The September 15, 2007 anti-war protest was a march from the
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...
to the
United States Capitol. It was organized by
Veterans for Peace and the
ANSWER Coalition
Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), also known as International A.N.S.W.E.R. and the ANSWER Coalition, is a United States–based protest umbrella group consisting of many antiwar and civil rights organizations. Formed in the wake of th ...
. Volunteers were recruited for a
civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal of a citizen to obey certain laws, demands, orders or commands of a government (or any other authority). By some definitions, civil disobedience has to be nonviolent to be called "civil". Hen ...
action, which included a
die-in
A die-in, sometimes known as a lie-in, is a form of protest in which participants simulate being dead. Die-ins are actions that have been used by a variety of protest groups on topics such as animal rights, anti-war, against traffic violence, hum ...
. Volunteers signed up to take on the name of a soldier or civilian who died because of the war, and lay down around the Peace Monument.
[Three days until the Sept. 15 March to Stop the War!](_blank)
pephost.org, Retrieved September 16, 2007 In attendance were public figures such as
Cindy Sheehan
Cindy Lee Sheehan ( Miller; born July 10, 1957) is an American anti-war activist,Geraghty, Jim (2011-05-02)Cindy Sheehan: ‘If you believe the newest death of OBL, you’re stupid.’''National Review''. Retrieved May 2, 2011. whose son, U.S. Arm ...
and
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader (; born February 27, 1934) is an American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes.
The son of Lebanese immigrants to the Un ...
.
Police arrested more than 190 demonstrators who crossed police lines in front of the Capitol. Chemical spray was used by
Capitol Police.
The protest march started near the White House in
Lafayette Park where many protesters raised placards to show their disapproval of the war and to demand impeachment of the President for war crimes. One father brought a flag-draped coffin, as a memorial to his son who was killed in Iraq. The parent placed the coffin near the fence at the White House expressing President Bush's culpability in the deaths of U.S. troops who have died in Iraq. Other signs were raised proclaiming that the U.S. occupation of Iraq is illegal and that U.S. troops should be supported by bringing them home.
Organizers estimated that nearly 100,000 people attended the rally and march. That number could not be confirmed; police did not give their own estimate. Associated press reported "several thousand." A permit for the march obtained in advance by the ANSWER Coalition had projected 10,000.
[ More than 190 arrested at D.C. protest](_blank)
Mattew Barakat, Associated Press Writer, ''Yahoo News'', September 16, 2007, Retrieved September 16, 2007 Independent aerial photography and crowd counting firm AirPhotosLive was commissioned by ANSWER Coalition organizers and measured attendance at 1 pm to be 74,000 - with a margin of error of 8,000.
The demonstration was met with a counter-demonstration of the Gathering of Eagles organization and
Free Republic, which had also counter-protested anti-war protesters during the
March 17, 2007 anti-war protest.
[Phil Wilayto]
Some thoughts on the Counter-Demonstrators at the March on the Pentagon
Legal issues
The
DC Department of Public Works levied a $10,000-fine against ANSWER for violating city ordinances by putting signs on utility boxes and using an adhesive that was difficult to remove. Additionally, the
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
, which administers many of the parks in the District of Columbia, stated that the signs are defacement of federal property and ordered the group to remove the signs or pay for their removal. ANSWER refused to pay the fines or remove the signs saying that the city's actions are "politically motivated." ANSWER sued the city in federal court to stop the city from enforcing its laws until it creates a "constitutionally allowable and non-discriminating system" for determining the rules on sign posting. An ANSWER spokeswoman stated that they gained support from the publicity and intended to continue to post more and more posters, stickers, and banners despite the efforts of the city.
See also
*
Protests against the Iraq War
Beginning in late 2002, and continuing after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, large-scale protests against the Iraq War were held in many cities worldwide, often coordinated to occur simultaneously around the world. After the biggest series of demon ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anti-war protest, 2007-09-15
Protests against the Iraq War
Protest marches in Washington, D.C.
Peace marches
2007 in American politics
2007 in Washington, D.C.
2007 protests
ategory:September 2007 events in the United States