September 15, 2007 anti-war protest

Last updated
Protesters marching down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol Marching towards the Capital - September 15, 2007.jpg
Protesters marching down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol
Memorial of a fallen Marine brought to the White House Memorial of a fallen Marine at the White House.JPG
Memorial of a fallen Marine brought to the White House
Radical cheerleaders perform a cheer in front of the White House S15 Radical Cheerleading 1.jpg
Radical cheerleaders perform a cheer in front of the White House

The September 15, 2007 anti-war protest was a march from the White House to the United States Capitol. It was organized by Veterans for Peace and the ANSWER Coalition. Volunteers were recruited for a civil disobedience action, which included a die-in. 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. [1] In attendance were public figures such as Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader. [1] Police arrested more than 190 demonstrators who crossed police lines in front of the Capitol. [2] Chemical spray was used by Capitol Police. [3]

Contents

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 lost their lives 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. [4] 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. [5] [6]

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. [7]

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, 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. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Protests against the Iraq War Demonstrations by opponents of 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 demonstrations, on February 15, 2003, New York Times writer Patrick Tyler claimed that they showed that there were two superpowers on the planet: the United States and worldwide public opinion.

A.N.S.W.E.R.

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 the September 11th attacks, ANSWER has since helped to organize many of the largest anti-war demonstrations in the United States, including demonstrations of hundreds of thousands against the Iraq War. The group has also organized activities around a variety of other issues, ranging from the Israel/Palestine debate to immigrant rights to Social Security to the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles.

Die-in A form of protest in which participants simulate being dead

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, human rights, AIDS, gun control, and environmental issues. Often, protestors occupy an area for a short time instead of being forced to leave by the police.

United for Peace and Justice

United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) is a coalition of more than 1,300 international and U.S.-based organizations opposed to "our government's policy of permanent warfare and empire-building."

2004 Republican National Convention protest activity

2004 Republican National Convention protest activity includes the broad range of marches, rallies, performances, demonstrations, exhibits, and acts of civil disobedience in New York City to protest the 2004 Republican National Convention and the nomination of President George W. Bush for the 2004 U.S. presidential election.

15 February 2003 anti-war protests Coordinated day of protests in over 600 cities against the War in Iraq

On 15 February 2003, a coordinated day of protests started across the world in which people in more than 600 cities expressed opposition to the imminent Iraq War. It was part of a series of protests and political events that had begun in 2002 and continued as the war took place. At the time, social movement researchers described the 15 February protest as "the largest protest event in human history".

On September 24, 2005, many protests against the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraq War took place.

Protests against the war in Afghanistan

The proposed invasion of Afghanistan prompted protests with mass demonstrations in the days leading up to the war's official launch on October 7, 2001, the continuations of the war in Afghanistan has lead many to further protest and voice their opposition to hostilities.

January 20, 2005 counter-inaugural protest

The January 20, 2005 counter-inaugural protests were a number of demonstrations, held in Washington, D.C., and other American cities to protest the second inauguration of U.S. President George W. Bush.

On 20 March 2003, the day after the invasion of Iraq had begun, thousands of protests and demonstrations were held around the world in opposition to it. In many cases, these protests were known as "Day X" protests, reflecting the fact that they had been organized to occur when war started, whatever day that might have been. At least 350,000 people participated. The previous protests in February had been substantially larger.

The 1971 May Day protests were a series of large-scale civil disobedience actions in Washington, D.C., in protest against the Vietnam War. These began on Monday morning, May 3rd, and ended on May 5th. More than 12,000 people were arrested, the largest mass arrest in U.S. history.

Bring Them Home Now Tour

The Bring Them Home Now Tour was a rolling anti-war protest against the Iraq War in the United States, beginning in Crawford, Texas, travelling three routes across the country and culminating in a rally in Washington, D.C. in September 2005. The tour was organized by Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace. It was inspired by and featured Cindy Sheehan as a speaker at many rallies. The three tour buses were purchased with donated money.

January 27, 2007 anti-war protest

The January 27, 2007 anti-war protest was an anti-war march sponsored by United for Peace and Justice in Washington, D.C.. The official event consisted of a rally and march at the United States Capitol.

March 17, 2007 anti-war protest

The March 17, 2007 anti-war protest was an anti-war demonstration sponsored by ANSWER Coalition that marched from Constitution Gardens in Washington, D.C. to The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The date was selected to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, and also the 40th anniversary of a similar anti-war march on October 21, 1967. Organizers estimated 15,000 to 30,000 protesters attended, while the police gave informal estimates of 10,000 to 20,000.

March 19, 2008 anti-war protest

March 19, 2008, being the fifth anniversary of the United States 2003 invasion of Iraq and in protest and demonstration in opposition to the war in Iraq, anti-war protests were held throughout the world including a series of autonomous actions in the United States' capitol, Washington, D.C., in London, Sydney, Australia, and the Scottish city of Glasgow with the latter three being organized by the UK-based Stop the War Coalition. Actions included demonstrations at government buildings and landmarks, protests at military installations and student-led street blockades. The protests were notable, in part, for mostly replacing mass marches with civil disobedience – including religious-focused protests – and for utilizing new technologies to both coordinate actions and interface with traditional print and broadcast media.

Stop the War Coalition (Australia)

Stop the War Coalition (StWC) is an Australian anti-war group initially formed in Sydney in 2003 in response to the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the general "War on Terror" of which the Australian Government has been a strong ally.

James Peck was an American activist who practiced nonviolent resistance during World War II and in the Civil Rights Movement. He is the only person who participated in both the Journey of Reconciliation (1947) and the first Freedom Ride of 1961, and has been called a white civil rights hero. Peck advocated nonviolent civil disobedience throughout his life, and was arrested more than 60 times between the 1930s and 1980s.

2020–21 United States election protests Nationwide protests in the aftermath of the 2020 United States election

Protests began in multiple cities in the United States following the 2020 United States presidential election between then-President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Vice President Joe Biden, held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3%) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%) and winning the Electoral College by 306 to 232. Biden's victory became clear on November 7, after the ballots had been tabulated. The Electoral College voted on December 14, in accordance with law, formalizing Biden's victory.

References

  1. 1 2 Three days until the Sept. 15 March to Stop the War! Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine pephost.org, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  2. More than 190 arrested at D.C. protestģ [ permanent dead link ].
    We Are the Troops! Bring Us Home! Archived 2012-07-08 at archive.today .
    175 arrests as Iraq vets jump fence at US Capitol Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine .
  3. Dueling Demonstrations As Thousands March to Capitol to Protest Iraq Conflict, 189 Arrested; War Supporters Take on 'Vocal Minority' Michelle Boorstein, V. Dion Haynes and Allison Klein, The Washington Post , Sunday, September 16, 2007; Page A08, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  4. More than 190 arrested at D.C. protest [ permanent dead link ], Mattew Barakat, Associated Press Writer, Yahoo News, September 16, 2007, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  5. AirPhotosLive, | Methodology - Sept. 15 Washington DC Demonstration [ permanent dead link ].
  6. ANSWER Coalition, | March on Washington: A New Movement is Emerging Archived 2011-03-15 at the Wayback Machine .
  7. Phil Wilayto, Some thoughts on the Counter-Demonstrators at the March on the Pentagon.
  8. Johnson, Jenna (August 16, 2007). "Antiwar Group Refuses To Back Down on Signs". The Washington Post . p. B01. Retrieved 2007-08-17.

[Category:September 2007 events in the United States]]