A group of community members gathered on Wednesday at the Liberty Bell on Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield for a silent “No War” demonstration, holding signs and standing in support of peace.
The protest came in response to rising tensions involving the United States and Iran, as well as a recent social media post by President Donald Trump warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if a deal was not reached.
Organizer and activist Audrey Chavez said the silent demonstration showed the community’s sadness and opposition to the war.
Children’s shoes and books placed in front of the protesters honored the children and school staff killed in the early bombing.
“These shoes that are here represent the 168 school children and staff who were killed in the very first bombing that many of us had no idea was going to be happening,” said Chavez.
Chavez said the grief was shared far beyond those gathered at the Liberty Bell.
“Lady Liberty weeps at our nation, weeps at the world, weeps at the loss, and it is okay as a nation to sometimes be afraid to sometimes cry, to sometimes be angry, to sometimes be silent,” she said. “But we must never forget that we are a beautiful nation. The United States of America and we the people are what make up the nation.”
Chavez said “it is imperative” that people must continue working toward democracy and break their silence.
“We continue forward whether we march, whether we demonstrate, whether we pray, whether we act. We must all vote, we must all make phone calls,” Chavez said. “We must demand that they don’t only count us when they need our vote, but then they also remember that we are the people who placed them into office.”
Chavez said the protest also aimed to call attention to broader concerns about war and its impact, including its effects on military members.
“We also want to recognize those who are in our military who have been dismissed or deported or fired because of who they are as they are where they are, that we understand your oath,” she said.
Chavez said more demonstrations are expected locally and across the country as communities continue to respond.
“We are all citizens. We stand together, we will move together. We will organize,” Chavez said. “We will come forward, and we will demand that our nation and our leaders listen and respond. Let us make peace and not war.”
Yvette Benton said she attended the demonstration to speak out against the Trump administration and recent statements about international conflict. She said some people believe the situation is being used to distract from other political issues.
“A lot of us believe that this whole Iran thing is just a cover-up to keep everybody distracted from the Epstein files,” Benton said. “I feel that all of this is just a sidebar to what’s really happening. It’s kind of like the magician, watch this hand. While I’m doing something over here, and that’s what he’s doing.”
She said the display of children’s shoes at the protest was especially emotional.
“It’s sad what’s happening. It’s sad what’s happening there,” Benton said. “It’s sad what’s happening here. It’s sad what’s happening with our healthcare. This government does not care about the people. It cares about their rich friends and getting richer.”
