Anti-war organizations rally in Sacramento, condemn going to war with Iran

Sacramento anti-war organizations rallied in protest against the ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, mobilizing in support of Iran on Wednesday.

Just about 100 people gathered throughout the evening for the “No War on Iran” rally near the Memorial Auditorium, condemning Israel’s attacks on Iran, as the Trump administration debates U.S. intervention supporting Israel. Several passers-by honked in support as they drove past the demonstration on the busy corner of 16th and J streets.

“I have ideas as to what to do, but I haven’t made a final — I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due, you know, because things change. I mean, especially with war, things change with war. It can go from one extreme to the other,” said President Donald Trump in an interview with CNN.

The local rally was one of several throughout the country as organizers called for a National Day of Action. Other rallies occurred in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., Asheville, North Carolina, and dozens other cities, according to the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition’s release.

Participating Sacramento organizations included the ANSWER Coalition, Palestinian American League, Jewish Voice for Peace, Code Pink, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Peace and Freedom Party and Democratic Socialists of America.

Steven Sander, an organizer with the ANSWER Coalition, emphasized the demand for deescalation and peace.

“We don’t want bellicose rhetoric, war mongering, saber rattling when it comes to aggression. This is ... regional instability potential, even the potential for nuclear conflict,” Sander said. He criticized the threat to millions of people and the risk of widespread destruction.

Farshid Zabihian, an Iranian-American attending the rally with his family, expressed his sadness about the unfolding conflict and his dual identity creating a “double sword situation.” He fears for family in Tehran, and feels helpless about what he can do which is why he came out to demonstrate.

“My mother country, origin country... might be bombed and is being bombed by the bombs that are made in my adopted country,” Zabihian said. “As an Iranian, I’m devastated, and now I’m becoming sad as an American.”

“When are we going to learn from history, that this type of involvement and getting sucked into the war does not make sense, does not pursue American interest as a country and our foreign interest,” Zabihian said, condemning U.S. involvement in the Middle East and calling back to the Iraqi War in 2003.

Protesters chanted “hands off Iran, hands off Gaza” and “no war on Iran,” sporting signs with similar messages, denouncing violence and war.

“Americans don’t want this war, and I think you don’t have to be Iranian, or know any Iranians, to be against this war,” Patricia Johnson, a rally attendee, said. “It was unprovoked.”

This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM.