Hundreds gather to protest war (Vermont)

[leftchick]

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060212/NEWS02/602120333/1007/NEWS05

Published: Sunday, February 12, 2006
By Adam Silverman
Free Press Staff Writer

MONTPELIER -- An Iraq war veteran and a war resister stood on the Statehouse steps Saturday in Montpelier and urged 350 Vermonters to keep pressuring the state and federal governments to end combat and bring U.S. service members home at once.

"The Iraqi people are not a threat and never were. The real war is right here in the United States," said Andrew Sapp, 49, who served as a staff sergeant with the Massachusetts National Guard for nearly a year in the Middle East. "Our nation is in danger. We cannot help but to act."

Sapp and Pablo Paredes, a former junior Navy officer who refused to board an Iraq-bound ship in December 2004, were among the activists who spoke during a 90-minute rally that followed a march from City Hall to the wide, snow-covered lawn in front of the capitol.

Peace demonstrators bundled up against temperatures that hovered in the teens. Leading the procession were 13 activists who carried black military-style boots to honor the dead. Those who followed closely were quiet and somber; others farther back chanted enthusiastically.

"What do we want? Peace! When do we want it? Now!" went one refrain.



Protesters hold signs during a rally at the Statehouse in Montpelier, Vt., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. Peace activists converged on Montpelier for a march from City Hall to the Statehouse, where they called on Vermont officials to demand an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

I love the peace snowflake. :)

[leftchick]

1. More Photos to rate up....

I always did love Vermont... :loveya:



A protester holds a sign during a rally at the Statehouse in Montpelier, Vt., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. Peace activists converged on Montpelier for a march from City Hall to the Statehouse, where they called on Vermont officials to demand an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)





http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/iraq/082701iraqplane/im:/060211/480/mr10302111947

[cali]

2. Instantly recognizable.

Love Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet. I feel guilty about not going yesterday. Three cheers to those Vermonters who did.

[Road Scholar]

4. Good for Vermont! nt

[democrank]

3. I participated

and was so uplifted by the turnout. Neither the bitter cold nor the trio of young men yelling "Go home, hippies" could stop us. The Montpelier police cooperated by stopping all traffic while we marched from City Hall to the State House, forcing those along the sidewalks to acknowledge that some of us aren`t going to take it anymore.

[leftchick]

5. I am so proud of you!

:yourock:

[cali]

6. Thanks for being there yesterday. n/t

[meganmonkey]

9. Thank you for being there!

:patriot:

Say it loud, say it proud, BRING OUR SOLDIERS HOME!!!!!

[No Exit]

7. Thank goodness for Americans like this!

[zanne]

8. Thanks to those who attended.

We all appreciate it.

[rodeodance]

12. yes, good for them. thanks.

[democrank]

10. More info

here...


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=latest_threads&page=5

[democrank]

11. Sorry....

This computer seems to be going crazy. I`ll try to fix this.