By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — For two hours Sunday, a group of more than 50 people stood along East State Street at Lincoln Park to protest the U.S. war with Iran.
The U.S. and Israel began bombing Iranian targets on Feb. 28, targeting the country’s nuclear capability, its ballistic missiles and launchers and drones.
Iran responded by unleashing attacks on Israel and other Mideast countries allied with the U.S., and by closing the Straits of Hormuz.
Short-lived peace talks led by Vice President JD Vance started Saturday and ended Sunday in Pakistan. President Trump in turn announced a blockade of Iranian Ports.
Recent polling shows about 64% of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the conflict and the same number agree the U.S. objectives in the war continue to change, according to the CBS poll. Pew Research found late last month that 61% disapprove of the president’s overall job rating and 6 in 10 are disappointed with his handling of the war with Iran.
There were echoes of the Vietnam war protests of the 1960s in signs carried by Sunday’s demonstrators outside Lincoln Park and music that blared from a bank of speakers.
Some of the protesters could be seen singing along with songs like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Ohio, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Give Peace a Chance.”
Some of the signs read: Stop the Bombs, Peace Now, No Bombs, No War and They’ll Sacrifice Your Sons and Daughters.
Jessica Davis of the local Voices of the People Movement, which created the pop-up anti-war protest on short notice, said about 58 people participated during the two-hour protest, although not everyone was there at the same time.
“For a couple of days, this is a pretty good turnout,” Davis said. “Trump started this war as a distraction to the Epstein files issue.”
She said, “I’m out here protesting the war and to advocate for a just and lasting peace. It’s always good to see the parties de-escalate, but now we want to see real multi-lateral negotiations.”
Democratic congressional candidate Aaron Gies of Olean who attended the protest, said. “I’d like to see the Europeans and Russians involved in negotiations. What we need is a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. I have very little confidence with the people negotiating for our side,” he added.
Nearby, Beth Turner of Rushford held a sign that said: No War With Iran. “I’m here to stand up against the war,” she said. She did not express confidence with those negotiating for the U.S., including the vice president and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
A few feet away, Tom Barber of Belmont, said he’s been coming to the Lincoln Park protests for the better part of a year. “ want those on the other side to know we are here. Today we’re concentrating on the war in Iran. It needs to stop before we start another one.”
His wife Judy Barbeer stood nearby with a No Holy War sign.”I’m against the war. I want healthcare, not warfare. Look at the cuts to Medicaid.”
Why was Btty McClory of Franklinville at the protest? “I’m against Trump’s war,” she replied. “”I don’t want my grandkids going to war,” piped in her friend Harriet Jandrew, who sat next to her holding her sign.
Peggy Ayer of Olean said, “Our government is out of touch. Bombing Iran is not going to end well for the U.S. or Iran. Trump promised no more wars. We’ve got to save democracy for our future.”
And Barbara Casey of Olean said she was at the protest “because I wanted to be counted among those who are horrified and sickened to death of what our country is doing in Iran.”
