Anti-War demonstration in New York City's Time Square on September 7, 2013. The protest opposed the U.S. war drive against Syria., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Posted: Sep 07, 2013 10:42 PM EDT
By TERESA PRIOLO, @Fox5Teresa
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -Anti-war activists in Times Square are making their voices heard with new votes on a plan to attack Syria are expected next week.
Cries of peace from Times Square to Union Square and even outside St. Patrick's Cathedral where Saturday mass were dedicated to a swift and peaceful resolution in Syria.
The message in New York City, violence only begets violence. A simple message from hundreds of ant-war protesters marching down Manhattan’s streets.
“I think Mr. Obama should focus in Detroit -- not Syria. More trouble in Detroit than Syria,” said one ant-war protester.
Saturday’s demonstration started in Times Square where the large and vocal crowd gathered with signs promoting peace -- a love for Syria and a hatred of war.
Many are Americans, people who want to know the facts before President Obama takes military action.
“Let us know what they do know. We know we are fighting terrorists in Syria -- not government or anybody else,” said another protester.
But in the president’s weekly address, he says the proof exists that the Syrian government carried out the worst chemical attack in the 21st century. And now he says, the international community must respond.
“We are the United States of America. We cannot turn a blind eye to the images we’ve seen out of Syria, said President Obama on his weekly radio address.
While the world figures out what to do, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to fast and pray with some 100,000 joining him at the Vatican.
Back in New York, St. Patrick’s Cathedral was packed as Catholics listened to the Holy See’s Ambassador to the United Nations preside over Saturday’s mass.
“War begets war. He said that a couple of times and that message was really unequivocal -- in an impressive way,” said Christina Peppard, Theology professor at Fordham University.
“It was a direction from the Pope to all the churches around the world, for peace in the middle east. It was great,” said Michael Krshin, parishioner.
“War never achieved anything,” said John Hayes, another parishioner. “This is yet another war that will probably achieve nothing if it does become a full blown war.”
In the crowd, some Syrian Christians who prayed their family and friends survive whatever military action comes next.
“We just pray for peace. We don’t want anybody to hurt Syria. We live in the US and we want peace all over the world,” said one Syrian parishioner.
The European Union today called for a clear, strong, international response to the situation in Syria -- but stopped short of endorsing President Obama's immediate call for action, until the UN inspectors release their final report.
And a German newspaper is reporting that the UN chemical weapons inspectors may submit their preliminary report by the end of next week.
It will likely contain details on the gas, ammunition and delivery systems used in that August 21st attack.
Read more: http://www.myfoxny.com/story/23370135/nyc-protesters-urge-president-obama-not-to-strike-syria#ixzz2eGYaXGyp
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