Home>News Center>World
         
 

Spirits high during anti-Iraq war rallies
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-26 19:01

Spirits were high during weekend rallies in the nation's capital, but that's where the similarities ended, as one demonstration supported and the other opposed the war in Iraq, AP reported.

The anti-war rally, held Saturday at the western edge of the National Mall, drew a crowd of 100,000 or more. Lasting a marathon 12 hours, it featured folk singer Joan Baez and Cindy Sheehan, the California mother whose 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year.

Protesters also marched past the White House, the first time demonstrators have been allowed to do so since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings.

When Sheehan took the stage Saturday, she won a roar of approval from the crowd. She drew thousands of demonstrators and attracted wide media attention during a 26-day vigil outside the vacationing President Bush's Texas ranch last month.

"Shame on you," Sheehan admonished, directing that portion of her remarks to members of Congress who backed Bush on the invasion of Iraq. "How many more of other people's children are you willing to sacrifice?"

She led the crowd in chanting, "Not one more."

On Sunday, a rally supporting the war drew roughly 500 participants, far below the 20,000 expected by event organizers. Held on the eastern edge of the Mall, the rally was over in about three hours.

Speakers included veterans of World War II and the war in Iraq, as well as family members of soldiers killed in Iraq.

"I would like to say to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters don't be a group of unthinking lemmings. It's not pretty," said Mitzy Kenny of Ridgeley, W.Va., whose husband died in Iraq last year. The anti-war demonstrations "can affect the war in a really negative way. It gives the enemy hope."

Kevin Pannell, a soldier who lost his legs from the knees down in Iraq, told the crowd he was amazed that Saturday's demonstrators were taking for granted their right to free speech.

"I would challenge those guys to go to Baghdad and say that," he said.

Counter-demonstrations occurred on both days, with members of each group shouting at each other. But no violent confrontations between demonstrators were seen.

"No matter what your ideals are, our sons and daughters are fighting for our freedom," said Marilyn Faatz, who drove from New Jersey to attend Sunday's rally. "We are making a mockery out of this. And we need to stand united, but we are not."



Hurricane Rita aftermath in the United States
Poles vote in parliamentary election
Israeli troops arrest 207 suspected Islamic millitants in West Bank
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Next space mission planned for October 13, report says

 

   
 

Biggest typhoon in 30 years batters Hainan

 

   
 

Central bank considers yuan market makers

 

   
 

HK legislators start historic mainland visit

 

   
 

China sees economy growing 9.2 pct in 2005

 

   
 

10 Iraqis killed in suicide car bombing

 

   
  Japan PM says to enact postal reform by Nov 1
   
  Polish center-right parties triumph in elections
   
  Pakistan says bin Laden is isolated
   
  Eight killed in Baghdad slum gunbattle
   
  Rita's destruction falls short of fears
   
  IRA fully disarms, aide to inspector says
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement