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September 16, 2007
September 15 Peace Rally in Washington
I really wanted to attend this rally yesterday, but the childcare situation was too problematic. Here are some reviews of the event:
100,000 March Against Iraq War in Washington
200 Arrested in Dramatic Mass Die-In
Yesterday, nearly 100,000 people -- led by anti-war Iraq veterans, military families and others -- marched from the White House to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. to demand an immediate end to the occupation of Iraq. The march concluded with a dramatic "die-in" of 5,000 people surrounding the Capitol. Almost 200 people were arrested when police prevented them taking an anti-war message to Congress.
People marched shoulder-to-shoulder on eight-lane-wide Pennsylvania Avenue, with the densely packed march stretching more than 10 blocks. It was a historic action and a step forward for the anti-war movement.
Protesters surged onto the Capitol's south lawn and up the steps where they were met by a police line. There, Iraq veterans conducted a solemn ceremony to memorialize the U.S. soldiers and Iraqis killed in the war. Over 5,000 people then laid down in a symbolic "die-in" -- one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in recent years.
One hundred ninety-seven people, including dozens of veterans and activists, were arrested when they tried to deliver their anti-war message to Congress and were stopped by the police.
This mass action came on the heels of the pro-war Petraeus report to Congress and Bush's wholehearted endorsement of the report. Meanwhile, the war rages on, destroying Iraqi society. Nearly 4,000 U.S. solidiers and up to 1 million Iraqis have died since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.
Many organizations and individuals joined together to sponsor the protest in Washington, D.C. timed to coincide with the Petraeus report on the "surge" in Iraq, including the ANSWER Coalition; Ramsey Clark; Muslim American Society .
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Thousands March in D.C. War Protest
By Matthew Barakat
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where at least 160 protesters were arrested.
The group marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war. Their numbers stretched for blocks along Pennsylvania Avenue, and they held banners and signs and chanted, "What do we want? Troops out. When do we want it? Now."
The arrests came after protesters lay down on the Capitol lawn in what they called a "die in" — with signs on top of their bodies to represent soldiers killed in Iraq. When police took no action, some of the protesters started climbing over a barricade at the foot of the Capitol steps.
Many were arrested without a struggle after they jumped over the waist-high barrier. But some grew angry as police with shields and riot gear attempted to push them back. At least two people were showered with chemical spray. Protesters responded by throwing signs and chanting: "Shame on you."
The number of arrests by Capitol Police on Saturday was much higher than previous anti-war rallies in Washington this year. Five people were arrested at a protest outside the Pentagon in March when they walked onto a bridge that had been closed off to accommodate the demonstration, then refused to leave. And at a rally in January, about 50 demonstrators blocked a street near the Capitol, but they were dispersed without arrests.
The protesters gathered earlier Saturday near the White House in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for President Bush's impeachment. The rally was organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups.
Organizers estimated that more than 100,000 people attended the rally and march. That number could not be confirmed; police did not give their own estimate. But there appeared to be tens of thousands of people in attendance.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.
"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and we support you."
Comments
MSNBC has an article. Let me check CNN, Faux, et al.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20788877/
Posted by: loretta | September 16, 2007 10:47 AM
That was the wire service (AP) report. Probably the same everywhere.
I'll have to hunt down another take on this.
Posted by: loretta | September 16, 2007 10:48 AM
I notice that the AP article minimized the number - "several thousand." While it's technically true, the accurate way to describe it would be "tens of thousands."
But, whoaaah. That sounds like a LOT of people, so we'd better say "several thousand" instead, even though the march was 13 blocks long or something.
Cripe.
Posted by: loretta | September 16, 2007 10:50 AM
A shameful waste of lives. Bush and Blair should hang their heads in shame.
Religious? My backside!
There was no threat. Therefore, the war is illegal (9/11 had nothing to do with this war).
Posted by: Mgt | September 17, 2007 03:58 AM
Aging Hippies, cross dressers, homeless panhandlers, and dopers all. Not a taxpayer among them.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 17, 2007 01:27 PM
http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/1826501/
Is the world going completely bonkers?
Posted by: vero | September 17, 2007 07:34 PM
"Aging Hippies, cross dressers, homeless panhandlers, and dopers all. Not a taxpayer among them.
Posted by: Anonymous"
Is that you, Joe? Sure sounds like you!
All those people you mention pay taxes. Except for the homeless, of course.
They did pay taxes, until the taxes on their homes got too high and their jobs got outsourced.
Were you there? Did you tear yourself away from dishing dirt on the family of a murder victim long enough to go and see what was happening? Or did you rely on the media spin? You know FOX would focus on the "aging hippies" rather than the nuns and ministers and veterans like you, Joe.
Posted by: vero | September 17, 2007 07:41 PM
I don't care who they are, as long as they are doing something to stop this senseless, corrupt and illegal war.
If that was you Captain Joe, you should hang your head along with Tony and Dubya.
Posted by: Mgt | September 18, 2007 08:57 AM
Ciao, everyone.
Posted by: Mgt | September 18, 2007 12:11 PM
Treasonous summer soldiers. Let them man the ramparts around the Capitol when the hordes of Muzzies swarm the Beltway.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 18, 2007 06:01 PM
There are news reports that some of these "demonstrators" even defaced the Vietnam memorial last weekend.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 18, 2007 06:04 PM
Good morning all!
It was freezing here, yesterday...dull with an annoying, cold wind. Today it is sunny and I'm hoping it gets warmer. It caught me by surprise.
Lisa, I'm digging the scarf out.
Posted by: Mgt | September 19, 2007 03:39 AM
We are getting a free lunch tomorrow and are all leaving work at midday and not coming back till Friday.
Ciao!
Posted by: Mgt | September 19, 2007 12:05 PM
Is this blog dead?
Posted by: any how | September 22, 2007 09:26 PM
It only takes three days of no posts or comments to declare a blog dead?
Get over yourself. This blog is far from dead. The blogger has been busy.
Posted by: vero | September 23, 2007 12:47 PM
I'll say. Between social commitments (and having a ball, whoo boy) and work and housekeeping and enjoying this spectacular weather, and flirting and cavorting, well, I just don't have much time to blob.
Posted by: loretta | September 23, 2007 12:51 PM
Good for you Loretta, you have a wonderful time.
Posted by: Possumbear | September 23, 2007 10:47 PM
Morning all!
Posted by: Mgt | September 24, 2007 08:29 AM
A virus has knocked me to my knees since Sunday morning. I don't do sick very well.
Posted by: CountryGal | September 25, 2007 07:27 PM
Morning!
Sorry to hear that CountryGal. If you are not used to being ill, those viruses make you realise that all those people you used to roll your eyes at, could really have been ill.
I have only had one of those 'knock you off your feet' viruses and I really couldn't lift my head off the pillow. It was Christmas day 1998. I'll never forget it.
Good morning to our hostess. Hope you are well and having bags of fun.
Posted by: Mgt | September 26, 2007 04:43 AM