Bethlehem

Protestors on Monday called on Congress to block U.S. military intervention in Syria.

In Delmar, at the first of three scheduled demonstrations in the Capital Region, more than 30 people protested.

In Colonie an hour and a half later, twice that many gathered. A third event was scheduled later in Saratoga Springs.

In Delmar, one man hung a banner saying "No War on Iraq, Iran, Syria. It's Stupid."

"This is just the latest in a long line of wars the United States has gotten involved in," said Trudy Quaif of Delmar as she stood at the corner of Kenwood and Delaware avenues. Members of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace have gathered there on Monday nights for 10 years.

Usually the protests draw 10 to 12 people, but the possible military strike tripled attendance.

"The American people don't support it," said Mari Matsuo, 26, of Albany, who was among the youngest participants. "I don't want to see innocent lives lost. Military intervention is not the answer."

Joe Seeman, an organizer of the protest, said he gathered support for President Barack Obama in his election campaigns.

"When he's wrong, we have to be out here to say he's wrong, too," he said.

He said he was glad to see Obama call on Congress to approve military action. That decision also gave urgency to the protest, participants said.

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"It's really important to do this today," Quaif said. "People need to get the message out, to call the Congress people."

At the Colonie protest, people held candles at the corner of Central Avenue and Wolf Road.

"We put this together in two days!" exclaimed Susan Weber of Albany as she held a sign reading "Don't Iraq Syria."

Her friend Betty Head said bombing Syria would be a mistake.

"It's not going to stop the civil war. It's just going to kill more people, especially innocent people," she said. "America should not be the bully of the world or the peacekeeper of the world."

Seeman said the use of chemical weapons against Syria's citizens is unacceptable and that the United Nations should take up the issue.

"We can treat it as a crime against humanity," he said. "It is not a civil war where there is a good guy. There are no easy answers."

The protesters were encouraged Monday when Secretary of State John Kerry said a strike could be averted if Syria surrendered its chemical weapons. Russia, a close Syrian ally, said that would be acceptable.

"It's interesting that the comment John Kerry made was kind of offhand," Quaif said. "We can't afford more war. Our infrastructure is crumbling. The Middle East just becomes more unstable every time we bomb a country."

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrientu