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Title: Hundreds March in L.A. to Protest Lebanon and Iraq Wars
Source:
LA Times
URL Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/l ... 7.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Published: Aug 13, 2006
Author: Ted Rohrlich
Post Date: 2006-08-13 09:01:13 by Eoghan
Keywords: None
Views: 268
Comments: 18
Some participants are former Lebanese angered by the Israeli invasion Omar Abdallah, a 38-year-old North Hollywood convenience store owner who emigrated from Lebanon as a young man, was one of more than a thousand people who marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday to protest Israel's bombing of his native land, its treatment of Palestinians and the U.S. war in Iraq. Abdallah, who marched up Broadway and through the Civic Center holding a Lebanese flag, said he was drawn to the event because he is "against all war" and, in the case of Israel's war against Hezbollah, he has had family members in harm's way. He said he spoke by telephone Saturday with a sibling who said Israeli warplanes had just bombed the town of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, where his brother and sister live. Other family members have fled, he said, leaving almost all of their possessions behind. The Associated Press reported that the Israeli target in Baalbek on Saturday was the headquarters of a Hezbollah charity organization. The Los Angeles march — organized by a group called Act Now to Stop War & End Racism, the National Council of Arab Americans and the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation — took place as a United Nations-brokered cease-fire was being accepted by Lebanon and Hezbollah. Similar marches took place in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Many of the local marchers, including organizer Ahmed Azam, president of the Muslim American Society's Los Angeles chapter, were skeptical that a cease-fire would lead to lasting peace. "I'm not optimistic," said Azam, who teaches at DeVry University in Long Beach. Many ethnicities and age groups were represented in the peaceful protest. Toni Arenstein, 56, a nurse, said she marched because "I am a Jewish woman and I stand in full solidarity with the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance, and also I am outraged at the billions of dollars … the U.S. government is spending to fund the Israeli war machine when people here are suffering." The marchers appeared united in disdain for President Bush. Some carried printed signs with his photograph and the label "warmonger." Simone Missirian, 35, of L.A. wore a sandwich board purporting to show Bush's "policy checklist." It began: "Save Embryos. Kill Muslims and Arabs." But Houda Itani, a 19-year-old American of Lebanese descent, said she came out of disgust for political leaders in general who make war but "don't realize" that most Muslims and Jews just want to live in peace.
Poster Comment: Thousands protest Lebanon war outside White House With AP photos.
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#1. To: Eoghan, loner, Fred Mertz, Soda Pop, aristeides, Diana, Esso, innieway, justlurking, christine, Jethro Tull, lodwick, rowdee, Brian S, Zoroaster, Stephen Lendman, *US is Proxy State For Israel* (#0)
The evening news has not been showing these rather impromptu protests, from all over the globe. There are many more photos at the link above. D.C.: Across from White House: Peace activists shout slogans during a rally at Lafayette Park across from the White House in Wasington, DC. Several thousand people demonstrated outside the White House to protest Israel's US-backed military operations in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.(AFP/Mandel Ngan) Los Angeles: SanFran: Toronto: A small group of pro-Israeli demonstrators is ringed by police while thousands of anti-war protestors gathered outside the Israeli consulate in Toronto,Canada, on Saturday Aug. 12, 2006. Protesters later marched to the American consulate to condemn the United States' support of Israel. (AP PHOTO/CP,Derek Oliver) Chile: Sydney, Australia: Bangladesh: England (Israeli soccer team in town): Romania: Southern Lebanon (just look at all those military installations!) Costa Rica: Israelis protesting war in Lebanon: Palestinians protesting war in Lebanon: Montreal:
A small group of pro-Israeli demonstrators is ringed by police Telling. Great post
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThanks for that link Eoghan!
Demonstrators carry flags of Lebanon and Palestine during a march near the White House in Washington, DC. Several thousand people demonstrated outside the White House to protest Israel's US-backed military operations in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.(AFP/Mandel Ngan) 
Demonstrators march past the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Thousands of people demonstrated outside the White House to protest Israel's US-backed military operations in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.(AFP/Mandel Ngan) 
Several thousand protesters march in Los Angeles, Saturday Aug. 12, 2006, to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to the bloodshed in Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) 
Pro-Israel demonstrators exchange words with protesters during a march in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to the bloodshed in Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) 
A pro-Israel demonstrators, right, exchanges words with a protester during a march in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, to condemn U.S. policy in the Middle East and appeal for an end to Israel's war with Islamic militants in Lebanon. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) 
Protesters march for the end of the war in Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/John Stubler) 
Thousands of anti-war protestors gather outside the Israeli consulate in Toronto,Canada on Saturday Aug. 12, 2006. Protesters later marched to the American consulate to condemn the United States' support of Israel. (AP PHOTO/CP,Derek Oliver) 
Chilean peace activists holding a banner that reads 'End to the massacre in the Mideast' walk in front of La Moneda government palace, during a protest against the war in Lebanon, Santiago, Chile, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia) 
Thousands of protesters march through the streets of central Sydney August 12, 2006. The protesters rallied in central Sydney on Saturday calling for an end to the month-old war between Israel and Hizbollah. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA) 
Peace candle : A Bangladeshi child holds a candle during an anti-war protest in Dhaka. (AFP/Farjana Godhuly) 
Anti war protesters stand alongside police ahead of Liverpool's Champions League third-round qualifier first leg against Maccibi Haifa at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Wednesday Aug. 9, 2006. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson) 
Women of the Lebanese community in Romania hold a torn Lebanon flag during an anti-war protest in Bucharest Romania Tuesday Aug. 8 2006. Hundreds of members of the Arab comunity in Romania gathered in Bucharest's Revolution Sq. shouthing anti-war slogans and calling for an immediate end of the hostilities in Lebanon.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) 
A child of the Lebanese community in Romania, face painted with Lebanon's flag, looks on during an anti-war protest in Bucharest Romania Tuesday Aug. 8 2006. Hundreds of members of the Arab community in Romania gathered in Bucharest's Revolution Sq. shouting anti-war slogans and calling for an immediate end of the hostilities in Lebanon.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) 
A general view of Israeli strikes on Khiam village in southern Lebanon, August 8, 2006. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher 
A Costa Rican high school student carrying a sign reading 'NO WAR' protests against the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and the Palestinian territories in front of the Israeli embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica, Monday, Aug. 7, 2006.(AP Photo/Kent Gilbert) 
Israeli left wing activists demonstrate against the ongoing fighting in Lebanon in front of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006. On Thursday, about 600 people attended the rally in Tel Aviv. Though small compared with the tens of thousands who protested Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, it marked a revival of Israel's dormant peace movement which had concurred with the decision last month to go to war. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) 
Israeli activists attend a rally in Tel Aviv against the Israeli army offensive in Lebanon, August 5, 2006. REUTERS/Stringer 
Palestinians take to the street as they protest against the continuing bombardment of neighboring Lebanon in the West Bank town of Hebron in July 2006. A poll has showed that nearly all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza back Hezbollah against Israel and would oppose the unconditional release of captured Israeli soldiers to shorten the war.(AFP/File/Hazem Bader) 
Anti-Israel protesters carry mock coffins as they take part in a demonstration protesting the war in Lebanon in Montreal August 6, 2006. Over ten thousand people took part in the march in downtown Montreal. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA) 
Marchers wave Lebanese and other flags as they take part in a march of more than 10,000 people protesting the war in Lebanon, in Montreal on Sunday, August 6, 2006. (AP PHOTO/CP,Ian Barrett) 
A group of Orthodox Jews take part in a demonstration protesting the war in Lebanon, in Montreal August 6, 2006. Over ten thousand people took part in the march in downtown Montreal. The banner reads: 'Judaism rejects Zionism'. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (CANADA)
#3. To: robin (#1)
A small group of pro-Israeli demonstrators is ringed by police while thousands of anti-war protestors gathered outside the Israeli consulate in Toronto,Canada
Replies to Comment # 3.