Group of Coloradans join nationwide anti-war protest at State Capitol

DENVER -- At the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, Denver protesters participated in a nationwide call for a stop to the U.S. military action in Syria.

A few dozen protesters gathered peacefully holding flags and signs and chanting along Lincoln Street, including Andrea Merida.

“We are sacrificing our own lives. We are sacrificing lives around the world and it's time to put an end to it,” Merida told the crowd. 

The overall message was a stop to U.S. involvement in Syria, after Thursday night’s missile strike on a Syrian airbase.

But across the street, there was a very different reaction from a Syrian restaurant owner. 

“Wow someone actually took action, like literally.”

Obeid Kaifo’s told Denver7 his parents fled Syria in the 80's. Some of his family members are refugees in other countries and some never made it out -- killed during the ongoing civil war.

He was born in America, but he keeps the issues close as a board member on the Syrian American Council.

“We’ve been lobbying and trying to get people to show attention to what’s going on. Trying to get people to take action,” said Kaifo.

Now he feels relief someone is finally fighting Assad. 

“To finally see Trump do it, out of all people, do it. It really caught me off guard.”

The protesters at the State Capitol and Kaifo may be on different sides of the issue, but both want the suffering and fighting in Syria to stop.

“We really need to get back to this message of building as opposed to destroying,” said Merida.

Kaifo said he hopes Assad will leave and flee to Russia.

“We are all supposed to feel safe at home and Assad took that away from the Syrian people,” said Kaifo.