A crowd of angry Americans gathered outside the White House to vehemently protest President Joe Biden’s controversial military actions in Yemen
According to a report by Fox News on Friday, January 12, 2024, Demonstrators, incensed by the joint U.S. and British strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets, voiced their opposition on Thursday with chants such as “Let Yemen live” and “Hands off Yemen,” while brandishing anti-war signs and waving Iranian flags.
Organized by the Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition, a left-wing anti-war movement rooted in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the rally mirrored similar sentiments expressed in Times Square, New York City.
The focal point of the protests was the recent military bombings in Yemen, sparking a wave of discontent that reverberated through the nation. Biden had attributed the strikes to the unprecedented Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea.
He stated that the strikes were authorized “in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history.”
However, the ANSWER Coalition vehemently disagreed, accusing the U.S. administration of acting as a pawn in Israel’s assault on Gaza.
In a news release, the coalition asserted that the strikes were “aimed at helping Israel continue its assault on Gaza,” characterizing them as a “wanton violation of Yemen’s sovereignty” and a perilous escalation that could lead to a devastating regional war.
Critics, including members of President Biden’s own party, argue that the President should have sought congressional authorization before resorting to military action.
Rep. Ro Khanna of California asserted the need for adherence to the Constitution, stating, “The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict. That is Article I of the Constitution.
“I will stand up for that regardless of whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House.”
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi militants have intensified their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, protesting against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The repercussions have led to various shipping lines suspending operations, opting for a longer journey around Africa to avoid the conflict-ridden waters.
President Biden and other U.S. officials have spoken extensively on the military intervention, emphasizing the threats posed by Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea.
Biden asserted that the strikes sent a clear message that the United States and its allies would not tolerate attacks on personnel or threats to freedom of navigation in vital commercial routes.
Despite these justifications, the protests outside the White House reflect a growing dissatisfaction among Americans with the Biden administration’s handling of international conflicts.
