On June 22, 2025, over 100 protesters, in Spokane, Washington, staged an anti-protest against the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The local protest was an extension of the national unrest against the war as President Donald Trump ordered bombing of three Iran nuclear plants on June 21. Local organizations, such as Spokane Party of Socialism and Liberation and Inland Northwest of Coalition to the Liberation of Palestine, planned the rally in Spokane rapidly because people were getting increasingly uncomfortable with the rise of military conflicts in the Middle East.
The given analysis examines the Spokane protest and places it in the context of the overall opinion of the nation, the speeches of the veterans and activists, and the warnings of the experts regarding such a peril of augmentation. It emphasizes the role of local activism in the formation of the national discussion about foreign policy and how peace is called upon during the emerging tensions.
A Snapshot of The Spokane Protest
Coming and Arranging
Over 100 individuals, including children, met at the Riverfront Park, held placards and were shouting anti-military action slogans of the United States in Iran. The rally was set following the outbreak of information concerning the airstrikes on Iranian nuclear plants in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Ari Dean, the organizer and spokesperson of the Spokane Party of Socialism and Liberation, stressed on the necessity of an organized and united mass movement with the ability to mobilize, with haste.
Dean stated:
“We need to build a united mass movement that is capable of mobilizing on a dime, that is highly organized and dedicated and I see that here.”
“We are gonna fight for a world with no more war, where all peoples have the right to sovereignty and self determination and where the power to decide what happens is in the hands of the working class.”
Voices of Veterans
Rusty Nelson, a Vietnam War veteran, representative of Spokane, Veterans of Peace, spoke out of his individual experience, emphasizing the human burden casualty of his war:
“That’s what all war does, that’s all it accomplishes, it kills people.”
“I say that war has no winners, but any fool can see that nuclear war has no winners, either.”
Anti-war activism can be associated with the strong morality aspect of veterans such as Nelson who remind the society about the destructive effects of war.
National and Global Context of Anti-War Sentiment
Nationwide Protests
The Spokane rally was a single episode of domino cultures of protests in the United States. In cities like New York, Washington D.C. and in Boston, people protested in the streets calling upon the U.S. military to stop its involvement in Iran. Such demonstrations were usually planned by activities such as the Party of Socialism and Liberation and the ANSWER Coalition which had a record of mobilizing against the U.S. military interventions.
Popular resistance against Militarization
The polls among the population in 2025 show that a substantial part of the American population stands against any further military operation in Iran. Most citizens are tired of endless wars and intense foreign policy demands and need to focus on national needs. This has been echoed in the protests where people are urging diplomacy to solve the issue without military attacks.
Expert Warnings on Escalation Risks
Ryan Crocker’s Perspective
Ryan Crocker is a retired diplomat who is based in Spokane and has served as an ambassador to most Middle Eastern states; he is issuing a warning that once the U.S gets involved, the conflict between Israel and Iran will only get worse. He emphasized that Israeli air attacks in June 2025 killed dozens of Iranian military authorities and researchers leading to a campaign of revenge.
Crocker stressed that the possibility to change the regime in Iran without relations on the ground does not exist, and there is no intention to realize such a kind of military interference now. He warned that the crisis has a potential to lead to terrible ramifications of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and stated that the current battle would distract from other crucial emergencies like the conflict in Gaza. The testimony of Crocker highlights the complexity of the crisis and its threats and supports the demands of those who protest and urge restraint and peaceful resolution.
Political Reactions and Criticism
Support and Opposition in Congress
Though the decision of President Trump to attack Iran over an aim to contain nuclear proliferation has been supported by many Republican lawmakers, some of the Democrats argue that the military act is foolhardy and unlawful without Congressional authorisation. James Clyburn, the representative, even said:
“This action, a reckless follow-up to his exit from the nuclear agreement, endangers our nation, our troops, and innocent lives.”
This division within the political sector manifests the national discussions on the United States role in the Middle East and the scope of presidential authority in war and peace issues.
The Role of Grassroots Activism in Foreign Policy Discourse
Local Impact and National Influence
The example of the Spokane protest demonstrates the role of local communities in the global problems involving interventions in national public discourses regarding foreign policy. The grassroots activism also serves as a voice to opinions that are traditionally suppressed at the level of regular political discourse focusing on humanitarian issues and wishing to search peaceful ways out.
Campaign to Build a Movement
Event organizers such as Ari Dean emphasize that in order to have any impact on the policy making arena, there must be a long-term, structured movement. The quick outrage in Spokane and other cities demonstrates how coordinated activism can threaten the government choices and promote alternative strategies.
The demonstration at Spokane against the U.S. airstrikes in Iran signifies a widespread feeling of national and international inconvenience with the continuous increase of military conflicts. Veterans, activists, and diplomats at one point call on the importance to shift the focus post-war to diplomacy instead of war. Movements from the grassroots are essential in the context of the Middle East as they support the peace-advocating discourse and influence the audience.
The rally in Spokane is a wakeup call that foreign policy actions closely hit home, which leads to an activism that is driven by the belief of a better and a more peaceful world.
