Protests for peace [LONG Wash. Times article]

Washington Times ^ | 2/16/03 | Julia Duin

[foreverfree]

Protests for peace

By Julia Duin

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Special Report

America's newest anti-war movement, which began as a grass-roots effort bolstered by a cluster of sympathetic Web sites, blossomed this weekend into demonstrations in an estimated 150 cities around the country, including a mass rally in the streets of New York yesterday.

Anti-war demonstrators packed the streets north of the United Nations headquarters yesterday, filling police-barricaded protest zones for more than 20 blocks.

"Just because you have the biggest gun does not mean you must use it," Martin Luther King III told the demonstrators as he stood before an enormous banner reading: "The World Says No To War."

New York police wouldn't provide a crowd estimate, but the protesters stretched for 20 blocks along First Avenue and spilled west to Second Avenue, where police in riot gear and on horseback patrolled. Organizers had hoped to draw at least 100,000 people.

Police reported some arrests, but didn't immediately provide details.

A similar rally is planned for this morning in San Francisco. Anti-war protests yesterday occurred in 300 cities worldwide, including 78 cities in Europe.

Anti-war rallies had been planned in about 150 U.S. cities, from Yakima, Wash., to St. Petersburg, Fla., as well as in major cities including Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Miami and Seattle. Protesters had been buoyed by encouraging turnouts on the Mall on Oct. 26 and during a sunny but freezing day on Jan. 18.

The majority of Americans — 66 percent — back a war in Iraq to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. They identify far more with the swashbuckling battle fever in the new Civil War movie "Gods and Generals" than with any pacifist outpouring. But as soon as body bags start arriving from the Iraqi front, anti-war demonstrators believe popular sentiment will swing their way.

[foreverfree]

Like the thread title says, a LONG article.

foreverfree

[Dogbert41]

Yeah, they are just waiting on the body bags to do their blood dancing on... But then, that's when I begin to do the skull f-ing of peace marchers.

[Kay Soze]

In the names of Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Madonna, Sean Penn:

[Uncle Miltie]

"America's newest anti-war movement, which began as a grass-roots effort"

TRUTH ALERT:
The anti-war movement (International ANSWER) began as a front group for the Stalinist Workers World Party. Other communist organizations, knowing fellow travelers, anti-semites, pro-Bin Ladenites, eco-wackos, anarchists and other useful idiots have joined, filling out the crowd.

I expected better writing and analysis from the Washington Times. At least they could check their FR sources before supposing the anti-war movement BEGAN as a grass roots effort.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

America's newest anti-war movement, which began as a grass-roots effort bolstered by a cluster of sympathetic Web sites

This is a lie. ANSWER's been planning these protests for months! The reporter didn't even do basic research. That's irresponsible and dangerous in these days. If she had taken 5 minutes to find out who was behind these well-organized "peace" protests, she would have discovered hundreds of anti-American groups from outside the US who have been working (some for decades) to undermine our nation.