Organizers and attendees gathered at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon to express support for the coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran.
According to a statement sent to FOX 5 Atlanta, the "Atlanta Protests for Iran" group said the event aimed to thank President Trump for the decision to provide military support and to condemn Iranian attacks on US bases in the Middle East.
Many attendees said they hope the leadership change in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will open an opportunity for peace. An Iranian-American attending the event said their community is rejoicing after decades under a regime they criticize as oppressive and supportive of regional proxy forces.
Ehsan Azarng, who was born in Iran, said he supports the decisions of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The event took place as the "Operation Epic Fury" military campaign continues to expand. President Trump announced that the US would respond to counterattacks that killed three US soldiers and seriously injured five others. He also warned of the possibility of further casualties as the conflict continues.
The Iranian side stated that a new leadership council has begun the process of finding a successor to the Supreme Leader position. The conflict and reactions in US cities continue to draw significant public attention.
