California Iraq War Protests Generate Strong Turnout?
A demonstrator, in a U.S. President George W. Bush mask, holds up his hands smeared with mock blood during an anti-war march in downtown Los Angeles September 24, 2005. Thousands of protesters flooded Los Angeles on Saturday to stage demonstrations against the U.S.-led war in Iraq and to demand that Bush bring troops home.
The ASSociated Press has Thousands of Californians protest Iraq war.
Drums pounded, voices boomed and whistles shrieked as thousands of demonstrators marched in the shadows of downtown skyscrapers Saturday to protest America’s involvement in Iraq, one of several California demonstrations on a day of protests across the country.
The crowd, a mix of people ranging from mothers pushing baby strollers to spiky haired punk rockers, chanted for an end to the bloodshed and waved signs that said, “Who would Jesus have bombed?” and “War is not the answer.”
Police closed a downtown street to accommodate the protest, which they said drew an estimated 15,000 people.
The estimated crowds in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco are contrived higher than actual numbers.
In any event, 15,000 people turning out for any event in Los Angeles cannot be considered strong. For example, the Los Angeles Marathon in which Flap participated last March had over 20,000 participants.
Actor Ed Asner takes part in a protest against U.S. involvement in Iraq, in downtown Los Angeles Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005. Drums pounded, voices boomed and whistles shrieked as demonstrators, some 15,000 by police estimates, marched in the shadows of downtown skyscrapers Saturday, one of several California demonstrations on a day of protests across the country.
In San Francisco………
The San Francisco Chronicle has Peace marches draw thousands in S.F., D.C. Bay Area: Largest war protest since Iraq conflict started
It was a sunny day in the Bay Area, a picture-perfect day to cheer for the A’s, enjoy a blues festival, take part in a parade celebrating electronic music, or join peace marches in San Francisco and Walnut Creek.
The march began at 12:30 p.m. at Dolores Park and ended about two hours later at Jefferson Square Park.
The largely peaceful protest in San Francisco drew about 20,000 people, according to police. Organizers put the figure at closer to 50,000. Either way, it was one of the region’s largest anti-war demonstrations since the United States invaded Iraq more than two years ago.
In San Diego, more than 2,000 protesters marched through downtown to a city park where they displayed mock coffins commemorating the deaths of Iraqi civilians and white crosses to represent fallen American soldiers. A small group of counter-protestors turned out to support the war.
The Indepundit SMASH from San Diego has Stealing the Media.
YAWN!
The radical left and international socialists did NOT turn out many folks, especially since the weather was grand in California today.
Check out the Answer Coalition, one of the radical LEFT sponsors of yesterday’s anti-war demonstrations.
Baldilocks has some outstanding photos and commentary.
Michelle Malkin has THE MOONBATS AREN’T DONE YET, including September 26th’s arrest of Cindy Sheehan.