NEW YORK, 22 March 2004 — Hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied across the United States to mark the first anniversary of the Iraq war Saturday. Protesters filled more than a dozen police-lined blocks in Manhattan, calling on President George W. Bush to bring home US troops serving in Iraq.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated the crowd at about 30,000, but organizers said later that number had grown to more than 100,000. In Montpelier, Vt., hundreds of silent protesters placed a pair of shoes on the Statehouse steps for each of the more than 560 US soldiers killed in the war. In Los Angeles, thousands of protesters raised slogan against Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
More than 300 people rallied in Stevens Point, Wis., including the five-year-old son of Sgt. Mark McClure, a Wisconsin National Guard soldier who has been stationed in the Middle East for 11 months.
In Bush’s hometown of Crawford, about 800 peace activists from across Texas marched, chanting, “One, two, three, four, kick the liar out the door.” Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke to the crowd and called for Bush’s impeachment. Thousands of protesters marched through Chicago’s downtown.
In San Francisco, thousands of taiko drummers, cyclists, activists and other protesters chanted “End the occupation” and “Impeach Bush.” Protesters halted traffic in the city.
Crowd estimates ranged from around 20,000 to a claim by organizers that 50,000 people took part in the protest, that was also attend by Hollywood star Woody Harrelson, in the arch-liberal West Coast city. Al least 12 people were arrested for obstructing traffic. Sentiment toward Bush’s alleged “lies” about the reason for the US-led attack on Iraq was heated, with many holding up placards and banners saying “Bush lies, who dies?” and “Bush lies, soldiers dies, widow cries.”
