A quickly organized protest rally was held Sunday afternoon at Wilder Park in Aurora after the United States and Israel targeted Iran in coordinated attacks over the weekend that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures and kicked off a vigorous Iranian response.
The situation has spurred numerous public demonstrations throughout the country, with some celebrating the death of Khamenei while others resembled the Aurora protest effort that challenged the actions of the United States and Israel.
St. Charles resident Andrew Hayman, who organized the Aurora protest on Sunday largely through word-of-mouth, said that, for him, it was just something he felt he had to do as an American.
“These sorts of things when we’ve been engaged in them – whether it’s in Latin America or the Middle East – have never turned out well,” he said.
“I’m here whether it makes a difference or whether it’s just screaming into the void,” he said. “It’s my responsibility as an American to stand up against the morality and actions of my country even if it does not move the needle. We’ve got to do this to save our souls.”
The crowd numbered about two dozen as the rally began with protestors walking to the southwest corner of Wilder Park and lining up along Lake Street.
Some cars passing by honked their horns in affirmation of the group’s actions.
Aurora Mayor John Laesch arrived to deliver comments at the rally and spoke before addressing the group about the current situation in Iran.
“I think there are people upset with it,” he said of the United States’ actions in Iran.
Laesch served in the U.S. Navy and became a Naval Intelligence Analyst, serving in the Middle East for about three years in the late 1990s, he has said.
“I have a unique perspective as I served over in the Middle East for three years of my life and Iran was a country I studied,” he said.
Laesch added that his position “as mayor is that we have a lot of infrastructure needs here,” saying that “I’d rather see the tax dollars used to replace all the lead pipes in Aurora.”
“It’s going to fray U.S. relations, it’s going to cost U.S. taxpayers at the pump,” he said of the attacks in Iran.
Many of those attending the rally said they have been active at other protest events in recent months including Brian Kupisak of Sandwich.
“As a veteran, I believe strongly that any action taken to prevent the death of my fellow comrades-in-arms is good action on my end and I will participate in it,” he said. “But, just the same, I think it’s important to stand against foolish entanglements and I also think it’s important to bring about an awareness to the fact that we have a penchant as a world to be engrossed in the idea that violence is the answer.”
Mary Cuneo of Lisle likewise said it was important to come out to the rally in Aurora “because all human lives are sacred and should be fought for and respected.”
“If I can do something about it I’m going to do it,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
