Posted on 01/27/2007 7:03:54 PM PST by jazusamo
SEATTLE - More than a thousand people gathered to march and demand a withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq in Seattle on Saturday, as similar groups gathered for the same cause across the nation, including the nation's capital.
The Seattle protesters began their march at the Center for Social Justice on 21st Avenue and Union Street. The group stopped to protest at the military recruiting center and ended their march at the Langston Hughes Center on Washington Street and 17th Avenue South.
Speakers included Ehren Watada, the Fort Lewis army lieutenant who refused to deploy to Iraq with his unit.
There were no reports of counter-protests in Seattle. A group named The Jan. 27th Coalition to Bring the Troops Home Now! sponsored the local event.
Protesters held a similar event at the nation's capital. Tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets, including a sampling of celebrities and a half dozen members of Congress.
Showcased speakers included actors Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Danny Glover.
Fonda was a lightning rod in the Vietnam era for her outspoken opposition to that war, earning the derisive nickname "Hanoi Jane" from conservatives for traveling to North Vietnam during the height of that conflict 35 years ago. She had avoided anti-Iraq war appearances until now.
About 40 people staged a counter-protest, including military family members and Army Cpl. Joshua Sparling, 25, who lost his leg to a bomb in Iraq in November 2005.
He said the anti-war protesters, especially those who are veterans or who are on active duty, "need to remember the sacrifice we have made and what our fallen comrades would say if they are alive."
United for Peace and Justice, a coalition group sponsoring the protest, said there has been intense interest in the rally since Bush announced he was sending 21,500 additional troops to supplement the 130,000 in Iraq.
San Francisco antiwar protest speakers included Carolyn Ho, whose 28-year-old son is Lt. Ehren Watada.
Washington DC antiwar protesters cheered on Bob Watada, the father of 28-year-old Army Lieutenant Ehren Watada.
"Demand" LOL
These twits should be aware that if we loose this war like they demand, this just might happen to Seattle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRla6CBGlv4&eurl=
There's a Stryker Brigade rifle company somewhere in Iraq fighting terrorists right now without an FSO to support them. I demand Watada's head on a stick.
His day of reckoning starts February 5th, the beginning of his courts-martial.
oh well, I don't care about them anymore. It's their loss. Anyone who doesn't care about security should go f themselves and die.
1000 people? In Seattle?? That turnout sounds pretty poor. After all, Seattle is hardly part of America anymore. Like San Franciso and that area. A majority of people in those regions actually want the enemy to win and they think we are the bad guys. So if they could only scrape up 1000 people, that is pathetic.
How is Social Justice different than Justice?
They usually pull this crap on a weekday and try to lock up all downtown traffic they can get their "look at me!!! look at me!!!" fix.
Seattle is turning into a SF's mini-me.
They are not Americans anymore and they'll get what they deserve.
>Showcased speakers included actors Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and Danny Glover.<
Hey, these are the same "non partisans" who went to that Media Reform conference earlier this month. Does this march stain their moderate position?
I've always called Seattle ... San Francisco-lite.
Like people in Hell "demand" ice water.
I live in Seattle, and its a great city, dispite the leftist vermin who infest the place. Its lonely for conservatives, though.
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