Reply #55: Protesters Gather to March on Capitol

[L. Coyote]

Protesters Gather to March on Capitol
By MATTHEW BARAKAT – 56 minutes ago AP
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivrAdGWlfmAyQ2-JkvlhPQGP6uFA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of protesters gathered Saturday outside the White House to demand an end to the Iraq war as counter-protesters rallied to meet them on a planned march to the Capitol.

The protesters gathered in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for President Bush's impeachment. The rally, organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups, was expected to conclude with a march to the Capitol.

Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.

"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies from the 60s who are against this war."

About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counter-protesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and waving American flags. ............