Anti-war Demonstrators Gather in Washington

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, January 19, 2003

Anti-war Demonstrators Gather in Washington

Tens of thousands anti-war demonstrators gathered in the US capital of Washington on Saturday to protest against the Bush administration's preparations for a possible attack on Iraq.

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Tens of thousands anti-war demonstrators gathered in the US capital of Washington on Saturday to protest against the Bush administration's preparations for a possible attack on Iraq.

"No blood for oil," "No war on Iraq," the crowd chanted as they gathered at the National Mall near the Capitol Hill. They marched from there to the Washington Navy Yard, a military installation in Southeast Washington.

"We stand here today, a new generation of anti-war activists," said Peta Lindsay from International Answer ( "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism" ), the main organizer, at the national rally. "This is just beginning. We will stop this war."

US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who joined the speakers at the protests, said: "We must fight back because our lives are at stake. We march today to fight militarism, and racism, and sexism, and anti-Semitism, and Arab-bashing. We fight for one world."

Police estimated that 30,000 people marched through the street, part of a much larger crowd that packed the west end of the National Mall and spilled on to the Capitol grounds. Police reported no arrests in the protests.

Brian Becker, co-director of the International Action Center, said people from 220 cities nationwide have committed to attending the demonstrations.

Organizers said 100,000 protesters were expected in the rallies in Washington and San Francisco. Many protesters made special efforts to get to Washington by taking buses from different states to show their support for the anti-war movement.

The protest in Washington coincides with anti-war demonstrations in San Francisco and some 18 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, and also the national holiday commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King, the famous black civil rights leader.

President George W. Bush has threatened military action against Iraq if it refuses to abide by United Nations resolutions calling for it to disarm itself of alleged weapons of mass destruction.

The United States is stepping up military build-up in the Gulf region in preparation for a possible war with Iraq.

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