[NYTr] A REAL Protest in Washington - 150+ arrested

Sat Sep 15 19:05:27 EDT 2007

So finally some folks have taken off their church outfits and white
gloves off and started getting real. Congratulations to the organizers
and participants of today's REAL protest in Washington.  It wasn't just
another boring feel-good parade.

Please support these people. They have balls. And they are not a front
for the Demopublican party or a bunch of smug self-satisfied Liberals
brown-nosing the corrupt traitors who are running things in Congress --
on both sides of the aisle, those of the One Party with Two Names.  The
goal is to make real change, which is going to be VERY uncomfortable
for all of us.  It's not going to be "nice" or "polite" or particularly
peaceful. There won't be any "permits," because it won't be "permitted"
by the powers that be.

The combat vets and the real peace-movement vets among the opposition
know this, and they're prepared. The rest better get used to it, and
get ready, or get out of the way.  Congratulations ANSWER and all
the rest. -NY Transfer]

AP via Yahoo - Sep 15, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070915/ap_on_re_us/iraq_war_protest

More than 150 arrested at Iraq protest

By MATTHEW BARAKAT
Associated Press Writer

Thousands of protesters marched Saturday from the White House to the
Capitol to demand an end to the Iraq war, leading to the arrests of at
least 150 people.

Many of the protesters were arrested without a struggle after they
jumped over a barricade near the base of the Capitol. But some grew
angry as police attempted to push them back using large black shields
and a chemical spray. Protesters responded by throwing signs and
chanting: "Shame on you."

Before arriving at the Capitol lawn, the demonstrators marched on
Pennsylvania Avenue holding banners and signs and saying, "What do we
want? Troops out. When do we want it? Now."

Counterprotesters lined the sidewalks behind metal barricades. There
were some heated shouting matches between the two sides.

At the Capitol lawn, some protesters lay down with signs on top of
their bodies to represent soldiers killed in Iraq.

The protesters gathered earlier Saturday near the White House in
Lafayette Park with signs saying "End the war now" and calling for
President Bush's impeachment. The rally was organized by the ANSWER
Coalition and other groups.

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan told the crowd is was time to be
assertive.

"It's time to lay our bodies on the line and say we've had enough," she
said. "It's time to shut this city down."

Army veteran Justin Cliburn, 25, of Lawton, Okla., was among a
contingent of Iraq veterans in attendance.

"We're occupying a people who do not want us there," Cliburn said of
Iraq. "We're here to show that it isn't just a bunch of old hippies
from the 60s who are against this war."

About 13 blocks away, nearly 1,000 counterprotesters gathered near the
Washington Monument, frequently erupting in chants of "U-S-A" and
waving American flags.

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Robert "Buzz" Patterson, speaking from a
stage to crowds clad in camouflage, American flag bandanas and Harley
Davidson jackets, said he wanted to send three messages.

"Congress, quit playing games with our troops. Terrorists, we will find
you and kill you," he said. "And to our troops, we're here for you, and
we support you."

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., made a surprise visit to the
counterprotest, which was organized by Gathering of Eagles, a
nationwide nonpartisan organization founded this year by Vietnam war
veterans.

"We're a people of faith, courage and fidelity," said Hunter, a 2008
presidential candidate. "It's for this generation that we will win this
war on terror."

[Associated Press writer Christine Simmons contributed to this report.]