Anti-War Protest Kicks Off at the White House

[Joanne98]

Source: WP

The first major protest against the Iraq War in Washington since January kicked off today with speeches near the White House, to be followed by a "die-in" at the U.S. Capitol featuring the playing of tap and a mock 21-gun salute.

Protesters and counter-protesters started to gather by 8:30 a.m. for the event, which is expected to be followed by a week of civil disobedience in the Washington area intended to shift the anti-war movement to a more confrontational phase. Organizers were predicting tens of thousands of protesters, though their permit is for 10,000.

Like the last major anti-war march in January, when tens of thousands descended on the Mall, today's events come at a tense time in the fractious debate over the U.S. mission in Iraq. Today's rally and march on the Capitol follows this week's congressional testimony by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and President Bush's speech to the nation on Thursday. The president ordered the first limited troop withdrawals since voters elected an antiwar Congress last year, but Democratic leaders immediately criticized his plan.

The event today is organized by the ANSWER Coalition, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. It formally began at noon at Lafayette Park, on the north side of the White House, with speeches from at least two dozen speakers ranging from former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Ralph Nader to Washington Wizards player Etan Thomas and Michael Berg, whose son Nicolas was a contractor killed in Iraq.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/15/AR2007091500826.html

---

The demonstrators were immediately confronted by several hundred counter-protesters, who came to the Mall to demand that politicians see the war through to victory. At a large stage on the Mall at 7th Street, speakers said they did not want to abandon the Iraqi people, as they said America had done in ending the Vietnam war, and that they wanted soldiers to be shown respect when they returned from Iraq.

Several hundred? WOW! That's a lot for them!

[daninthemoon]

1. Not even on cspan. WTF?

[rodeodance]

4. I heard them say this am. that we could watch it TOMORROW -

[ShortnFiery]

10. Yes, it was critical that CSPAN re-air General BetrayUs's "dog and pony show" instead.

:eyes:

[rodeodance]

19. and Gonzo's good bye party

[Hissyspit]

22. PHOTOS Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1815573

[bbernardini]

2. "Several hundred" probably equals "eight." No, not eight hundred. Eight.

Those fools always seem to have their numbers magically increase when written about.

[leftchick]

3. the freakin eagles account for about 40 or so

they came to my town last July when Cindy was here. All they do is make noise and scream through bullhorns. They are an embarrassment to our species.

[Buns_of_Fire]

16. Does that number include the PortaPotty Guards?

Have they contracted that out to Blackwater yet?

[ClintonTyree]

20. How can anyone demonstrate FOR MORE WAR?

:wtf: Are these people seriously fucked-up, or what? :wtf:

And why aren't these brave, "patriotic" :sarcasm: souls over in Iraq fighting Bush's war that they support so damned much? Rat bastards! :grr:

[rodeodance]

5. 1,000 people had registered for the "die-in" at the Capitol.

Organizers said at least 1,000 people had registered for the "die-in" at the Capitol. Most people registered online earlier in the week, but others did today at the site of the rally.

Those who registered were given a four-page handout instructing them to be "willing to risk arrest.'' In case they are arrested, the handout said, protesters should bring their medication and make sure they have eaten.

"You should eat prior to risking arrest,'' the handout said. "It may be several hours before you have access to food.''

[rodeodance]

6. see this thread: MSNBC poll: 89% want Bushit Impeached!!

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject MSNBC poll: 89% want Bushit Impeached!!
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1814940#1814940
1814940, MSNBC poll: 89% want Bushit Impeached!!
Posted by tekisui on Sat Sep-15-07 12:36 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/?polls=is_open

[rodeodance]

7. WEBCAM = Anti-War Protest in progress here == MARCH ON WASH. DC

Sat Sep-15-07 12:51 PM
Original message
WEBCAM = Anti-War Protest in progress here == MARCH ON WASH. DC

http://www.trafficland.com/#city/WAS/camera/200156

[daninthemoon]

8. Thanks

[L. Coyote]

24. PHOTOS: White House Rally - Sept. 15, 2007

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1815573

[L. Coyote]

25. DIE-IN PHOTOS: D.C. Rally/Protest - Sept. 15, 2007

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1816417

[cyberpj]

9. K/R. With what they've pulled lately against protesters, expect agitators. Hope everyone has a cam!

Bush & Co. have been ratcheting up their quelling dissent activites even more than usual lately.

[The Witch]

11. The AP story doesn't give a number for the crowd, but...

says there were nearly 1,000 counter-protesters. Blech. :puke:

[go west young man]

13. The AP is so fucking corrupt just like the rest of the media.

Yet every paper in the U.S. and the Gaurdian UK use that crapola.

[WillyT]

12. K & R !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[Pierzin]

14. US Media continues to censor The People who Protest

They learned from Vietnam. Look at who owns them, look at who buys advertising on their programs. Yes, the US Media is corrupt.
Write to all the GOP congresspeople and senators, demand Impeachment, which is only being whispered about now.
Hoorah for the Protesters!

[ChiciB1]

15. C-Span DID Say This AM That They Were Going To Air BOTH Of Them

TOMORROW! I really wish I could have made it, but was up there last March for the March On The Pentagon! Not much coverage of THAT one for sure!

Totally disgusting as far as I'm concerned! Just goes to show how very little "We The People" count anymore in this country!! AAAHHH, how I long for the days gone by! The HUGE protests back during Viet Nam! No, not much TV coverage but there were certainly thousands and thousands and thousands of interested people willing to join a REVOLUTION back then!!!

Today, the thing I see the most is APATHY & IGNORANCE!

[rodeodance]

17. Topic subject Antiwar Protest Held in Washington - WaPo

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Antiwar Protest Held in Washington - WaPo
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1815777#1815777
1815777, Antiwar Protest Held in Washington - WaPo
Posted by WillyT on Sat Sep-15-07 03:28 PM

By Jerry Markon and Dion Haynes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 15, 2007; 3:44 PM



<snip>

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Washington today, from near the White House to the Capitol, where they planned to stage a "die-in" to demonstrate their fervant opposition to the war in Iraq. Protesters and counter-protesters started to gather by 8:30 a.m. for the first major anti-war protest in Washington since January, which is expected to be followed by a week of civil disobedience in the area intended to shift the anti-war movement to a more confrontational phase.

Police said today's protest has been largely peaceful thus far, with no arrests. Like the last major anti-war march in January, when tens of thousands descended on the Mall, today's events come at a tense time in the fractious debate over the U.S. mission in Iraq.

Today's rally and march on the Capitol follows this week's congressional testimony by Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and President Bush's speech to the nation on Thursday. The president ordered the first limited troop withdrawals since voters elected an antiwar Congress last year, but Democratic leaders immediately criticized his plan.

The event today is organized by the ANSWER Coalition, which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. It formally began at noon at Lafayette Park, on the north side of the White House, with speeches from at least two dozen speakers ranging from former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Ralph Nader to Washington Wizards player Etan Thomas and Michael Berg, whose son Nicolas was a contractor killed in Iraq.

"The majority of the people in this country and in Iraq are working people, and working people want this war to end,'' Fred Mason, president of the Maryland and District AFL-CIO, told the crowd amid chants of "Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation." Mason said war opponents had been optimistic that Democrats "would have the guts and backbone to end this war" when they took control of Congress this year, but "that has not been the case."

As of 2:47 p.m., protesters were at 7th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on their way to the Capitol, said D. C. Police Commander Patrick Burke. The "die-in" at the Capitol was expected to feature the playing of taps and a mock 21-gun salute.

Earlier, in Lafayette Park, hundreds of protesters walked around with signs that said the country should "drop Bush, not bombs" and declaring the president guilty of war crimes. They also listened to songs such as "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" and Edwin Starr's classic antiwar song "War."

Juan Torres Sr., 52, of Chicago, held a poster with a photo of his son, Juan Torres Jr. in his Army uniform. Torres said his 25-year-old old son died while serving in the war in 2004. Military officials, he said, told him his son committed suicide by shooting himself, but Torres doesn't believe it. He said he opposes the war because "I don't want to see other families like mine" lose a child.

<snip>

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/15/AR2007091500826_pf.html

Thanks to all those who were there to oppose this illegal occupation.

:yourock:

[rodeodance]

18. " Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Washington "

[lligrd]

21. Read That Free Republic Was Going To Show Up

Hope someone catches them on camera. Can't wait to see the faces that belong to those idiots.

[Turner Ashby]

23. My sister was there as a tourist

I expect to talk to her tonight or tomorrow. I couldn't hear her for all the noise in the background. I'll be interested to hear her take as she is totally non political.

[lligrd]

28. Let Us Know What She Says. nt

[L. Coyote]

26. They made videos = FREEPER MADNESS: Protesting the kooks - Part 1

FREEPER MADNESS: Protesting the kooks - Part 1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x54489

Warning: These are freepers doing freepy crap with freepy ideas in freeperland. :rofl: It's positively creepy freepy!

[lligrd]

27. I Saw Them - And They Call Us Kooks!

They are so creepy it is frightening.