LIVE STOP TRUMP'S Iran War Protest in Minneapolis

612 470 9810. Again, 612-4709810. >> All right. Hello everyone. This is JT Saskowski with Status Coup live in Minneapolis where there is a protest against the war in Iran underway right now. Want to thank our partners at the Midas Touch Network for reporting in partnership as we continue to document the resistance on the ground here in the Twin Cities against the Trump administration. I'm going to let you listen in on these speakers. >> All right, I'm going to end us with a chant. So, get ready for this. It's a new one. >> We're fired up. Won't take it no more. >> Money for jobs, not for war. >> Money for jobs, not for war. >> We're fired up. Won't take IT NO MORE. WHILE THEY DO THESE CHANTS, I'M going to pan the crowd here. [screaming] >> See, there's about 100 people who are out here right now. >> Not for war. >> For housing, not for war. >> Not for war. >> All right. Thank you. Have a great day. Let's stop this war. >> Yeah. >> Let's give it UP FOR DAVE. I WANT TO TOUCH ON something Doug said here. Um, International Women's Day is tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Um, we should acknowledge the that wars have a very negative impact on women and children. Yeah. >> That's right. The violence on women is horrible. The deprivation of food and medicine. It is How dare the Trump administration claim that this war is beneficial to women in Iran? >> Shame. >> Shame. >> The US air strikes on Iran were targeting a girl school. 200 civilians were murdered. >> It is our shame. >> It is our responsibility as activists and feminists to not only be intersectional, but to be anti-imperialist. >> That's right. >> That's right. >> To be against US control of other countries, of their sovereignty and of their resources. >> That's right. Yeah. >> So, let's keep that in mind this International Women's Day. >> Not another penny, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER. >> WE WON'T PAY for war and slaughter. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR war and slaughter. WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR and slaughter. >> Not another penny. Not another dollar. >> Not another penny. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> PENTAGON kills by the hour. >> PENTAGON KILLS BY THE HOUR. >> What we going to do? Fight the power. >> What we going to do? FIGHT THE POWER. >> PENTAGON KILLS by the hour. ON BILLS BY THE HOUR. >> WHAT ARE WE going to do? Fight the power. >> WHAT ARE WE going to do? Fight the power. >> All power to the people. >> All power TO THE PEOPLE. >> ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE. >> All power to the people. >> Thank you all so much. >> Next up, we have another speaker, Karina, a member of Asians for Palestine. They are a passionate advocate who provides safety, support, and healing for survivors. Let's give it up for Karina. [cheering] >> Hi everyone, my name is Karina and I'm with Asians for Palestine. >> I'm here today to stand against the imperial and colonial machine that is the United States. I am here to say no to war. Last weekend, we woke up to the news that the United States government in conjunction with Israel bombed a girl school in Iran. The same way that Israel has targeted and destroyed schools in Gaza over the past few years. The administration has yet to come up with a story that they're all on the same page about. But no matter what they say, we know that this is another war about oil, which is why Venezuela has also been a target. Colonialism and imperialism are pillars of the United States, starting before Trump with Democratic and Republican leaders alike. It is important to understand that the destabilization of countries like Palestine, Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Iran are all connected to the greater imperialistic agenda of the United States. The US has also regularly been in the Asian continent to determine our people's future and take our natural resources for the itself. The majority of Asian-Ameans living in the United States are here as a direct result of US interference in our home countries. That is why I am calling on everybody, but specifically my fellow Asian-Americans, to stand up against the US government because imperialists will never stop. Topping Iran is just one step closer to the US's direct confrontation with China. It is no longer enough to simply resist. We must stand together in class solidarity and recognize our collective power within the US Empire. W [cheering] >> to close out, I'm going to lead us in a chant. Occupation is a crime. From Iran to Palestine, >> occupation is a crime. From Iran to Palestine, >> occupation is a crime. From Iran to Palestine, >> occupation is a crime. FROM IRAN TO PALESTINE, >> occupation is a crime. From Iran to Palestine, >> occupation. As a reminder, the best thing that you can do to support this stream is to share is to share it and like it. Help send a message to the social media algorithms. This is something that people want to see and hear more of. >> Here, folks, this is not just an American problem. We are seeing these things across the world. We need international solidarity now. And we need folks like you to help us keep the fight up and going because we know that the billionaire class, the the politicians, they have a level organization that we need to not just meet but we need to be. So if you are interested in joining the PSL and continuing not just accelerating in these streets but across the country, uh we have a couple people out here doing outreach. Ella and Alex are in the crowd. if you want to get connected with them, they've got some information from you because we need you in this fight uh continuously because no war ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> No war ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> NO WAR on Iran. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NO MORE WAR AND NO MORE SLAUGHTER. NO MORE WAR AND NO MORE SLAUGHTER. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NO MORE WAR AND no more slaughter. >> No more war and no more slaughter. >> No more war and no MORE SLAUGHTER. >> NO MORE WAR AND no more slaughter. >> No more war and no more slaughter. >> No more war and no more slaughter. >> Thank you all folks. We got one more speaker for you. Give it up for Dr. Christine. a doctor, an activist. She's here to speak some words. So, you give it up. [cheering] >> And Dr. Harb, I'm a queer Palestinian Christian. I'm so glad that we brought up International Women's Day because there's no way that we can talk about Palestine or Iran without talking about women. We say that we are trying to free women from Islamic regimes in Gaz and Iran. And then, as other speakers have said, we proceed to bomb a school and kill over 150 school girls. We are funding the genocide of hundreds of thousands of women in Kad, giving weapons to an apartheid state that bombed a healthcare system to dust, leaving tens of thousands of pregnant mothers to labor in rubble. >> How can we say that killing the future of a country is about saving women? >> [ __ ] no. How can we say that we fight for women while our country strips us of our right to own our bodies? >> How can we say that we fight for women when our government has removed the word woman and female and gender from federal documents, WEBSITES, AND GRANTS? >> [cheering] >> HOW CAN WE SAY THAT WE FIGHT FOR women when there is undeniable proof that our politicians and leaders are sex trafficking, raping, and molesting LITTLE GIRLS? >> In the United States, women and girls are owned but not named. We are only visible when we are propping up systems of power or when we are used as leverage to manufacture consent for slaughter. [cheering] >> We say that we are pro-democracy. We are the United States of America, a colony that liberated itself from a British monarchy. But we planned a coup to overthrow an Iranian democracy in 1953 and are now trying to establish a monarchy in Iran for the second time. >> No matter what the United States and Israel tell you about their intentions to free the Iranian people, we all know that you cannot bomb a country into liberation. And we all know that they don't care who's in charge as long as Iran's leaders capitulate to imperialist interests. Iran's revolution belongs to its people. >> But the United States and Israel are orchestrating what is ultimately another coup. This isn't about women or liberation. This is about power. >> Right. The US has been strangling Iran's economy with illegal sanctions to punish them for pushing back against empire since 1979. These attacks on Iran right now are the perfect opportunity for the US to finally take full control of Iran's oil. As was mentioned before, all of this is illegal. Just as illegal as when we bombed Venezuela and kidnapped their president so we could get access for oil. And we know all of this is unprecedented. We know that what Israel wants is to establish itself as the most powerful nuclear force in Southwest Asia in its attempts to expand into greater Israel. Besides attacking Iran, we must talk about Lebanon. Israel is decimating Lebanon with Israeli politicians boasting that they plan to turn it into experts have warned us that what we allowed in will set the standard of what we can do to each other. And look at where we are now. International law has collapsed because these international systems function to prop up the political and economic interests of the imperial west. We now live in a world where legal process and accountability are figments of our imagination. The law does not protect us. >> But you know what does protect us? >> We do. >> We can protect us. We know we can because we just did it when ICE was in our streets and we are still doing it now. >> Do not underestimate our power. Do not forget that this country runs ON OUR LABOR. >> WE decide [screaming] how this story ends. >> Ramzia, wife of a fallen Palestinian martyr once wrote. Embrace the earth once you came and melt into the eternity of Palestine so that her soil may be further nourished by the blood of martyrs and heroes. You live because the revolution will live. Let us globalize this revolution. Let us approach this empire and plant it in its grave so that it may nourish the soil our descendants inherit. And let us ensure that those who have been martyed at the hands of this empire live on in the struggle for our collective liberation. >> [cheering] >> Repeat after me. We the people have THE POWER. >> WE THE people have the power. >> We the people have the power. >> WE THE PEOPLE have the power. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Dr. Christine Hart. [screaming] >> Dr. Christian article very point that the US does not have any right to lecture anyone on democracy or human rights now when they bomb a children's school and especially not when ICE was out here kidnapping people [music] and killing protesters in broad daylight. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Who keeps us safe? >> WE KEEP US SAFE. >> WHO keeps us safe? >> We keep us safe. >> That's right. >> Yeah. Not another penny, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR war and slaughter. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, not another dollar. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY. NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR war and slaughter. >> We won't pay for war and slaughter. >> We won't pay for war and slaughter. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> SLAUGHTER, FOLKS. WE WON'T pay for war AND SLAUGHTER. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> NOT ANOTHER PENNY, NOT ANOTHER DOLLAR. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR AND SLAUGHTER. >> WE WON'T PAY FOR WAR and [screaming] slaughter. >> Pentagon kills BY THE HOUR. >> PENTAGON KILLS BY THE HOUR. >> WHAT do we do? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO we do? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? Fight the power. >> What do we do? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> WHAT DO WE DO? Fight the power. >> WHAT DO WE DO? FIGHT THE POWER. >> Power to the people. to the people. >> That's right. >> Yeah. >> We have one more speaker here for you today, folks. Naomi from the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Let's give it up. >> No [screaming] war ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. NO WAR ON IRAN. >> No war ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> Good afternoon, Minneapolis. Thank you so much for being here. >> As people of conscience, we are mobilizing not just here in Minneapolis, but also across the state of Minnesota to say no war on Iran. We have learned from the lessons of history. We remember Vietnam. We remember Iraq. We remember all the times they have lied to us to say that endless war is in our interest. What do we say to that? >> Exactly. We say no. We see through the lies. Who benefits from war? It's the billionaire class who benefits from this war. It is our children, our relatives and our family members who go overseas to die, not their children. >> That is exactly why they spread these lies. Because they want us to consent to endless war and bloodshed of our own class while their pockets get fatter and fatter. And they paid absolutely no price. >> [cheering] >> this war, the trillions of dollars that are going to be spent on this war, the trillions of dollars that Donald Trump is asking to be increased for a budget to bomb children. >> [ __ ] no. for a budget to destroy families and ruin lives. Those dollars should be spent here at home >> because we are seeing the gutting of Medicaid. We are seeing the gutting of SNAP. We are seeing the gutting of funding to public schools. This war that is being carried out abroad is also a war on the working class at home. Okay. >> How dare they say that the wealth that we produce as workers should be sent to slaughter children when children in this country go hungry. >> When children are terrorized and detained and deported by ICE. Outstanding politician ask us to spend the money that we create to spread suffering and bloodshed. >> Exactly. That is the significance of this anti-war movement. We mobilize not simply because we are people of conscience, but because we understand that since we create all of the wealth in this country, we should be the people who have a say in how it is run. >> Because we want money for schools, >> for jobs, [screaming] >> MONEY FOR HEALTHCARE, >> WE DO NOT want money for an endless war. NO, >> we refuse to pay for a rich man's war. >> What we need is prosperity at home. >> And we, as the people of Minnesota, we know that we can bring this administration to heal. Christine Gnome was just fired. That would not have happened without us mobilizing in the streets, going on a general strike on the 23rd, going on a general strike on the 30th. It is because we have the power and we know we have the power to shut down society because we make society run >> and that's exactly why we need to continue to mobilize in opposition to this war. This war affects every single one of us. It is our tax dollars who are spent on those bombs. It is our tax dollars that are spent to send our own children overseas to die. So how is it that this administration and this entire system is allowed to make these kinds of decisions and we have no say? This war is so unpopular. Nobody wants this war and yet we are standing on the precipitates of potentially a disastrous global war. But we have also seen that the US war machine can be fought back against. We saw it with Vietnam when a heroic anti-war movement rose up across the country and swept across the world. And that is exactly what our task is here today. What we are saying no to is no to endless war, no to endless conflict in the Middle East, which only happens because they want control over the oil. Because the United States government can't stand to see a single resourcerrich country operate independently. >> Shame indeed. >> All countries deserve sovereignty. >> They have the right to determine their own fates. >> And that's what we are standing up here against. >> It is not our business. It is not our responsibility to meddle in the affairs of the people of Iran, to meddle in the affairs of any other nation. Whether it's Venezuela, whether it is Cuba, whether it is Syria, it is our responsibility to address the deep issues that face our own people here in the belly of the beast. >> War, >> money for JOBS AND EDUCATION. >> MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION. Not for WAR AND DEPORTATION. >> NOT FOR WAR AND DEPORTATION. >> MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION. >> MONEY FOR JOBS and education. >> Not for war AND DEPORTATION. >> NOT FOR WAR and deportation. >> Money for JOBS AND EDUCATION. >> MONEY FOR JOBS and education. >> Not for war AND DEPORTATION. >> NOT FOR WAR and deportation. We stand on the precipice of a brand new anti-war movement that can revitalize the sense of conscience in this country that we so deeply need. >> We know that out that we stand with the working class across the world. That is who we fight with. We do not FIGHT FOR BILLIONAIRES >> to die for their war. [cheering] >> Give [screaming] it up for Powerful words from Naomi here. And we got to listen to those words, folks, cuz this fight just starts now. As she was saying, we are on the precipice of another anti-war movement that could really take this administration on. Folks, if you were here in the month of January, did you shut it DOWN ON THE 23RD? >> Did you shut it DOWN ON THE 30TH? >> We have that power, folks. And we can do it again. And we will do it again and again and again until we get justice for those who died, we get fully funded schools, we get free healthcare, and all the other things that we need as a population, not just to survive, but to thrive. Is that right? [cheering] >> No war ON IRAN. >> NO WAR ON IRAN. >> No war on Iran. >> No war on Iran. >> No war on Iran. >> No war on Iran. >> No war ON IRAN. NO WAR ON IRAN. >> No more bombing. NO MORE WAR. >> NO MORE BOMBING. NO MORE WAR. >> NO MORE BOMBING. No more war. >> NO MORE BOMBING. NO MORE WAR. >> NO more bombing. NO MORE WAR. >> NO MORE BOMBING. NO MORE WAR. >> FOLKS, we need you in this fight. You are being loud today. We need you to continue staying loud and active in the streets. If you have the ability, join the organization. We have people here. Alex and Ella doing some outreach that get gets you plugged in and connected because again, we showed them our power in January. We're going to continue showing up our power today and forward. Is that right? [cheering] >> When I say these things that need to be handled, you say, "Shut it down." Okay? >> Trump lies, >> shut it down. >> Bombing civilians, >> SHUT IT DOWN. WAR IN IRAQ, >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> Aid to Israel, >> shut it down. >> Weapons profits, >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> OIL PROFITS, >> shut it down. >> ENDLESS WAR, >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> THE WHOLE DAMN SYSTEM, >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> MAKE SOME NOISE, BOYS. Thank you so much. >> We've got another action this Tuesday. I want to let you know uh put on by impact at Amy Clubar's office. Program starts at 5, chanting at 4:30. That's Tuesday, March 10th. Again, if you can show up and show out as much as you can because they need to hear it from us. They won't listen unless we tell them. Is that right? >> Shut it down. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. >> SHUT IT DOWN. Make some noise. Minneapolis, >> thank you so much for being here. Again, if you need to get plugged in, we've got people here for you, Alex and Allah. But please keep showing up with us because we need you. Iran needs you. And that's how we're going to make these things happen. Is that right, folks? >> Thank you so much for coming out here. We hope to see you again very, very soon. My things are kind of wrapping up to a close here on the demonstration part of uh this event. I want to go around and talk to some of the actual uh demonstrators themselves before they all clear out. And while I am finding those interviews, I want to take this moment to just uh point out the fact that we are still on the ground in Minneapolis now weeks and weeks after so much of the national press has left. We have been the leading on the ground outlet, national outlet here in the Twin Cities area at great expense to our organization. If that work is important to you, please go to statuscue.com/join for as low as [music] uh $5 a month. You go to support our on the ground shoe leather [music] journalism. [music and singing] Pardon me. I'm looking for your press contact, your immediate Oh, >> I'm also maybe you can just help me. I'm looking for that first speaker who was up who was talking about how he has family in there. >> Thank you. >> Pardon me, folks. I'm a reporter. I'm interviewing people about why they wanted to be out at the demonstration today. Would you guys mind if I interviewed you? Do you want you guys? >> I'm gonna direct you to our media person >> who's MIA. I was just looking for her. >> Yeah, she's >> the very first speaker is in that group over there. And I'll find you and ask her to find you. >> Where where uh where is he? >> The group with the flex. He's got the hood up though. >> Got the hood up. Thank you very much. >> What was his name? >> Manufactur. >> Oh, this is >> I don't even like this. >> Apologies. Uh my name is JT. I'm a reporter with Status Coup. >> Nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you as well. Would you mind if I interviewed you really quick? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Um >> let's uh I'm actually going to have you pivot around so you're kind of looking into the sun a little bit. Absolutely. >> And how do you pronounce your name? >> Navin Bori. >> Naven. >> Just a minute here to get the camera all sorted. >> Back just a step. [music] >> I can get you to take it. >> Absolutely. >> Clip this here on the edge of your coat. There we go. >> Nine, could I have you start just uh say spell your name for me? >> Sure. Uh my name is Navin Borjardi. Uh that is N A V E N. Last name B O R O J E R D I. You were talking during your speech about [music] having family in Iran. Can you uh just walk me through what that's been like in this moment? >> Yeah. So most of my family these days uh that is still alive. Unfortunately, a lot of the older members of my family have passed away. All my grandparents are gone and buried in the soil in Tehran. Um, for example, but the family that I do have that's still around, uh, they are all living in the Tehran and Katage neighborhoods or cities. The Tehran and Katage cities. They're basically twin cities that are kind of like Minneapolis, St. Paul kind of here. similar but also kind of different situation in a similar in the sense of like there's a back and forth uh sort of like commuter group of people of some people will live in Kadage and work in Tehran like my my uh cousin he has a office in Tehran with his architectural firm but he lives in Katage and similarly some people live in Kadage or Terron and they work in Kadage and go back and forth kind of similar to Minneapolis St. here. So, basically, um, from what I understand, my mom has been in contact with our family in Iran. She says that everyone is okay for now, but the bombs are constantly dropping on both their cities. They're hitting many cities in Iran, but especially those two cities, Tehran and Kadage. And for example, one of um for my cousin Sudi who lives in Katage, they they hit a they hit like a a building or something something basically on her block. I think it might have been like one of the buildings or something like that, government building. I don't exactly know what it was, but essentially the the [music] impact of it was felt in every residential area and every building in the neighborhood of where the bomb was dropped in the proximity of it was basically shaking. So that's how close like [music] our families are to the bombing to the targets that they're bombing >> with them being in such close proximity. I mean, what's the emotion inside of you like when you see like the images on [music] the news, that sort of thing. And I mean, maybe it's like the family is I I don't know how close you are to to any of them. Maybe you're not particularly close at all, but just the knowledge that your tax dollars are going to bombing, you know, family members overseas. Yeah, it is a wild experience as an Iranian-American for the president of my country to bomb the cities of where my family is living and basically striking the soil that my grandparent all four of my grandparents who I was very close to um are buried under with my tax dollars. very very strange and I don't it's not an experience that I would really you know wish [music] upon anybody. So it does it does I I it's wrong. I'm opposed to it. I'm opposed [music] to my country bombing my my family's home country and I'm opposed to you know um I'm opposed to my tax dollars paying for it. >> [music] >> During the demonstration, we saw there was like a a vehicle that I saw drive by that was flying the like the flag of Iran from when it was under the sha and you know hearing some like folks around the demonstration like yelling out not nearly as numerous as who was actually in the demonstration I should point out but people who were still like screaming out like thank you Trump. What's your message to people who are fe who are feeling like any sort of sense of like gratitude to this administration for their actions of like attacking the the Iranian state and Iranian leadership? >> Yeah, I tried to have a good faith conversation with that guy even though I disagreed with him. He didn't really seem too receptive to what I was telling him. But my message to the people who are cheering this on, unfortunately many of us in the many of our uh fellow diaspora uh you know Iranians are unfortunately cheering this on and celebrating Trump and Netanyahu bombing Iran. Basically the message that I have to them is just we have to look at history. We have to look at especially the last 25 years of history in the Middle East. I was a kid when the Bush administration made the decision to go in and invade Iraq and to uh basically overthrow the government of Saddam Hussein um for basically oil, right? And you look at the state of Iraq now, the state of Iraq is in every way worse off than it was under Saddam. to the point that it's like, you know, Iraqis are actually saying, even some of the people who went and and tore [music] Saddam's statue down in 2003 would later come back and say, "Now I miss it." And unfortunately, as bad as things are in Iran right now, and we've it's just been the situation has just been getting worse and worse. It never gets better. You can't change a government by dropping bombs. Dropping bombs is not going to get people to rise up like Trump is saying and overthrow the government that people think it is. What is only going to happen and what we're seeing in Iran right now is what we saw happened in Iran in 1980s during the war with Iraq. Everybody is rallying around the flag. And that's what how that's how our people have basically fought these wars throughout history and survived. We've survived for thousands of years because at when it in times of distress and whatever, we know how to how to unite together. So, I don't know where people are getting this delusional idea that Trump dropping bomb and Netanyahu dropping bombs on Iran is going to save us. In recent days, we've seen reporting come out from NBC News and a few other outlets that President Trump [music] has at least discussed the idea of putting troops on the ground in Iran. Where do you see this leading if the US does take that step? Like you you were drawing the direct parallels to Iraq. I mean, do you see like are we on [music] that trajectory in your eyes? They're trying. The thing is is like >> they're Trump is flirting with the option, right? He said he doesn't rule it out, but also they're playing around with different things that we've seen in these conflicts, especially in Syria, and trying the to play off ethnic tensions, whether it's with the Kurds or it's with the government of Azarbaijan, it seems, who, if you've been following the news, the there Azerbaijan and the government of Iran have been exchanging back and forth heated sort of like messages to each other. But it's so it's like it's either going to go in one of those two directions. It's either boots on the ground, and I could be wrong, right? I could be wrong. It's either But it seems like in the direction it's headed, it's either going to be US boots on the ground, or it's going to be uh, you know, like ethnic sort of like separatist groups who may have their own views and problems with the government, whether they're pantura. And in either direction, Iran has stated that they're ready for it. And if American troops do go into the ground, they're going to become America. A lot of American families are going to see their loved ones come homes in body bags. And if they do play those those proxy games of playing off ethnic tensions, it's just going to get much worse. And it's going to be a very bloody, unfortunately terrible conflict. Even if the administration seems to be refusing to learn the lessons of the Iraq war, I think [music] it's hard to deny that the American people seem to have learned those lessons. a lot of polling about this war when it should be at like its most popular point that it is ever likely to be right now at the outset of the conflict when the US can notch some easy wins through its air war. Even then, the war is polling like abysmally unpopular. You're seeing demonstrations across the country today. Our outlet was just live in New York City before we became live here in Minneapolis. When you see that broad-based resistance to what the Trump administration is doing in the Middle East, what what's the feelings that come up inside of you? I mean, are are you are you heartened by this? It's feelings of hope. I think Yeah. Yeah. It seems like especially if we look at the way that the Bush administration sold the war on Iraq to the public. And if we look at like now, you know, back then Colin Powell went to the United Nations and he said, "We have reasons to believe that Saddam has WMDs and he's like, "We've got to liberate the Iraqi people." They they used to have to do so much more to get people and sell the war on board. Now, basically, what we are seeing from this administration is that they're gaslighting the American people. They're saying, and they're basically like they started the war, then they say, "Oh, we're not in a war. this isn't a war, this is a military operation. Or they say that Iran started this war. Iran is waging war on us. We're not waging war. We're not at war. Um and basically they're having a lot of a a much more difficult time to be to selling this war to the public, which seems like the empire, the US empire is truly in decline. And hopefully, you know, as we see, you know, just all of the tricks fail and especially in the span of this week, how much it's just failed compared to like if this was 2003. It absolutely is a optimistic time. It g does give me hope for the future. We've uh heard a lot of reporting at least in the news about like what has happened to gas prices since the outset of this war and I mean tariffs were already uh having an impact on prices but this war is likely to increase prices even further. I'm just curious if in your day-to-day life you're seeing any of those economic impacts of the war and if so what are they? Yeah, actually so I filled up my tank of gas here in Minneapolis St. Paul last week before this war started. Gas prices were $279. Yes, >> now I go around and I look at the gas the gas stations in my neighborhood and uh the price has has skyrocketed to 60. Right now it's 339 a gallon for unled gasoline. Um at the rate at which we're going, it's only going to continue to skyrocket. And what I'm hearing is a lot of my friends and you know are actually thinking of ditching their cars more and becoming less reliant on cars to go on to bike. And honestly I might be doing that too to save money. Like I might just like my bike is right now like not exactly there's some problems with it. I got to probably fix the tubing. But I'm thinking of just like fixing up my bike now and just like riding my bike around a lot more and when I can in the times when it's not like super snowy here in Minneapolis St. Paul I mean you're talking about like riding your bike in in March and I just want to tell people at home like it is not warm. It's a lot warmer than it was in January but it is not warm out here. It's just above freezing right now. Yeah. Are there any other impacts of this war that you are that you are tracking right now or that you are concerned about in the in the near to uh middle future? >> Um beyond what we've discussed already. >> Well, the thing that I I honestly as we were seeing right now where they're hitting in Iran, I think about I think about cuz I one of the things I've always wanted to do is I've always it's been a while since I've been back to Iran. I've always wanted to go back to Iran, visit family. It's been like maybe like, you know, 15, 16 years since I've seen some of these people who live in Iran, right? Um, and you know, I think about like after all this is all done and the next time I go back to Iran, it seems like there's going to be a lot of stuff that's destroyed, which is unfortunately very sad. They hit, you know, Azadi Stadium, which is a a football stadium where like the two best teams in Iran, Pepilus and Ethl like train and they play a game a I'm a soccer fan. So they play like the Tehran Derby there every year and it's like it looks like that's destroyed. They destroyed Meabad airport. So that's one of the main airports in in Iran and it's like the other one being Imm Kmeni in Tehran. And it's like I think about that a lot. It's like how much is going to be destroyed at the end of this like we've seen in so many places especially in that region. >> I want to end just by at least acknowledging where we're standing right now which is Minneapolis which just which has been the subject of its own federal occupation [music] through federal law enforcement. Not like Iran where thankfully bombs never fell from the sky here. But now perhaps that country is also preparing for an occupation, an American occupation of its own. I'm just curious, what do you think these [music] uh campaigns both abroad that we've seen in Iran, Venezuela, and potentially in Cuba shortly, and then the domestic campaign of occupations on [music] cities here in the United States? What does it say about this administration's outlook on on maybe even just like humanity? Um, it said what it tells me is that this administration is trying to basically build imperial power when it's clearly declining. They they're still in this and especially like with Iran, right? Because let's [music] be honest, the the fight of ICE against ICE in Minneapolis is directly tied to the fight globally, you know, especially like these people who are who they're going after and deporting here in the Twin Cities and elsewhere across the country and sending back home. A lot of people came here because of US policy, because of US foreign policy in their meddling in their countries. [music] That's what drives people here. Um, and basically like the administration is basically trying to rebuild what it was the what it what would be maybe claimed like the glory of the American Empire, but it's clearly failing because nobody wants this war. You know, there's increased opposition, especially here in the Twin Cities, to ICE, and it just doesn't it's just basically going on and going and going and it keeps going. But ultimately the whole thing is going to crumble. This thing it's not sustainable what they're doing. It's just we it's a question of like how many people are going to get get hurt in the span of it. Anything else you want to add while you have the platform. >> Um I think that uh we've touched on everything [music] that I was thinking. >> Yeah. I asked you I asked you even more questions I than [laughter] I intended which is always my problem. But thank you for being game for it, man. I really appreciate it. >> Thanks for interviewing. >> I'll steal that microphone back from you and then I want to trade I want to give you my card. I want to be in touch a little bit about any of the other advocacy work that you're doing or uh um even just to hear about how your family's doing down the line. I might uh shoot me a text. I'd love to follow up with you. That's >> absolutely JT. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you for interviewing. >> Yeah, of course. >> Yeah. Are you you're based here in the Twin Cities, right? >> I'm not actually. Well, it feels like it. I've been down the ground here for for months now, but um we uh I I'm I'm in Wisconsin, so not too far. >> Not too far. Yeah. Cool, man. Yeah. No, thank you. And you know, um, I'm glad that Status Coup exists. I think you guys do incredible work kind of challenging corporate narratives and all that sort of stuff. And I'm glad that you that we got to speak today. >> I should have left the microphone on you for that little testimonial. Thank you very much, man. I appreciate it. >> Appreciate it. Thanks. Thanks, dude. >> Guys, I'm actually going to step in front of the camera here for just a second cuz I want to stress something. I want to stress something and that is the fact that he he just thought that I was based here in the Twin Cities because we have been on the ground here so much and we were on the ground here from when Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration's occupation here of the Twin Cities area got underway back in early December since the earliest days of that operation. We were on the ground here and actually the first ever live we did as part of our on the ground effort here in the Twin Cities area. I was standing here in this exact park at a anti-war protest that was very similar to this one. That one was urging the US not to go to war with Venezuela. That was just back in December. It's now March. We're still talking about wars, about foreign entanglements. We're still doing this. We're still doing this because the administration has put itself in another war in just a few months where it is now bombing the hell out of a country in the Middle East. Stop me if you've heard this one before. As a United States citizen, your country bringing you into war in the Middle East. A war for oil, a war ultimately for corporate interests in a neoonservative project that has been underway in the United States now for decades. for decades. I'm stressing all of this, kind of drawing that full circle moment there from when we were first live here in this park back in December to now because this administration has continued on the same tactics. And just in the same way that its preoccupation with getting America involved in foreign entanglements has continued, so has its domestic campaign of terror here in the Twin Cities area. How much are you hearing about Minneapolis in the national press right now? I bet it's a lot less than back when Renee Good and Alex Prey were killed back in January. But I want to point out that the occupation here has been ongoing for months. The whole reason that I am here right now is because I came up here to meet with some sources to talk about how Minneapolis is still the Twin Cities area is still dealing with the fallout of ISIS occupation here and how many of those operations have just shifted shifted out of Minneapolis where there was so much resistance to what they were doing and into the suburbs where it could be more easily ignored or harder to respond to because people are not living as closely, don't know their neighbors as Well, and so that reign of terror could continue out in the suburbs and never actually come to a definitive end the way a lot of media tried to portray it because that's the way the Trump administration spun it. We don't swallow any of that just blatant propaganda here at Status Coup because we stay on the ground and stay with these stories. We don't need to just take the administration's word for it and we would never do that. And we can do that because we're not beholden to corporate interests. We're beholden to our members who support us $5 at a time, racking and helping us cover the immense expenses, the $15,000 a month it costs us to be on the ground in these cities. If you want to be a part of that movement, I would be so appreciative. Our entire team here at Status Coup would be so appreciative. Please go to statuscoo.com/join. I would very much welcome your support to help keep me on the ground reporting on these stories. And if you can't support us financially, at least get subscribed. Those stories that I said that I was up here working on, those are going to be coming out on our YouTube channel very shortly. I would I would love for you to see the journalism that I am working so hard on here with your support. Please get subscribed. We would very much appreciate that. I want to point out that uh this park has pretty much cleared out at this point. So, I'm actually going to bring bring the stream here to an end. Um, but before I do, I want to thank our partners at the Midas Touch Network who help give us the uh their platform to do a lot of this reporting. We couldn't have been uh uh we couldn't have done as nearly as much as we did um here over the last several months if we did not have that partnership. I want to thank the other independent media here in the Twin Cities area that has been so supportive. Standing just off camera here is Andrew Marcato who has been such a resource to us here at Status Coup. Um, you've probably seen him now also streaming, co-streaming on our platform. We're thankful to him for that and to all of the independent journalists who we have partnered with here over the last several months. We would not have been able to cover a lot of these stories without their support. And I want to thank our members of course as well. So on behalf of me, on behalf of our entire team at Satis Coup, behalf of our partners at the Midas Touch Network, thank you so much for tuning in and please stay safe. And until next time, I'm JT Saskowski in Minneapolis. Good night.

Status Coup reporter JT Cestkowski is LIVE in Minneapolis as residents gather for a massive Iran War protest as Trump amps up his actions against the country in accordance with Israel. We'll cover the protest and talk to residents about why it's so important to come out and protest this war. Status Coup is the leading INDEPENDENT ON-THE-GROUND reporting outlet in America that covers what the corporate media COVERS UP. We report in-the-trenches to give the microphone back to the people and lift the voices of working people routinely ignored or minimized by mainstream media and the growing landscape of podcasts. From the Flint water crisis to January 6th Capitol attack to the historic UAW strike and President Trump's ICE terror campaign in LA, NYC, D.C., Alligator Alcatraz, Chicago, and now Minneapolis. We are FUNDED BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE—and need your support to help us stay ON-THE-GROUND. Join us as a paying member for as low as $5 bucks a month: https://statuscoup.com/join DONATE: https://statuscoup.com/donate/ SUBSTACK: https://statuscoup.substack.com SUPPORT US EVERYWHERE: https://www.instagram.com/statuscoup/ https://www.facebook.com/StatusCoup/ https://www.tiktok.com/@statuscoup https://www.twitter.com/StatusCoup Threads: https://www.threads.com/@statuscoup Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/statuscoupnews.bsky.social PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/StatusCoup GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/statuscoup Merch: https://www.StatusCoup.com/Store Join this channel's Membership for Exclusive Perks! Reporter/CEO Jordan Chariton: https://www.twitter.com/JordanChariton; https://jordanchariton.bsky.social Reporter JT Cestkowski: https://www.twitter.com/JTCestkowski; https://jtcestkowski.bsky.social Creative Director/Producer Michelle Dao: https://www.instagram.com/blue_lanes/ Videojournalist Jon Farina: https://www.twitter.com/JonFarinaPhoto, https://www.instagram.com/jonfarina/ Producer & Editor Colin Tooley https://www.twitter.com/ColinPTooley #news #uspoliticsnews #iranprotest #iranwar #iranwarnews #liveprotest