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Nearly two hundred Iraq war protesters were arrested Saturday at a rally that brought tens of thousands of demonstrators to the Capitol. “It’s time for everybody in this country, with a conscience and a heart, with a love for our troops to lay our bodies on the line and say we’ve had enough,” anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan said, referring to the “die-in” where hundreds of protesters lay down to symbolize the thousands of American soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. Protesters marched from the White House to the Capitol in an effort coordinated by the ANSWER coalition, which estimated the crowd to be 100,000 strong. The rally came on the heels of the congressional testimony of Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and President Bush’s speech to the nation on Thursday. At least two protesters were pepper-sprayed after they tried to breach the police barricade on the west end of the Capitol. The men joined the 187 other anti-war activists who were arrested after crossing a police line. One person was charged with a felony. Iraq Veterans Against the War co-chairman-elect Adam Kokesh stood on the concrete fence and was arrested by Capitol Police wearing riot gear. “We were lied into this war and it is lies that are keeping us there. When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty,” Kokesh said at the earlier rally, rousing cheers from protesters. Those at the rally chanted “End the war now” as they carried signs which read “Impeach Bush,” “Terrorism doesn’t stop terrorism” and “War is not the answer.” Hundreds of counter-protesters lined four blocks of Pennsylvania Ave and shouted “We support the war” as the anti-war rally made its way to the Capitol. A lone dissenter managed to get on stage at the rally. “War is bad, but unfortunately that bad is the best American defense when there is an enemy at our doorstep that wants us dead,” the man said before being removed. Protesters demanded an immediate end to the war and did not shy away from criticizing Congress. Sheehan called on the nation to perform “civil disobedience on a massive scale” to end the war. “It’s time for us to show Congress that they need to represent ‘We the people,’ not the corporations.” Sheehan said. Ralph Nader criticized the war, said it is illegal and called President Bush “spineless and gutless.” “[Bush and Cheney] have literally taken our laws and thrown them into a White House prison,” Nader said. Nader urged protesters to organize “very effective units of pressure” on members of Congress. Protester Jaime Champion said he hoped the protest would fuel a greater anti-war movement. “I hope it will draw more people into it,” Champion said. “We need to convince Congress to cut funding and end the war.” |
