Flags of Syrian protesters represent a conflict
Channel: Christy Wilcox
Date: 2012-06-13

Westwood, CA-- On Friday evening protesters, Pro President Bashar al Assad and Anti al Assad hit the streets outside the federal building to talk about the massacres in Syria.

The debate: Who is killing the people of Syria?

The street was clearly divided as hundreds of people stood across from each other holding two different flags: one a red two-starred flag that symbolizes Old Syria in support of the regime and the other a three-starred green flag that stands for prosperity, democracy, and freedom.

Representatives of the Arab American Council say the terrorists who are financed by countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the ones committing the crime in Syria. Indicating that these terrorists or rebels stay in the refugee camps outside the Syrian border while being equipped with weapons before re-entering the country.

"Democratic Syria would not benefit Saudi Arabia or Qatar because that means they will never become empowered," said Achi.

On the other side of the street stand the Anti-Assad protestors who say that it's the president and his regime creating the massacres.

The Executive Director of the Southern California Council of American Islamic Relations Hassam Ayloush said they have been busy trying to be the voice of the people of the Arab world who are struggling for freedom and democracy.

"They think everyone is conspiring against the great regime of Assad and there is nothing great about it except for the massacres it has committed," said Ayloush.

Ayloush said this is the beginning of hope because seeing the faces of Syrian's who were willing to step out to defend themselves was unlikely in the past.  Now that the freedom revolution started they want to stand up and demand their freedom.  The regime began to terrorize the people in order to suppress them hoping they would eventually stand down.

"People who were losing brothers and sisters and mothers and friends are actually deciding there is nothing else to lose," Ayloush said.

Amnesty International reports that since the beginning of the freedom revolution more than 15,000 people have died.  They also report that nearly one hundred deaths take place daily in Syria.

One man said that even if it wasn't the regime it is time for the president to step down because he is responsible for protecting his people and if he can't someone else should be running the country.

Security was heavy at the federal building; prior to this protest the same protest in New York became violent between the two groups.

Ayloush adds, "Any transition is better than this repressive regime, any transition toward a democracy where it pluralistic where every persons rights are respected. You don't have to belong to a certain sect or religion to enjoy citizenship."    

Although both heavily debate the roll of the Syrian president and his regime they both agree that they want the bloodshed to stop.

Source: Producer/Reporter Christy Wilcox

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