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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Christians Arrested at White House Opposing War Arrests made at White House; storm might trim weekend turnout. Dozens of demonstrators, many of them Christian peace activists, were arrested outside the White House late last night and early this morning as part of a protest against the war in Iraq. About 11:30 p.m., police began handcuffing the first of about 100 protesters who had assembled on the White House sidewalk to pray in a planned act of civil disobedience. The protesters were part of a larger group that had assembled at the Washington National Cathedral for a service on the fourth anniversary of the start of the war. From the service, demonstrators marched through the wind, cold and dampness to the White House. The demonstration began a weekend of protest that is to include a march on the Pentagon today. Last night's event, which was sponsored by more than two dozen religious groups, was not part of today's antiwar rally at the Pentagon. Those who were arrested had been among almost 3,000 people who assembled at the cathedral at 7 p.m. for a rousing, emotional service that lasted more than 90 minutes. Participants, whom the cathedral staff numbered at 2,825, heard speakers including Celeste Zappala of Philadelphia, whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004. "I am here tonight as a witness to the true cost of war," she said, "the betrayal and madness that is the war in Iraq." "We lay before God the sorrow that lives in all of us because of the war," she said. Last night's procession was sponsored by Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. Meanwhile, organizers of the march on the Pentagon expressed concern that the storm hitting the Northeast might affect turnout. Protest leaders said they still expect tens of thousands of people for the march, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. north of the Lincoln Memorial and cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon's north parking lot for a rally. Organizers are tying the protest to the 40th anniversary of the 1967 march on the Pentagon against the Vietnam War, saying it represents similar public anger. Airlines canceled many flights in the Northeast yesterday, and driving conditions were poor. Organizers said many contingents from some of the hardest-hit areas, including New England and New York, are scheduled to travel in bus and car caravans. "They are doing everything possible to continue to come," said Brian Becker, national coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition, the march's main sponsor. Other contingents are coming from such places as New Orleans, Tucson, Houston, Salt Lake City and Florida and California, organizers said. Yesterday's cold rain did not stop a small group of people from gathering on the sodden, muddy ground of the Mall's Constitution Gardens to preview their countermarch activities. Members of the Gathering of Eagles group said they plan to voice support for the war and for the troops in Iraq and make sure that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, near the war protest's starting place, is not desecrated. Antiwar demonstrators said that they, too, respect the memorial. Organizers with Gathering of Eagles said they also will demonstrate against the protest along the march route. Many with Gathering of Eagles are Vietnam veterans or relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq. "I've got some friends over there," said Rod Linkous of El Paso, gesturing toward the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He served two tours in Vietnam in the 1960s and '70s. "We defended their right to say whatever they want," Linkous, 59, said of war protesters past and present. "They have the freedom of speech. We gave that freedom by fighting and dying for it." The rain prompted organizers of the war protest to move a news conference scheduled for their assembly grounds at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue to George Washington University Law School. Speakers, including the parents of a Marine killed in Iraq, denounced the war and called for the impeachment of President Bush. Mike Marceau, a disabled Army veteran who served in Vietnam and is vice president of the D.C. chapter of Veterans for Peace, criticized the administration over recent reports of poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "That is unconscionable, and we can't allow that to happen," said Marceau, who said he spent eight months at Walter Reed during 1970 and 1971 recuperating from wounds. "It's time to stop spending money on hurting people and start spending money on healing people." Carlos Arredondo, who brought to the podium the boots his son Alex wore before he was killed in Iraq in 2004, said the march will honor service members and others who have died in the war. He echoed Marceau's comments about Walter Reed: "The veterans deserve much better." Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson said Bush and Vice President Cheney should be removed from office for what he described as crimes against the Constitution. Eugene Puryear, a student at Howard University who has coordinated the participation of college students from across the country, predicted a large showing of youths. We're seeing new people, new energy, new blood," Puryear said. "People who never have been to a demonstration before are now organizing buses."
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#6. To: christine (#0)
They can't be real Christians. Everybody knows all Christians are praying for that wonderful Christian, Mr. Bush, whose holy crusade to keep us safe is so blessed by the Lord. I heard part of the service last night on NPR, and the reverend from the Ebeneezer Baptist Church NAILED it. He said the war was IMMORAL and morality required resisting it. Now, blacks don't like the war or Bush one bit, but that's pretty strong language. I wish I had caught his name; he's a really good speaker.
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