Fight breaks out at Iran anti-war protest in Pittsburgh

An anti-war protest in Pittsburgh was peaceful on Saturday until a fight broke out.

More than 100 people were taking part in the protest at Schenely Plaza in Oakland, the Trib’s news partner, WPXI-TV, reported.

The protest started around 12:30 p.m. and was over by 2 p.m., a Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said.

A group of about 100 antiwar protesters have gathered here at Schenley Plaza in Oakland spreading the message of no war or sanctions on Iran @WPXI @WPXIAaronMartin @AFP @NBCNews @CNN @RadioFreeTom @nytimes pic.twitter.com/B0wINAS2ns

— Stephen Banfield (@coachtvnews) January 4, 2020

The protest followed the death of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad’s airport.

Iran has vowed to retaliate, and the U.S. is sending nearly 3,000 more Army troops to the Middle East.

Protesters were spreading a message of no war or sanctions on Iran.

WPXI reported that the protest had been peaceful, with people holding signs and speaking, until opposing sides started arguing — pushing, shoving, yelling curse words and ripping up signs — at which point police stepped in to separate them.

The Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said some of its officers were on hand to monitor the protest, but that University of Pittsburgh Police handled it.

Police told WPXI that no one was arrested.

CNN was reporting that protests were taking place in more than 70 cities on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh protest and many of the others were sponsored by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, an antiwar organization started after the 9/11 attacks.