Sponsors Outline Anti-War Protest Plan

WASHINGTON — The weekend of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday is a perfect time for a big anti-war protest in Washington, sponsors said Wednesday.

"The American people have very little time left to tell President Bush that they don't want the U.S. to be an aggressor nation and attack Iraq," said former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, whose group International A.N.S.W.E.R (Act Now to Stop War and Racism) is organizing the Jan. 18 event.

"Martin Luther King weekend is a perfect time to say, 'No War, Mr. President,'" Clark said. King's birthday is Jan. 15, celebrated as a federal holiday this year on Monday, Jan. 20.

Calling King a "drum major for peace and justice," Mahdi Bray, the executive director of the Muslim American Society, noted that King spoke out against the Vietnam War.

Actors Jessica Lange and Mike Farrell and demonstrators from religious groups, labor organizations and schools are among those planning to attend the event.

Demonstrators plan a rally on the west side of the Capitol. They will then march to the Washington Navy Yard where they will ask to inspect weapons of mass destruction they say the government might have.

The march will travel through a relatively poor section of Washington. Protesters say those residents will be hurt if the United States diverts money from social programs to pay for a war.

"We have activated some of our civil disturbance units to deal with the large crowds," said Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey. "It's my understanding that the same group is looking at having demonstrations for the next four or five Saturdays following this demonstration."

"Our anti-war demonstrations thus far have been very well organized and peaceful," said Ramsey.

Associated Press writer Derrill Holly contributed to this story.