Thousands of Americans in Washington to Protest Iraq Policy (FR Makes Aljazeerah)

Reuters via Aljazeerah ^ | Saturday, October 25, 2003 | Niala Boodhoo

[kristinn]

Thousands rallied in Washington on Saturday to protest U.S. policy in Iraq, the first major demonstration since President Bush declared an end to major combat in the war on Iraq.

"We need to make President Bush realize that our children are being killed," Fernando de Solar Suarez said at a rally near the Washington Monument, where the crowd later planned to march to the White House.

Suarez's son, a Marine, was killed in Iraq on March 27.

Guerrillas fighting the U.S.-led occupation have killed 108 U.S. soldiers since May 1, when Bush declared major combat in Iraq over.

Peace activists, many carrying placards, said increasing concerns about casualties in Iraq have spurred the U.S. anti-war movement back into action after months of relative quiet. "Iraq=Vietnam," one placard read. "Money for Jobs, not for War," said another.

Organizers at International ANSWER, the group that coordinated the event, said at least 200 buses from more than 145 cities would attend the demonstration. Similar events were also planned for San Francisco.

As people holding pink balloons that read "Weapons of Mass Destruction: A lot of hot air!" walked by, a Washington engineer holding hands with his two children said he wanted Bush out of the White House.

"We have a president who lied to us about weapons of mass destruction, he lied about Iraq being a threat," said the man, who would only give his first name, Omar.

"It's important that people realize things are still going on there," said Boston artist Kim Beury. "We went in there and really messed things up."

BUSH APPROVAL RATING DECLINES

Polls indicate Bush's approval rating has steadily declined since May, when it was around 80 percent. According to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released this month, 56 percent of Americans surveyed approved of the way Bush was doing his job.

Nancy Lessin, who heads the group "Military Families Speak Out," said dozens of military families from as far away as Indiana, Texas and Maine had come to Washington for the demonstration.

"It's wonderful for us to be together and express the message to end the occupation and bring our troops home," she told Reuters.

About a hundred people also held a simultaneous counterdemonstration on the other side of the National Mall, near the U.S. Capitol building.

Those organizers, the D.C. chapter of "Free Republic," a self-described conservative, independent group, said they would march to support U.S. troops at the same time as the other demonstration.

[Fred Mertz]

Good on y'all, Kristinn. Did C-Span give you any time? I looked off and on last night and today but I didn't see any coverage.

[Catspaw]

How many minutes have you been here? And how many minutes do you expect to stay?

[BJungNan]

Does anyone know if it is true that a bunch of anti-war protesters showed up and disrupted a Welcome Home To The Troops rally in Oceanside, CA?

[basil]

My goodness--you guys are becoming world famous! Good for you! I'm certainly glad you weren't so afraid of getting hurt that you stayed home yesterday. If that had happened, the troops in Iraq might have gotten the idea that no one back home cared about them.

[EternalVigilance]

You did a great job with the media coverage.

Kudoes once again to you.

Congrats to all of those who worked so hard to stand in the gap for so many.

[kristinn]

C-SPAN ignored us. But they did give at least nine hours to ANSWER this weekend.

[kristinn]

Haven't heard about that. I hope they didn't.

[kristinn]

dixiesass posted about talking with some soldiers who recently returned from Iraq. They chanced upon our rally and were heartened to see it. They told her they thought folks back home didn't support them.

[blam]

The DC chapter of FR made news in my local newspaper (Mobile Register) here in Mobile. Thanks and way to go guys!!

[Pro-Bush]

...Any publicity is good publicity. Way to go DC Freepers!

[kristinn]

Congrats to all of those who worked so hard to stand in the gap for so many.

I'll second that. Thanks for standing with us, EV.

[kristinn]

That's good news, indeed. Thanks for letting us know.

[CARepubGal]

About 30 useless idiots showed up. The crowd booed them and taunted them (lots of cops had to hold the patriotic crowd back...)

[At _War_With_Liberals]

This is the big time... Congrats.

[Kudsman]

Thank you bump.

[Angelwood]

How many people fit on around 200 buses? Methinks A.N.S.W.E.R.'s numbers don't compute into the 100,000 plus that they estimate attended this weekend's event.

Thanks for posting this article. I hope they posted tgslTakoma's MOAB.

[WOSG]

A bus carries 40 people, if its the "greyhound" style intercity bus.

200x40 = 8,000. So maybe them and another few thousand showed up (10-12,000?)

[MetalHeadConservative35]

keep fighting,this war with the commies aint over

be there if i could,michigan front is really quiet