Top Story USA
27
January 2007
Thousands protest against Iraq war
Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters from all walks of
life gathered in front of the US Capitol to pressure the government
to get out of Iraq.
Celebrities, lawmakers, veterans and military families and protesters
from different states rallied in the capital to urge Congress
and President George W Bush to stop funding the war and troop
escalation.
Joining the protesters was Jane Fonda, an icon of the Vietnam
protest, in what she said was her first anti-war demonstration
in 34 years. Fonda hogged the limelight when she travelled to
North Vietnam during the height of that conflict. For her vehement
opposition to that war, she earned the derisive nickname "Hanoi
Jane" from conservatives.
Emboldened by fresh congressional skepticism about the Iraq,
speakers heaved criticisms on Bush and the US presence in Iraq
before protesters marched through the streets of Washington.
In the crowd, a group of families of soldiers lost their lives
in Iraq held pictures of their loved ones, including one photograph
of a soldier in full dress uniform lying in a coffin.
Iraq war veteran Garett Reppenhagen said: "When I served
in the war, I thought I was serving honourably. Instead, I was
sent to war for causes that have proved fraudulent.
"We need to put pressure on our elected government and
force them to bring the troops home."
More than 3,000 US troops and vast numbers of Iraqis have been
killed since the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the US and its allies.
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