quiz : WHAT WAS BUSH DOING DURING THE LARGE ANTI-WAR PROTEST IN WASHINGTON? [+] serious ballot by cranky ACTIVE Sun Jan 28, 07 - Fri Oct 23, 09 Wide opposition to war energizes protests WASHINGTON: Jane Fonda among celebrity protesters joining veterans, politicians in calling for end to war New York Times, Sunday, January 28, 2007 (01-28) 04:00 PST Washington -- Tens of thousands of protesters converged on the National Mall on Saturday to oppose President Bush's plan for a troop increase in Iraq in what organizers hoped would be one of the largest shows of anti-war sentiment in the nation's capital since the war began. The event drew demonstrators from across the country, and many said that in addition to taking their discontent to the streets, they planned to press members of Congress to oppose the war. "When we voted, it was a directive to bring our troops home now," said the Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington, referring to the November elections in which Democrats won control of Congress. Demonstrators listened to speeches from a roster of politicians and entertainment figures, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles; Sean Penn; Susan Sarandon; Tim Robbins; and Jane Fonda -- in what she said was her first anti-war demonstration in 34 years. "Silence is no longer an option," Fonda said to cheers. The actress, once derided as "Hanoi Jane" by conservatives for her stance on Vietnam, said she had held back from activism so as not to be a distraction for the Iraq anti-war movement, but needed to speak out now. With Bush facing low approval ratings and Congress continuing to debate the terms of a nonbinding resolution opposing the troop increase, grandmothers in wheelchairs, mothers pushing strollers, seasoned dissenters in tie-dye and military veterans in uniform turned out to take their discontent to the streets. Along the north side of the Mall, teenagers in T-shirts featuring sinister depictions of Bush chanted, "End the lunacy, end it now." A man wearing prison stripes carried a sign with the likeness of Vice President Dick Cheney. A tall, clear plastic column stood overflowing with thousands of shoes symbolizing the civilians killed in the war. Tassi McKee of Bastrop, La., who said she was a staff sergeant in the Air Force, was among a small contingent of about 20 active-duty service members who turned out. "I believe this has become a civil war, and we are being hurt and making matters worse by staying in the middle of it," McKee said. Veterans were more numerous among the crowd. Dressed in the olive green, military-issued flight jacket that he said he wore during the invasion of Iraq while serving as a Marine sergeant, Jack Teller, 26, said he joined a caravan of vans coming from Greenville, N.C., because he felt that it was his duty. "I don't like wearing the jacket, because it reminds me that I participated in an immoral and illegal war," Teller said. "But it's important to make a political statement." Meeting with advisors on the war Watching news of the protest on Fox Meeting with counter demonstrators Riding his bicycle Making a speech at a veterans group convention Attending a memorial service at Arlington Nat'l Cemetary Ballot #111671 : SEE RESULTS Comment: show your vote with comment?

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