From the Durham, NC Herald-Sun:
Peace rally attracts about 3,000 near Fort Bragg
By VALERIE BAUMAN : Associated Press Writer
Mar 19, 2005 : 6:56 pm ET
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- An anti-war rally organized in part by veterans and military families drew about 3,000 people to a park near Fort Bragg -- home to more than 40,000 soldiers and thousands of other dependents.
Demonstrators attending the rally on the second anniversary of the United States' invasion of Iraq said they hoped it would build pressure to bring troops home.
"I can't remain silent on these issues, slap a yellow ribbon on my car and call it supporting our troops," said Kara Hollingsworth, the wife of a soldier serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. "I support our troops by making sure they are not put in harm's way unless absolutely necessary."
The demonstration in a town where life revolves around the sprawling Army base, home to the Army's Green Berets and the elite 82nd Airborne Division, was met by about 100 opponents waving American flags and banners.
Anne Hladik is a military wife too. Her husband is in Baghdad, preparing to come home from his second deployment. She stood with the counter-protesters.
"I'm very insulted that people came here specifically to harass our military families," Hladik said. "It's hurtful because it gives (soldiers overseas) the illusion, at what may be a difficult time, that the nation may be against them."
Hladik said the best way to show support for U.S. troops was to send care packages and calling cards to service men and women overseas.
Similar protests across the United States and Europe marked the anniversary of the Iraq war. At least 45,000 Britons marched past the American Embassy in London to protest the invasion.
In Fayetteville, the day opened with a march to Rowan Street Park, where 100 boxes draped with American flags represented soldiers killed in Iraq.
Rally organizers repeated throughout the event that their support for the troops meant wanting the Bush Administration to bring them home safe.
Michael Hoffman, a co-Founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War who invaded Iraq in 2003 with the Marines, be didn't think anti-war protests undermine the morale of troops facing danger, Hoffman said.
"I've been in Iraq, I've been shot at, you're not thinking about the protests, you're not thinking about yellow ribbons, you're thinking about 'how am I going to get out of this?'" he said.
Police made one arrest Saturday. Rann Bar-On, a rally speaker was arrested for obstructing and delaying arrest, and trespassing, both misdemeanors. Officers said he tried to enter the rally site without a mandatory search.
http://herald-sun.com/state/6-588004.html
"I've been in Iraq, I've been shot at, you're not thinking about the protests, you're not thinking about yellow ribbons, you're thinking about 'how am I going to get out of this?'" he said.
Spoken like a true coward. He should have said "I was thinking about", not "you're thinking about"
