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Washington demonstrations for, against war
[UPI plugs Free Republic, DC Chapter Patriot Rally!]
The Washington Times ^ | October 26, 2003 | Dar Haddix and Andrew Moisan [UPI]

Posted on 10/26/2003 9:43 AM PST by RonDog

Washington demonstrations for, against war

By Dar Haddix and Andrew Moisan
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The largest anti-war rally in the nation's capital since President Bush announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq was greeted by an equally boisterous, if not as large numerically, group of the president's policy supporters.
The groups gathered Saturday in generally peaceful protests, with minor confrontations -- such as the throwing of eggs and plastic bottles and verbal exchanges -- marking the short period when the anti-war and pro-Bush groups converged near Pershing Park. Police had established a strong presence ahead of the marches and had installed additional surveillance cameras to track both gatherings.
Antiwar groups expected a turnout of up to 30,000 people, while war supporters expected as many as 1,000 to attend. An exact figure for neither group was available. Antiwar organizers United for Peace and Justice and ANSWER scheduled the protest to coincide with the second anniversary of the Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act was passed shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington in which some 3,000 people died. The measure gave the government additional powers, which it said it needed to stop future attacks. The act's detractors say it represents an infringement on basic rights in the United States.
Kathryn Wood, co-leader of the DC Chapter of the Free Republic, which supports the war, said the group had a counter-rally because "the ANSWER people came to town -- we can't let them be the only voice."

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Way to go, Angelwood!

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I think it would have been better had their been no counter demonstration. When there are idiots in the streets, no one need counter them. When we do, we muddy the messages coming out of both sides, and we run the risk of engaging in our own idiocy, such as that sign I referenced before. We should hope for many more ANSWER rallys, let CSPAN show them every day. Nothing could do more for our side then that. We need to be careful to not give the squishy middle the idea that both sides are off the reservation.