Posted on 09/16/2007 1:22:42 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
WASHINGTON - Several thousand anti-war demonstrators marched through downtown Washington on Saturday, clashing with police at the foot of the Capitol steps where more than 190 protesters were arrested.
The group marched from the White House to the Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war. Their numbers stretched for blocks along Pennsylvania Avenue, and they held banners and signs and chanted, "What do we want? Troops out. When do we want it? Now."
Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.
"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies from the 60s who are against this war."
Counterprotesters lined the sidewalks behind metal barricades. There were some heated shouting matches between the two sides.
The arrests came after protesters lay down on the Capitol lawn in what they called a "die in" — with signs on top of their bodies to represent soldiers killed in Iraq. When police took no action, some of the protesters started climbing over a barricade at the foot of the Capitol steps.
Many were arrested without a struggle after they jumped over the waist-high barrier. But some grew angry as police with shields and riot gear attempted to push them back. At least two people were showered with chemical spray. Protesters responded by throwing signs and chanting: "Shame on you."
The number of arrests by Capitol Police on Saturday was much higher than previous anti-war rallies in Washington this year. Five people were arrested at a protest outside the Pentagon in March when they walked onto a bridge that had been closed off to accommodate the demonstration, then refused to leave. And at a rally in January, about 50 demonstrators blocked a street near the Capitol, but they were dispersed without arrests.
The protesters gathered earlier Saturday near the White House in Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for President Bush's impeachment. The rally was organized by the ANSWER Coalition and other groups.
Organizers estimated that nearly 100,000 people attended the rally and march. That number could not be confirmed; police did not give their own estimate. A permit for the march obtained in advance by the ANSWER Coalition had projected 10,000.
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan told the crowd is was time to be assertive.
"It's time to lay our bodies on the line and say we've had enough," she said. "It's time to shut this city down."
About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counterprotesters gathered near the Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and waving American flags.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.
"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and we support you."
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The pro-troop rally was great. Had a great time. Met a lot of other soldier parents. Duncan Hunter made a great speech, the Gold Star Parents stories were heartrenching and uplifting at the same time, the patriotism I saw was heartwarming. Just what I needed. It was great to see so many Vets yell at the freak show parade supporting our troops. I love democracy. I couldn’t tell who outnumbered who, but what really bothered me about the anti-war group is that I only saw one American flag. Worth the drive and sunburn.
Lock them up and throw the key very far away.
I am so tired of these attention whores. They can march any day and anywhere and always draw attention to themselves.
For people against the war, they’re awfully war-like!
If they talk the talk, they should walk the walk.
Posse Comitatus
I sat that one out and watched from my window in Georgetown as our intersection at 30th and P was taken and retaken over and over again. Rebels kept putting a coin operated big scale from the drug store in the middle of the intersection. And they picked up VW's and moved them to block the road. Police would come along and move them back where they belonged.
All in all. it was a lot worse then.
Michael Ledeen said on c-span last night that Pope John Paul II wryly predicted that the last communist on earth might be a north American nun.
Whats-his-name, the Hollywood actor threatened to move to Europe if Bush won. We’re still waiting. Several people offered to help him pack, I think.
Should have got the fire hoses out when they laid down. Tell them “You have two minutes to get up, or we’ll wash you up!”
It was a great day! I met so many wonderful Americans, soldiers, family of soldiers and American Patriots. I also had the priviledge of meeting Duncan Hunter. He was so accessible to ALL of us, he even posed for pictures with anyone who asked. It was a day of privilege for me, all around, except for the face to face confrontations w/ the commie/socialist moonbats pigs.
One young commie girl was screaming into a megaphone about the war being for oil, I asked her “what oil? where is all this oil you speak of?”. Her answer? NONE. She just kept on screaming “war for oil”, blah blah blah.
At their die in (too bad it wasn’t real), we stood along the wall to see the moonbats get arrested and of course a couple of commies just HAD to comment. Wait, I’m sorry, there was no comments, just foul language. We got some f u’s, a**holes, the usual. There were six of us so we started chanting “God bless George Bush”. They didn’t take too kindly to that, lol. One actually left (wooohooo).
I was hoping to see at least some of them attempt to break through the police barrior; however, that would have taken courage. The only thing they had to do to get arrested was cross the line (wall). Big woop. We saw one moonbat skipping away in handcuffs. Apparently, having an arrest record is something to be proud of w/ these pigs.
We have lots of pics at MarkLevinFan. If you’d like, please stop by and take a look!!!
http://marklevinfan.com/PhotoAlbum/thumbnails.php?album=79
Thank you GOE for such an inspiring day, once again. I was with you on 3/17, 9/15 and will be at the next one, two or 500!! Whatever it takes to keep our country and military out of the hands of commie pigs!!
Oh, and P.S.....
There were very very many moonbats who brought their very very young children, using them as “shields”. Sound familiar?
What do we want? New slogans!
When do we want them? Now!
Hey hey! Ho ho!
This tired rhyme has got to go!
One, two, three, four!
We don’t want this chant any more!
How do we really know that ANY of those claiming veteran status actually ARE veterans? Anyone can claim to be anything!! The leftists lie about EVERYTHING else, why would they suddenly be honest on this issue? Anyone can buy pieces of a military uniform at an Army/Navy surplus store. I can prove my bonafides w/a DD214, but I’ll bet most of these scumbags can’t!
in fact, they have a hard time portraying themSELVES.(until you actually try to talk TO one of these "peace marchers", you won't understand how DUMB they actually are.)
free dixie,sw
Hi 2ndDV
Happy Constitution Day...
A group of us stood near the Capitol Building on Saturday and watched dozens of anti-America moonbats led in handcuffs up the steps..someone said that they would be let go at the back of the building..
On Sunday an officer guarding the Capitol Building told me that none were freed but they were all charged with crossing a police line...the first timers had to pay $100 and the repeat offenders were kept in jail two days to see the judge today, Monday...
He said that several moonbats started fires on the perimeter on Saturday. They burnt some trees. He said that they could not keep people safe nearer the building and watch out further too...
I asked the officer if the situation was the same as the Sixties..He said it was worse..That the LEO in DC expect that at any time anarchy and serious violence would erupt..that the demonstrations were leading up to such an event..He admitted that the DC police are deeply concerned...It’s just a matter of when, not if...
Clueless in D.C.
Perhaps someone forgot to tell the Iraqis that they don't want us there. They don't seem to agree.
The government use to be able to do that but then Jessie Jackson told them not to (threatened to sue) and Clinton bowed to him and stopped having estimates done. It's absolutely ridiculous that the media also bowed. What's funny is that if a protest is being done in another country (like South Korea) they do exactly that. They have someone in a helicopter take pictures and then they put it on a grid and count them up. They just can't do it over here because of Jessie Jackson.
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