Tens of Thousands Rally in D.C. for Troop Withdrawal

Washington Post ^ | January 27, 2007 | By Michael E. Ruane

[Jim Robinson]

Tens of thousands of demonstrators from across the country converged on the Mall in Washington today to urge the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq as President Bush is proposing to send more troops in an effort to stabilize the country.

The enthusiastic crowd was generally good natured and orderly, waving hundreds of colorful placards and chanting slogans such as "Not another day, not another dollar" and "This is what democracy looks like."

~~snip~~

Across the street, however, was a counter-protest, staged by the Washington chapter of the conservative organization FreeRepublic.com. Those protesters, who organizers said feared that the antiwar march would hurt the U.S. anti-terror efforts, yelled and sported signs, such as one that read, "Go to hell traitors. You dishonor our dead on hallowed ground."

At least one veteran from the Iraq war tried to bridge the divide between the groups. Cpl. Joshua Sparling, 25, from Port Huron, Mich., who lost his right leg below the knee in an 2005 explosion in Ramadi, spoke to both groups.

Near the end of the CodePink rally, Sparling, a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital who used crutches to walk, went to the microphone and told the protesters that they are entitled to the right to demonstrate and must fight for what they believe in. But he reminded them that the situation is dire for many Iraqis and U.S. troops there believe that they are fighting to help provide a better option for the people of Iraq. He was rewarded with general applause, although a few feint boos could be heard.

When he finished, he walked across the street and spoke with the FreeRepublic group also.

[cf_river_rat]

Do you go to Walter Reed on Fridays?

I was there last night, but it's a six-hour drive up for me. Last night was only my second time.

[Candor7]

Was that POS ever prosecuted for sending the letter.?I hear he used to Troll on FR. I also heard that a Freeper turned himn in to an FBI agent about the web site he was running at the time.

Agents apparently paid him a visit.

[Not A Snowbird]

That's quite a haul. I haven't made it yet, but perhaps I will next week. I only have three weeks left before I go back to Seattle.

[stand watie]

WELL SAID!

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

make that "FILTHY TRAITOR-*ITCH jane fonda" & i'll agree.

she is GARBAGE in semi-human form!!!

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

HI, Jim.

"a guy i know" in the US Capitol Police guessed the crowd of LUNATICS,BIGOTS, WIERDOS, FOOLS, CREEPS, CRETINS & HATERS from the FAR LEFT at about 15 HUNDRED.

i suspect that he (rather than the Washington "Daily Worker Post) was CORRECT!

free dixie,sw

[Armedanddangerous]

I cannot imagine the stench of all those hippies in one place. The aroma must have made you want to hurl.

[zook]

All morning long on Fox radio news they were claiming, to paraphrase, that "although organizers had originally planned for 50,000, they were now telling park police that the number could reach hundreds of thousands."

What a joke!

[mware]

I know that when he appeared on H&C even Colmes all but called him dispictable.

[freema]

May I take the opportunity to thank you for your language.
I love your post.

[freema]

Good catch.

[freema]

Good catch.

[freema]

God bless Tonk.

---

I VOW to the 58,000 + Brothers and Sisters on The Viet Nam Wall who never came home and to those who died at home from injuries and from broken hearts. I will do everything I LEGALLY can to expose Hanoi Kerry once and for all. I will not tire, I will not falter, and I will not fail. I solemnly vow to do all I can to restore your honor until I give my last breath on earth. 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

---

I VOW to the Brothers and Sisters on The Viet Nam Wall and those of the War on Terror who never came home and to those who died at home from injuries and from broken hearts. I will do everything I LEGALLY can to expose the left once and for all. I will not tire, I will not falter, and I will not fail. I solemnly vow to do all I can to restore your honor until I give my last breath on earth. freema

---

[freema]

to post #65 posthaste : )

[BamaDi]

there were supposed to be hundreds here in Mobile and as we left the Senior Bowl, I saw MAYBE 30 - who I proceeded to flip off....my brother was laughing his a$$ off - but hey, my nephew just got back from his THIRD tour of Iraq so he was over there protecting my freedom to do just that. I know, no class but it sure felt good....and what a bunch of old tired hippies they were....

[G-Man 1]

Just bunch of puke eating dogs doing what they do best. Eating their own puke.

[potlatch]

Thank you for pinging freema, the number is frightening if true!!

[freema]

It was great to see the lefties try to tell him that if he loves the country he should enlist.

No, they didn't! Really?

[freema]

Glad you made it!

[freema]

stand watie says a friend with the Capitol Police estimated 1500.

Did you get the "bumper sticker" material on that post for one of your creations? : )