Protesters call for end to Iraq war

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Anti-war demonstrators marched in a dozen U.S. cities on Saturday to call for an immediate end to the war in Iraq and a cut-off of funding by Congress.

The "national day of action," sponsored by the United for Peace and Justice coalition, attracted throngs of protesters in cities from Boston and New Orleans to Chicago and Los Angeles on the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Senate's vote authorizing the invasion of Iraq.

Wet weather dampened the turnout in New York, but thousands braved the rain for the anti-war event in Manhattan, where protesters carried signs reading "End the war now," demanding a cutoff of its funding; "Healthcare, not warfare;" and calling for the impeachment of President Bush for "war crimes."

<snip>

In Chicago, an estimated 10,000 people gathered at Union Park for the march to Federal Plaza. Democratic Reps. Danny Davis and Rep. Jan Schakowsky both told a rally before the march they would oppose any further funding for the war in Iraq without a formal withdrawal date.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2722736420071027?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&sp=true

[PSPS]

1. According to AP Radio News, these were all "small protests."

[robinlynne]

2. Here in LA there were NO media members present. not one.

[ImpeechBush]

49. There isn't that much interest in ending the war anymore

I guess that's obvious from the low turnout. A couple years ago there would have been 100K people at least.

It's not that people aren't against the war in opinion polls, but with the Senate passing the last measure funding the war 92-3, it unfortunately doesn't seem too likely to stop anytime soon.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

5. In Orlando there were over 2000 people

It was awesome and inspiring. But so far the media has done an aweful job of covering the event. I'm eager to see what happens at 11.

[Mojorabbit]

7. Channel 13

has a small blurb on their website. No pics.
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/10/27/antiwar_protest.html
It was great fun but hot and humid!

[Mojorabbit]

22. Someone has pics here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulius/sets/72157602747301746/

[blue state liberal]

6. Here in Boston

there was no media present. On the local New England News TV station there was a miniscule mention and photo (not plural) of the event.

There was a huge crowd at the anti-war Rally at Boston Common with many groups represented and many excellent speakers, followed by the March to Copley Square. Not many police at the Rally but the police on motorcycles stopped all traffic as the marchers (I was one)continued through the narrow streets of Boston. Onlookers smiled and gave the peace signs and drivers honked their horns.

No mention in the news media regarding this upcoming Rally and I am sure there will be no report of the event following it. (Yawn) But here in Boston we don't even have Air America any more.

[NoGodsNoMasters]

11. Sadly, i had to work.

Any idea how many? I'd love to have a figure to quote.

[humbled_opinion]

40. Right WIng Media Machine at Work... Tell the Sheeple that no one really

cares about being at war in Iraq and they will be lulled to sleep. Next they will be trumpeting the Surge and saying how Bush was right all along and that His Democracy in Iraq was the correct response to Terrorism.... Blahhhh I just threw up in my mouth a little bit writing that crap...

[143tbone]

3. Seattle march draws only 4 counter-protesters

It was a beautiful day in Seattle and a good turnout. View
news video below for great photo showing everyone coming down
a hill.
http://www.komotv.com/news/10840871.html

[gratuitous]

16. It was a sunny day (la, la la)

A good day to exercise our constitutional rights and display a little patriotic fervor. And it was fun. If the media turnout was thin, that's not my concern. A lot of people in Seattle saw thousands of people once again peacefully petitioning their government for redress.

[143tbone]

32. Excellent photos and commentary from Seattle!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2153041

[Cybergata]

4. Here is a link to Yahoo's slide show of the protests.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/wl/031806antiwar

Click the first arrow to see it as a slide show, or push the last arrow to move it at your own spead.

[ohio2007]

21. those pics are not even of protests in the US

oh
4 christs sakes!

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/events/wl/031806antiwar/im:/071027/photos_ts/2007_10_27t173014_450x300_us_iraq_protests;_ylt=Ag1qSXkDEnbjbZRHhog_CHzmWMcF


NOBODY showed up in Nancy's home district.

[stimbox]

28. But the South Koreans know how to throw a protest!!! n/t

[Cybergata]

29. When I posted the link, . . .

the first photo was of San Francisco. They have added photos from other places as they happened. There are ones from Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and New York further on. Isn't it cool that people in other countries organize along with the rest of the U.S.!

[stimbox]

8. We had a big turnout in SF.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2150154&mesg_id=2150154

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. That's wonderful to hear!

The article did say you were expected to have a very large turn out. I believe it estimated as many as 100,000 people.

[stimbox]

26. 100,000 would be stretching it. 30,000 is more like it. n/t

[maryallen]

35. Just a ray of sunshine ...

[NoGodsNoMasters]

10. What bothers me most...

...is the media blackout. this is most certainly deliberate, and worse, it works. If people saw how many of us there are if they saw that they had so much support, this movement would grow exponentially, they benefit from creating the illusion of a pro-war "majority."

[Stardust]

12. That's what discourages me, too. Sometimes it just seems like, Why bother?

But it felt the same way back during the View Nam protests. The massive demonstration in D.C. eclipsed the demonstration we had in S.F., even though our crowds were huge. Barely a mention in the media back then. Nothing's changed. Same old, same old.

I missed today's march in L.A. due to a family emergency, but as another poster said, there was NO media presence there today. And sure enough, even the short article in the LA Times is from a reporter at the S.F. rally! That's why, even though protests are considered passe and ineffectual by some, they will only be acknowledged if they are so massive that the media simply can't ignore them. But so, so many people simply don't give a shit. Even here on DU, there seemed to be very little interest in today's events. But protests remain, IMO, one the most powerful means for the people to express their discontent. Ignoring us becomes harder when our sheer numbers inconvenience or embarrass them.

[John Kerry VonErich]

14. That's why I don't go to protests.

There is no point anymore. San Fran. got publicity, but only by the town media and thats it. Protests are, IMO, passe', dead, insignificant. To the hardcore anti-war warriors, this is becoming desperate times, and you know the old saying about what desperate times call for. It's becoming sadder and sadder every day.

[143tbone]

18. Snap out of it!!!

Folks, we don't need the goddamn corporate media to make our
protests mean something. Just think what it means when someone
organizes a march and no one comes. Who the hell counts on TV
for their real news anyway!!!!
If you don't protest you are enabling, you are complicit and
you are so lazy and not brave.
I'm sorry, but this is the first time I have ever said
anything negative to someone online but, you are the sad one
here.

[John Kerry VonErich]

27. No, just being realistic.

The media doesn't mean TV's 60 second spot on the story. What was once seen as front page news, is now seen as a bit piece hidden in a newspaper. Just because you are anti war, it doesn't mean you are forced to protest. I will protest the way it should be. at the polling place.

[143tbone]

31. when they control the voting machines

That is not being realistic, that is being naiive.

[John Kerry VonErich]

37. Did they control voting machines when the democrats took congress?

Despite the fact we were fooled by some of them that were elected.

[143tbone]

44. Well, they probably tried to but

maybe the numbers were so overwhelming that it didn't work.
But now they know and maybe they will be more prepared in the
08 election. But a lot of good it did getting the dems in.

[sandyd921]

33. There's another old saying:

Use it or lose it! Exercise your constitutional right to protest while you still can!

[John Kerry VonErich]

38. The effect was lost a while ago.

Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with protesting. Just keep going on deaf ears.

[PassingFair]

39. So that's why I DO go to protests.

We have a very small (dozen people) group that meets EVERY WEEK
for just one hour. We stand in the same place every week. We grow
by about 1 person a month.

When people drive by us, about FIFTY PERCENT honk or flash us a
thumbs up or peace sign. About ONE PERCENT flip us off or shout
"GO BUSH" or "GO HOME".

The VAST majority of people are against our current policy of
preemptive war. I does EVERYONE good to SEE our signs and
HEAR the positive response we get from the VAST majority of
those driving by.

We ARE catapulting the propaganda JUST BY STANDING THERE,
telling the truth.

It takes ONE HOUR. It is the LEAST I can do.

[John Kerry VonErich]

42. It's not how many, it's the effect

The main goal of protests should be having an effect on others in the long run, not a short one. Those 50%ers who flash ya a thumbs up I am one of. They are believers but knows in reality that it doesn't do much good, otherwise they park their cars and join in. I do respect you guys for trying, but the chances of success through anti war protests were once 50 to 1, now its about 7000 to 1.

[John Kerry VonErich]

43. Dupe Delete nt

[roody]

41. I have to go. I have to spend some time with and in the

heart of the movement.

[tomg]

47. I understand your point about

desperate times calling for desperate measures. Granted the media blackout is shameful, and the sheer passivity of most Americans ( and even though I don't know you, I am not including you in that group) is disgusting ( the "yeah, I'm against the war but . . . .")

Frankly, I think we have to recognize that we are not going to have massive demonstrations until either 1) there is a draft and/or 2) the US body count goes higher ( our concern with bodies seems to be limited to those from the United States). And then it might be the desperate times.

Still, I have to disagree that there is no point. It's as simple as simply fighting the good fight. There are some things that are right and some things that are wrong. However you stand up against them and publicly say "not in my name" is what matters. It might be that demonstrations don't work anymore. For that matter, I don't really know if they ever did, and I've been going to them for 40 over years. But right now this is one of the ways that I have of saying "not in my name." If this war is going on in two years and Hillary/ Edwards/ Barack/whomever is running it, I'll march against them.

This past Saturday, my wife, my son and I were down in New York. It's raining like hell, and I'm thinking - "what am I doing here?" Then over the loud speakers comes Pete Seeger singing "Down by the Riverside." If he is 88 and he can still be marching against war, I think I can stick it out a little longer.

typo:

[143tbone]

48. Good for you!

I have been reading comments made by the Gathering of Eagles
about the small number of protesters that showed up in New
Orleans. They're saying that they feel like the tables are
turning and that more people are for the war now. So, in my
opinion, that's a good reason right there to show up at all
marches--until the war has ended. Just pencil it in and go.
Simple as that. Make it part of your life. Bring your family.
Teach them about civic responsibility.
The young people are beginning to step up to the plate. Even
without the draft. 
So, good for you---rain and all. You sir, are a responsible
American.

[lonestarnot]

15. Did you just notice that, or is this something you have been thinking about for a time?

[143tbone]

17. Then be the media!!!

Get a camcorder, learn how to use it and edit the film, then
post on youtube, indymedia in multiple states,
democraticunderground, blogs--everywhere. people will see it.
I will have a video on Seattle's successful march up maybe by
the end of the day. Forget the "media." They are no
longer legitimate news organizations. Most people go to the
internet for the real news anyway. Even governmental
officials. 
We don't need the corporate news media there to make a march
successful. People see us. They know we are out there in
numbers.

[ohio2007]

23. well said ! the M$M is in it for the money as no '08 canidates want to be seen at these events

I think they should be asked why by those that follow the new media and discussed at sites that the M$M monitors such as those sites you have stated in your post.
http://politics.liveleak.com/

[EFerrari]

46. Exactly!

:applause:

[Mojorabbit]

30. I talked with a fellow

at the rally and his take on it is that people think they are in the minority opposing the war esp as the MSM does not report on the opposition. Getting out there on the streets shows people they are not alone. It is important to do.
This is his website.
http://un-scared.org/

[rodeodance]

13. I see some REPS were out in Chicago-----Schakowsky and Danny Davis.

[ohio2007]

20. will thier voting record in the future back up what they said they would do?

guess time will tell but then again, nobody will hold them accountable on it
/sarc

[ohio2007]

19. I think the story is made up and released by "FEMA" group

The "national day of action," sponsored by the United for Peace and Justice coalition...


listing four cities, Boston,New Orleans,LA and Chicago does NOT make the 'dozens' of cities were deeply involved for this well organized event coverage

Were the presidential canidates speaking at these major events?

<crickets>

[Mojorabbit]

24. Gravel

spoke at ours.

[0007]

25. In Midland Texas there was just five protesters and they were

labeled just dumb Mexicans trying to make junior and his big dick look dumb.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. 30,000 in Chicago

and 24 freepers.

[sandyd921]

36. More reports of antiwar actions

here: http://www.oct27.org/action_reports

[143tbone]

45. Videos of Seattle March--Led and organized by young people!!!

Seattle may lead the nation in the numbers of young people who
have taken the lead in antiwar actions.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZY_Gyv1vhvI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EG3r79KYFcU