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Posted on 04/13/2003 8:37:26 PM PDT by zook
Pro-war parade
By Alan Piñon, Press & Guide Newspapers
DEARBORN — Hundreds of people spontaneously took to the streets in celebration of the apparent collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime Wednesday morning.
"We are celebrating because Iraq is going to be free," said Tawfiq Almawala.
American and Iraqi flags were waved together, as the elated crowd sang songs and danced in the street.
"We thank the mothers and sisters of people who died for our liberation. Iraqi blood has mixed with American blood. We’re going to be all together now," said Mohammed Albodry, originally from Iraq.
Police were able to move the massing crowd of jubilant celebrators off city streets to nearby Hemlock Park.
By 5 p.m. more than 1,000 people congregated to share in what one man called "a national holiday."
"We just want to praise the victory of the United States military for taking down Saddam Hussein," said Saad Aljebori.
One man tore a banner down from a storefront and wrote "Thank you Mr. Bush" on the back. Others beat on drums and chanted together in Arabic.
Robert Asker drove in from Commerce Township when he heard the news. He said the chants are roughly translated to English as saying, "Go to sleep forever, Saddam."
Drawings of Hussein hanging from a noose where held high in the air while others passed out flyers praising Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadir, a Shiite scholar whom Hussein had executed in 1980.
Small groups of people stood apart from the cheering crowd discussing what might be next for Iraq.
"Iraqis from all over the world are going to go back into Iraq and establish a government," said Mahdi Alabadi.
At one point, the crowd began booing and hissing toward TV cameras for Al Jazeera, an Arab news agency.
The Al Jazeera crew quickly retreated and the crowd continued to celebrate late into the night.
"This war had to happen. It’s a good thing. This is the only thing that could be done to remove Saddam Hussein. It had to be done for the Iraqi people and the world," said Ayed Jamal.
Lift:
"Iraqi blood has mixed with American blood. We’re going to be all together now."
Mohammed Albodry
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