Anti-war protests encircle the world.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Anti-war protests encircle the world.
4
Sun, 03-21-2004 - 10:17am

Streets of major cities packed on anniversary of Iraq invasion.


http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/8239846.htm?1c


Hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded streets around the globe Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the start of the Iraq war with shouts, speeches and signs condemning the Bush administration's use of pre-emptive force.


In Manhattan, tens of thousands marched through the concrete canyons, banging drums and chanting "No more war! No more Bush!"


In San Francisco, thousands of taiko drummers, cyclists, activists and other protesters chanted "End the occupation" and "Impeach Bush."


As with anti-war demonstrations a year ago, crowds were much larger overseas. Italy's La Repubblica newspaper said on its front page that possibly 1 million people marched in Rome.


In Spain, less than two weeks after deadly train bombings now attributed to Islamic terrorists, emotions ran high.


"This war is a mistake," said Nicola Fortunato, 21. "Madrid showed us what the results of a preventative war are."


New York officials said about 30,000 people turned out. Protest leaders said the number swelled to 100,000, which would approach the turnout for demonstrations at the war's start.


"On the first anniversary of the war, it's become clearer and clearer that the reasons the Bush administration gave to justify this war were all lies and fraud," said Dustin Langley, 36, an organizer with International A.N.S.W.E.R., or Act Now to Stop War & Racism. "There are no weapons of mass destruction. There are no links between Iraq and al-Qaida."


The events marked the anniversary of the first bombing of Baghdad. President Bush ordered the attacks on March 19, but it was March 20 in Iraq because of the time difference.


From the sea of signs bobbing up and down in the New York streets, Bush was the focus of most of the crowd's anger. Sentiments on the placards ranged from "Bush/Cheney: Four More Wars" to "Send Bush to Mars!"


A handful of Bush supporters scattered through the crowd kept low profiles.


New Yorker Glenn Berman said he backs the president's Iraq policy. The only thing he had on display was a shirt commemorating the World Trade Center and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.


"To pull those troops out now would be detrimental to Iraq," he said. "The people there, they depend on us right now."


But Leigh Davis, 46, said there should be no delay in bringing the troops home.


"Our young people should not be dying in a war for power and oil and money," said Davis, a medical editor from Cranford, N.J. "We've destabilized the country enough. The Iraqi people need to be given back control of the country now."


Davis added that voting Bush out of office might not change things: "I don't think John Kerry is necessarily that much better. He could conceivably increase the number of troops."


Funneled between metal police barricades, the diverse New York crowd included people ranging from church members and college students to longtime activists and veterans.


Matthew Stanton, a 31-year-old church secretary, came from Binghamton, N.Y., with his wife, Renee, and 9-year-old son Patrick. The three wore placards saying, respectively, "Dad for Peace," "Mom for Peace" and "Kids for Peace."


"War doesn't solve anything," Stanton said. "I'm here for my kids, that they can grow up in a peaceful nation, in a peaceful world."


Large protests were held in Seattle and Denver. In Atlanta, several hundred demonstrators turned out, including high school and college students.


In Chicago, police in full riot gear lined downtown streets as thousands of war opponents marched about two miles to the city's Federal Plaza.


The Rev. Jesse Jackson told Chicago demonstrators to oppose the war by voting against Bush. He said, "It's time to fight back: Remember in November."


Elsewhere around the world, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and other European countries saw protests, while demonstrations took place earlier in Japan, Australia and India. About 500 protesters clashed with police outside the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines capital, Manila.


And protesters in London scaled up to the face of Big Ben to unfurl their sign, "Time for Truth." Crowd estimates in the British capital ranged from 25,000 to 250,000.

cl-Libraone~

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 03-21-2004 - 11:03am
The sad thing is that our president will be sheltered from the protests. That has been the pattern in the past. As an example, on his visit to England protester were kept away or hidden behind trucks ect.

The president stated he doesn't read newspaper, but trust his staff to give him a synopsis. Everything he reads or hears is edited. There is only one view that is seen or heard.

What he is told about the protest will be slanted and spun.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Sun, 03-21-2004 - 12:13pm
None in Iraq?

Renee

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Sun, 03-21-2004 - 12:30pm

**

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 03-21-2004 - 1:04pm

A report from my corner of the country...I would have been out there marching with them, but my knee still isn't quite up to it.