Anti-war rallies today on both coasts (Free Republic mentioned)

AP | 10/25/03 | JENNIFER C. KERR

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Hundreds of anti-war protesters rallied Saturday in the capital, urging an end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq and demanding that President Bush bring home American troops.

Under a bright sun on a cool fall morning, protesters waved anti-war signs as they listened to songs of peace. Some placards read: "Make Jobs Not War," and "Bush is a liar."

Organizers predicted more than 30,000 people would turn out for the rally and a march in the afternoon that would circle the White House and the Justice Department. Thousands more were expected later in the day for similar demonstrations in San Francisco.

Before the rally at the Washington Monument, about 200 protesters played songs, listened to drummers and rallied for peace in a park about 20 blocks north of the White House. Bush was spending the weekend at Camp David in Maryland.

Carolyn Boyd, one of the leaders of Black Voices for Peace, urged the crowd to be enthusiastic about peace and do everything possible to ensure they are heard.

"We must be relevant, we must be counted, and the only way we can be counted is if we stand up together as one," she said. "We will say 'no' to war and 'yes' to peace. We will say 'no' to injustice and 'yes' to justice."

Gabriela Bulisoba, 29, of Mount Rainier, Md., had her dog, Wobbly Joe Hill, wearing a T-shirt that read: "Pooches Against War."

"What's being done to the Iraqi people is not only illegal but immoral," Bulisoba said.

U.S. Park Police said protest organizers have assured them there will be no violence.

"It's going to be a peaceful demonstration. They're going to get their word out, and we're going to try to make it so they can," said Sgt. Scott Fear, a Park Police spokesman.

Sponsoring the protests were International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and United for Peace and Justice.

"The U.S. government has no right to try and recolonize Iraq," said Peta Lindsay, national youth and student coordinator for ANSWER.

To counter the anti-war demonstrations, the Washington chapter of Free Republic, an independent grass-roots conservative group, planned a rally Saturday at the Capitol, where organizers expect about 1,000 people.

"We support our troops and the commander in chief and their mission," said Kristinn Taylor, co-leader of the group.

____

Associated Press writers Jesse J. Holland and Elizabeth Wolfe in Washington and Mielikki Org in San Francisco contributed to this report.

[kattracks]

ping

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Cheers for the Washington freepers.

[FreeRep]

They are so extreme and blatantly anti-American and hateful.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Some notes -

1. Free republic labelled conservative. Note none of the leftist groups labelled as such - again - it gets so tiring.

2.) One quote for conservative - what 3 or 4 for lefties? Time to start 17 different groups so that we can be quoted 17 different times.

3.) Since when is a gathering of 200 people in a city of what - 2-3 million? newsworthy. 200 people in small town USA gather for a high school soccer game. Of course I could also "estimatye" that 10,000 would show up for the game - you can quote me on that if you want, AP no fact checker biased blowhard communist.

4.) Although not reaching the non-news status of Reuters just yet - AP is well on their way

5.) We need to organize against the media - it is just ridiculous - anyone know any group to join?

[RonDog]

See also these RELATED threads:

Anti-war rallies today on both coasts (Free Republic mentioned)
			Posted by kattracks On 10/25/2003 9:25 AM PDT with 3 comments AP | 10/25/03 | JENNIFER C. KERR
Anti-War Rallies Today on Both Coasts (FREE REPUBLIC mentioned)
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SPEAKERS: SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! Freedom Rally Against Terror and Tyranny, Sat., Oct. 25, 2003 in D.C.
			Posted by Angelwood On 10/20/2003 8:25 PM PDT with 121 comments D.C Chapter of Free Republic ^ | October 20,2003 | Kristinn and Angelwood

[The UnVeiled Lady]

thanks for posting, I tuned in but couldn't stand much.

However, the bring the troops home reminds me of the communist goal # 43

Useful Idiots!!!

[Let's Roll]

I watched the DC one on C-Span for awhile - they can probably claim a few thousand at most. Don't know what they're saying it was. Flat, lifeless - great weather or they would have had nada.

I remember thinking - the normal college agers are at a football game.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

These rallies were pathetic! No one was there other than all the usual malcontents, leftists, "traitor" Democrats, misguided Jewish students (who if they ever got what they wished for with their Democrat "Traitor" friends, would end up with their throats slit in public by making nice with the Arab terrorists), leftover 60s hippies who have not yet learned how to wash. The American people got a good look at the America that the current Democrat Party will foist upon us all if elected. It is an America I do not care to be in! American voters, wise up and destroy the Democrat Party or destroy yourselves!