Since classes began, vivid signs pasted in hallways and flooded inboxes have urged Yeshiva University students to attend rallies in opposition to the Iran Deal. In the last few weeks, numerous rallies were hosted in which prominent politicians and veterans discussed the many disadvantages of the Iran deal.
One such rally took place on September 1st in front of Senator Gillibrand’s offices. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is a Democratic politician who recently declared her support for President Obama’s Iran deal — a short-term deal that lifts the heavy economic sanctions placed on Iran, gives Iran $150 billion, and allows an enormous amount of leeway in the form of “side-deals” that give Iran permission to supervise its own nuclear warehouses.
Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, who both spoke at the rally, voiced their betrayal and frustration at Senator Gillibrand’s decision.
Lieberman declared, “With this deal, America somehow is supporting our foes, opposing our friends, and guaranteeing the success and survival of one of the most non-democratic and tyrannical regimes in the world today.”
A major focus of the rally was that Iran has proven itself invariably unreliable in the past. Senator Graham pointed out that Iran has funded different terrorist agencies and that its citizens burn American flags in the streets:
“The Ayatollah hates everybody here. You might as well write the check to Hezbollah! You’re crazy to give him the pathway to a bomb. You’re crazy to give him a missile to deliver it. And you need to understand who he is. He is a religious Nazi. He wants a master religion, not a master race. He would kill everybody here if he could. When he says ‘death to Israel,’ he literally means it. When he says ‘death to America,’ he wants to accomplish it.”
The crowd — a massive 7,000 people — was passionate and excited during the entire rally. Protesters waved bold black and white signs proclaiming “Senator Gillibrand: Don’t Surrender America!” and “What Part of Death to America, Death to Israel Don’t You Understand?” They cheered in support of the senators who lambasted the Iran Deal and booed upon hearing the names of politicians who defended the deal.
Everyone from little children waving American flags to army veterans in full uniform was in proud attendance.
After an empowering speech from Rebecca Yousefzadeh Sassouni, an Iranian-American activist and lawyer whose family was forced to flee Iran, the rally was brought to a close with the rousing song “Am Yisrael Chai” initiated by politician Dov Hikind.
Several walking groups from Stern came to the rally and were impressed by the turnout and strength of the movement.
Stern freshman Chaya Menasse said, “It was amazing how so many people can get together for a common cause; I think Yeshiva University sends its students because, not only does [the Iran deal] have heavy ramifications for us as Jews, but also because they want to encourage leadership, and leadership means stepping up and taking responsibility and action.”