Thousands Rally for Lebanon Near White House
A few thousand people, many waving the red, white and green flag of Lebanon, gathered in Lafayette Park this afternoon to show their support for the country at the center of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
The demonstration, which comes as the Lebanese and Israeli cabinets are poised to vote on a U.N. Security resolution calling for an end to fighting in the month-old conflict, drew participants from across town, across the river and across the country.
"We came with seven buses from Ohio. We drove all night," said Julia Shearson, director of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cleveland.
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The rally began at noon and speakers addressed the crowd for about 90 minutes before the demonstrators began preparing to march along Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, across the Ellipse and up 17th Street, encircling the White House. President Bush is vacationing at his ranch in Texas.
Police removed a small group of counter protesters, who did not have a permit but claimed a spot in front of the White House, after they had several heated exchanges with the demonstrators. "It was for safety reasons," said Kristinn Taylor, who organized the small group to oppose the rally that he called "pro-terrorists."
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Thousands of Michigan Muslims join protest in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON -- Busloads of Arab and Muslim Michiganians gathered in Washington, D.C. today to protest U.S. and Israeli policy in the Middle East.
Weary from long bus and car rides, hopeful that a United Nations-brokered cease-fire will end the bloodshed in Lebanon and Israel, and angry at what they said were hypocritical double-standards in U.S. policy and in media coverage of the conflict, a Michigan contingent that included at least a dozen buses arrived early today.
The travelers said they want to defend their homeland -- and in some cases their own families.
"When you see the bombs falling right in front of your face, it changes your perspective," said Mohamed Kadry, 21, of Dearborn, a college student who said he was visiting his grandparents in a northern Lebanon village when the Israeli military began its campaign on July 12.
Link Here
The demonstration, which comes as the Lebanese and Israeli cabinets are poised to vote on a U.N. Security resolution calling for an end to fighting in the month-old conflict, drew participants from across town, across the river and across the country.
"We came with seven buses from Ohio. We drove all night," said Julia Shearson, director of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cleveland.
...
The rally began at noon and speakers addressed the crowd for about 90 minutes before the demonstrators began preparing to march along Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, across the Ellipse and up 17th Street, encircling the White House. President Bush is vacationing at his ranch in Texas.
Police removed a small group of counter protesters, who did not have a permit but claimed a spot in front of the White House, after they had several heated exchanges with the demonstrators. "It was for safety reasons," said Kristinn Taylor, who organized the small group to oppose the rally that he called "pro-terrorists."
Link
Thousands of Michigan Muslims join protest in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON -- Busloads of Arab and Muslim Michiganians gathered in Washington, D.C. today to protest U.S. and Israeli policy in the Middle East.
Weary from long bus and car rides, hopeful that a United Nations-brokered cease-fire will end the bloodshed in Lebanon and Israel, and angry at what they said were hypocritical double-standards in U.S. policy and in media coverage of the conflict, a Michigan contingent that included at least a dozen buses arrived early today.
The travelers said they want to defend their homeland -- and in some cases their own families.
"When you see the bombs falling right in front of your face, it changes your perspective," said Mohamed Kadry, 21, of Dearborn, a college student who said he was visiting his grandparents in a northern Lebanon village when the Israeli military began its campaign on July 12.
Link Here
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 5:45 PM
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