Syrians In South Florida Rally For Peace
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Dozens of people gathered in downtown Miami at a rally for peace in Syria and Egypt.
"People in Syria and Egypt can't even voice their opinions without the fear of being shot and killed they leave their homes and don't even know if they're coming back," said Maram Behairy.
"We just want to make sure our lawmaker in South Florida make sure our President hears it is time to act, people cannot be continued massacred," added Dr. Doured Daghistani, who has family in Syria.
After reports that hundreds were killed last week in a chemical weapons attack in Syria, White House officials said there's little doubt Syria used chemical weapons on its own people, but Syrian officials deny that.
The Syrian regime has now agreed to let U.N. weapons inspectors onto the site of that alleged chemical attack some time Monday. However, some officials believe it's too late and heavy bombing in the area may have destroyed evidence.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said President Obama is considering a U.S. response including possible military action.
"President Obama has asked the Defense Department to prepare options for all contingencies. We have done that," Defense Secretary Hagel said.
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said the U.S. should consider action only with the support of our allies.
"I think the U.S., in coordination with our allies, would consider missile strikes against select military bases of Al-Assad so we can destroy his air force so we can destroy his armed forces. That's the only way to destroy this evil dictator, but no boots on the ground and no solitary intervention on our part," Ros-Lehtinen said.
As the U.S. government determines what, if any, action to take, Syrians living in South Florida worry about their families.
"You just pray that nothing will happen to them like this and things get finished. My father is a 94-year-old. He has Alzheimer's and we can't even move him and I don't want him to end this way," said Daghistani.
