Jared Hamil of Freedom Road Socialist Organization leads the crowd in a chant (Fight Back! News / Staff)

Tampa, FL – Over 100 protesters gathered here, Aug. 31, demand no military attack on Syria by the U.S. Members of the Syrian American community as well as many others assembled at a busy intersection in South Tampa waving signs at motorists who went by. The crowd received many supportive honks from cars and tractor trailer truck drivers. As the number of people grew, the crowd chanted, “No justice no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!” and “Bush, Obama, same old drama”

Different organizations took part in mobilizing people, including the Friends of the Syrian American Forum, Saint Pete for Peace, Students for a Democratic Society, Veterans for Peace, Tampa Food Not Bombs and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Walt Byars, one of the protesters, said “We're here because we don't want the U.S. to attack Syria. Just as we saw with Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. government is trying to persuade the American people that we should intervene because of ‘humanitarian’ reasons. The U.S. has been involved in the Middle East for too long, at the expense of millions of people’s lives. We cannot sit back and let this happen. Hands off Syria! Hands off the Middle East!”

Currently President Obama is waiting on congressional approval to attack Syria. People in Tampa are planning to protest outside Congresswoman Kathy Castor's office late this week to demand that the U.S. stay out of Syria.