LOS ANGELES -- A thousand activists hit the streets in downtown Los Angeles to stage anti-war protests days after US forces killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani and deployed more troops to the Middle East.

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Filipinos were among those who joined the protests, peacefully marching at Pershing Square.

"We cannot support what Trump is doing because it's a criminal act by the United States," activist Fernando Fernando said.

"We find it really important for us to show solidarity for brothers and sisters in Iran and Iraq fighting for their sovereignty, fighting against imperialism, and fighting against the US occupation and economic sanctions that are harming their communities," said Viva Vargas of Bayan Southern California.

Filipino Activists from Bayan speak at “No War on Iran” protests in downtown Los Angeles. They compare the US intervention in the Middle East to what they call US-funded human rights violations in the Philippines. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS @balitangamerica pic.twitter.com/BnGcHzokI8

— Steve Angeles (@StevieAngeles) January 4, 2020

Filipino compared the US involvement in the Middle East to ongoing issues in the Philippines.

"We see the US war machine also waging war in the Philippines. They have sent over 193 million US tax dollars to fund the killings, to fund the heightened oppression of all of our progressive forces, the drones and bombs that caused the displacement of various indigenous communities," Vargas said.

Big anti-war protest calling for the US to pull out of the Middle East after US forces killed Iranian military leader Soleimani. @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS @balitangamerica pic.twitter.com/YcZY5HULUU

— Steve Angeles (@StevieAngeles) January 4, 2020

While these Filipinos took to the streets to denounce US President Donald Trump, Filipino conservatives celebrated this as an accomplishment for the President. They were at a Republican event with US congressional candidate Eric Early and state senate candidate John Moorlach.

"Totally support the President and his decisive actions. He has likely saved hundreds of thousands of Americans. He’s like saved thousands, if not tens of thousands of the good and decent Iranians in Iran who have been doing whatever they can to overthrow this butcher regime," Early said.

As Iran threatened retaliation against the US, local officials said there was no imminent danger in Southern California, but they would remain vigilant.

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