Demonstrators took to the streets across the U.S. on Saturday to protest the Trump administration's killing of a top Iranian general and decision to send about 3,000 more soldiers to the Middle East.

“No justice, no peace. U.S. out of the Middle East,” about 200 protesters chanted near the Trump Tower in Chicago. Protesters held signs that read “Stop bombing Iraq” and “U.S. troops out of Iraq.”

More than 70 planned protests were being spearheaded by Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a U.S.-based anti-war coalition, in conjunction with other organizations. They seek withdrawal of U.S.troops from Iraq and end to what it says is a war on Iran, according to spokesperson Walter Smolarek.

In Philadelphia, he said about 500 protesters took part. Demonstrations also took place outside the White House and in New York City's Times Square.

Cincinnati protesters chanted, "Trump says more war. We say no war," and "No more U.S. attacks. Iraq, we got your back."

"Both Democrats and Republicans have coordinated efforts and combined to wreak havoc on this entire region," said Mike Jasko of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, who was at the Cincinnati protest. "What we're seeing with the airstrikes of the assassination of an Iranian general is that we're seeing tensions escalate, and they want another war."

Timeline:How tensions escalated with Iran since Trump withdrew US from nuclear deal

Several from among the about 60 people who gathered in Phoenix, expressed concern about the possibility of another long-term conflict.

"Every time we go into the Middle East it's like going into a tar pit," said Sue Baird, holding a sign that said "No War With Iran." Another protester, Amy Picone, went further, saying she is "100% scared for another world war."

The Pentagon launched an airstrike Thursday night that killed a powerful Iranian military leader, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, at Baghdad’s international airport. The Defense Department said it conducted the attack as a "defensive action" against Soleimani, who it said was planning further attacks on American diplomats and service members.

President Donald Trump has denied accusations that the killed was designed to start a war with Iran. "We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war," he said Friday.

In Chicago on Saturday, protesters took aim at Trump.

“I’m outraged at the fact that Trump is trying to force a foreign policy on the rest of us that makes absolutely no sense,” said Janice Misurell-Mitchell, a composer and professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, who attended Saturday’s protest. “Getting out of the Iran nuclear deal was ridiculous and stupid."

Another academic, Benjamin Balthaser, an associate professor of English at Indiana University, said years of war in the Middle East had only destabilized the region.

“This kind of reckless, outrageous behavior by this president is only going to kill more people, spend more money, and make the world far more unsafe. We have serious problems that we need to come together to solve. This is only going to make us more divided,” Balthaser said.

After holding one rally Friday, protesters in Memphis held another demonstration Saturday in which they implored motorists to show their support. “Honk for no more war,” protesters chanted.

The latest:Selective Service System clarifies draft process amid escalation in Iran tensions

'I want to have peace.' How Trump went from a vow to avoid conflict to an order to kill Iran general

The protests come after several days of escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran that started with the killing of an American contractor.

It's also the latest in a broader dispute between the two nations, including Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear pact in 2018 and subsequent sanctions he imposed on Iran in order to make them come to a new deal.

Thousands of Iranians protested Friday against the U.S. airstrike in the capital of Tehran, shouting "death to America." Meanwhile, dozens of people in Iraq and Syria sang and danced to celebrate the general's death. Protests weren't confined to the U.S.

In Berlin, Germany, about 50 people demonstrated against U.S. actions, according to the Coalition Berlin, which co-organized the protest.

Iran ambassador to UN:'The response for a military action is military action'

Democrats warn against 'march' to war:Trump orders killing of Qasem Soleimani

Contributing: Nicholas Wu in Washington, D.C; Laura Testino and Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati Enquirer; BrieAnna Frank, Arizona Republic; Katherine Burgess, The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal.