Posted on 03/20/2003 5:54:21 PM PST by Happy2BMe
Reuters
Thursday, March 20, 2003; 8:32 PM
By Adam Tanner
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Police arrested more than 1,000 people in San Francisco on Thursday -- the most demonstrators taken into custody on a single day in the city in 22 years -- as tens of thousands protested across America against the U.S. war in Iraq.
"If this was happening in every city, there would either be martial law or an end to war," said one Berkeley student who chained himself to 16 others on a major San Francisco street.
Protests took place in other cities across the United States as well as in European capitals.
During morning rush hour in the Washington D.C., more than 100 demonstrators temporarily shut down the Key Bridge, a major route from Virginia into Washington's Georgetown neighborhood and three were arrested.
About 100 protesters later gathered in pouring rain on the streets near the White House, and about 350 demonstrators blocked evening rush hour traffic on a main Washington thoroughfare.
In New York, which took the brunt of the September 11, 2001 attack that President Bush has repeatedly cited as an example of the threat to America, "September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows" condemned what they called an illegal and immoral U.S. war.
Anti-war demonstrators overflowed police barriers during rush hour in Times Square, completely shutting New York's Broadway for two blocks below 42nd Street.
"A year and a half ago you were heroes," one onlooker shouted as police forcibly led away one demonstrator. "Don't become our enemies."
SUPPORT FOR TROOPS
Under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s F, San Francisco protesters started early and continued strongly through the evening in actions aimed at choking off traffic across the city.
Police in riot gear made at least 1,000 arrests, and the numbers continued to rise into the evening, a spokeswoman said, adding it was the highest total in San Francisco in 22 years. Some were kept in temporary pens erected on the street.
Many towns in America displayed support for the troops, albeit in a quieter way. Towns like Waxahachie, south of Dallas, put up yellow ribbons in support of U.S. troops.
Some yelled in other cities at the protesters.
"They are nothing but traitors. This does nothing but give aid and support to the enemy," said Debbie Petee in San Francisco, a Bush supporter.
Protesters across that nation said opposing war was not at odds with being an American patriot. "It's not like we're burning flags," said Danielle Geroux, a student at an anti-war rally at Florida's capital, Tallahassee. "We just don't want people to die."
Vietnam veteran Mike Ward, 56, who participated in protest marches in the 1960s, wore his combat ribbons in San Francisco so that no one would question his patriotism.
HISSES AT HARVARD
Students gathered at campuses across the nation, including at Harvard University, where hundreds walked out of classes at noon and at least 1,500 people gathered at a rally.
Students at California's Berkeley campus, a hotbed of dissent against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s, occupied the main administration building for several hours before at least 120 were arrested,
Police in Pittsburgh fought with some protesters and arrested dozens.
At San Francisco's Federal Courthouse, at least two protesters took medicine that induced them to vomit. Some in the crowd flew Iraqi, Palestinian and French flags. In some areas, police charged protesters to carry them off. Sparks flew as officials sawed through chains linking protesters. Some of the city's fabled cable cars were halted.
In Madison, Wisconsin, a traditional hotbed of protest, police investigated vandalism at the state Republican party headquarters on Wednesday night in which a half-dozen windows were broken and paint bombs were tossed around.
The war also clouded the upcoming Academy Awards. California's governor on Thursday assigned a National Guard unit to protect the Oscars, but at least one prominent star withdrew from the ceremonies, saying now was not the time to celebrate. Will Smith pulled out of Sunday's ceremony and other stars including Dustin Hoffman said they will wear peace sign pins, doves and even duct tape to protest the war in Iraq. More than 100,000 protested in Germany. In London, thousands of British anti-war campaigners blocked roads and scuffled with police. More than 10,000 people, mostly students, surged through Paris chanting anti-war slogans and some burned the U.S. flag.
Of the entire War On Terrorism, I mean.
A good start!
(i know, aaarrggghh ...)
Q: What gives these pukes their confidence?
A: The 9th Judicial Circuit
They are the same scum that have twice now ruled in favor of outlawing the phrase "Under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance.
Does that shed some light on what's floating on the streets from San Fancisco up to British Colombia?
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 Saddam Hussein, on Iraqi television, in a message broadcast after the missiles and bombs hit, telling Iraqis they will be victorious and humiliate their enemies. (Photo: IRAQI TV) |
Freeper Resource: Sleuthing The Iraq-Bin Laden Connection (Redone)
Sounds good.
Now fine each of the morons $1000.00 and you'll have a cool million to put into keeping the lights on out there.
They should also be checked for ties to eco-terrorism, as they and these anti-war nuts seem to often be one in the same.
Who took "Stacks of dead hippies" off that multiple-choice?
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