Monday Rally Protests Proposed U.S. Military Strike at Syria

About a hundred activists demonstrated Monday evening with a candlelight rally and march from Pasadena City Hall to the Paseo Colorado shopping center to oppose possible U.S. intervention in Syria.

“Our message is very simple. We are demanding that congressional representatives, Judy Chu and Adam Schiff, vote ‘No’ on any potential congressional legislation that would authorize military strikes on Syria,” said Patrick Briggs, one of the organizers and a member of “democracr in action” group Move On. “We cannot repeat the many mistakes this country has already made in militarily intervening in the Middle East.”

Patrick’s wife,  Maddie Gavel-Briggs, said the demonstrators want to convince Chu and Schiff not to support a Syrian strike because “they are two congressional reps for the different parts of Pasadena [that are still] undecided.”

President Barack Obama previously asked the Congressional leaders for their thoughts regarding proposed U.S. intervention after the Syrian government allegedly killed at least 1,400 civilians using chemical weapons.

Congresswoman Judy Chu Tuesday sought out the voices of her constituents on the proposed U.S. military intervention last week through an online survey.

Meanwhile, Pasadena Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a senior Member of the Intelligence Committee, released a statement on September 2 stating that Syria President Bashar al-Assad must be held accountable, but Schiff added that he is still carefully weighing any authorization to use military force.

Gavel-Briggs said U.S. should not take sides because there is no “good and bad side” between the Syrian government and the rebel forces.