Posted on 08/13/2006 3:25:42 PM PDT by Graybeard58
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of people gathered across from the White House on Saturday, even though the president was out of town, to condemn U.S. and Israeli policies in the Middle East.
Speakers in Lafayette Park energized the most mostly Muslim crowd with chants and speeches condemning Israeli involvement in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, U.S. support for Israel and U.S. involvement in Iraq.
"Occupation is a crime," the crowd chanted, equating the situations in the three areas. But they also called for peace and justice for all.
"We all stand united against the violence and the killing in the holy land," said Esam Omesh, president of the Muslim American Society, a co-sponsor of the demonstration, along with the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee and the National Council of Arab Americans.
"There is no difference between Muslim life, Christian life or Jewish life," said Omesh.
In San Francisco, about 2,000 people marched in support of Lebanese and Palestinians and against the Israel military action.
"The occupiers are being seen as the victims, and I'm really ashamed of what is going on in the Middle East," said Alicia Jrapko, a member of the the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, which organized the rally.
"End the occupation now!" one demonstrator's sign read, a call for Israel to leave historically Palestinian lands.
Several hundred counter-demonstrators gathered to show their support of Israel, waving American and Israeli flags. "Hezbollah out of Lebanon!" a protester's sign said.
Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark drew cheers from the Washington crowd when he called for President Bush's impeachment.
"We've made more enemies during the presidency of George Bush than in the rest of our history combined," Clark said.
Rahat Husain, 24, of Columbia, Md., said he did not have much hope that the Bush administration would change its policies because of the demonstration, but said it could raise Americans' awareness and create compassion for Lebanese citizens.
Hassan Rida, 26, traveled from Farmington Hills, Mich., with his 15-year-old cousin, Hassan Mokbel, who was vacationing in southern Lebanon when the current crisis started and had to escape through Syria. He and friends Nehme Mhanna, 24, and Mona Alaouie, 24, from Dearborn, Mich., said they wanted to show support for the Lebanese and educate Americans about the situation.
"There's always two sides of the story," Rida said.
Habib Ghanim, 55, of Silver Spring, Md., said he voted for Bush, but would probably vote democratic in the next election, because he is disappointed and wants to "stop the fighting on all sides."
The family friendly crowd was filled with Muslims, but also contained many non-Muslims, including a handful of orthodox Jews. Yeshaye Rosenverg, 23, traveled form Monsey, N.Y., to "show the support for the Lebanese and Palestine people and to make clear that it's not a Jewish fight between Arabs and Jews."
A law enforcement official on the scene estimated that there were about 5,000 people attending the rally and subsequent march through the streets of Washington, which was sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation and the National Council of Arab Americans.
S/he's not a Jew. S/he's a leftist, who has a mental disorder, called *liberalism*.
"There is no difference between Muslim life, Christian life or Jewish life," said Omesh.
Not what his prophet says.
Muslims follow an exclusive, intolerant belief system and seek to impose their theocratic worldview whereveer they go.
Islam is as much an enemy of western civilization as was Fascism or NAZIsm or Communism.
On what grounds, Ramsey? Because America is despised by terrorists and their supporters the world over? That's a reason to praise the President.
The Left has embraced Islam. And there are many people who are of Jewish descent, but whose current religion is Leftism
This guy belongs to the Satmars, a wackey group that believes only the Messiah can lead the Jews to Israel and does not care a fig if his fellow Jews are murdered by the Schmuslems. I believe the word is "useful idiots".
Because Ramsey Clark is a life long commited communist.
Of course, the irony is that Islamofascists will murder the leftist decadent scum if they ever seize power. They have no use for lesbians or people such as Moonbat Cindy Sheehan except as the Fifth Column.
The Muslims seem to hold that Jewish and Christian lifes are whole lot more disposable.
From the Koran: "Do not take Christians or Jews as you friends".
Terrific site. Just bookmarked it. Thank you, sir.
Still waiting for their protest against the militant muslim supremacists.
You know, the ones they claim hijack their religion. Denounce them for a week, please.
It's okay to lie to the kufir.
Will someone please tell me why this anti-American Communist friend of terrorists is allowed to keep his passport? He's only here to harass us and aid our enemies, while taking advantage of our Constitution. Deportation is too good for him, but I'd settle for it.
To read a good article on Islam go to yourarmstoisrael.org and select "sermon notes" and pull up "The Final End Time Beast". Print and save.
Video of this here: http://ageofhooper.blogspot.com/
P.S. That's not my blog, I saw it linked from LGF. (Just realized it could look like a blog pimp lol)
Guess Ramsay has given up on defending Saadam and moving on to another media event.
I know of no Jews that would claim an idiot like that.
If so, then why does this POS want to kill Jews and Christians? Hmmmm?
"There is no difference between Muslim life, Christian life or Jewish life," said Omesh.
Yes there is. Loose a Christian or Jew and you've lost someone that probably contributed to making life better in this world. Loose a Muslim and you lost someone who spent their life hating Jews and Christians.
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