War Protests Clash – 189 Arrested

As violence continues in Iraq, conflict erupted on Saturday, Sept. 15th as tens of thousands of anti-war protesters, many Iraq veterans in military fatigues, demonstrated across from the White House and war supporters voiced their defense of the US-led war. The Washington Post reports, Capitol Police arrested 189 people, including 10 veterans of the Iraq War.

The March on Washington was spearheaded by ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism). ANSWER states on their website that the purpose of their “united demonstration” was to “stop the war in Iraq; end colonial occupation from Iraq to Palestine to Haiti; Support the Palestinian people’s right of return; stop the threats against Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and North Korea; US out of the Phillippines; US out of Puerto Rico; Bring all the troops home now; Stop the Racist, anti-Immigrant and anti-Labor Offensive at Home, defend civil rights; Military recruiters out of our schools and communities.”

The group of war supporters was largely composed of Vietnam veterans and members of the conservative group, Free Republic. To explain their presence at the protest, retired Air Force pilot Lt. Col. Robert Patterson said, “I’ve seen how leftist politicians hate the military. It’s disgusting. We’re fighting a war not in Iraq but with them.” Furthermore, the war supporters wished to demonstrate to the American public that there are many who do not agree with the “vocal minority” (those not in favor of the Iraq War).

Chemical spray and physical force was used against protestors, many of whom claimed they were attempting to get arrested as a sign of resistance to the war. Protestors made attempts to climb fences and other barriers during their peaceful and dramatic “die-in.” Hundreds of people joined in the “symbolic ‘die-in,’” and bodies were strewn about the ground near the Capitol in a vivid statement against the Iraq War.

Ralph Nader, former U.S. attorney Ramsey Clark, and a number of veterans of the Iraq War spoke at the march. “You can’t believe a word the administration says,” commented Ramsey Clark in a speech on the Iraqi refugee crisis.

The recent March on Washington is the next chapter of resistance against a war that has for a number of years been protested against worldwide.

For more information, please see:
The Washington Post – Dueling Demonstrations – 16 September 2007
CNN – Peaceful Iraq War Protests Prompt 71 Arrests – 26 September 2006
CNN – Cities Jammed in Worldwide Protest of Iraq War – 16 February 2003
BBC – Worldwide Protests Mark Iraq War – 20 March 2005
ANSWER - March on Washington
ANSWER – Act Now to Stop War and End Racism
Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace - Pictures of Anti-War Protests from Around the World