Blues skies, sunshine, mid-fifties temperatures and a singlemindedness to protest the war in Iraq brought out the crowds en force. This was the biggest rally since september of 2005 and possibly eclipsing the 100 to 200,000 protesters who come to say "NO MORE WAR" 16 months ago.
Kicking off the late morning rally were such noteable speakers as the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Susan Sarandon and Jane Fonda who had spoken out against Richard Nixon and the Viet Nam war 34 years ago.
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By 1:30 the march had begun circling the Capitol building with a wide and very long line of protesters chanting, some singing, some yelling and beating the drums of "peace now!". Along the route a small contingency of vocal anti-protesters were cordoned off in their own protective space. Using signs and bullhorns they let their displeasures be known to the throngs of protesters passing by. A half dozen armed police stood between the 30 or so pro-war, pro-Bush protesters and the multitudes passing by. Words and "one-finger salutes" were exchanged as police tried to keep the calm on both sides.
An interview (not mine) with Susan Sarandon
