Wisconsin Rapids Protested Iran Bombing

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (WFHR, WIRI) – The weather was hot last weekend, but not as hot as the tempers of the group in Wisconsin Rapids that protested the U.S.  bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran.

Sunday is not a usual protest day for the group, but organizer Kris D. said she made a spur of the moment call to action. Kris shared, “I just was furious about this bombing of Iran. And I think it’s the wrong thing to do. We’re going to pay for this. Trump has repeatedly said that he was going to, you know, have peace on day one in Ukraine and he was going to take care of the problem in the Middle East. And I think instead of taking care of it, he has just made it worse.”

Worth Standing Out in the Heat

Emotions were high as protesters shared their outrage about President Trump’s decision to get the USA involved in Iran without approval from Congress. Kris, the organizer, pointed to a statement from Trump just three days before the bombing — that he’d make a decision “within two weeks”.

She says the decision to bomb Iran – without pursuing more negotiations – did not square with Trump’s platform as a “great negotiator.”  “I’m very worried that we will end up embroiled in a war there like we were in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not just because of the money but more because of the lives that will be lost. We have no business doing this. It’s not our war,” she added.

Another attendee said it reminded her of when President Bush said there were weapons of mass destruction. We went to war and they found out later there were no weapons of mass destruction.

She went on to say, “And all these people died, citizens and soldiers on both sides died because of the lies. I just have a feeling. Nothing’s been proven. It’s just more lies. It’s the military boys wanting to play with their big toys and seeing if this bomb, this bunker buster bomb actually works. I think it was just an ego thing. We weren’t to that point yet, there were supposed to be diplomatic talks.”

Multiple attendees commented on the fact that Trump had said there would be two weeks of negotiations. Instead, he made the decision to send bombs without the approval of Congress.

“When something happens and our grandkids ask us where we were, we can say we at least stood up and protested. We’re not guilty by omission by not saying something.” Another said, “I can think of better things to be doing today, but this is probably the most important thing that I’m going to do today,” said one protestor.

What’s Happening in Washington D.C.

In a brief address to the nation on Saturday shortly after the bombings had been announced, President Trump claimed “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” a claim echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a day later. But analysis from intelligence professionals have painted a more nuanced picture, suggesting that the strikes damaged only some elements of Iran’s nuclear program, reports CNN and others.

White House senators are slated to be briefed on the strikes today.