Power to the people

WASHINGTON D.C.— Tensions over the war in Iraq came to a head on Sept. 15. On that day, demonstrators on both sides of the issue faced off in the streets of the District of Columbia.


Setting the scene

Protesters against the war, largely members and supporters of the ANSWER Coalition, retained permits for a march on Washington. In reaction to the anti-war measure, the Gathering of Eagles group sponsored a counter demonstration along the same route during the protest.

Members supporting the Gathering of Eagles admitted their turnout was much smaller than that of the ANSWER groups. “The ANSWER crowd will definitely have more people,” Kristinn Taylor, D.C. coordinator for the Gathering of Eagles, said.

“Liberals will go march for everything,” he continued. “If it’s not an anti-war march it’s an animal rights march, if it’s not animal rights it’s abortion rights… And it goes on and on. It’s in their culture…Conservatives generally don’t come out and do rallies and all that.”

“The majority sentiment is now anti-war” Brian Becker of ANSWER Coalition said in response to the Eagles’ smaller numbers. “I think the Bush administration supporters are mobilizing to give the media a quick photo op. to show that there’s two sides, when if fact we represent the overwhelming majority.”

While recent Gallup polls do conclude that more Americans believe the war in Iraq was a mistake, the majority is far from overwhelming. Even so, supporters of the war expressed concern over the declining support.

“It’s import that people know we are winning the war in Iraq,” Corporal Mark Finelli said. Finelli is an inactive, non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. “We are losing here at home, but this is our fist line of defense in that war. And if we can just garner some American support at home, and I know it’s difficult…but we need the American people to support us.”

The march, largely publicized by the ANSWER Coalition, was sparked by a long series of events. The most recent issues to incite opposition include the surge in Iraq, General Petraeus’ testimony and, finally, President Bush’s approval of a long term withdrawal plan for troops in Iraq.

“Today begins what will be a sustained level of activity against the war,” Becker said. “So far, in the last week, General Petraeus and the politicians have spoken. This is when the people start to speak, when they come in to the streets.”

Taking to the streets

The ANSWER rally was scheduled to begin at 12 P.M. EST. At 8 A.M., however, uniformed men could be seen patrolling the roof of the White House. Speeches began around noon. By 3 P.M., the march snaked down Pennsylvania Avenue, from the White House to the Capitol building.

Demonstrators against the war marched down the middle of the street. The permitted demonstration zones for the Gathering of Eagles ran from 10th Street to 7th Street along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Anti-war protesters had also allegedly planned to gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In response, members of the opposing group assembled at the memorial in order to protect it from defacement.

Upon reaching the lawn of the Capitol, the anti-war demonstrators held a mass “die-in” for which they did not have a permit.

“[The die in is] a symbolic funeral representing the nearly 4,000 US soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died, and that will be led by Iraq war veterans,” Becker said.

While ANSWER did not have a permit to hold the die in, that aspect of the demonstration did not evoke strong reactions from police.

Police retaliated aggressively, however, once the protest became confrontational rather than peaceful.

Young protesters could be seen hurtling coins and even yogurt across the police barricade. Two young black protesters who refused to give their names consistently heckled the nearest black police officers with racial slurs.

Confusion over where the police barricade actually began also led to a large number of arrests.

A fence was set up approximately two feet inside a waist-high wall surrounding the steps of the Capitol. Demonstrators were permitted to sit on top of the wall with their legs hanging over. Still, protesters who crossed over the wall yet remained outside the police fence were forced to the ground and arrested.

When protesters refused to comply, they were forcibly detained. Often, demonstrators who refused to adhere to police demands were lifted up and carried away by the officers.

Police treatment often relied on the protester’s gender and attitude.

Officers were less physically aggressive to female protesters. One female demonstrator who crossed the barricade was given the chance to go back over without incident.

Male protesters, however, were often treated with more hostility. One male protester, who simply placed his feet on the ground on the other side of the blockade wall, was dragged to the ground by his T-shirt, ripping it at the neck.

Soon, protesters were intentionally crossing the police barricade as a rebellion against police forces. A group of elderly veterans crossed the wall together, causing a scene as their numerous members were led away up the steps of the Capitol.

By the end of the day, nearly 200 anti-war protesters were arrested.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sep. 15 to support their side of the issue. Still, the majority of citizens—and even D.C. residents—treated the day as if it was any other Saturday.