WASHINGTON, Oct 26: Standing before the black wall that bears the names of American citizens killed in Vietnam , hundreds of anti-war demonstrators pledged on Saturday to prevent President Bush from imposing another war on the world.
Thousands more marched towards the White House to tell Bush they do not approve of his plan to attack Iraq, although both Bush and first lady Laura Bush were not at home. They were in Mexico, urging other world leaders to support his war plan.
The demonstrators unfurled their anti-war banners and began to chant, dance and sing before the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, remembering another war they said was imposed on the American people against their will.
“No more Vietnam,” said a banner. “Drop Bush, not bombs,” said another, showing Bush’s face at the end of two bright red bombs.
Although the march started around 11am, buses continued to bring more protesters till late in the afternoon. The demonstrators cheered as a cool breeze blew the clouds away, allowing the sun to smile on them.
“Regime change begins at home,” said yet another banner, referring to President Bush’s statement that he wanted to force “a regime change” in Iraq.
Parallel protests were also held in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, invoking images of the 1960s peace movement. Organizers said they expect as many as half a million people to participate in these rallies.
The protests in American cities coincide with anti-war demonstrations in other world capitals including, Rome, Berlin, Copenhagen, Tokyo and Mexico City.
The turnout was below expectations in a march through downtown Tokyo in which about 300 protesters sang anti-war songs and held up banners. One said: “Stop the war before it starts.”
At the front of the marchers were three men, each wearing a paper mask depicting President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Demonstrators also carried a papier-mache model of a Tomahawk cruise missile.
In Berlin, several thousand Germans marched in the streets carrying placards, urging people to declare “war on the imperialist war.”
“Stop Bush’s campaign” and “No blood for oil,” said other banners displayed at Berlin’s downtown Alexanderplatz along with a few Iraqi flags.
WASHINGTON, Oct 26: Standing before the black wall that bears the names of American citizens killed in Vietnam , hundreds of anti-war demonstrators pledged on Saturday to prevent President Bush from imposing another war on the world.
