Posted on 08/12/2006 6:04:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES
Several thousand protesters marched through California's two largest cities Saturday to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to the bloodshed in Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon.
"I hope that we will stop the aggression against Lebanon, the killing of innocent civilians," said Dina Tawamsy, 32, an engineer who was among over 1,000 people marching in downtown Los Angeles.
"I don't believe the kidnapping of two soldiers should lead to the destruction of the infrastructure of a whole country," she said, alluding to the fighting that began in Lebanon July 12 after Hezbollah militants kidnapped two Israeli military personnel.
Demonstrators pounded drums, chanted and waved an large Palestinian flag, held aloft by dozens of marchers. Two women, their faces covered in white theatrical paint, carried a gurney adorned with milk bottles and effigies of infant victims. Others waved signs that said, "Occupation is a crime," and "War is not the answer."
In San Francisco, as many as 2,000 people rallied. A few protesters climbed up onto bus stop shelters and waved Palestinian flags. Several hundred counter-demonstrators gathered nearby to show their support for Israel, waving American and Israeli flags.
The demonstrations were among a handful organized across the country, including near the White House, to criticize U.S. support for Israel and the violence in Lebanon.
They came a day after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution that calls for an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and authorizes 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
Michael Carr, 42, a marketing consultant from Los Angeles, said he turned out to deplore the ongoing destruction and death, not choose a side in the conflict.
"I'm protesting the killing of innocent people," Carr said.
Faulting the White House, he added: "I have a hard time with an administration that promotes a culture of life that seems limited to embryos and rich white people."
Dressed in a Muslim headscarf, Hana Sala, 16, a high school student from Irvine, was among a group of friends who said they worried about the safety of relatives in Syria. They echoed a familiar complaint by marchers that U.S. tax dollars were being used to support Israel and, in turn, its military campaigns.
"We are not supporting the U.S.," Sala said.
FRom AP..
Mideast rallies held in Washington, S.F.
NATASHA T. METZLER, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Thousands of people gathered across from the White House on Saturday, even though the president was out of town, to condemn U.S. and Israeli policies in the Middle East.
Speakers in Lafayette Park energized the mostly Muslim crowd with chants and speeches condemning Israeli involvement in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, U.S. support for Israel and U.S. involvement in Iraq.
"Occupation is a crime," the crowd chanted, equating the situations in the three areas. But they also called for peace and justice for all.
"We all stand united against the violence and the killing in the holy land," said Esam Omesh, president of the Muslim American Society, a co-sponsor of the demonstration, along with the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee and the National Council of Arab Americans.
"There is no difference between Muslim life, Christian life or Jewish life," said Omesh.
In San Francisco, about 2,000 people marched in support of Lebanese and Palestinians and against the Israel military action.
"The occupiers are being seen as the victims, and I'm really ashamed of what is going on in the Middle East," said Alicia Jrapko, a member of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, which organized the rally.
"End the occupation now!" one demonstrator's sign read, a call for Israel to leave historically Palestinian lands.
Several hundred counter-demonstrators gathered to show their support of Israel, waving American and Israeli flags. "Hezbollah out of Lebanon!" a protester's sign said.
Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark drew cheers from the Washington crowd when he called for President Bush's impeachment.
"We've made more enemies during the presidency of George Bush than in the rest of our history combined," Clark said.
Rahat Husain, 24, of Columbia, Md., said he did not have much hope that the Bush administration would change its policies because of the demonstration, but said it could raise Americans' awareness and create compassion for Lebanese citizens.
Hassan Rida, 26, traveled from Farmington Hills, Mich., with his 15-year-old cousin, Hassan Mokbel, who was vacationing in southern Lebanon when the current crisis started and had to escape through Syria. He and friends Nehme Mhanna, 24, and Mona Alaouie, 24, from Dearborn, Mich., said they wanted to show support for the Lebanese and educate Americans about the situation.
"There's always two sides of the story," Rida said.
Habib Ghanim, 55, of Silver Spring, Md., said he voted for Bush, but would probably vote democratic in the next election, because he is disappointed and wants to "stop the fighting on all sides."
The family friendly crowd was filled with Muslims, but also contained many non-Muslims, including a handful of orthodox Jews. Yeshaye Rosenverg, 23, traveled form Monsey, N.Y., to "show the support for the Lebanese and Palestine people and to make clear that it's not a Jewish fight between Arabs and Jews."
A law enforcement official on the scene estimated that there were about 5,000 people attending the rally and subsequent march through the streets of Washington, which was sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation and the National Council of Arab Americans.
"We are not supporting the U.S.," Sala said.
Fine, go back to Syria.
What a ninny. An act of war, is an act of war, is an act of war.
Demonstrators carry flags of Lebanon and Palestine during a march near the White House in Washington, DC. Several thousand people demonstrated outside the White House to protest Israel's US-backed military operations in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.(AFP/Mandel Ngan)
Demonstrators shout, as several thousand protesters march in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Several thousand protesters march in Los Angeles, Saturday Aug. 12, 2006, to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to the bloodshed in Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Uh. What about the other eight that they killed in the process?
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
She's a ninny. I wonder how she'd feel if someone kidnapped her garden pets, and smashed her garden gnomes.
I'm sure she'd respond with insisting that the perpetrators be brought to justice and her pets returned. But what applies to a liberal does not apply to anybody else. They can go to war for their reasons, but everybody else can't.
.
A child of the Lebanese community in Romania, face painted with Lebanon's flag, looks on during an anti-war protest in Bucharest Romania Tuesday Aug. 8 2006. Hundreds of members of the Arab community in Romania gathered in Bucharest's Revolution Sq. shouting anti-war slogans and calling for an immediate end of the hostilities in Lebanon.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
I'm pretty sure S.F. is CA's 4th largest city behind L.A., San Diego, and San Jose.
Michael Carr, 42, a marketing consultant from Los Angeles, said he turned out to deplore the ongoing destruction and death, not choose a side in the conflict.
I see. ....so he'd be out there protesting if there were a series of suicide/homicide bombing attacks against innocent Israeli citizens and Israel wasn't retaliating? Doubt it.
Leave Israel the F alone and there wont be any war with Lebanese dying.
Dont start no Sheeit there wont be no sheeit.\\
I saw some pictures of this march some of those middle eastern women are babes. You have to be pretty sick to cover that up and want 72 virgins, A bird in the hand is worth 72 virgins you might not like.
San Francisco is California's fourth largest city behind LA (1), San Diego (2) and Sacramento (3).
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
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