Anti-abortion protesters stage a die-in near the FleetCenter in Boston, Sunday, July 25, 2004, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Posted on 07/25/2004 4:17:50 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BOSTON - Delegates arriving for the Democratic National Convention were greeted Sunday by competing protests against the war in Iraq (news - web sites) and abortion.
About 2,000 protesters gathered at noon on the historic Boston Common, site of many of the city's most memorable demonstrations. After about two hours there, they marched half a mile to the FleetCenter, where Democrats plan to nominate hometown candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) for president on Wednesday.
"This is just the beginning of a week of protests," said Larry Holmes, spokesman for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, a coalition of activist groups that staged the march.
Several blocks away, about 1,000 anti-abortion advocates gathered at Faneuil Hall, the historic meeting house where patriots gathered before the American Revolution, and set off on their own march to the FleetCenter.
The two groups crossed paths at an intersection and exchanged angry words. A brief scuffle broke out between some of the peace demonstrators and a man carrying a graphic anti-abortion sign. The man was pushed to the ground and his shirt was torn but he appeared unhurt.
Some of the anti-abortion marchers lay in the street but soon stood up at the request of the police, and the two marches continued their separate ways following a few minutes of confusion.
Two people were taken into custody but police said the Secret Service did not release their names immediately. A woman was arrested near Faneuil Hall on disorderly conduct charges, the Secret Service said. An anti-war protester was taken into custody near City Hall for questioning but was not arrested, according to police and the Secret Service.
About 30 state police officers wearing riot gear lined Beacon Street for the larger march, where the throng paraded behind a banner reading "Bring the troops home now."
A half-dozen cruisers and 18 police vans followed slowly along the route. Representatives of the National Lawyers Guild and other civil libertarians also accompanied the march, wearing hats reading "legal observer."
The diverse crowd ranged from teenagers to war veterans. They carried flags, banners and signs reading, "Health care, not warfare," and "Veterans for Peace."
Gloria Pacis, a graphic artist from New York City, told the audience on the Common that her son, Stephen Funk, 22, refused to serve with the military in Iraq and spent five months in a military prison for it.
"We have come here so that those trying to bring our votes come November can take a good look in our eyes and know that we won't be lied to again," Pacis said.
Some protesters criticized the Bush administration and the decision to go to war in Iraq.
"How dare we go into another country and tell them how to run it, how to make it better when we cannot even better our own government," said Christina Densmore, 31, of Springfield, Mass. "Our own people are dying."
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Associated Press writer Ken Maguire in Boston contributed to this report.
Last time I looked, we SHOT cowards. Lucky he didn't expire from lead poisoning. I wonder if cowardice runs in the family?
As we don't hava a draft, I assume this means he was in the service and refused to obey a direct order. She should be glad he got only five months' punishment.
She's lucky her son was in the army of US warmongers. Had he been in Saddam's army he would have had his ears cut off.....before he was dipped in acid.
Should be a hell of a news week.
In the footage of the scuffle on Fox News Channel, the lone anti-abortion protestor was pretty badly beaten by the "peace-loving" anti-war faction. The pro-lifer should prosecute these fascist bastards...he has video of the incident on his side.
Yes, A.N.S.W.E.R. is still inexplicably lurking around. I've often wondered what the E.R. (ending racism) part has to do with stopping the war in Iraq. I think maybe they just needed some additional words to complete their clever little acronym; it didn't really matter what they were. Let's take a moment and brainstorm some other possiblities, shall we? Hmmm....they could have used Eat Raisins. Act Now to Stop War and Eat Raisins. That's not bad. Not bad at all. How about this one: Act Now to Stop War and Earn Rubles. Interesting, but a little scary. They might actually like that one; perhaps I should copyright it. Let's try one more just for fun. What about this: Act Now to Stop War and Emit Radiation. Strange. Okay, just one more, I swear...Act Now to Stop War and Eagerly Regurgitate. Hmm...that sounds about right. Wow, this was fun! Thanks for mentioning A.N.S.W.E.R.
The same war prosters that want an end to the war in Iraq, are the same individuals that demand the "right" to kill millions of preborn babies here in America..
So all I can deduce is that they believe violance against helpless babies is "good" -but taking out terriorists in Iraq is "bad" ?
2 Timothy 1-4 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
If it's a family of lefty RATS, yes!;)
The diverse crowd ranged from teenagers to war veterans. They carried flags, banners and signs reading, "Health care, not warfare," and "Veterans for Peace."
Diverse, right, tall leftists, short leftists, female leftists, male leftists, young leftists, old leftists, white leftists, black leftists, gay lefthanded one legged leftists....
Anti-abortion protesters stage a die-in near the FleetCenter in Boston, Sunday, July 25, 2004, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
It looked like a swarming. One victim, multiple assailants.
That's how liberals operate: strength in numbers, mob mentality...but get them one-on-one, and they are pussies.
The NLG is the legal arm of the Communist Party USA.
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