Protests in US seek end to Iraq war
Rally: Thousands protest against the Iraq war in San Francisco, California, last Sunday. Picture: Reuters
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
ANTI-WAR demonstrators readied for at least 1,000 candlelight vigils around the United States yesterday, day four of protests demanding an end to the war in Iraq four years after it began.
"We cannot send tens of thousands of exhausted, under-equipped and unprepared troops into the middle of an Iraqi civil war," left-leaning organiser MoveOn.org said in a statement, which claimed last Sunday that 1,100 vigils were planned around the country.
Thousands of anti-war protesters took to New York's streets last Sunday, demanding US withdrawal of troops from Iraq, in a second day of national rallies marking the fourth anniversary of the war.
Organisers from the group United for Peace and Justice said between 25,000 and 30,000 people marched in the rally, which came a day after similar mass protests in Washington and Los Angeles. Police did not estimate the turnout.
A colourful mixture of students, cyclists, Vietnam war veterans and musicians marched through Midtown Manhattan, drumming and chanting slogans such as "Troops out now" and calling for President George W Bush to be impeached.
Waving placards reading "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" and "Four Years Too Long" the crowds braved near-freezing temperatures as they marched under clear skies down streets lined with piles of snow.
"This is not a strange, lefty movement. This is the voice of the people," said actor Tim Robbins, a prominent and vocal critic of the Iraq war, who was among those leading the march.
"American people want this war to end, so when are we going to start listening to them?" he asked. "The main message is to stop this immoral war."
But US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said last Sunday he was generally happy with Iraqi troop performance since the United States began deploying its reinforcements, which, with support troops, will number more than 25,000.
AFP
"We cannot send tens of thousands of exhausted, under-equipped and unprepared troops into the middle of an Iraqi civil war," left-leaning organiser MoveOn.org said in a statement, which claimed last Sunday that 1,100 vigils were planned around the country.
Thousands of anti-war protesters took to New York's streets last Sunday, demanding US withdrawal of troops from Iraq, in a second day of national rallies marking the fourth anniversary of the war.
Organisers from the group United for Peace and Justice said between 25,000 and 30,000 people marched in the rally, which came a day after similar mass protests in Washington and Los Angeles. Police did not estimate the turnout.
A colourful mixture of students, cyclists, Vietnam war veterans and musicians marched through Midtown Manhattan, drumming and chanting slogans such as "Troops out now" and calling for President George W Bush to be impeached.
Waving placards reading "Drop Bush, Not Bombs" and "Four Years Too Long" the crowds braved near-freezing temperatures as they marched under clear skies down streets lined with piles of snow.
"This is not a strange, lefty movement. This is the voice of the people," said actor Tim Robbins, a prominent and vocal critic of the Iraq war, who was among those leading the march.
"American people want this war to end, so when are we going to start listening to them?" he asked. "The main message is to stop this immoral war."
But US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said last Sunday he was generally happy with Iraqi troop performance since the United States began deploying its reinforcements, which, with support troops, will number more than 25,000.
AFP
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