My fellow Sacramentan sisters and brothers are taking to the streets to protest the War on Iran.  The War Economy is wrong and inhumane, and we are taking action, calling out both parties for not holding the current Administration accountable as the U.S. bombs countries; kidnaps a country’s president and their family; and unleashes ICE, Border Patrol, DEA, and the local police to shoot and kill community members.  This is just wrong and inhumane.

As Marvin Gaye sang, “What’s Going On?” Today, the Sacramento Raging Grannies (SRG) sing: “Impeach! Convict! Throw Him Out!!” composedby SRG member Deb Scott. 

“What’s going on?”

The 2026 U.S.-Iran war (Operation Epic Fury) is costing roughly $1 billion per day, with over $11.3 billion spent in the first ten days. The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, involves direct U.S. strikes against Iran, with additional military operations and impacts in Yemen, Lebanon, Israel, and the Strait of Hormuz.  It’s reported that the Pentagon may request an additional $200 billion in funding to replace used munitions like Tomahawk missiles and PATRIOT interceptors. Additionally, the war has caused sharp increases in global oil and gas prices, leading to significant disruptions in aviation and shipping.

It should be noted that between January 2025 and March 2026, the U.S., under the Trump administration, conducted military strikes or operations targeting: 

• Iran: Strikes on nuclear sites (June 2025). On February 28, the U.S. started bombing Iranian cities and military facilities The first day a US missile hit a girl’s school and killed over a hundred children. Thousands of civilians have died and suffered wounds.
• Venezuela: In the January 2026 operation, “Operation Absolute Resolve,” the US extracted President Maduro at the cost of more than a hundred lives.
• Somalia: Airstrikes against ISIS and al-Shabaab.
• Syria: Operations against ISIS targets, including “Operation Hawkeye Strike” in Dec 2025.
• Yemen: Air and naval strikes against Houthi forces.
• Nigeria: On December 25, 2025, the U.S. conducted “Christmas Strikes” against ISIL-linked targets in northwestern Nigeria in coordination with the local government.
• Iraq: Strikes against ISIS leaders.
• Caribbean/Pacific/Latin America: Since September 2025, the U.S. has conducted at least 45 strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in international and regional waters.

Violations of international law

Many legal experts have argued that the recent U.S. military actions, particularly those in Iran and Venezuela, have significantly violated the principles of international law under the UN Charter, the cornerstone of the international legal order. 

•          Article 2(4): This article prohibits the “threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state”. Critics argue that the strikes in Iran and the intervention in Venezuela were “wars of aggression” that directly violated this prohibition.

•          Article 51 (Self-Defense): Experts contend the strikes did not meet the “armed attack” threshold required for legal self-defense. The U.S. justification of “pre-emptive” action against Iran’s nuclear program is widely viewed as legally insufficient, as there was no evidence of an imminent or inevitable attack.

Why are we against the U.S. war economy and all U.S. wars?

Forbes magazine reports that, as of early 2026, the primary beneficiaries in the U.S. from the heightened military engagements (particularly regarding the conflict with Iran and increased defense spending) are defense contractors, energy companies, and specific political actors. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, and Palantir are identified as direct beneficiaries, with their stock prices trending upward due to increased military operations.

Let’s not forget — as conflict in the Middle East disrupts supplies, U.S. oil and gas companies are positioned to benefit from higher energy prices and increased demand for U.S. exports.  The American public and many others in different countries must contend with high gas prices as they prepare to go to work, look for work, attend school, or manage their daily life.

In the Poor People’s Campaign, a national and statewide organization with a Sacramento chapter, we understand that 140 million people in this country are struggling with poverty, too often dire poverty. Poverty undermines people’s ability to take advantage of opportunities in our country.

In the end, all of us will benefit from a country without poverty holding back tens of millions from fully accessing the American Dream. We are demanding a Poor People’s Moral Budget, one that heals systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, and ends the militarism and war economy plaguing our country today.

War and poverty are closely connected. The war economy in America diverts federal resources toward military spending instead of social programs. Meanwhile, community members are dying because of inadequate healthcare, education, housing, and environmental destruction.

Moreover, the war economy disproportionately impacts and affects people of color. These communities face ongoing inequality, with lower incomes, higher unemployment rates, less wealth, and limited economic mobility, all worsened by systemic discrimination based on white supremacy, so open and brutal today.

The military budget stands at $1 Trillion. Our military service members are killed, wounded, traumatized, and people across the world are victims of bombings and wars. Our country spends so much money on killing and traumatizing people, but is unwilling to spend funds on housing the unhoused, cleaning up the environment, educating our children, investing in EV cars, caring for the elderly, providing healthcare for all, and creating livable wage jobs for folks.

We can fight the war and the war economy and win

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. passionately opposed the Vietnam War and the military budget, calling the U.S. government “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world,” crying out, in his “Beyond Vietnam” address, “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

The massive and sustained opposition to the Vietnam War had a key role in ending that war. Today, 60% to 80% already oppose the war on Iran.

We can end this war. Organize, agitate, demonstrate — keep the pressure on in every way. The Poor People’s Campaign is with you.

We are saying ‘Not in my name’: This is why the war economy is immoral.

Faye Wilson Kennedy and Cathleen Williams, members of the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign (Sac PPC)