War Protest Draws Small Crowd ('Iraq Summer' Ends in Flop on D.C. Streets)

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, September 30, 2007 | Carol D. Leonnig

[kristinn]

Hundreds of demonstrators, including students and families, rallied and marched in downtown Washington yesterday to protest the war in Iraq, complaining that the Democratic-controlled Congress has failed to do the public's bidding and bring U.S. troops home.

From an elevated stage in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, a succession of speakers at the "Stop the War" rally urged Congress to stop funding the conflict and prevent more deaths of soldiers and Iraqi civilians.

SNIP

The rally, organized by the Troops Out Now Coalition, drew protesters from the Washington area, Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey and elsewhere. Police in the District generally do not publicly estimate the size of protest gatherings. Yesterday's crowd appeared to number fewer than 1,000.

Near the reflecting pool, a steady stream of tourists and others visited the National Gallery's east wing, which is featuring an Edward Hopper exhibit. Four blocks away on the Mall, thousands were attending the National Book Fair, toting yellow satchels given away at the fair as they got their books signed or heard readings by famous authors.

Several rallygoers acknowledged that the size of the rally illustrated how difficult it is to get people in the United States to become activists, even though a majority of the public opposes the war, according to polls.

SNIP

"Students should be back on the streets, like they were in the movements of the '60s," Lara Masri said. "But there's so much indifference."

[kristinn]

The D.C. Chapter ignored the moonbats today, as did the rest of the nation.

To make up for their lack of support from the public, the moonbats staged a sit-in on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the U.S. District Court building after marching past empty federal office buildings in Southwest D.C. They thought they were going to stay in the street in to Monday morning rush hour. They set up pup tents and had pizza delivered. The cops cleared them out after letting them lounge about for several hours. The traffic is light in that part of town on a Saturday afternoon, so the inconvenience wasn't more than a minor detour.

Cindy Sheehan was scheduled to speak at the rally, but there's been no mention of her showing up. That may be because of the warrant for her arrest awaiting her in D.C.

The moonbats declared this summer to be 'Iraq Summer', promising to turn up the heat and turn Congress and the country decisively against victory. Their meager protest, coming a week after summer ended, is the perfect coda to their Iraq Summer flop.

Look for them to start acting up like spoiled children who aren't getting their way. Their tantrums could get ugly soon.

[dixiechick2000]

ROTFLOL!

What a great report!
Thank you!

"Look for them to start acting up like spoiled children who aren't getting their way. Their tantrums could get ugly soon."

Predictable...lol.

[doug from upland]

GIVE SOAP A CHANCE - http://youtube.com/watch?v=zusIz4WhIas

[Jeff Chandler]

Another Million Man March!

[IslandJeff]

"Students should be back on the streets, like they were in the movements of the '60s," Lara Masri said. "But there's so much indifference."

Or, just maybe, not everyone agrees with you.

[pissant]

Kinda like the vaunted taliban ‘spring offensive’.

[JennysCool]

"Students should be back on the streets, like they were in the movements of the '60s," Lara Masri said.

Hay Lara, how about we get the students back in class, like they were before the old hippies and their media cohorts enlisted them in their ongoing "second childhood" fantasy.

[sinanju]

Without a draft, there just won’t be any “Hell no, we won’t go!”

[Bogtrotter52]

“Students should be back on the streets, like they were in the movements of the ‘60s,” Lara Masri said.

Sorry, most students and 20-something people these days have the attention spans of mayflies and way too many distractions. Ain’t gonna happen.

[Allegra]

Hundreds of demonstrators, including students and families, rallied and marched in downtown Washington yesterday to protest the war in Iraq, complaining that the Democratic-controlled Congress has failed to do the public's bidding and bring stop the U.S. troops home from winning the war.

Great report, kristinn. I wish those moonbats really could feel a true Iraq summer. The whining would be so loud, they'd hear it on Mars. ;-)

[AnAmericanMother]

Without a draft, there just won’t be any “Hell no, we won’t go!”

Amen. Having lived through both time periods, I can tell you that 99 and 94/100ths of the protestors in the 70s were motivated by fear of receiving that letter beginning "Greeting: You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States."

[AGreatPer]

"The D.C. Chapter ignored the moonbats today, as did the rest of the nation."

Thanks for the report. Those people are pathetic.

[jack_napier]

"Students should be back on the streets, like they were in the movements of the '60s," Lara Masri said. "But there's so much indifference."

Dear Lara, you may not have realized this, but that was 40 years ago. Things change. I'm not a student, but still relatively young, and I would probably lie utterly and protest with you, but the absence of 'free love' means I'm unlikely to get nookie. So even if I'm not too keen on some aspects of the war, I have zero desire to hang out with a bunch of homely, burnt-out, batsh*t insane hippies. Sincerely, Jack

[monkeycard]

Several rallygoers acknowledged that the size of the rally illustrated how difficult it is to get people in the United States to become activists, even though a majority of the public opposes the war, according to polls.

Lies, damned lies and statistics.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

But..But..the DU crowd claimed they practicaly shut the town down! They wouldn’t lie, now would they?

One did wish OJ would protest with them so they would get some REAL news coverage.

Sounds like they gave a protest and nobody came.