the protests to voice support for regime change in Iran, holding separate demonstrations on the issue. The ANSWER Coalition has planned a national 'Stop the War on Iran' march for June 28 in Washington, DC, with more local demonstrations scheduled throughout the week. Protests also occurred globally, including in Japan and Iran. Trump defended the decision to bomb three Iranian nuclear facilities and warned of further action. 'If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,' he said during a White House address. Vice President JD Vance also reinforced the administration's stance in an interview with ABC News, stating, 'If they decide they're going to attack our troops or build a nuclear weapon, we're going to respond to that with overwhelming force.' The strike drew mixed reactions from US Congress. While some Republican lawmakers praised the move, Democrats were sharp in their criticism. According to the World Socialist Web Site, a broader wave of anti-war protests has also erupted in elsewhere across the globe, including Europe and Asia. In Europe, tens of thousands have taken to the streets in cities like The Hague, London, and Brussels, condemning violence in Gaza and opposing their governments' support for US-Israeli policies. Large protests have also been reported in Morocco, South Africa, Somalia, and Portugal. Many of these demonstrations include calls for a ceasefire and critiques of imperialism and foreign intervention. Protests have also spread across Asia, including Japan and Iran, where citizens voiced opposition to war and regional escalation. Pakistan also witnessed demonstrations. In Karachi, thousands of people protested against the US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, reported Reuters. Demonstrators symbolically walked over a large American flag with Trump's image, expressing strong opposition to the bombings authorised by Trump against Iranian nuclear sites. (With inputs from USA Today, ABC News, World Socialist Web Site, Reuters)
