The Coalition for Democracy protest rally on September 23 was dedicated to the 18 U.S. service
men and women who have died in the Iran war. Those at the rally came dressed in dark clothing,
and the name of each service member was held up for people walking and driving by to see.
Karen Kemp of Niles, one of the rally’s organizers said, “It is important to remind people of what
this illegal disastrous war has cost in American lives. In addition to those killed, according to the
Washington Post on August 18, more than 820 service members have been wounded. The
Pentagon has not provided exact number of wounded nor information about the nature or
severity of the wounds.”

The Coalition, a grassroots group from Cass County and the south Berrien County area, has been
protesting for over a year at the same location—the corner of 2 nd and Main in Niles—which is
directly in front of Representative Tim Walberg’s office. Naomi Ludman of Dowagiac, another
rally coordinator, said, “We’re here because we want this war stopped. Representative Walberg
has consistently supported the President’s policies on Iran, all of which have led to unnecessary
lives lost overseas, economic hardship for American families, and, tragically, the loss of
American lives in an illegal war.”

These 18 U.S. service men and women have lost their lives as a result of this war:

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton age 30
1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan age 25
Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad age 28
Pvt. Isabella Gonzales age 19
Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards (age not given)
Master Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons age 28
Maj. Ariana G. Savino age 31
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt age 34

Capt. Seth R. Koval age 38
Maj. John A. Klinner age 33
Capt. Curtis J. Angst age 30
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington age 26
Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington age 42
Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien 45
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan age 54
Capt. Cody Khork age 35
Sgt. Declan J. Coady age 20
Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor age 39

The death of Capt. Bianca C. Wilkerson, age 37, was announced on Wednesday, September 23. 

Coalition Rallies will continue every first and third Monday at noon at the corner of 2nd and Main
in Niles to protest the policies of the Trump administration and Representative Tim Walberg.