What anti-war protest?

[mzteris]

Nothing on google news page. Nothing on the NYT email main story page. I had to search for it - and it was 'bleh" blase. Searching google was a mixed bag of stories - but basically downplay downplay downplay.


Here's a link to the Fayetteville paper (Ft. Bragg):

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=228909

Some good pics - check out the ugly look on the face of the poor little freeper boy in camo.

". . . Last year, as many as 4,000 demonstrators crowded into the park. Police put this year’s attendance at no more than 1,000. The turnout was smaller this year because of other peace rallies across the country, organizers said. Last year’s event also was held in conjunction with national meetings of several anti-war groups in town. Counterdemonstrators numbered about 200 last year.

Speakers Saturday included Ray McGovern, a former CIA intelligence analyst. He predicted that Vice President Dick Cheney would resign soon and that Army and intelligence officials would protest plans to invade Iran.

Michael Berg, the father of businessman Nick Berg, who was killed by insurgents in Iraq, also spoke. He told the crowd that the American people must take responsibility for the war before they can end it.

. . .

A smaller group of counterdemonstrators, organized by the Free Republic’s chapter in North Carolina and the veterans group Rolling Thunder, chanted “Swim to Cuba” as the marchers arrived at the park. They also tried to drown out the speeches with chants and patriotic music.

Lynn Huber, a co-chairman of the Free Republic chapter, said her group is determined to hold protests at every anti-war rally because the events demoralize the troops.

“It gives the enemy hope,” she said. “When the insurgents have hope, they kill our soldiers.”

*******

Here's a good pic from the N&O:




Link to N&O Story about the Fayetteville march:

Protesters says Iraq war policy is flawed

There was one message that the 1,000 protesters who gathered Saturday wanted to send to Washington: Bring our troops home now.
. . .
"This is a human postcard," said Raleigh resident Christina Stableford, a member of Code Pink, an anti-war group of mostly women that helped organize the event. "It's a message to our legislators saying, 'Stop the killing.' "

. . .Calling the rally participants "soldiers in Osama bin Laden's war against America," Washington, D.C., resident Kristinn Taylor addressed the crowd entering the park using a megaphone.

"If any of you are under the impression that you are at a peace march, you are wrong," he said. "You are not at a peace march. You are at a pro-terrorist rally.""


*****

Here's the link to another N&O story:

http://www.newsobserver.com/110/story/419824.html

Protesters worldwide share a common message

Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets around the world Saturday, marking the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq with demands that coalition troops leave immediately.
. . .LONDON: Police said 15,000 people joined a march from Parliament and Big Ben to a rally in Trafalgar Square. The anniversary last year attracted 45,000 protesters in the city.

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: About 1,000 demonstrators gathered for a rally and march to the U.S. Embassy. One protester was dressed as the hooded figure shown in an iconic photograph from the Abu Ghraib prison. "We do not need Abu Ghraib democracy, or Guantanamo Bay freedom," said Eftikar Hashem Alhusainy, addressing the rally.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: More than 2,000 demonstrators marched from the U.S. Embassy to the British Embassy, demanding that Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen withdraw the 530 Danish soldiers from southern Iraq.

ELSEWHERE: Protests were held in Australia, Asia and elsewhere in Europe, but many events were far smaller than organizers had hoped.

****

Here's the link to the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq-War-Protests-World.html

Anti - War Rallies Mark Iraq Anniversary


SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Thousands of anti-war protesters around the world on Sunday demanded coalition troops leave Iraq, but demonstrations in many countries were far smaller than anticipated on the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion.


*****

Link to Raleigh TV station story with video:

http://www.wral.com/news/8107656/detail.html

*****

According to some other stories I read, about 60 freepers showed up.

[fed-up]

1. Our Chico, CA paper has "Man (teacher) Shortage" story on front page

nothing on our 300-400 peaceful persons at our peace rally yesterday.

I don't get our paper and they haven't put today's paper online yet except for the pic of the front page.
http://chicoer.com/news/frontpage

It seems that "Man Shortage" and consumerism (Home and Garden Show) are the top stories of the weekend.

There is a small pic and header for the story on the nation-wide protests (found in section B) on the top left of the front page.




There are stories on news.google about world-wide protests, second section down, left side, third story down in the "World" section.

[katinmn]

2. The march in Minneapolis drew 3,500-4,200

More than double the attendance from last year. Wish we would have had 100,000.

I am proud of those that showed up all around the nation and the world. Thank you, peace activists!

My pics:



News coverage was brief and "ho-hum."

Star Tribune:
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/315966.html
Worldwide protests as war enters 4th year
Demonstrations demanded that all troops be withdrawn.

In Minneapolis, protesters took up half of Hennepin Avenue as they marched from Lagoon Avenue in Uptown to the Basilica of St. Mary at the edge of downtown, waving signs with slogans such as "Impeach Bush" and "Support Our Troops. Bring Them Home Now!" Police estimated there were 3,500 marchers; march organizers put the number at about 4,200.

Pioneer Press:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/14137443.htm

Organizers said about 3,000 Minnesotans rallied Saturday in Minneapolis to protest the U.S. war in Iraq, with many saying that as the third anniversary of the invasion approaches, apathy has become their second front.

[KyndCulture]

4. Wooot!! Excellent pics!

[Keseys Ghost]

5. Does my heart good

Love the first photo.

Thanks for posting.

[katinmn]

6. Thanks. Solidarity!

I wish we were doing more to stop the war.

[mzteris]

8. I wish there had been more

hype for the rally's. More efforts to have more people and more cities involved.

[KyndCulture]

3. I feel sorry for the wee freeper boy with the crew cut...

[mzteris]

9. you can feel the hate

just oozing out of that poor kid.

[salin]

7. hey Lyn (Huber)

you are deluded if you think the insurgents are reading the Charlotte paper to look for "hope" in the form of protests. If anything - given your guy bush's reasoning for the motivation for 911 - this would depress them as BUsh said "they hate us for our freedoms" in which case the freedom of expression voiced in the protests must really depress them. :eyes: