Hundreds of protesters gathered near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the start of what organizers pledged would be a loud, angry but nonviolent protest against war with Iraq.
Demonstrators were carrying signs that stated among other things, “Drop Bush, not bombs” and “Regime change begins at home.”
The protest today is coinciding with protests in cities around the world, including San Francisco, Mexico City, London and Tokyo.
Today’s rallies are organized by the same coalition of anti-war and anti-racism groups that organized a pro-Palestinian march in Washington in April that drew an estimated 75,000 people to the event. Protesters from college campuses, mosques and Muslim associations that were part of the spring demonstration are expected to take part in today’s protests.
Many protesters plan to speak out against the congressional resolution that authorizes a U.S. attack on Iraq.
Brian Becker, co-director of the International Action Center, told The Washington Post earlier this week that he expected "loud, massive opposition" to the war. The International Action Center helped found the International ANSWER coalition that is organizing the events.
Several speakers are scheduled to address demonstrators at the event today, including Jesse L. Jackson, Al Sharpton, former attorney general Ramsey Clark and singer Patti Smith. That event will be followed by a march to the White House.
While the marchers plan to demonstrate near the White House, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush will not be there. They are at their ranch near Crawford, Tex., where Bush met Friday with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
Activists said the size of the capital's anti-war march may be limited, in part due to fears stirred by recent deadly sniper attacks in the Washington area. Two suspects were arrested Thursday in the shootings, but rally supporters said some potential marchers may have already canceled travel plans.
Becker told The Post that the march is not intended to disrupt the city. Other organizers said the march will not be like last month's anti-capitalist demonstrations against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which resulted in hundreds of arrests.
However, a march by groups that participated in the IMF and World Bank protests are expected to feed into today's larger demonstration. Activists from groups including the Anti-Capitalist Convergence, the D.C. Anti-War Network, the D.C. Statehood Green Party and Left Turn plan to gather at the Columbia Heights Metro stop and march past residential neighborhoods and the White House before joining the larger group at Constitution Gardens.
In addition, a demonstration is planned by the D.C. chapter of Free Republic, a national conservative group. That demonstration is scheduled to take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.
D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey told The Post extra officers and platoons from the civil disturbance unit will be present on the streets today, but he added that the peaceful nature of April's rally leads him to believe that today’s events will follow a similar course.
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