More civil disobedience, lower turn-outs mark Iraq War protests

More than 200 people were arrested across the United States on Mar. 19 as protesters marking the fifth anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq obstructed downtown traffic and tried to block access to government offices. As many as 1,000 people held marches, rallies, sit-ins and blockades throughout the nation's capital. The demonstrations, organized by the nonviolent coalition United for Peace & Justice, were aimed at government agencies and private companies that promote, condone or profit from the war in Iraq. Entrances to the Internal Revenue Service were blocked by "war crime-scene" tape. In Washington, more than 30 people were arrested for blockading three entrances to the IRS building, said Frida Berrigan of the War Resisters League. About 20 protesters were arrested about a block from the US Capitol after blocking traffic. In some cases, police had to drag the protesters off the street. Later, scores of noisy protesters blocked a busy intersection in Washington's business district. They picketed in front of the offices of The Washington Post and threw red paint on the building that houses the Examiner newspaper and Bechtel National Inc, which has handled major reconstruction projects in Iraq. "The number of participants is embarrassing," William Young, 48, said of the Washington turnout. "Where are the Americans? It seems they do not [care] that thousands of American soldiers and people in Iraq are killed." At one event in New York City, around 30 women sang and counted the war dead outside the Times Square military recruiting station, which was recently the target of a bomb. In Miami, half a dozen antiwar protesters dressed in black placed flowers outside the US Southern Command during the morning rush hour. In San Francisco, long a center of anti-Iraq war sentiment, police arrested 143 who protested through the day along Market Street, in the central business district. Sergeant Steve Maninna said charges included trespassing, resisting arrest and obstructing traffic. Four women were detained for hanging a large banner off the city's famous Golden Gate Bridge and then released, said bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie. The rallies, which drew hundreds to the city's busy financial district, were mostly peaceful, though some demonstrators threw glass Christmas ornaments filled with paint at police, said Sgt. Steve Mannina of the San Francisco police. Around 500 protesters banging drums and waving banners that read "Was it worth it" took to the streets for an non-permitted parade that blocked morning traffic. Black balloons were tied to trees along San Francisco's main downtown thoroughfare, and protesters at a table offered coffee, oranges and "unhappy birthday cake" to passers-by. One dramatic act of civil disobedience took place after about two dozen demonstrators staged a "die-in" in front of Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein's office and were surrounded by 80 police officers in riot gear. After more than two hours of protests - and about 100 arrests - authorities finally cleared the intersection. As protesters were arrested, more demonstrators from the scores who were watching from the sidewalk rushed to fill their place. Among those taken away were 20 people, calling themselves Act Against Torture, who were wearing orange jumpsuits with black hoods over their heads. "We're here to get arrested," said Leslie Mullin, 63. "The people have to step into this war because none of the government officials want to do it for us." Elsewhere, more than a dozen people were arrested in nonviolent actions at the Federal Reserve Bank and a Chevron building. Many protesters wore costumes or face paint. Ashley Gregory, a San Francisco resident, used marker to paint blue tears on her face. "It's scary how normal the war has become," Gregory said. Police in Boston arrested five people who blocked access to a military recruitment center by lying on a sidewalk dressed as slain Iraqi civilians, an Iraqi mourner, a slain US soldier and an American citizen in mourning. "We went to this military recruiting station today because we want to see the war end immediately," said activist Joe Previtera in a statement. "Silently waiting for Congress to act on this war in 2009 will condemn thousands more people to injury and senseless death. Enough is enough." In Syracuse, NY, police arrested 20 protesters who blocked traffic by creating a mock Baghdad street scene. One person dressed in camouflage lay on the ground. Another was covered in a white sheet with red markings and a woman leaned over as if grieving. They were from a group of more than 100 demonstrators who marched downtown in a steady rain over the lunch hour. The day before, 10 people were arrested at an anti-war rally in Vestal NY. About 60 people participated in the demonstration that started at Binghamton University campus and moved through the street to a military recruiting station. Police said the demonstrators tied up traffic, causing two traffic accidents. In Chicopee, MA., eight people were arrested when they blocked a gate at Westover Air Reserve Base, police said. Five people were arrested In Hartford, CT, for blocking the front door of a federal courthouse. In other, more somber observances, organizers set up a two-mile display of about 4,000 T-shirts in Cincinnati, OH, meant to symbolize the members of the US military killed in Iraq, while in Louisville, KY, demonstrators lined rows of military boots, sandals and children's tennis shoes on the steps of a courthouse. In Anchorage, Alaska, vandals dumped a gallon of red paint on a war veterans memorial, police spokesman Lt. Paul Honeman said. Earlier, vandals in Milwaukee, WI, damaged the front door of an Army recruiting center and spray-painted anti-war graffiti across its front windows. Laurie Wolberton of Louisville, whose son just finished an Army tour of duty in Iraq, said she fears the worsening US economy has caused Americans to forget about the war. "We're not paying attention anymore," she said. "My son has buried his friends. He's given eulogies, he's had to go through things no one should have to go through, and over here they've forgotten. They just go shopping instead." On previous anniversaries, tens of thousands of people marched through major US cities, and more than 100,000 gathered on several occasions leading up to the invasion. Activists this year frequently cited frustration that the war has dragged on for so long and hope the more dramatic actions will galvanize others to protest. Protesters Across The World Condemn Iraq War Days earlier, many people in the US and abroad, more able to protest the war on their weekend, took action on Mar. 15. Thousands of protesters marched against the Iraq War in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the US as part of a global day of action that drew huge crowds in London and smaller protests elsewhere in Europe and Canada. Police said about 2,000 people marched through Hollywood, while organizers put the figure at 10,000. Also that day, thousands of marchers carrying signs and beating drums paraded through the center of downtown Portland, OR, in late winter rain. The World Without War march stretched through about a half dozen blocks at a time. Meanwhile, more than 300 people marched from Point Richmond, CA, to the Chevron refinery to protest the company they say is profiting from the US invasion of Iraq. Twenty-four demonstrators were arrested for trespassing late in the afternoon after removing a police barricade, entering refinery property and linking arms. About 50 formed human chains at the entrance while others held banners, sang and danced. The protest at the refinery was preceded by a two-hour rally at the Judge G. Carroll Park in Richmond. Speaking at the gathering, Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin said, "It's time to clear the smoke of lies, the smoke of pollution and the smoke of war." The protest was co-sponsored by Direct Action to Stop the War, Greenaction, West County Toxics Coalition, Amazon Watch, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Richmond Greens, Community Health Initiative, Communities for a Better Environment, Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network. The action coincided with several other anti-war protests that day in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered in London and the Scottish city of Glasgow, calling for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Police in London said there were 10,000 on the streets but organizers the Stop the War Coalition put the crowds at between 30,000 to 40,000. In Glasgow, police estimated between 1,000 to 1,500 protesters at the height of the march. Elsewhere in Europe, around 500 people opposed to the US presence in Iraq marched through Stockholm city center in freezing rain carrying banners with messages like "Yankees Go Home" and "Five years of war, one million dead." "I'm here because I think it is extremely important to demonstrate against American policy in Iraq, especially now that the media is focusing less on the tragedy there," said Leif Staalhammer, a 67-year-old actor. Around 600 people also demonstrated in Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg, while in Norway, police said some 200 people marched through the center of Oslo to the parliament building. In Denmark, around 100 people demonstrated peacefully against the Iraq War in the northern town of Aalborg. Demonstrations also took place across Canada, including in Toronto, where 1,000 people protested against parliament's decision last week to extend Canada's 2,500-strong deployment to Afghanistan.