Washington – Anti-war activists, unions and other national organizations promise a large protest rally Saturday against the Iraq war.
Groups say they have chartered hundreds of buses and expect thousands of people to descend on the National Mall for the demonstration.
Organizers said Wednesday that the protest is part of an effort that will include lobbying congressional offices and other rallies later across the country.
There previously have been two large demonstrations in New York City that rivaled Vietnam-era protests in size. One was just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003; the other came on the eve of the 2004 Republican National Convention.
On Saturday, organizers hope to focus attention on Iraq more intensely than ever, given the growing public opposition to the war and congressional efforts to repudiate it.
The chief organizing group for the weekend rally is an anti-war coalition, United For Peace & Justice. Scheduled speakers include members of Congress sponsoring anti-war measures; civil rights activist Jesse Jackson; veterans against the war; actors such as Danny Glover, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon; and a voice from the anti-Vietnam past, Jane Fonda.
