The targeted assassination of a central leader of Iran by US drone strikes sent shockwaves around the world. On Saturday, those shockwaves led to anti-war marches in cities across the country. Hundreds packed Times Square Saturday to make their voices heard.

“It’s a very big mistake to kill somebody who is at that level of another government,” said Sally Jones, who was marching with Peace Action, an organization which focuses on nuclear war, human rights, poverty, climate change and terrorism. “It reminds me of, if someone had assassinated our vice president or head of CIA—what would our respond be? It is an act of war to do that.”

The coalition "ANSWER," which stands for "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism," led the march. The group is calling for peace and is against military action. This comes days after the White House ordered an airstrike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

President Trump and the Pentagon ordered the deadly strike. The president says he did this because he was trying to stop a war and Iranian plans to attack American diplomats.

Some protesters in attendance Saturday said the killing of one of the most powerful figures in the Islamic Republic is politically motivated.

“This is called wag the dog. He’s doing this because he wants to change the conversation, but we are smarter than we were during the Bush years. It won’t happen,” said Meryl Ranzer.

“We’re going to kill people in other countries and civilians yet again just for corporate profit, just to feed a political career, political machine. Trump is going to try to postpone impeachment, try to get re-elected on this,” said Susan Bernofsky.

It's not clear how Iran will respond to the airstrike, but its leadership vowed "crushing revenge."

Some at the protest said it feels like we are on the brink of war.

“It’s reminiscent of 2003 with the Iraq war and it just feels like the same thing is happening again. We all know how that turned out. Let’s not try to repeat that,” said Joshua Reed.

“The ultimate goal right now is to bring about a new revised anti-war movement,” said Monica Cruz, an organizer for the Party of Socialism and Liberation.